PDAJunkie Reviews Oz MiniBar

[Crystal Eitle]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pdajunkie.net/index.html?OzMiniBar.htm&2' target='_blank'>http://www.pdajunkie.net/index.html...OzMiniBar.htm&2</a><br /><br /></div>PDAJunkie has written an extensive review of Oz MiniBar, a combination launcher, task switcher, and, well, it's kind of a Jack-of-all-trades: "You have the option of viewing all of your memory information, changing your today themes, randomly receiving lottery numbers, controlling your sound, soft reseting, toggling the OzMiniBar Icons from Small to Large, Change your OzMiniBar Theme or Background, and powering off at the tap of ONE icon!" Best of all, it doesn't take up space on your Today screen.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Has anyone tried using this with PPC2k3?

[Cortex]

get gigabar

> HERE&lt; (http://download.com.com/3000-2178-8211977.html?tag=lst-0-1)

ITS FREE


Here's a tutorial:
GigaBar is a powerful application controller with a very small icon based interface. It can cause PAIN AND SUFFERING if you do not set it up properly. Learning to use the program is a little difficult and does require reading the instructions -- but for all of the "thumbs down" in these reviews -- doing the following will help. 1. When you install Gigabar, it actually installs as 4 separate programs. GigaStatus, GigaBar, GigaFolder, MemStatus. The ActiveSync installer will attempt to run 4 times which can be confusing, but all 4 programs should be installed for all the functionality. 2. Once it installs goto Control Panel->Settings->GigaBar to start the GigaBar configuration program. The GigaBar interface is based on icons that can be tapped with your cursor in different ways (TAP METHOD) (tap, double tap, tap left/right/updown, tap/hold) to run different programs. The FIRST THING TO DO IS ASSIGN FUNCTIONS THAT WILL CONTROL THE GIGABAR PROGAM ITSELF TO A BUTTON AND SAVE THAT CONFIGURATION. Most of the complaints on this site are because people setup GIGABAR without an "Ok" or "Cancel" or "Close GigaBar" button and then could no longer control their handheld or get out of the program! If youve just installed the program and opened the configuration program you should see a red thumbs down icon (this is the "Cancel" icon) and a green thumbs up icon (this is the "Ok" icon) on the left of the bar, and a clock on the right. The clock is actually a controllable icon that can launch or control programs! The Configuration Program allows you to do 3 main things: 1. place control icons on the GigaBar 2. select a tap method for that icon 3. assign a program or function for a particular tap method 1. A ICON box in the center of the control program allows you to select the icon to modify or to add new icons (click and hold in an empty part of the box to open the menu for this). The MemStat and Status icons are especially useful since in addition to being icons, they show your memory status and batter status/mute status. WHILE YOURE LEARNING HOW TO USE GIGABAR MAKE SURE YOU ASSIGN "Ok" "Cancel" "Close GigaBar" "GigaBar Settings" TO AN ICON. To assign these to the Clock icon, do the following: 1. In the Icon Box select "Clock". 2. In the Action pulldown menu select "Menu 6:" 3. In the Function pulldown select "Internals" (it will expand to give you more choices) then select "Close GigaBar". Now repeat step 2 but choose "Menu 7:", and in step 3 select "Save Scheme" Now repeat step 2 but choose "Tap:", and in step 3 select "Ok" Now repeat step 2 but choose "Double Tap:", and in step 3 select "Cancel". Now repeat step 2 but choose "Tap Left:", and in step 3 select "Folder View" (instead of Internals) and select "Files". Now repeat step 2 but choose "Tap Right:", and in step 3 select "Folder View" (instead of Internals) and select "Start Menu". Now repeat step 2 but choose "Menu 8:", and in step 3 select "Control Panel" (instead of Internals or Folder View) and select "GigaBar". Now click the green thumbs up to apply these settings. Now tap and hold the clock and a menu will come down that will have your new settings on it. You will want to save your newly modified GigaBar configuration so select "Menu 7: Save Scheme". Type the name you want to call this GigaBar Configuration and save it. Now you can quickly do things like open a miniture version of File Explorer just by swiping a tap in a leftward direction over the clock icon. Or open a miniture start menu by tapping to the right over clock. Or tapping once for "Ok" or double tapping for "Cancel". Now to continue playing with other GigaBar settings click and hold the clock and select Menu 8: GigaBar Once you create more icons and assign programs to them and run them, icons for the running programs will appear on the left side of the bar. You can close the programs by clicking and holding those icons. GigaBar is very powerful and the most efficient way to run programs and other functions (such as "Copy" "Paste" "Select All") that are very powerful with the tap of an icon but be sure you setup the GigaBar configuration with a way to escape ("Ok" "Cancel" "Close GigaBar")! I haven't found anything better and best of all, this is free!

