Who else is disappointed with the Today Screen?

[Martin I Pettinger]

Maybe it’s just me but I do not feel that the standard today screen does a PPC 2002 justice. I have an iPAQ 3850 and I have been experimenting with Gigabar v1.58 which I like, Dashboard which I am stuggling to master (I did install v1.2 d from the Compaq site) and now Wisbar v1.1.0.

I have downloaded some Dashboard Skins to try which have Wisbar support but I cannot seem to get the Wisbar bit to work. When I download the Dashboard Skins I save them in Program Files\Compaq\Dashboard\Skins\

Wisbar does not pick up the bitmaps though as it only seems to pick up files under My Documents. Oh I have also learnt not to automatically convert the bmp’s via Active Sync. Is it because I am using Compaq Dash v1.2 d rather than the “commercial” version.

Now that I can skin the top bit and the middle bit what about the bottom bit. Seeing a grey bar with New in the bottom left corner is a bit dull – can this bit be skinned too. Is it just me or do other PocketPC users lament the lack of customisation for the today screen. Why is everything so square!

[Brad Adrian]

So, is your point that there's not enough information available on your Today screen or that there's not enough cool eye candy? Either way, there are TONS of add-ins that should be able to do just about anything you want.

[Martin I Pettinger]

Hi

I agree there are a lot of plug-ins. Looking at the snoopsoft site for dashboard it gives the impression that the whole screen can be skinned - but I am guessing that this is PPC 2000 only.

I have used Windows CE 1.0 and 2.0 before and you could change the colour scheme - place icons where you wanted them and unless I was imagining things you could change the fonts. None of this needed add ons.

I feel that PPC 2002 has taken a step backwards in terms of "eye candy" At the moment I am trying to master tsk files, tweak registry for fonts, learn dashboard, wisbar and gigabar.

Martin

[bdeli]

There is a Dashboard for PocketPC 2002 as well. Actually Dashboard has been going through quite some updates and the latest release is 1.5x.

As for the Today Screen, you can do a search since there are loads of plugins you can use - and a lot of them come for free. You can also try to create your own theme.

I did not understand exactly how can you "place icons where you wanted them and unless I was imagining things you could change the fonts. None of this needed add ons. " I have a Windows CE 2.0 device - still working.... and up to my knowledge you cannot do that much customization.

[bdeli]

This is my today screen with Wisbar (icbar) running and some plugins:

[Evee Ev]

Question...can you run the IcBar along with Wisbar or is it one or the other? And, i don't see the Apple icons on the IcBar site...where can I get them? Thanks.

[bdeli]

The author of wisbar had discontinued working on Wisbar a few months ago. Up to my knowledge three people - Ictinus for Icbar http://www.ictinus.com/icbar/ and Pelmar - http://www.pelmarinc.com/pocketpc.htm have worked/are working on new versions of wisbar. You can check the websites out for you to download and try the two versions.

Also the apple icon is part of a skin. You can skin wisbar in any way you like - so when you are at these pages downloading the software, take a look at the skins available.

Last thing, Pelmar's Wisbar is fully integrated with Dasboard 1.5x. If a theme is changed, it will also alter the wisbar theme. It is not supported with Ictinus Icbar - though I presonally prefer the latter!

[Martin I Pettinger]

bdeli

I like your screen - couple of questions.

1) How do you get all the little program icons underneath the Wisbar
2) What is the plug-in which displays battery charge, memory space etc.

I've had more joy setting up dashboard and wisbar. As I have the Compaq Dashboard 1.2d not 1.5 I have to set up the Wisbar manually.

A final question does Dashboard 1.5 allow e-mail accounts other than ActiveSync - i.e. POP3 accounts.

Dashboard also seems slow on my iPAQ 3850

Martin

[bdeli]

Martin,

I decided not to use Dashboard any longer since it slows down my iPAQ - so decided to use the today screen..

I am currently using tdLaunch for the icons - http://www.nakka.com/soft/ptools/

For the Battery Meter/Storage Meters I am using Powerlevel - http://www.scarybearsoftware.com/ppc_pl_2_overview.html (This is not freeware)

There are more freeware apps you can load for Calendar and Tasks display. I am also using Phone Today from Burr Oak Software to display my BT cell phone connection status.

[Ravenswing]

About the most useful add-in I've found so far is located here (http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/kohgo/index_en.html). It displays appointments and tasks in a convenient small package and doesn't take up vast amounts of space in my (restricted) memory.

CityTime Today is also pretty cool for travelling.