Hello, After trying out some of the Spb software I want to purchase some of the applications, however I have some questions first.
This are the applications I want to get:
GPRS Monitor
FS Keyboard.
Phone Suite
Mobile Shell
Time
Weather
Pocket Plus
Now the thing is some of these applications overlap, and provide the same or very similar functions.
For example, Pocket Plus, Mobile Shell, and Phone Suite.
In pocket plus I only use the Close button alteration to be able to configure behavior depending on application.
So buying the entire Suite seems silly.
On Mobile Shell I use the Application Launcher and Photo Dialer.
I want to get the Weather and Time application seperatly, so will not use the built in function.
Although I do use the integration of them to have them on the tab, So to see current weather on the Tab.
Last is the Phone suite, on that I use everything except the Photo Dialer since it is built in to Mobile Shell.
But as far as I can see it, buying the pocket Plus and the Mobile shell, seams silly both in terms of Memory usage and Price, when I only use 1 or 2 features of it.
For example I could drop Pocket Plus, if some other application provides the Close button alteration.
Click to Close, Gesture to minimize, and Click and hold for advanced options/Application Switching, and individual settings for applications.
I could use the Phone suite Photo Dialer, but I still use the Tabs from Mobile Shell to integrate Application Launcher/Battery indicator, Time and weather.
I really don't like the type of tabs Pocket plus gives, I like much better the way Mobile Shell does it, with auto hiding and Icons.
Well do you guys have some nice suggestions?
Regards.
Brian.
Well off the top of my heap I can't think of any applications apart from Pocket Plus that offers the close button alterations to the level that you are talking so it’s a very hard one, it's just whether you are willing to pay the extra for a few more features which will make your device extra user friendly. I will see if I can find anything else, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
Well, that feature of SPB plus is really nice.
I have some experience in programming in VB, but never for Pocket PC, so was thinking about making one my self if none exists.
But then again I have not used Windows on my Desktop since Windows XP SP2 came out.
And I'm not sure if it is possible to develop Pocket PC applications on Linux.
But I keep my hope up that someone out there has already made an alternative.
I find it really strange that for so long, MS has not implemented it them self, I really sometime wonder if they even use Windows Mobile them self.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=283658
Is the HTC X-button app which does the close function correctly. Comes as standard on the Artermis and a few others, but HTC have released this as a seperate app.
Hope this save you some cash as it is also free !
I know the HTC app, However it is far from Advanced enough.
The HTC app changes so that when using the button it closes app instead of hiding.
you can also configure that it closes when push and hold and minimize when only short tap.
However the Spb hack makes it much more advanced.
Tap=Close.
Drag down=Minimize.
Push and Hold=Open a menu to choose what to do (including swithing between applications.
Additionaly it has a very nice feature where you can tell it to always minimize certain applications, instead of closing them.
I use this for Messenger, Core Player and Skype.
Very handy.
Version 1.5 of X-button does all that, you set it up so that you get;
tap = minimize
tap & Hold = Close
Menu on today screen allows for task switching and closing of apps without going into them.
Settings allow for identifying applications which are excluded from x-button.
Also check out the new Version of HTC Home. I used spb mobile shell and phone suite and weather, now I just use this one application, with considerably less of a memory footprint. This is also Free.
Spb software used to be great, but they are lagging behind now in my opinion, and need to stop charging for multiple applications that do overlapping tasks.
HTC Home here
X-Button 1.5 here
Thanks, I will try and have a look at them.
Btw, the link for HTC Home did not work, but found it by doing a search.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=314241&highlight=HTC+Home
SPB Phone Suite has two major advantages to me: 1. Phone Profiles (switch to vibration while on the meeting and at night) and 2. Photo Dialer.
It does not seem like HTC Home plugin covers those areas.
I wonder if there is another app which can possibly do these two native phone functions better than SPB Phone Suite. So far I don't see alternatives
Well, after some searching I found Photo Contacts PRO 5 http://www.pocketx.net/products/photocontactspro_ppc/index.html but somehow I don't like how it looks. And also it takes too much space of my Today screen which I don't like. Probably I'm going to keep SPB Phone Suite.
Konstantin
konste said:
SPB Phone Suite has two major advantages to me: 1. Phone Profiles (switch to vibration while on the meeting and at night) and 2. Photo Dialer.
