Extreme Text Offers Threaded Text Messages for Windows Mobile [Archive]

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Mike Temporale

10-27-2007, 02:00 PM

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://software.smartphonethoughts.com/product.asp?id=15091' target='_blank'>http://software.smartphonethoughts.com/product.asp?id=15091</a> </div>"Extreme Text is the premier Threaded SMS Texting application. It allows you to view all of your Texts as separate conversations for each contact you SMS, much like an Instant Message Conversation. It also adds great features including emoticons, following links in the text, User Defined Text Support, Photo Contact Support, and more... And it works with your regular WM databases so all your current messages will be included and you can switch back to the regular Text program at any time without losing a message. "<img alt="" border="1" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com//spt/auto/1193487683.usr3.gif" />The makers of eXtreme Agenda have added another application to their line up - Extreme Text. With support for photo contacts and using the existing Windows Mobile database, Extreme Text will transform your text messages from the standard email like appearance to a nicely integrated instant messenger chat. You can download a trial version from our <a href="http://software.smartphonethoughts.com/product.asp?id=15091">affiliate store</a>, or purchase a copy for $12.95.

yslee

10-27-2007, 09:58 PM

Oh this is really great! I've installed it, and it's really really smooth. It's fast and it seems to have a nice tiny memory footprint. It integrates with the default Today screen quite well (except for the program link). Read messages from the program are automatically marked read off the Today screen as well. A few things to ask:

1. I noticed that the view is sorted alphabetically by sender name/number. Is there a way to sort by date/time, with latest SMSes at the top?

2. Is it possible to have some kind of on-screen notification pop up, like that of a Treo (the Palm OS kind)? It also makes accessing the program easier, since all the message links and buttons for me still default to Outlook even though I want to see my SMSes.

3. I'm not sure if this is possible given the way you styled the thread view, but I'm not terribly fond of constricting my messages to two lines, and having to actually open them from within the thread to view the rest of the message.

4. Also a little kludgey to me is the way phone numbers and emails are handled. Having to first select the message with said phone number, then opening the messsage, then hitting the "OK" button again to open the "links" (phone number in this case) in the message strike me as too many presses. Again, see the Palm OS Treo implementation for what I consider to be an ideal implementation.

Complaint #1 is the main reason why this isn't my default SMS program yet. Other than that, I think this is a great 1.0 release.

Birdsoft

10-28-2007, 02:20 AM

Thanks for the input. I always like to hear these kinds of things

1 will be coming very soon, probably in the first update this week...

Ill have to look into 2. But this ties more into the OS than are program does at this point... I got away with not calling any "privelaged APIs" I believe, so it is a much cleaner and less intrusive original implementation...

3. I may offer 1 line but 3 lines per message will only show 2 messages on the screen at once so isnt terribly effective, and because this is a 'list control' the height of each item must be the same. I will consider "variable length" drawing of messages in later versions...

4. This is technology taken out of Extreme Agenda. Really if only one link is in the message
then it has just as many clicks (2 ) as if you were highlighting each link individually.. and if your message has more than one hyperlink, well this makes it more concrete, so no real prompt has to be done to be sure this is what you wanted to do... But I havent checked out the Palm OS implementation yet, as my technology already existed so was used in the first iteration of the program...I will have to look into this further...

Thanks Again...

jychow

10-28-2007, 03:35 AM

yslee

10-28-2007, 07:19 AM

Note the lack of US users in the thread so far. :P

JY, I'm not getting what you're getting... the program isn't integrating as well into my i600 (not Blackjack; Blackjack is i607, without Wifi and 2nd camera). I'm still getting linked into the default SMS program when I tried sending a SMS from the default contacts pane.

I do agree, the default contact search in Extreme Text is primitive. There's smart search in Extreme Agenda (though I still prefer the default WM implementation), so I'm surprised it didn't make it to Extreme Text.

I believe #3 will solve itself after you get a reply from the person.

