Vito Technology's ButtonMapper Reviewed by PocketNow

[Pat Logsdon]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=reviews&id=403' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?...=reviews&id=403</a><br /><br /></div><i>"A common feature on every Pocket PC is the four application buttons. They allow quick access to the most frequently used PIM functions or they can be remapped to launch applications. If you're like me you rarely utilize these buttons to open the intended applications, in fact I would even venture to say that personally, I don't need them. Now enter, Vito Technologies' ButtonMapper! It has changed the way I use my Pocket PC. I enjoy these types of programs, Vito Technologies' ButtonMapper is a utility that is so useful you'll wonder why its features aren't included with the Windows Mobile OS."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logsdon_20040609_vitomapper.gif" /> <br /><br />According to the review, this app allows macros and button presses that are specific to individual programs. This allows you to do cool things like assign multiple specific actions to a single stylus tap. Has anyone used this? What are your thoughts?

[Jon Westfall]

I've used Vito for about 8 months now and really like it. I used to use DoubleLauncher, but forsaked the ability to do double presses for this app. the macro feature is awesome. I used it with StopTime to turn my PPC into a stop watch without any screen taps by mapping buttons to "Start lap" etc...

Its one of the Vito products that doesn't get much attention - I'm glad it was reviewed.

[Mark Johnson]

Isn't this "dual function" use of hardware buttons (length-of-button-press triggering different functions) the exact feature Microsoft announced they were trying to get a patent on? Look out guys! Lawyers incoming at 12 o'clock high!

Why do I think this is going to be just like the guys who got crushed by Apple about a month ago because they thought mp3 player app was too similar to the iPod interface?

The lawyers are running the world now...

[k_kirk]

I tried this button manager on my XDA and liked it a lot. Especially the ability to program various screen tap actions by application in use at any given time is a killer feature. You can use this to "improve" built in applications without having to become a real programmer. One example I will mention is the lack of a hardware mapped "back" button in Pocket IE... Using this tool you can overcome this shortcoming and map a hardware button to act as "Back" button while PIE is active...

Still, I find that there are areas for improvement before VITO Button Manager becomes the one and only button manager I use on my XDA. I recently looked at HotButton Plus and loved what I saw being a XDA user. It allows you to map button actions for system functions such as placing a call on the phone etc. It also lets you define a sequence of actions which you can then go through by rapidly pressing the same button.

If there was one solution which combines the functionality of Vito & Burr Oaks products I would buy it in a jiffy!!! Problem is each seem to have some features which I want but never all in the same place.

For the time being I am using a free button mapper called Mort Buttons. Excellent product for the price! Coupling it with some nScripM scripts / macros I can emulate most of Vito's screen tap / macro capabilities. Not as traightforward of course.

Apologies for the long post. Hope this helps someone. Regards

[allenalb]

Isn't this "dual function" use of hardware buttons (length-of-button-press triggering different functions) the exact feature Microsoft announced they were trying to get a patent on? Look out guys! Lawyers incoming at 12 o'clock high!

Why do I think this is going to be just like the guys who got crushed by Apple about a month ago because they thought mp3 player app was too similar to the iPod interface?

The lawyers are running the world now...

i don't think they have too much to worry about, this program has been out for at least 2 years, because that's how long ago i first purchased it. it truly is one of the most useful apps you can have because of it's ability to have application specific profiles. for instance, i press the itask button to launch phatpad, and then press the same button again to open a new phatpad document. i also use it to reassign scroll up and down, and annotations in ms reader, because the d-pad on an ipaq 5555 has to be the most poorly thoughtout idea in the pocketpc world. (sigh... i miss my 3975 sometimes...)