Wisbar Advance 2: Using Your Pocket PC Just Got Easier

[Steve Sharp]

<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sharp-20041118-wisbar-main" /><br /><b>Product Category:</b> Utility<br /><b>Manufacturer:</b> <a href="http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com">Lakeridge Software</a><br /><b>Where to buy:</b> <a href="http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=15466">PocketGear</a><br /><b>Price:</b> $9.99 USD<br /><b>System Requirements:</b> Windows Pocket PC 2002 or greater, Windows Mobile 2003, Windows Mobile 2003SE, 500Kb of storage memory.<br /><br /><b>Pros:</b><li>Tightly integrates with the OS;<br /><li>Eases navigation of menus and settings;<br /><li>Eases configuration of various aspects of a Pocket PC;<br /><li>Small storage requirement.<br /><b>Cons:</b><li>There is no help or user manual included in the program;<br /><li>Wisbar Advance 2.0 acts strangely when used with PDA phones (the developer warns that it was not designed to work with a Pocket PC phone. Although it works, it has some minor ideosyncracies);<br /><li>Small resource indicators can be hard to read.<b>Summary:</b><br />Wisbar Advance is a good example of a highly useful program that comes in a small and affordable package. Every once in a while, a Pocket PC program comes along that really enhances and improves the usability of the Pocket PC; Wisbar Advance 2.0 is one of them. The program smoothly integrates with the OS to the point that it doesn't feel like an add on. The beauty of Wisbar Advance is that it does not intrude on or alter the function of other programs or the OS itself. <br /><br />Read on for the full review!<!><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sharp-20041118-wisbar-cascade" /> <br /><i>Figure 1: Cascading menus make Wisbar Advance easy to navigate.</i><br /><br /><span><b>The Wisdom of Wisbar Advance</b></span><br />I couldn't count the times that someone has seen me busily clicking away at my Pocket PC and said, "I thought about getting one of those, but they seem too complicated for me." These comments often come from people who are not technophobes--many of them work in the technology industry, as I do. Their common misconception stems from the idea that a Pocket PC would add an unnecessary complication to their life and a strain on their wallet. Those of us who have been willing to get a Pocket PC, and learn to use it, know the value and usefulness of our "second brain."<br /><br />To be honest, the learning curve for me with my Pocket PC Phone Edition was probably longer than I'd like to admit. Stick with me, here, because this line of thought *does* have something to do with Wisbar Advance. When a product that makes a Pocket PC more user-friendly, more configurable, and easier to use, it's good for the user, and it's good for the Pocket PC industry, in general. Wisbar Advance 2 takes a short time to get accustomed to, but it adds some very nice features to the Pocket PC. <li>Manage applications (and memory) more efficiently; <br /><li>Easily add and remove functions from the task bar;<br /><li>Customize the appearance and buttons of any program;<br /><li>Setup audio notifications for system events.<PAGEBREAK><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sharp-20041118-wisbar-task" /> <br /><i>Figure 2: Access the items under your task menu from any screen.</i> <br /><br /><span><b>Something for Everyone</b></span><br />Even if you're one of those Pocket PC users who is content to navigate to the remaining charge on your battery, even if you don't mind navigating to the screen that shows your memory usage, and even if you enjoy manually closing programs, Wisbar Advance 2 still has something for you. Although it's a bit tedious, Wisbar Advance enables the user to create custom skins for your applications or download and use skins created by other users. Wisbar Advance 2 also provides the ability to easily switch between applications, and allows you to actually close programs by exiting them, instead of minimizing them. Also, with the pull down menu on the bar, the user has the option of closing all background tasks or closing all tasks.<br /><!><PAGEBREAK><br /><br /><span><b>It's All About Convenience</b></span><br />What's the best thing about Wisbar Advance 2? For me, ithe best thing about Wisbar is the continuous and unobtrusive indicators that give a general representation of how much storage and program memory is available, an iicon on the tool bar that allows me to switch to my phone dialer screen with one click, and an icon that displays whether there is voice mail, e-mail, or SMS messages waiting. These displays are constantly viewable on the bar at the top of the display. Wisbar Advance is a small and yet is makes a big difference in the ease of keeping an eye status of the most critical aspects of the Pocket PC -- it's a no-brainer.<br /><br />The days of having to go back to the Today screen and using it as a portal for many functions, that the average user needs, are gone. Wisbar Advance 2 moves the "Programs" listing on the menu bar on the "Start" button and if selected, the program list cascades, similar to the desktop version of Microsoft's OS, and the program categories, too, are multi-tiered and will cascade without navigating.<br /> <br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sharp-20041118-wisbar-cascade" /> <br /><i>Figure 3: Cascading menus make navigation easy.</i><br /><br /><span><b>How Well Does This Thing Work?</b></span><br />When I first installed Wisbar Advance, I didn't really notice anything--at first. I wasn't sure what was supposed to happen, what it would do, or how it would benefit me. Then, I noticed that when the program is started, the new, if subtle, bar that resides at the top of the screen was the key to the Wisbar's functionality. Like most everything, there is a slight learning curve associated with Wisbar Advance, but it strikes me that it's the sort of program that, once it's installed and the user gets accustomed to it, it feels like a very "normal" part of the OS and it's easy to become attached to the advantages that it provides.<br /><br />Wisbar Advance 2 installs easily and doesn't need a lot of explanation, but some of the finer points of the features are elusive, especially without a help file or user guide readily available. Lakeridge Software does have some FAQ's and directions on skinning. Skinning may not be high on everyone's priority list, but there are a few cool skins that are available for free download on the manufacturer's site. <br /> <br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/sharp-20041118-wisbar-skin" /><br /><i>Figure 4: Downloadable skin created for Wisbar Advance 2.</i> <br /><br /><span><b>Conclusions</b></span><br />If you've got a Pocket PC with a suitable OS, you can benefit from what Wisbar Advance has to offer. Wisbar Advance 2 does not alter the way any of the other programs on the Pocket PC work, but it offers the capability of more easily accessing and monitoring battery, memory, and message status. If I can look at my Pocket PC screen and see whether I have messages, memory available, and/or switch between active programs, without having to go back to my Today screen or minimize running programs, life is good. The previously mentioned trial downloads are available from Handange, PocketGear, and directly from Lakeridge Software. If you like the convenience of having several key status indicators visible at a glance, and you're tired of having to manually close programs, Wisbar Advance 2.0 is well worth the $10 pricetag.

