Cortex
12-14-2002, 04:32 PM
I had just bought a pocket pc phone edition, and had been a longtime user of GigaBar. I had read other phone edition users complain about how GigaBar covers the phone signal strength icon so when my new T-Mobile PPCPE arrived I went searching for a different application controller. I didn't think any of the others (including GigaTask) came close to GigaBar's functionality.
When I downloaded the latest version 1.58 from CNet I read the complaints of many of the users but also realized that many people didnt know how to use the program and were configuring it incorrectly. I posted a lengthy comment and decided to repost it here for people who gave up on this program. (using the "Files" and the "Copy/Cut/Paste/Select All" features are especially useful).
Has anyone found anything better than GigaBar?
BTW -- for the Phone Edition users out there, I found that assigning a tap to "Close GigaBar" quickly lets me see the phone signal strenght icon when i start to use the phone/internet.
Here's my CNet reply to setup GigaBar for new users:
GigaBar is a powerful application controller with a very small icon based interface. It can cause PAIN AND SUFFERING if you do not set it up properly.
Learning to use the program is a little difficult and does require reading the instructions -- but for all of the "thumbs down" in these reviews -- doing the following will help.
1. When you install Gigabar, it actually installs as 4 separate programs. GigaStatus, GigaBar, GigaFolder, MemStatus. The ActiveSync installer will attempt to run 4 times which can be confusing, but all 4 programs should be installed for all the functionality.
2. Once it installs goto Control Panel->Settings->GigaBar to start the GigaBar configuration program.
The GigaBar interface is based on icons that can be tapped with your cursor in different ways (TAP METHOD) (tap, double tap, tap left/right/updown, tap/hold) to run different programs.
The FIRST THING TO DO IS ASSIGN FUNCTIONS THAT WILL CONTROL THE GIGABAR PROGAM ITSELF TO A BUTTON AND SAVE THAT CONFIGURATION.
Most of the complaints on this site are because people setup GIGABAR without an "Ok" or "Cancel" or "Close GigaBar" button and then could no longer control their handheld or get out of the program!
If youve just installed the program and opened the configuration program you should see a red thumbs down icon (this is the "Cancel" icon) and a green thumbs up icon (this is the "Ok" icon) on the left of the bar, and a clock on the right. The clock is actually a controllable icon that can launch or control programs!
The Configuration Program allows you to do 3 main things: 1. place control icons on the GigaBar 2. select a tap method for that icon 3. assign a program or function for a particular tap method
1. A ICON box in the center of the control program allows you to select the icon to modify or to add new icons (click and hold in an empty part of the box to open the menu for this). The MemStat and Status icons are especially useful since in addition to being icons, they show your memory status and batter status/mute status.
WHILE YOURE LEARNING HOW TO USE GIGABAR MAKE SURE YOU ASSIGN "Ok" "Cancel" "Close GigaBar" "GigaBar Settings" TO AN ICON.
To assign these to the Clock icon, do the following:
1. In the Icon Box select "Clock".
2. In the Action pulldown menu select "Menu 6:"
3. In the Function pulldown select "Internals" (it will expand to give you more choices) then select "Close GigaBar".
Now repeat step 2 but choose "Menu 7:", and in step 3 select "Save Scheme"
Now repeat step 2 but choose "Tap:", and in step 3 select "Ok"
Now repeat step 2 but choose "Double Tap:", and in step 3 select "Cancel".
Now repeat step 2 but choose "Tap Left:", and in step 3 select "Folder View" (instead of Internals) and select "Files".
Now repeat step 2 but choose "Tap Right:", and in step 3 select "Folder View" (instead of Internals) and select "Start Menu".
Now repeat step 2 but choose "Menu 8:", and in step 3 select "Control Panel" (instead of Internals or Folder View) and select "GigaBar".
Now click the green thumbs up to apply these settings.
Now tap and hold the clock and a menu will come down that will have your new settings on it. You will want to save your newly modified GigaBar configuration so select "Menu 7: Save Scheme". Type the name you want to call this GigaBar Configuration and save it.
Now you can quickly do things like open a miniture version of File Explorer just by swiping a tap in a leftward direction over the clock icon. Or open a miniture start menu by tapping to the right over clock. Or tapping once for "Ok" or double tapping for "Cancel". Now to continue playing with other GigaBar settings click and hold the clock and select Menu 8: GigaBar
Once you create more icons and assign programs to them and run them, icons for the running programs will appear on the left side of the bar. You can close the programs by clicking and holding those icons.
