Review: SPB Mobile Shell

(Editor note: Malatesta checks in with a review of SPB Mobile Trounce, easily in the peak 5 pieces of software amid us here at WMExperts. It made HobbesIsReal'southward list of Must Have Windows Mobile Software for a reason. Information technology's my default "start install" suggestion for whatever Windows Mobile user - peculiarly someone who is new to the Os.)

Fashion dorsum in early on 2007, I had given upward on the Treo 700wx (and touchscreen WM devices in full general) to head to the lofty and intriguing globe of WM smartphones, notably the Motorola Q. Part of this was the attraction of a sparse device the other I wanted to try the smartphone (not-touchscreen) version of Windows Mobile.

But I switched dorsum effectually March of this yr and one of the reasons has to practise with SPB Mobile Beat out ($29.95). In brusk, it sort of redefined the user interface (UI) for Windows Mobile and vastly improved how I utilise my Treo 700wx. Indeed, every time I think about switching to a WM smartphone device, I break and remember I'd be giving upwards on Mobile Shell too. So why all the fuss? I promise to explain beneath…

Read on for the full review!

SPB Mobile Shell has three chief components to it:

• Virtual tabs for the Today screen
• A Now Screen (when y'all turn the device on, it displays valuable info)
• Programme Launcher

In addition, you also get a mini-weather program, photo speed dial, world-time clock, contact search and most importantly configurability. There's a whole lot of stuff in here. All the icons and pattern of the program is meant to be finger-friendly (I establish myself using my thumb more than the soft keys on the HTC 6800).

Virtual Tabs

Virtual tabs let yous to expand your today screen by, well, having tabs. Each tab can concord one Today plugin, which can have upwards a large per centum of the screen. The do good here is that they are subconscious when non being used. Allow me give you lot an example of how this benefits y'all, the finish-user: On your Today screen, you lot can throw every bit many plugins as y'all want, only y'all are express by space (and most people exercise not like the idea of having scroll bars). So organizing what to display becomes a contest between how much you want on there and the space available. Yous may want to brandish ten days on your agenda but can only testify iii.

Using Virtual tabs, you tin allot each plugin a much larger pct of screen existent estate, resulting in much more than information and all the same a cleaner look, since it is not all jammed on one screen. Navigating the tabs is done via the D-pad with a swift, fluid motion—in that location are no delays, which impressed me.

At present Screen

This is a uncomplicated idea: imagine powering on your device and at a glance, seeing your calendar, fourth dimension, weather and new emails, voicemail or missed calls. That's what the At present Screen allows and it works quite well. In that location are 2 versions: Classic & Professional, each with slightly different blueprint and layout. It'due south pretty bones and self explanatory.

Program Launcher

I hate the typical Start Carte du jour of Windows Mobile. It'south a poor carry over from the desktop OS. The plan launcher of Mobile Trounce though has some corking advantages over the default system:

1. It'southward dynamic: Nether each category, you can choose to have Mobile Shell display the programs in club most used, keeping the frequently used programs near the summit and less frequent below. This allows much quicker access to your favorite apps. (You tin also disable this for each sub-carte du jour and but take them ordered to your preference).
2. Large icons, clearly identified. No more squinting at those tiny default icons. In Mobile Vanquish you can use each program's default icon or choose from an installed list of SPB icons (which oftentimes are nicer looking than the default).
3. Arrangement. Launching programs is and then much easier when you lot tin organize them into categories and have the least amount of taps and movement to exercise then.

In general, I found I spend much less time looking for that one program to launch than with the default arrangement. This is especially truthful on WM not-touch screen devices where you just have a long list, often going on for pages of programs. Cognitively, you have to know what plan you lot desire its verbal proper name then scroll alphabetically till you get there. With the Plan Launcher in Mobile Vanquish, yous organize past category, programs are listed dynamically past usage and there are far less steps for using your virtually frequent programs. The "Start" icon shows your most recent run programs and there is even a "My Menu" where y'all can put anything you want.

All in all, a existent joy. It's even better than using zLauncher on Palm Bone.

Extras

The included weather program is quite simple but information technology works for a costless general weather program. The weather automobile updates although y'all cannot ready a schedule and I'm not really sure how often it does so. What it displays is the day's loftier and depression temperature, conditions and the week's temperatures. Nada fancy (personally I always recommend Weatherpanel with StoryR'south amazing themes). There is an included World Clock which tin can display alarms and a time for three cities

I really interesting characteristic: the conditions, clock and home tab's icon are dynamic; meaning if it is cloudy out, the icon for the weather condition tab reflects that via the icon. Gimmicky? Peradventure. Merely it's a existent neat feature and information technology's that extra touch that makes this a stand out programme.

For the Treo users, a Photograph Speed punch plugin is not a huge addition, but for every other WM device it'due south a very welcomed addition. You can take up to 3 tabs with photo dial enabled, but sadly simply one row with v contacts. Using the virtual tab function is dandy for this feature because you don't have to worry about "accidentally" dialing a contact. Furthermore, it expands upon the Treo's plugin past adding a click-north-hold characteristic which brings upwards all of that contact's phone information, including the ability to send an SMS to them.

Finally, there is a nice array of Today Themes, based on color hue, which will alter the unabridged device colour scheme and background epitome, giving a graceful compatible appearance.

Usage and Setup

Listing all of these features may audio a fleck overwhelming for the novice, just that is 1 of the remarkable aspects of this program: it's articulate and easy to setup, offering only the right amount of customization in clear English, but without swamping you with dozens of sub-menus and options. Power users may be a scrap frustrated that they cannot change every aspect or re-skin every piece, but I think for the general user they will find a nice balance for options.

One might be inclined to think that adding a new Program Launcher, Now Screen and having those tabs run with all your plugins would greatly reduce both your RAM and speed of the device. Just this was probably the biggest surprise: I accept noticed no negative effects in speed and responsiveness on my Treo 700wx or HTC 6800. On average I found information technology consumes nigh 1.five-2.0mb of system retentivity (RAM) and about 1.7mb of system storage (ROM), which because all that this program contains and replaces it remarkably modest. Likewise, I have not noticed any issue on bombardment consumption—if it's there, information technology is negligible.

Criticisms

There aren't likewise many here as a lot of the problems people had with the program were addressed with the contempo ane.5 update: stability, speed and battery issues appear to have all be resolved; having said that, nigh of the critiques could be centered on the lack of customization that some WM users are habituated too. For example, if you want to replace the icons for the Tabs or the Program Launcher, yous are stuck with SPB's express option with no current way to add or modify those. The power to only use one plugin per Tab is also abrasive, particularly if the plugin you lot are using is only takes up one line of space, too not all third party plugins will work (but most do).

The aforementioned event of customizability goes with the Programme Launcher where you are limited to nine categories. All of these are optional and yous can add / remove programs from them, just the categories themselves are permanent. Some could also complaining the toll at $29.95 and while this does get in ane of the more than expensive software purchases, I think it is actually priced fairly(particularly since you tin can use information technology indefinitely on all your future WM Professional devices).

Decision

Despite some little problems, which I think only a tiny subset of ability-users volition exist concerned with, SPB Mobile Shell ($29.95) is a great investment and one of my acme software picks of 2007. If you are new to the Windows Mobile platform, frustrated with the current UI/Start carte du jour or just want to fit all of those plugins on one screen, giving your device a overnice facelift, consider giving a SPB Mobile Vanquish a 15-solar day trial run, I'm certain yous'll exist impressed.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/review-spb-mobile-shell

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