Regarding my own comments:

3. Yes, I do realise you've used some kind of fixed view for the thread view (hence I wondered if it was possible) but how about offering an option for smaller fonts? I'm perfectly fine with shrinking the font size down (as it is I'm finding the text rather huge in comparison). Anyway this is a minor quibble, don't break your back over this. :P

4. Check out the Palm OS iteriation if you can some time. What it does is that the link highlight scrolls as you scroll through your messages. So if there is one link per message it's practically the number of messages + 1 click to activate the link. Again I do realised your implementation is different; that's why this is #4 on the list. Again, don't break your back if it calls for a re-write of your code.

I've uninstalled the other free alternatives for now, and see how it works for me on a day-to-day basis. I'm really liking this so far.

Birdsoft

10-28-2007, 02:57 PM

FANTASTIC program!!!!! What I have been looking for since Treo days. I am using a Samsung i600 (aka Blackjack).

It integrates so well with WM database. And it also replace the system program when I press for the "sms" features.

However, a few issues:

1) when i find the contact in the "dial" program, and press menu - send text message -, it only brings me to Exteme Text program without opening a "New Message" window for me to input my message.

Ill look into this and see what I can and cant do. It may be possible...

2) whenever i try to send a text message within Extreme text, the search for the contact is too troublesome - i have to scroll one by one. any intelligent search planning for future release?

Yes, this is planned as well for this and Extreme Agenda. It will have the intelligent search that the main contact screen has(in XA the Select Contact Dialog doesnt have this in it yet either). Right now though you can push the first letter of the last name multiple times until you get to the right one.. So it has very limited search..

3) when i send text message within the Extreme Text program, it only shows phone number, not the contact name and picture after sending text message. if i send via system message program, the picutre ID and name appear in Extreme text program.

Yes, this should resolve with a reply. It is a known issue that we will be trying to straighten out in the upcoming releases.

4) within the "compose message" windows, i can return to Main by pressing "back" key. But within the "compose message" windows, if my cursors in at the lower screen at composing, the back key has no function. no biggie, but maybe more of a convenience sake.

If you ar in the edit message part of the screen back does a backspace like a keyboard... I dont really see a way around this, as it is the expected usage I believe. Is it not even doing this somewhere?

BTW, i am using Malaysia Maxis network.

Hope you can solve this issue in 1.x. Thanks. Great program in the right direction.

Sincerely
J.Y.

Thanks for trying it out!!

Birdsoft

10-28-2007, 03:00 PM

Note the lack of US users in the thread so far. :P

JY, I'm not getting what you're getting... the program isn't integrating as well into my i600 (not Blackjack; Blackjack is i607, without Wifi and 2nd camera). I'm still getting linked into the default SMS program when I tried sending a SMS from the default contacts pane.

If tmail(the main mail program) is running in the background it will open that instead.. I am working on a way around that!!

I do agree, the default contact search in Extreme Text is primitive. There's smart search in Extreme Agenda (though I still prefer the default WM implementation), so I'm surprised it didn't make it to Extreme Text.

See info above.

3. Yes, I do realise you've used some kind of fixed view for the thread view (hence I wondered if it was possible) but how about offering an option for smaller fonts? I'm perfectly fine with shrinking the font size down (as it is I'm finding the text rather huge in comparison). Anyway this is a minor quibble, don't break your back over this. :P

Yep, I will get a smaller font size in there in the next release this week... Thanks!!

4. Check out the Palm OS iteriation if you can some time. What it does is that the link highlight scrolls as you scroll through your messages. So if there is one link per message it's practically the number of messages + 1 click to activate the link. Again I do realised your implementation is different; that's why this is #4 on the list. Again, don't break your back if it calls for a re-write of your code.

Yeah, I guess now that you describe it it is what I assumed it was. It is a pretty big re-write that may or may not be done in conjunction with a change going into Extreme Agenda as well...

