03-11-2004, 04:00 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Conduits Technologies, Inc. Releases Pocket Launcher 2.0 for Pocket PC
"Conduits Technologies Inc. announced today the release of Pocket Launcher 2.0, a customizable application launcher that improves upon the device's built-in program launcher with a tab-based categorization system that is expandable to a user's needs, and customizable to a user's tastes. Pocket Launcher runs on all Pocket PC devices, such as the Pocket PC 2000, Pocket PC 2002, and Windows Mobile 2003 Software for Pocket PC. Pocket Launcher integrates a collection of large, icon-based lists of applications that are installed on a device. Icons represent their respective applications, and when tapped once, the application is launched. The list of icon shortcuts and categories is initially taken from the user's current layout of the Start and Programs menus, and then copied to another place so that Pocket Launcher can use the shortcut.
Pocket Launcher 2.0 includes advanced features and optimizations to increase its speed. Through the delayed loading of non-visible tabs when starting up, Pocket Launcher is ready for use much faster than in previous versions. Another advanced feature is the ability to hide Pocket Launcher from Task Managers, such that it is not closed by memory managers or common "Close All Tasks" procedures. Several bug fixes are also part of Pocket Launcher 2.0, most notably some button mapping issues on older Pocket PC devices. As in previous versions, Pocket Launcher also supports a small icon view, in which up to 30 icons can be placed on the screen at once. Other features include customizable background colors, landscape mode support, and cleartype integration on the tabs. Background images can be supplied in BMP, GIF, or JPEG formats."
I used to be a big fan of launcher, but I haven't used it in a while. This new version looks great, however, so I'm going to install it later today! It boasts VGA support, landscape-aware support, DPI-aware support (what does that mean?), and lots of other new features. The product can be downloaded as a free trial or purchased for $9.95. [Affiliate] Subscribers can save 20% on this application - watch for a coupon code later today!
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03-11-2004, 04:44 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 170
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Ah, AT LAST!
This is my favorite program launcher and the one I always get back to. They have not released an update for a long while and I was asking myself why. The program was good but lacked the flexibility you would like to see.
Gonna check this version as soon as I get home. Nice to know they got high res support already into this good software.
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03-11-2004, 06:51 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 198
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That's quite an interesting interface. That type of setup would be certainly supported in Pocket Launcher by way of its new multi-view features. You just need to create the necessary backgrounds and tab icons. You wouldn't be able to have the upcoming appoiments display there, unfortunately, but the rest of the UI is certainly doable within Pocket Launcher. Pocket Launcher also would support 48x48 or 64x64 icons which would be much easier to tap:
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03-11-2004, 10:44 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 11
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beware of installing this on an i-mate
i just purchased the upgrade from version one of this software and it completly hozed my i-mate, it would trun on after doing a soft reset. I am now in the process of doing a complete reinstall of my device. Pocketpc phone edition users beware! :devilboy: i am not a hapy man right now
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03-11-2004, 10:51 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 198
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Re: beware of installing this on an i-mate
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Originally Posted by cookie_monster
i just purchased the upgrade from version one of this software and it completly hozed my i-mate, it would trun on after doing a soft reset. I am now in the process of doing a complete reinstall of my device. Pocketpc phone edition users beware! :devilboy: i am not a hapy man right now
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How exactly did it corrupt your device? The "start up on reset" is an option on the General tab. Pocket Launcher, if it is set up to run on a soft reset, will launch after all the other programs are running, and the blue bar at the top appears. It sounds as though another program has caused this problem, since if Pocket Launcher were to hang your device, you would still have had the blue Start bar at the top.
We haven't heard this problem from other i-Mate or Pocket PC Phone Edition users.
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03-11-2004, 10:53 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 303
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According to this Document the program is dot per inch aware. Supposed to make images sharper. Well that makes sense. More pixels sharper image.
Quote:
As display technology improves, it is becoming possible to fit more pixels into the same area. This additional resolution can be used to fit more items on the screen, or it can be used to draw the same items more sharply. In the latter case, the display is said to have increased in dots per inch (DPI), a logical value representing how densely packed with pixels a display area is.
Print media has taken advantage of high-DPI technology for a long time. A document printed on a 1200-dpi printer prints the same amount of text as a 300-dpi printer, but the text is much sharper.
Microsoft� Windows Mobile�-based Pocket PCs and Smartphones have traditionally used 96-DPI displays, but in the future they will run at higher DPI resolutions. Upgrading your application to support DPI-awareness will not only ensure correct appearance on high-DPI devices but will also prepare your application for these high-DPI advantages:
* Sharper text. The most noticeable improvement that comes with almost no cost. Every application that is DPI-aware and uses TrueType fonts inherits this improvement.
* More detailed graphics. If steps are taken to provide high-resolution bitmaps, applications can use the increased resolution to display more detailed icons and graphics.
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03-12-2004, 12:41 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 11
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same message i got from Carrie form Conduits
well it would be nice if it was another program which caused it but unfortunately it wasn't. This is the first time a program has given my device a blank screen since I have purchased it, I also did not get any blue bar appearing, the device just refused to turn on after soft resetting which I did immedialty after installing pocket launcher 2.0 and going through the registration.
I waited a while and then tried again, it still did not run on. So I took the battery out and replaced it after five minutes and still no joy. I then took the battery out for about 30 minutes and replaced it and that is when the device came back to life with all my data gone.
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03-12-2004, 12:45 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 198
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Re: same message i got from Carrie form Conduits
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Originally Posted by cookie_monster
well it would be nice if it was another program which caused it but unfortunately it wasn't. This is the first time a program has given my device a blank screen since I have purchased it, I also did not get any blue bar appearing, the device just refused to turn on after soft resetting which I did immedialty after installing pocket launcher 2.0 and going through the registration.
I waited a while and then tried again, it still did not run on. So I took the battery out and replaced it after five minutes and still no joy. I then took the battery out for about 30 minutes and replaced it and that is when the device came back to life with all my data gone.
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Had you soft reset your device recently, before installing Pocket Launcher? We will investigate the problem here and try to figure out what might have happened. Do you know of any other software you had installed that ran at startup as well? Have you also emailed our support team ( [email protected])?
Thanks!
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03-12-2004, 01:03 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 11
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Hi Jason,
I have emailed Carrie with all the details similar to what i have given you. I have three main aplications which startup on soft reset, world mate SE, SPB pocket plus and Micrsoft Voice commander, if it is any of them it may be pocketplus, but as i mentioned before, this has not been a problem in the past and i have been using this device for the last three months.
just for the record I did do a soft reset earlier today but not prior to installing Pocketpc launcher 2.0.
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03-12-2004, 05:34 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 54
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I just finishing uninstalling the demo verison after playing with it for 20 minutes. As a relative "power user" with over 40 installed programs I found it too slow to initally load & then took too many stylus "clicks" to execute a program. For the average user though I suspect this would be a good fit. As usual Conduit do a nice job with the interface.
To power users I recommend Tillanosoft's Small Menu Plus which whilst not as aesthetically pleasing or easy to configure menus as Pocket Launcher (you need to create your own folder structure & links in File Explorer), is much faster to find the application you're looking for and combines a handy task manager.
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Linear Mode
