Who Stole My Buttons?

[Brad Adrian]

http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&platformId=2& productType=2&catalog=0&sectionId=0&productId= 41503

Anybody who has used a Pocket PC Phone Edition quickly notices that one of the tradeoffs of the device is the "loss" of some buttons. Two of the hardware shortcut buttons normally found on regular Pocket PCs are permanently assigned to the Send Call and End Call telephone functions. What that means is that it now takes a few more screen taps to get to some of my favorite applications because I can't associate a hardware button with them.

Or can I? Take a look at Double Launcher by Orthanc Software.



This sofware can be used with any Pocket PC 2000 or 2002 device and simply allows you to map a second function to each of the four primary hardware buttons. It does this by by allowing each button to be double-pressed (like double-clicking a mouse button) to launch a second program. I think it's very useful, no matter what type of device you use. Still, I'd prefer that such a single-function utility be priced a bit lower than the $9.95 price tag.

[Brad Adrian]

http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&platformId=2& productType=2&catalog=0&sectionId=0&productId= 41503

Anybody who has used a Pocket PC Phone Edition quickly notices that one of the tradeoffs of the device is the "loss" of some buttons. Two of the hardware shortcut buttons normally found on regular Pocket PCs are permanently assigned to the Send Call and End Call telephone functions. What that means is that it now takes a few more screen taps to get to some of my favorite applications because I can't associate a hardware button with them.

Or can I? Take a look at Double Launcher by Orthanc Software.



This sofware can be used with any Pocket PC 2000 or 2002 device and simply allows you to map a second function to each of the four primary hardware buttons. It does this by by allowing each button to be double-pressed (like double-clicking a mouse button) to launch a second program. I think it's very useful, no matter what type of device you use. Still, I'd prefer that such a single-function utility be priced a bit lower than the $9.95 price tag.

[jpaq]

This is a good idea.
I also liked the press and hold function on the Jornada 56x's I had.

[yawanag]

Still, I'd prefer that such a single-function utility be priced a bit lower than the $9.95 price tag.

I like the idea. I've been downloading fewer action games because I don't want to give up the original functions of the phone. After all, who would want to give up the Answer and Send functions of your phone? But, as always, these developers think we're made of money.

I haven't even received my $200 rebate and already I've spent that in software. :evil:

[jmulder]

Originally Posted by jpaq

I also liked the press and hold function on the Jornada 56x's I had.

I never even knew those were there...I just assumed it was the same as the 545. ops: It's kinda like an early Christmas surprise!

-Jim

[kcmedic]

This looks usefull. I have been looking for something like this ever since I traded in my old Palm.

I had a Palm app ( I can't remember the name) that let you map different groups of applications to the buttons depending on which button was pressed first. Press Button 1 first and you get one set of apps for all the buttons. Press Button 2 first and you get a whole different set, and so on.

Same idea, but instead of a total of eight apps for the four buttons, you get sixteen.

Anyone out there care to make something like this for Pocket PC?

[boysbytes]

There is a freeware called BtnPlus that does the same thing. The Record button can be assigned to three tasks (single click, double click, and click and hold), while the rest can only be assigned to two tasks (single and double click).

Details on how to configure BtnPlus can be found here.

I use it on my Pocket PC, and it sure saves time looking for the app I want to launch.

[jim s]

Originally Posted by kcmedic

This looks usefull. I have been looking for something like this ever since I traded in my old Palm.

I had a Palm app ( I can't remember the name) that let you map different groups of applications to the buttons depending on which button was pressed first. Press Button 1 first and you get one set of apps for all the buttons. Press Button 2 first and you get a whole different set, and so on.

Same idea, but instead of a total of eight apps for the four buttons, you get sixteen.

Anyone out there care to make something like this for Pocket PC?

Geez - how do you remember 16 different combos for the different apps? I don't think this old mind can handel that much info! That is why I bought a Pocket PC. :wink:

[jim s]

Originally Posted by "Jim S

Geez - how do you remember 16 different combos for the different apps? I don't think this old mind can handel that much info! That is why I bought a Pocket PC. :wink:

You might say I bought it for things like shopping listz and such. (A little music humor.)

:lol:

[SJ]

I don't know if it's my mistake, but one problem with 'BtnPlus' is that it will ovewrite all button mappings by other applications like Windows Media Player or MultiIE. Double Launcher despite of the less mapping function doesn't do that.

[Pony99CA]

Originally Posted by Brad Adrian

Anybody who has used a Pocket PC Phone Edition quickly notices that one of the tradeoffs of the device is the "loss" of some buttons. Two of the hardware shortcut buttons normally found on regular Pocket PCs are permanently assigned to the Send Call and End Call telephone functions. What that means is that it now takes a few more screen taps to get to some of my favorite applications because I can't associate a hardware button with them.

I guess the Audiovox Thera got one thing right. :-) It's not a Pocket PC Phone Edition exactly, but it has seperate Send and End buttons.

Steve