Enjoy

[wizardmaster2k]

yea, gigabar with the easygigabar scheme is perfect!! i love it and it is FREE!

[ctmagnus]

mmm... Minibar... Toblerone... macamadamia nuts... &lt;drool>

[ctmagnus]

yea, gigabar with the easygigabar scheme is perfect!! i love it and it is FREE!

I used to use GigaBar but haven't in ~ 18 months. Can you post a screenie of the easygigabar scheme to remind me what it looks like (if I ever used it)?

[Cortex]

making youre own scheme is probably better than the easygigabar scheme especially since it doenst show your memory status....

here are pics of the easygigabar scheme/skin

> HERE &lt; (http://www.pocketpcpassion.com/General/MarkR/easygigabar.htm)

here's pics of gigabar on my device in action. things to note are:

1. each image below shows the menu that is assigned to each icon on the right side of the bar.

2. the menu's are assigned to different directional taps of the icons on the bar. by clicking on an icon and holding, an actual menu will appear (thats what is being shown) showing additional options and also reminding you of the tap directions if you forgot

3. the clock is also an active icon

CLOCK ICON MENU
http://www.brainthoughts.com/capture1.bmp

PLAYING CARD ICON MENU
http://www.brainthoughts.com/capture2.bmp

CALCULATOR ICON MENU
http://www.brainthoughts.com/capture3.bmp

WORD ICON MENU
http://www.brainthoughts.com/capture4.bmp

4. the view of the built in mini file browser showing files in the My Documents folder. a very nice feature for browsing your files quickly

TAP LEFT ON CLOCK -- MINI FILE BROWSER
http://www.brainthoughts.com/capture0.bmp

5. one image shows that i have assigned special functions like SELECT ALL, CUT, PASTE, and UNDO to one icon so i can quickly do text editing with a single clicks of the icon. the same icon is also actively showing the memory (or lack there of) of the program/storage/SD card respectively.

MEMORY STATUS ICON MENU
http://www.brainthoughts.com/capture5.bmp

6. one icon is displaying the battery status, volume/mute status, and connection status

BATTERY/VOLUME ICON MENU
http://www.brainthoughts.com/capture6.bmp

8. the left side of the bar shows the programs that are currently running (and sucking up all my memory). by tapping one of the active program icons it becomes visible as the current program. by tapping and holding an active program icon a menu appears that give the option to kill it (not shown)

9. the bar itself is completely skinable

10. there are many other internal functions that can be assigned including a built in screen capture

the last pic is showing off repligo in action and also demonstrates what gigabar looks like in its native form (the diagram is showing the interconnection between brain regions involved in visual processing (red) areas, planning action based on visual awareness (46), voluntary eye movements (FEF) and a region thought to integrate visual memories and control our attention (LIP) THE SEAT OF AWARENESS!!! -- allowing you to view the picture and think its neat! ;) the green area (IT) is pretty cool because it lets you recognize objects including a special region for recognizing faces)

WHAT MAKES YOU LIKE POCKET PCs AND GIGABAR
http://www.brainthoughts.com/capture7.bmp


so needless to say, a pretty cool program!!!