[binstpa]

I use wisbar advance and really enjoy it. Would people using 2.0 recommend it. $10 is not that much, but I am happy with advance. Anyone want to comment on the differences between the two and your experiences with it. I will download the trial, but just want to get some other user comments right now.

[CrashX]

Cons: Wisbar Advance 2.0 acts strangely when used with PDA phones (the developer warns that it was not designed to work with a Pocket PC phone. Although it works, it has some minor ideosyncracies);
Does anyone know of specific issues related to Wisbar Advance 2 and Pocket PC Phone Edition?

[Steve Sharp]

all I've noticed is that there is a phone icon on the tool bar that allows you to toggle to the phone dialer, and sometimes I get 3 or 4 iterations of this icon on the bar.

[Steve Sharp]

I haven't used the original version of Wisbar, so I don't know what has changed. I think Doug Reaburn has a lot of experience w/ both versions. maybe he'll pop in and offer some comments.
SS

[StoneWolf]

I really enjoy Wisbar, adds some great functionality and there are some great skins available.
However, I've noticed that with the hx4700, when I try to activate Landscape mode with WisBar activated, the top bar's graphics become garbled and the start button dosn't work, requiring a soft reset. Very annoying. As a result I don't use landscape as often as I'd like.
Aside from this problem it's a great program, I highly reccommend it.

[FrozenIpaq]

Lakeridge Software is making a Wisbar Advance called Phone Edition

[jbachandouris]

Sorry, I didn't like it. I used it for a day and then installed vbar instead. I really didn't need all the features, just an X that closes instead of minimize. I liked the older version of Wisbar better.

[welovejesus]

What would be the real advantages of Wisbar Advance over PPX (http://www.ppx3k.com/)?

[FrozenIpaq]

PPX looks kool, but i dont know much about it, does it have many issues with it? Im looking to get this and try it out, is it worth a look?

[n1ck]

I have used both Wisbar Advance 1 and 2 and have been very happy with its overall functionality. I love the full screen skinned look :D
WA1 remains free and gives you good basic functionality but I paid for WA2 for the cascading start menu, the skinned buttons within applications, the ability to not show "New" and the customisable system sounds.
The support provided by Chris is excellent and questions or issues raised are responded to promptly.

[Darius Wey]

What would be the real advantages of Wisbar Advance over PPX (http://www.ppx3k.com/)?