Thanks again for all the input!!

zilla31

10-28-2007, 05:59 PM

Here's a US user for you :) I've been looking for a WM6 SMS threading app since i migrated from WM5 (and lost use of the excellent txtman app from Ben Harashima). Extreme Text is looking like a great alternative but i have a few observations:

1) I too would like to be able to sort by latest message received (or by contacts with unread messages received?) rather than alpha by sender (being able to switch sorts on the fly would also be nice).

2) Some of my contacts don't display their picture... Not exactly sure why. As far as i can tell there is no difference between the format, size, etc. of those that DO display and those that don't.

3) There is a bit of weird behavior in my list of SMS contacts (main Extreme Text screen)... often i have several entries for the same contact, for example right now my wife has 4 threads to choose from:

-> Wetsel, Katey
-> Wetsel, Katey(m)
-> +1555-555-5555
-> (555) 555-5555

How can we ensure that these are grouped together consistently as "Wetsel, Katey"?

4) It would be REALLY useful to be able to delete (from the main screen) a contact and ALL associated text messages (sent and received). Or perhaps an option once inside a contact's thread to delete all messages?

5) I'd love to be able to change the font (all screens). I like the larger font on the main screen but would actually prefer something considerably smaller once i click on a contact's name (and subsequently when i click on a specific message to read it fully).

Keep up the good work... And keep us posted of new releases!

zilla31

10-28-2007, 06:38 PM

I thought of one more question: Is there parameter that can be sent to the extreme text executable to directly launch into sending an SMS to a particular contact? I use rightmenu and can create a shortcut that sends "-service "SMS" -to "5551112222"" and it will launch the internal WM6 SMS app directly to a new mail window to that number (which is pretty slick and time saving)... does this question make sense?

superrrguy

10-28-2007, 06:48 PM

This app slows my my phone down to a crawl. Yes i have too many messages but it's such a pain in the ass to delete messages in windows mobile.

The interace needs a little work. Maybe something a little more consistent with the windows mobile look. The messags should def be listed in received order.

I think any text threading app should have a delete conversation to delete all the messages at once.

One more note. When I tried to uninstall, I was unable to get to the default win mobile app. clicking the mail icon would try to open extreme text. I had to reinstall. Go to options to unlink to system comands and then unistall again.

Jerry Raia

10-29-2007, 03:41 AM

I'm waiting for my CC to be approved. :rolleyes:

Birdsoft

10-29-2007, 03:08 PM

The interace needs a little work. Maybe something a little more consistent with the windows mobile look.

Really?

Thanks, a lot of the suggestions will be in 1.01 out this week or in future versions..

zilla31

10-29-2007, 04:25 PM

Birdsoft... I'm just fine with the interface :) As long as you are fixing the other stuff, i personally will register. When do you expect that release to drop?

Birdsoft

10-29-2007, 08:32 PM

I hope to have a new release out tomorrow possibly.. I already have a few of the issues addressed...

zilla31

10-29-2007, 08:45 PM

Not to be a pest, but what is new in this release? Honestly, all i would like to see immediately is sorting by new and/or most recent messages first, being able to change the font size, and being able to delete entire conversations (at that top level). I'll register immediately once those are implemented. Thanks for all the hard work (and for taking the time to talk to us here/listen to our requests).

Birdsoft

10-29-2007, 08:53 PM

All 3 of those, and a couple other things will be addressed in this first release..! :) Two of the three are already done..

zilla31

10-29-2007, 08:57 PM

wow very cool... gotta love that turnaround. responsive developers are #1 on my wish list for any new SP software so you've got me hooked :) Can't wait for the next release... Do me a solid and post here once it's released? THANKS!

yslee

10-30-2007, 03:58 AM

Really?

*thinks about Windows Mobile UI - Calendar, Outlook, Tasks, etc*

*makes face*

No, really, please, don't. As it is it's actually quite pleasing on the eyes, just needs some tweaks in the usability department rather than pure cosmetics.

I hope to have a new release out tomorrow possibly.. I already have a few of the issues addressed...

Yay! Looking forward to it. My main issues still stand after using it for the past couple of days: would love way to sort the main view, and some quick way to access incoming SMSes.

