Better bar?

[Gallivant]

I'm currently using the Switcher Bar my Axim shipped with, and it's quite nice, but I'd like a better (read: useful) battery display, and I can't change the color of the buttons - so it's invisible when my taskbar's white due to a theme. Any reccommendations for a replacement that doesn't lose me usability?

[Janak Parekh]

Pocket Plus by Spb (www.softspb.com). Not free, but that's what I use, and it has both a switcher and battery meter mechanism (the latter being integrated into the Today screen). The switcher is integrated into the "X", so it's not theme-dependent.

--janak

[Cortex]

GigaBar!!!!

>HERE< (http://download.com.com/3000-2178-10044356.html)


Here's a tutorial I wrote to get people started....

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 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 complaints 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

An 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")!

I haven't found anything better and best of all, this is free! Enjoy

[Thefo]

GigaTask.....works great, and is small tidy code http://www.gigatask.com
I use PocketSysWatch for my power/memory meter http://www.uglybass.com/birdsoft/syswatch.htm
They also offer a free battery meter called BatteryWatch http://www.uglybass.com/birdsoft/batwatch.htm

[JoeMoon]

Check out POCKET FACELIFT... It contains new skins for the taskbar, a task switcher, volume control, close app, battery meters, storage meters, launcher and most of all, a today screen manager.

The only weak part of the application is the launcher. But you can get Scott Seiglman's launcher for free and just toggle off the launcher from facelift.

http://www.pocketfacelift.com
http://www.scottandmichelle.net

Joe...