GigaBar is very powerful and the most efficient way to run programs and other functions (such as "Copy" "Paste" "Select All") that are very powerful with the tap of an icon but be sure you setup the GigaBar configuration with a way to escape ("Ok" "Cancel" "Close GigaBar")!
Enjoy
When I downloaded the latest version 1.58 from CNet I read the complaints of many of the users but also realized that many people didnt know how to use the program and were configuring it incorrectly. I posted a lengthy comment and decided to repost it here for people who gave up on this program. (using the "Files" and the "Copy/Cut/Paste/Select All" features are especially useful).
Has anyone found anything better than GigaBar?
BTW -- for the Phone Edition users out there, I found that assigning a tap to "Close GigaBar" quickly lets me see the phone signal strenght icon when i start to use the phone/internet.
Here's my CNet reply to setup GigaBar for new users:
GigaBar is a powerful application controller with a very small icon based interface. It can cause PAIN AND SUFFERING if you do not set it up properly.
Learning to use the program is a little difficult and does require reading the instructions -- but for all of the "thumbs down" in these reviews -- doing the following will help.
1. When you install Gigabar, it actually installs as 4 separate programs. GigaStatus, GigaBar, GigaFolder, MemStatus. The ActiveSync installer will attempt to run 4 times which can be confusing, but all 4 programs should be installed for all the functionality.
2. Once it installs goto Control Panel->Settings->GigaBar to start the GigaBar configuration program.
The GigaBar interface is based on icons that can be tapped with your cursor in different ways (TAP METHOD) (tap, double tap, tap left/right/updown, tap/hold) to run different programs.
The FIRST THING TO DO IS ASSIGN FUNCTIONS THAT WILL CONTROL THE GIGABAR PROGAM ITSELF TO A BUTTON AND SAVE THAT CONFIGURATION.
Most of the complaints on this site are because people setup GIGABAR without an "Ok" or "Cancel" or "Close GigaBar" button and then could no longer control their handheld or get out of the program!
If youve just installed the program and opened the configuration program you should see a red thumbs down icon (this is the "Cancel" icon) and a green thumbs up icon (this is the "Ok" icon) on the left of the bar, and a clock on the right. The clock is actually a controllable icon that can launch or control programs!
The Configuration Program allows you to do 3 main things: 1. place control icons on the GigaBar 2. select a tap method for that icon 3. assign a program or function for a particular tap method
1. A ICON box in the center of the control program allows you to select the icon to modify or to add new icons (click and hold in an empty part of the box to open the menu for this). The MemStat and Status icons are especially useful since in addition to being icons, they show your memory status and batter status/mute status.
WHILE YOURE LEARNING HOW TO USE GIGABAR MAKE SURE YOU ASSIGN "Ok" "Cancel" "Close GigaBar" "GigaBar Settings" TO AN ICON.
To assign these to the Clock icon, do the following:
1. In the Icon Box select "Clock".
2. In the Action pulldown menu select "Menu 6:"
3. In the Function pulldown select "Internals" (it will expand to give you more choices) then select "Close GigaBar".
Now repeat step 2 but choose "Menu 7:", and in step 3 select "Save Scheme"
Now repeat step 2 but choose "Tap:", and in step 3 select "Ok"
Now repeat step 2 but choose "Double Tap:", and in step 3 select "Cancel".
Now repeat step 2 but choose "Tap Left:", and in step 3 select "Folder View" (instead of Internals) and select "Files".
Now repeat step 2 but choose "Tap Right:", and in step 3 select "Folder View" (instead of Internals) and select "Start Menu".
Now repeat step 2 but choose "Menu 8:", and in step 3 select "Control Panel" (instead of Internals or Folder View) and select "GigaBar".
Now click the green thumbs up to apply these settings.
Now tap and hold the clock and a menu will come down that will have your new settings on it. You will want to save your newly modified GigaBar configuration so select "Menu 7: Save Scheme". Type the name you want to call this GigaBar Configuration and save it.
Now you can quickly do things like open a miniture version of File Explorer just by swiping a tap in a leftward direction over the clock icon. Or open a miniture start menu by tapping to the right over clock. Or tapping once for "Ok" or double tapping for "Cancel". Now to continue playing with other GigaBar settings click and hold the clock and select Menu 8: GigaBar
Once you create more icons and assign programs to them and run them, icons for the running programs will appear on the left side of the bar. You can close the programs by clicking and holding those icons.
GigaBar is very powerful and the most efficient way to run programs and other functions (such as "Copy" "Paste" "Select All") that are very powerful with the tap of an icon but be sure you setup the GigaBar configuration with a way to escape ("Ok" "Cancel" "Close GigaBar")!
Enjoy