KeyDates is an Android app that wants to help you keep all of your sacred memories, life milestones and more altogether in one place. It’s not a calendar app, but more of a way to remember the big things that happen in your love life, your work life and more. KeyDates allows users to choose a date, add a photo and some information, and then categorize them using the myriad of different tags available. Dates can be shared with others, backed up to the cloud and more. KeyDates is not a wishy-washy app for those looking to romanticise key dates of their lives, but to keep a record of them, and to look back using the built-in timeline feature and it doesn’t matter if you switch devices, as you can always pick up your database using the cloud backup.
KeyDates can be downloaded from the Play Store, and while it’s not a free download, it’s relatively inexpensive and this of course means that there are no pesky ads getting in the way of things. Once you download KeyDates, you’ll be shown a variety of different categories that the app can record for you.
A detailed introduction to the app can be found from the sidebar menu at any time, too.
Adding a date is nice and simple, you just fill in all the info that you need to create a memory of that certain date.
By default, the app uses your GPS to determine where things happened, for my Engagement night however, I was on holiday, so I easily changed this within the app.
Quite quickly I realised that the interface here is pretty dated, as shown by the Android 2.3 style date picker:
There’s also the ability to choose from a number of different categories. This is a nice touch, as it allows you to sort through key milestones at work, in your relationship or with family and friends.
Here, we can see that I’ve highlighted the love category, and within that there are a good handful of subcategories, but should I wish to add my own, I can do.
So, here’s a look at my KeyDate:
You’ll notice that I had hit the share button (which sadly looks like the one used in iOS, not Android) and we come across some iOS-looking icons and fonts, which definitely looks out of place. In the settings however, there are some more options and settings you can change.
I think the Cloud backup is a great little feature here, as it allows people to backup there memories from KeyDates and then easily restore them on a new device. There are options for both Google Drive as well as Dropbox.
KeyDates is a nice thought of an application, and I like the fact that there are so many different categories and subcategories on offer to sort through all those important little steps in your life. For me, I’m just getting started with the app, but I’m sure that I’ll have more to add to my KeyDates diary in the next couple of years. The app itself looks okay, although it does feel like a port of an iOS app rather than a straight Android app. For those that wish to create a timeline of some of their most important moments, KeyDates serves this purpose well, and has all of the different categories and subcategories that you’ll need to make that happen. It’s not free, but this is enough to pay for an app of its time sans ads.
Ratings
- Speed (4/5) – No complaints here, KeyDates runs just fine and adding things is nice and quick as well.
- Theme (3.5/5) – With more iOS looks than Android ones, let alone Material Design, there’s definitely room for improvement here.
- Features (4/5) – For those looking for a way of keeping track of milestones, big developments in family life and more, this ticks all the right boxes there.
- Overall (4/5) – KeyDates could do with a sort of facelift, and to lose the iOS looks, but other than that it does what it promises to do without pesky ads getting in the way.
Pros
- Quick and easy to setup a detailed memory for key events in your life, with photos.
- Helps to create a timeline of the big moments in your life, whether or not they’re work or personal.
- Offers cloud sync so users never need to lose a memory again.
- Lots of different categories to choose from, with the ability to add their own subcategories as well.
Cons
- Only offers two cloud storage options.
- Looks like an iOS app in places.
All-in-all, KeyDates is an app that offers users a number of fun and easy to understand ways of monitoring and writing down key events in their lives. It’s easy to use, looks okay and has all sorts of different categories included. For an app of its type, KeyDates is one of the more fully-realised options out there, and while it could do with some interact upgrades, it has it where it counts.