I've been following PPX for a long time, and to be honest, while it does have an excellent set of features, it is still buggy at times and doesn't seem to have the ongoing updates that some other major skinning programs have. If you're looking for an affordable and user-friendly skinning program, I can't say anything negative about WA1 or WA2, so you should certainly have a look at it when you get the chance. You will also find a host of WA skins out there as the program is well-known among the Pocket PC community, so you will find more people devoting their time to making skins for WA, as opposed to PPX.

[IndyPerk]

I really enjoy Wisbar, adds some great functionality and there are some great skins available.
However, I've noticed that with the hx4700, when I try to activate Landscape mode with WisBar activated, the top bar's graphics become garbled and the start button dosn't work, requiring a soft reset. Very annoying. As a result I don't use landscape as often as I'd like.
Aside from this problem it's a great program, I highly reccommend it.

I installed and tested this last night on my hx4705 and I'm not having the issue when I go to landscape. Might be a conflict with something else.

[chefz]

WA2 and PPX are both similar and yet very different at the same time :mrgreen:

WA2 gives you a ton of great taskbar management functions, cascading menus, battery/memory on the taskbar and skins the top/bottom/application bars on the PPC. PPX can create whole new and completely different interfaces for your device; it can skin both top and bottom menu bars, you can place any plugin or any item by a coordinate system, including the clock, date, close button, etc. Basically you're not limited to following the same basic Today screen structure as everyone else. I've created a lot of PPX skins if you want to see what's possible, they're on my website (link in my sig). But there are drawbacks - PPX can be a little slow, doesn't yet have the ability put battery meters as an icon on your taskbar, can't skin actual program application menubars, is a little glitchy with my favorite plugin PocketBreeze, and has a glacial pace of development lately. That's really why I've moved away from PPX and to WA2. I guess it just depends on what you want the programs for - if you don't want to do anything really different and want something easy to setup and use, go with WA. If you're a power user who loves to control everything on your screen and are a big eye-candy fan, go for PPX.

Of course, there's absolutely no reason why you couldn't use WA2 with PPX either, aside from finding a skin to match the PPX skin, and PPX is definitely waaaaay easier to skin for than WA2.

Just my random musings on the difference between the two! :lol:

[StoneWolf]

Thanks, IndyPerk, I'll try reinstalling and see if that sorts the problem.

[Sully]

Top notch software. Chris is amazing.

[welovejesus]

Thank you Darius Wey and chefz for the input. The feedback about speed, the bugs, and glacial development with PPX has swayed me towards WA2.

[juni]

After using Wisbar almost from when it came out, then switching to WA and WA2 I'd say my device would look boring without it + I couldn't get by without its functions anymore. It feels like a part of the system.

[timcolling]

Hi -

I like WA2 but I and at least one other user have discovered a reproducible bug with it in which it disables sounds from working properly on Ipaq 5555s. This bug was reported several weeks ago but has not been fixed in any new releases so far.

- Tim

[midtoad]

I'm using a Toshiba e830 and it seemed to be that both WA2 and SpB slowed the response of my machine when I turned it on - it would take 15-20 seconds or more after pressing the Power On button before I would have full access to my machine. After I uninstalled these apps (only one running at one time), I'm back to noticing near-instant wake-up respone from my Toshi.
Has anyone else with a VGA machine noticed anything similar?

BTW the built-in Home app on the Toshiba does much of what WA2, and is customizable, so I've decided I don't need an add-on.

[Phillip Dyson]

I also noticed a slow down with WA2 and PocketPlus.

This guy over at this Brighthand thread (http://discussion.brighthand.com/showthread.php?s=b65ed6596affcdd9105daed93dec0cb6&amp;threadid=114675)suggested that I remove the SD card status. I took time to remount the card and then find out the capacity. There was definitely an increase after this.

I then set WA2 under Configure My Skinned Applications I set it to ignore all applications. Though I didn't pay attention to whether there was any significant improvements.

[aZooZa]

I can't find the soft reset utility in WA2.5 -- surely it's there somewhere?

Thanks!

[Nurhisham Hussein]

You have to explicitly set it to one of the icons in the taskbar. Enter settings, select Button Assignments from the drop down menu, select the icon you want to use (make sure it's one of the visible ones, or make an extra icon visible - most skins have an extra icon or two for user-definable functions), then select soft reset under either tap or hold. I have mine for the today icon under hold.

[aZooZa]

Thank you very much for your kind reply!