It does not seem like HTC Home plugin covers those areas.
Konstantin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm, think you should look again, my HTC Home has a home tab, with the clock and missed messages / calls indicators/ buttons, a favourite person tab with space for 9 photo contacts, a weather tab, an application launcher tab, and a phone profile tab with selectable profiles of normal- silent - vibrate only- and automatic (vibrate in meetings)
OK, So I tried t install HTC Home and the HTC X-Button 1.5.
Well the Home plug-in looks very nice!, unfortunatly my device slow with this version.
My rom already has the HTC TaskManager v1.5 which, from as far as I can see on screenshots, have the same functionality as the X-Button 1.5.
But I can't find anywhere to set individual application preferences, and also not the minimize on geasture thing.
But in lack of other, For now, I will proably go with the HTC Taskmanager.
Together with Spb Phone suite and Spb Mobile Shell, at least there is discount when buying multiple products.
Thanks for the advice guys.
Related
I have a question for users. I think I may be too harsh on SPBs products.
Current Users
How many of you are using SPB Pocket Plus...
Do you notice system resource drain when you use it?
What features do you generally use in the package?
Ex-Users
If you stopped using SPB Pocket plus why did you stop?
curently using spb pocket plus and spb weather and spb diary.
ive read about another program like SPB PocketPlus called spbsh or somthing like that. i want to try that soon to see what the difference is.
i am actually surprised at how little pocket plus slows down the system.
in terms of what features i use:
today plug in
close button
taskbar batt indicator
buttons (is enabled but i dont think i use it)
repeating alarms
PIE
file explorer
safe mode (tho ive never used safe mode, the checkbox is ticked)
hi
i m using spb plus and shell with all features. and i do not have any trouble with them.
I have been using pocket plus for about 2 years now.
It has a mild impact on system performance, e.g. in my case boot time has increased by 5 seconds and it takes about 1.5MB of program memory. However what it provides in return is far far morethan what it takes. For me I cannot imagine using windows mobile without pocket plus
Regards
spbsh
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SBSH iLauncher?
I am an ex user...
I realized the only feature I used was the close button where if I use a gesture (swipe down) it will close the application vs. minimize. Everything else I checked off.. Eventually, i stopped using it cause it was a memory hog and was conflicting with calligrapher starting up
Neil_Brown said:
SBSH iLauncher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah SBSH iLauncher and a couple of their other programs.
I just found this link. It compares the SBSH suite to the SBP suite.
hxxp://www.sbsh.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=13980&pid=135600&st=0&#entry135600
I like SPB but i want to try the SBSH stuff too. do you have an opinion as to which is better?
i'm an ex user...I just found it to be too big and clunky for waht it did. I prefer light applicaitons without today plugins. Maybe I've been to short-sided where SPB is concerned.
i currently use pocket plus+diary+weather with all features on,very good suite of software ,tryed sbsh products first of all but think that spb is updated much frequently making a good advantage
I use SPB Pocket Plus, Mobile Shell which is something of an overlap with PP, in terms of what it can do, but is limited in some ways. Like others I also have Weather and Diary running on J Wrights WM6. There is a very slight time lag on Pocket Plus but that's about it.
They are the first programs I install on a hard reset / upgrade
Afternoon everyone. I'm a long time HTC Hermes user but have always missed the one-hand of my old Treo 650. So yesterday I picked up a used 750 ($150 not bad). It had WM5 on it so I promptly upgraded it to WM6 with the stock ATT rom.
What I didn't realize is that everything that ran on my Hermes isn't going to run on my Treo. I have two big irritations that I hope someone can clear up for me.
First is with the HTC Home Plugin. The plugin installs and runs fine (along with the HTCCustomize). However its the problem is with the Today screen item called Dialpad Lookup. If I uncheck this item then I lose button functionality, for example hitting the red button to lock and turn off the screen. The only thing I have seen for this is some registry tweaks to let you move the Dialpad Lookup up or down. Any ideas what to do about this?
Second is there is no Task Manager / X to Close instead of Hide program. I tried to install HTC Task Manager a couple times and each time had to Hard reset to defaults. I also tried SPB Pocket Plus, which is what I used on my Hermes, and every time that resulted in neverending lockups and hard resets.