[beq]

Bravo, are you sure you're not a PPCT reviewer? :D

Anyways I've last used a "lite" task switcher from the Gigabar maker on my old PPCs, but I can't even remember what it's called now. It's like a sister app to Gigabar that's less capable/more minimal...

I'm now hunting for a good one to suit me on my new PPC 2003 unit...

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Holy smokes! 8O

Is this thread about OzMiniBar or is that a full-blown review (and user's guide) of Gigabar that I see?

[wizardmaster2k]

can i get that scheme u use? i like it......

[keoni34]

:idea: GigaTask, I think, is much better than GigaBar.

[Cortex]

can i get that scheme u use? i like it......

my scheme is available for download

> MY SCHEME HERE &lt; (http://www.brainthoughts.com/myscheme.gbh)

to use it you need to be sure you installed the entire gigabar program as outlined my initial post in this thread. you need the full gigabar to get the memory and battery icons to work.

then place the MYSCHEME.GBH file in the ProgramFiles->GigaBar->Schemes folder

then open the Gigabar Mini File Browser and navigate to the MYSCHEME.GBH file and tap on it. GigaBar will recognize it as a special file and load it. you can also try out the other Schemes and Skins included in those folders.

once you get a scheme adjusted the way you like it, be sure to save it using the gigabar internal SAVE SCHEME.

i recommend going through the tutorial i posted and try out the functions and internals built into gigabar to see what it can do...

[ctmagnus]

Ugh. Now I remember why I stopped using GigaBar. Way to overblown. I switched to GigaTask and I like that much better. Then I added Magic Button and now use GigaTask in No Taskbar mode, permitting me to see all of the Today theme I'm using at any given time as well as have all my shortcuts only two taps away.

[Duncan]

mmm... Minibar... Toblerone... macamadamia nuts... &lt;drool>

mmm... OZ Minibar... tins of Castlemaine XXXX lager...

[juni]

..then again, I prefer Wisbar Advance ( http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/ ) or Icbar ( http://www.ictinus.com/icbar/ ). Here is what Wisbar Advance looks like with my latest skin:

http://koti.welho.com/kruohio/dmcap.png

You can get the skin from my site: http://koti.welho.com/kruohio/skinz.html
:)[/url]

[Stephen Beesley]

Ugh. Now I remember why I stopped using GigaBar. Way to overblown. I switched to GigaTask and I like that much better. Then I added Magic Button and now use GigaTask in No Taskbar mode, permitting me to see all of the Today theme I'm using at any given time as well as have all my shortcuts only two taps away.

My thinking exactly - way too fussy looking for my simple taste. I have been using Gigatask for some time now, with it mapped to the home key on my Jornada, and find it powerful and elegant!

Still my curiosity has been aroused now so I know I am just know that I am going to find myself surfing over to have a look at Wisbar advance (fond memories of Wisbar when I got my first PPC 2000) and magic button as well.

Goldtee

[popabawa]

Here is what Wisbar Advance looks like with my latest skin: You can get the skin from my site:

Sorry if I'm being a bit thick but whereabouts on your site?

I see links for Dashboard / Facelift / Media Player / Misc. but not for Wisbar advance...

TIA.

[SassKwatch]

..then again, I prefer Wisbar Advance ( http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/ )

Would I be correct in assuming they've taken over development of the old Pelmar version of WisBar?

Would also be curious to know how you're skinning the bottom bar. Is that a Pocket Facelift thing?

[Kati Compton]

..then again, I prefer Wisbar Advance ( http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/ )

Would I be correct in assuming they've taken over development of the old Pelmar version of WisBar?

Would also be curious to know how you're skinning the bottom bar. Is that a Pocket Facelift thing?
It's still Pelmar. The new version of WisBar Advance lets you skin the bottom bar.