WYSIWYG Homescreen Designer Available For Smartphone; Honest

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.smartphone.net/smartphonethoughts/software_detail.asp?id=870' target='_blank'>http://www.smartphone.net/smartphonethoughts/software_detail.asp?id=870</a><br /><br /></div>It appears that my <a href="http://www.thoughtsmedia.com/spt/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6366">post</a> earlier this week was a little pre-mature. I had stumbled across a work in progress. Ruttensoft has finished up the application and it's now ready for everyone to enjoy. Homescreen Designer is available for $12.00 <a href="http://www.smartphone.net/smartphonethoughts/software_detail.asp?id=870">here.</a> Please download the trial version to ensure it works on your system before you spend your hard earned cash. Oh, and if you haven't see the Flash demo, it can be found <a href="http://www.ruttensoft.com/smartphone/demo.html">here.</a> [Affiliate] :D <br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20040930-HomeScreenDesignerRuttenSoft.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/>

[Mike Temporale]

Looks like you might need to reboot after installing this application. I had a GDI+ error when I ran the app, but it's gone now that I have rebooted.

Just something to watch out for. Regardless, I'm having lots of fun with this app. :D :D

[Kris Kumar]

SP2003 Only :-( More and more software are being released for 2003 only (as a developer I can see why). It's time for me to upgrade. But where are the new Smartphones. :-(

I know the product specifications states that this will work for SP2003 only. But I wonder if it will work, if we can create the layout XML file and manually copy it over to the SP2002 device? Another thing to keep in mind would be the choice of plugins. Use only the ones that come as standard part of the SP and are common between the two. Stay away from WMP, Alarm and Analog Clock if you want to try to use the designer on SP2002.

I might give it a try over the weekend.

[Kris Kumar]

Forgot to mention...it is an awesome application!

:clap:

[possmann]

This looks like an awesome application - just watched the flash demo. I intend on getting this AFTER T-Mo comes out with their SDA Music... and I figure out how I (stuck here in the USA) can get my hands on one...

[Kris Kumar]

FYI: I could not wait till the weekend. And used the designer to create a home screen layout for my 2002 SP. It works. I followed the suggestions in my previous post. Created the HME, extracted the layout XML from it, Added the RJ Shortcut plugin. :-) (Cannot live without that plugin. I wish this Plugin was also included as the part of the designer.)

And then copied the XML manually over to the device. And it worked.
Renaming the .HME to .CAB may also do the trick for SP 2002. But have not tried it.

Now I just have to get creative. ;-)

[Mike Temporale]

I was able to wipe this together after only a couple minutes of play time with this app.

http://www.bluerocket.ca/images/SampleScreenShot.jpg

Imagine what can be done when you spend some time and really get to know this app. Wow! I'm going to start searching for a nice new background image...

[Jason Dunn]

Very cool Mike - this has always been one of the gaping holes in the Smartphone world...making home screens XML and having no user-friendly tools for changing them.

[Ainvar]

The demo looks sweet, this guy knows how to make an easy to use app that has power behind it. Price range is actually lower than what I expected. Now if I still used my spv e200 and not my ipaq h6315. I have a few days left before I decide on the h6315 and this will be a deciding factor since I can my my homescreen anyway I want it to look now with not needing to know anything about xml.

[mja8105]

Does this app or any other app allow modifications to the status bar at the very top?

What I'm trying to find is a way to switch the battery indicator from 1-3 bars to a numerical value, ie. 91%. I see in the Audiovox SMT5600 user's manual that if you go to the System Info screen, the actual percentage is shown. So there must be a way to show that, right?

[Mike Temporale]

No, this doesn't have that feature. However if someone was to make a homescreen plugin, then I'm sure it would be an easy thing to add.

[nikjones]

Does this app or any other app allow modifications to the status bar at the very top?

I've just ad a look at the trial version and can't see this option - it's either "show icon bar" or "don't show icon bar"

This is a great app!

Nik