What app are you using to make the X a close (OK button to minimize) and to Task Manage?
Thanks!
I use SPB Pocket Plus on Treo 750v WM6 without any problem...sorry, not much help.
Possible Answers
Hey d00d,
Just got my Treo and been playing with it a bit.
As for HTC Home i use and recommend Touch Commander which simulate the Home Screen and adds some HTC cube capabilities. it's nice though it costs money.
As for the Dial Lookup issue, What i did is Hide the Lookup (Menu --- Preferences --- Hide Lookup field) BUT you have to leave the dial lookup plugin enabled on the today Settings.
Now you will have the Red Button feature without the lookup field on the today screen.
Last thing regarding the task manager, i use tman - the best i've used so far.
You may also like Task Manager in Battery Status plugin - good as well
Hope i helped
qbout task manager
I used magic button and it is free and I think that it is the best.
task manager
I use the 1.5 version of vp3g x button which works on my wife treo. and I have oxios to keep it clean, I however haven't managed to get the htc home going like the one on my hermes
Try WKTask
I've tried all kinds of task managers over the last couple of years that I've had my 750 and the best one I've found is called WKTask. I highly recommend it because not only does it give the X in the corner, but it also gives you the equivalent of a task tray across the top of the screen which allows you to quickly switch from one application to another. It also has a nifty launcher utility. Go to the site and check it out:
http://soft.photoracer.net/docs/wktask_en.html
I am in no way associated or affiliated with the product, I just really dig it and it's free too. It may seem a little complicated at first, but it's easier than you think and worth the effort to learn the capabilities.
Andrew
If you upgrade to WM6.1 it finally includes a task manager and all you have to do is hold down the "ok" button and the task manager appears.
The task manager is included since WM5 and if I remember it correct since WM2003, new is that it is available from the ok-button (I think this is palm-specific).
I use wisbar lite, not free, but easy to use and also with the buttons of all apps on top and You can configure it to close every app with the "X" instead of minimizing it.
Available from
http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/
abs99 said:
I've tried all kinds of task managers over the last couple of years that I've had my 750 and the best one I've found is called WKTask. I highly recommend it because not only does it give the X in the corner, but it also gives you the equivalent of a task tray across the top of the screen which allows you to quickly switch from one application to another. It also has a nifty launcher utility. Go to the site and check it out:
http://soft.photoracer.net/docs/wktask_en.html
I am in no way associated or affiliated with the product, I just really dig it and it's free too. It may seem a little complicated at first, but it's easier than you think and worth the effort to learn the capabilities.
Andrew
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm glad it works on square screen, because it's truly the most important utility on my TyTN.
Hello people,
Firstly after reading I registrated myself since I couldn't find a answer on a question that I've.
At the homescreen of the touch pro you've have two kind of 'hotlinks' (as I call them) called "incomming calls" & "agenda". Note I'm not sure if it is called this since I don't have the english version.
Now I wanted to add some other 'hotlinks' to the homescreen such as 'tasks' and 'notes'. Now can anyone tell me if this is possible with a hack or with another modification?
Nope. You are stuck with what is already there. What alot of people do is use a program called "second today". You can map it to a button on the phone and it gives you another today screen since the touch flo3d takes up the entire screen. On your second screen set it up more like the traditional WinMo with everything you need (Calendar, tasks, wireless, rss feeds, whatever) enabled.
Or, you can disable TF3D and run the "normal" WinMo today.
venelar said:
Nope. You are stuck with what is already there. What alot of people do is use a program called "second today". You can map it to a button on the phone and it gives you another today screen since the touch flo3d takes up the entire screen. On your second screen set it up more like the traditional WinMo with everything you need (Calendar, tasks, wireless, rss feeds, whatever) enabled.