Mike Temporale

10-31-2007, 03:10 AM

I have to agree with all the other comments about sorting of msgs and finding a contact to txt.

The other issue that I have noticed, while it does support rotating screens, it doesn't appear to redraw 100% correctly. If the device is in landscape when the app is launched, and I close it, the app will display a scroll bar because the list items are longer than they should be. If the screen is portrait when launched and you open the device (or slide out the keyboard) the screen rotates and the list items don't grow wider to fill the screen 100%.

Does that make sense? I can post screen shots if you what.

All in all, a great app. I need a little better on the integration side. But I'm enjoying it.

BoenBoen

10-31-2007, 10:40 AM

This is what I have been looking for since I migrated to Samsung Blackjack from Treo 680. My suggestion:

Please add the capability to send sms to other numbers other than that listed as mobile phone number in a contact. Sadly, MS WM6 contact only has 1 field for mobile phone number. In Treo, I can add many mobile phones in one contact.
Is there a way to delete one chat thread instead of deleting each message in the thread?
It will be nice if the the program will pop open to the latest message arrived.

BoenBoen

10-31-2007, 11:17 AM

Is there a way to forward a particular message in a thread to other recipient?

yslee

10-31-2007, 11:52 AM

I thought I'd add this suggestion: a way to find a contact from the main thread view.

Birdsoft

11-01-2007, 12:17 AM

Ok, Version 1.01 has been released... You can get the download at

http://www.birdsoft.biz/extremetext.htm

I plan on releasing on my reseller's sites tomorrow, but to update or try the new trial all of the trial downloads are the same, just install it over your current version...

Some Changes in it:
* Sort By Newest on Main List
* Delete Conversation
* Message "Font Height" Setting
* Message "No Date" Setting
* Message "One Line" Setting
* Left/Right go to previous/next message on Single Message
* Open in Background to Conversation, New Message not marked Unread on you
* Symbol Select Fix
* Rotate - Resize Columns
* Install removes Shortcut
* "New" on Front Left Button
* Other Resolve and Sending Fixes

Thanks to everyone for helping, and I hop this new version helps with a lot of people's initial gripes.....

Birdsoft
__________________

zilla31

11-01-2007, 07:46 PM

great (and super fast) release. addresses the good majority of what i wanted (personally). what's your timetable on addressing the search for contact on new message issue? on my t-mo dash it's especially painful to scroll through my hundreds of contacts because extreme text doesn't recognize every key on the keypad (will only skip forward to some letters from some reason... like i can't go to "M" fast even though i have plenty of "M" contacts...

Oh and there is one other problem i'm having but may just be an issue on my end... only some of my contacts pictures show up. i can't readily identify what is different about the ones that do and the ones that don't (they show up in any other program that reads the contact photo). maybe you could clue me in?

Again... thanks for the super-fast second release. The program is plenty useable now, we're moving on to the icing i think :)

quiksand

11-02-2007, 08:20 PM

Here is a great App and is also free. Check it out.

IMSMS

http://dsosoftware07.googlepages.com/imsms-instantmessagingsms

Ainvar

11-03-2007, 03:37 AM

Was wondering how can this application be set as the default SMS client on the Tmobile Dash.

Mike Temporale

11-04-2007, 02:10 PM

Ok, Version 1.01 has been released...

Awesome! I actually had to stop using it because it was hard to find the newest txt sent. But this update should fix that. I'll be installing that and giving it a run today!

Keep up the nice work. My phone will be running on all "Extreme" soon enough!

austinchuck

11-08-2007, 02:42 PM

Is there a way to change the Today screen settings such that when you select "Text Message (1)" it fires up Extreme Text?

Mike Temporale

11-10-2007, 01:36 PM

Is there a way to change the Today screen settings such that when you select "Text Message (1)" it fires up Extreme Text?

Yeah, that would be nice feature. I mapped #3 on my speed dial to run ET, but it would be nice if it managed to take over the message button when you receive a txt.

All in all, a great app. V1.01 has really improved things. Nice work Birdsoft!