Or, you can disable TF3D and run the "normal" WinMo today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm thanks for the info. I guess I just go find the program second today then
Like the one in SPB mobile shell, but for apps rather than avalible screens.
like this one http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/mobileshell/
mmmalas said:
Like the one in SPB mobile shell, but for apps rather than avalible screens.
like this one http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/mobileshell/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not sure about this.... what if only 2 open apps? or 20 apps? how to scroll? What seems more user friendly is something like coverflow/music tab, per app like one screenshot and can swipe between apps. It is however a very big load for the system i think....
mouki_9 said:
not sure about this.... what if only 2 open apps? or 20 apps? how to scroll? What seems more user friendly is something like coverflow/music tab, per app like one screenshot and can swipe between apps. It is however a very big load for the system i think....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you open 2 apps, then you have 2 windows opposite to each others, with 20 windows then big carousel .
system usage not going to be much unless you are navigating the task switcher, but once it dissapear then no need for it to run with full memory
Hmm...
mmmalas said:
if you open 2 apps, then you have 2 windows opposite to each others, with 20 windows then big carousel .
system usage not going to be much unless you are navigating the task switcher, but once it dissapear then no need for it to run with full memory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having a look at this now... It is actually a little more complex than you think though. Even before we go anywhere near the carousel part (3D is well out of my league) you still have to think about how your going to get the screenshots to display on it:
Windows only actually performs paint operations on active windows therefore we need to take screenshots of that active window, how are we going to do that?
a) Use a timer taking screen shots at regular intervals (every few secs or so) of the currently active window using the last one taken as the screenshot when inactive - Obviously this still does require both memory and proc time to perform even when whatever UI you create is not actually active. This however is the most likely to work solution to the problem.
b) See if there is any way you can catch a window at the moment it is being minimized - This is potentially difficult but would probably be the most accurate. However this is may not actually possible (need to research a little more though) - i.e. can you actually catch the window before it actually minimizes or are you always going to be too late and end up capturing nothing. Kind of like trying to photograph a bullet from a gun using a handheld camera by listening for the sound of it firing (capturing the close event on the window and acting on it before the actual window it was sent to acts on that event) <---- Maybe a more experienced dev has some thought on this?
I also agree with mouki a little on this one in terms of usability. As much as your idea is much cooler to look at after about two days I would want to swap it for something where I could actually efficiently switch between tasks rather than rolling through an endless carousel trying to find that *bloody* app I wanted to switch too.
I'm going to see what I can come up with but I think it's going to end up being tile based as that is the most efficient as you'll be able to see more at one time but definitely like the idea of having thumbnails rather than just names for a switcher...
However I'm working on another project though at the mo (Leo as a fully customisable remote control for our PC's) so wont have much time just now to look at a switcher project, however will keep you posted on what I find out...
this will be more usable really in terms of switching, as you will have photo of what you are switching to rather than just a name.
it all depends on how your memeory works really.
remember how you switch windows in MS windows with alt tab, or win+tab.
its less usage on the brain that way.
as for closing, you dont care about closing, since once its closed then there is no need to display. what you care about is minimizing, or when win is inactive.
I can do this type of application on the PC very easily using AutoHotKey script. however I have no clue how PPC programing is done
A starter for ten
Fortunately my background in programming comes from the .net framework so it's reasonably easy to make the jump to .net compact framework ppc (even if I've got to get used to the reduced ammount of functions). I can see how this would be different for you... I've just taken a look at what AutoHotKey is probably the nearest equivelent for you would be MortScript (Pretty powerful)
Heres our starter for ten anyway in vb.net: http://anoriginalidea.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/getting-a-screenshot-using-vbnet-on-the-compact-framework-20/ <--- This shows the library that would be used to capture the screen shots.
I've been happily using PocketBreeze+PocketInformant for years on Axim.
Switched to a TouchPro2 and to my surprise I really like Sense.
The problem is, there's no way to show if there are any tasks due or starting today. Don't want to use 2nd Today, trying to keep memory usage down. Cookie Home Tab shows tasks but there's virtually no control over what's at the top and it doesn't tell how many are due today / tomorrow. And all the calendars I know of (PI, AF, Agenda 1, ThumbCal, SBSH's-forgot-the-name) take a while to load (relatively speaking).
The stock POL is fast but it doesn't show tasks. The problem is I don't always remember to run the stock Task program.
So... is there a standalone (not Today plugin) calendar that's as fast as POL, and shows tasks ? Or an add-on to POL ?
hmmm... leave the calender open - let it autostart, so you have it always open.
take look here. It needs time to load - but you have a very detailed view.
The site is in german - but the pictures aren't :-D
to get a (english) version click bottom right on "Testversion"
iAgenda.
In CHT just assign then this app, that it is called as for tasks and/or calendar.
Moved as not software release.