Spb Pocket Plus or Battery Pack Pro for a Today screen enhancer?

[lithium]

Would anyone be able to suggest which one? Surfing yields excellent reviews and customer feedback for both. I understand that both products have additional features beyond the Today enhancements. Thanks.

[Bladefree21]

I have both. To choose one, it would be Spb Pocket Plus. (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=1&osId=249&jid=EX66A4ED631213642C337D7F3D532435&platformId=2&productType=2&catalog=0&sectionId=0&productId=50351)
One of the first things that comes to mind is the multiple tabs. These can be used for organization of PPC software and can enlarge the size of the programs you use most. Second, There are already numerous skins. ->Juni<- :way to go: (http://www.kolumbus.fi/anders.ruohio/skinz.html) has some of the most awesome created to be combined with Wisbar Advance(Which is free) (http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/downloads/wisbar.html) The additional features including multiple PIE pages are also very useful.

Here is an example of Pocket Plus, Juni's skins, and Wisbar

http://pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/8516/Today.jpg



In my opinion Battery Pack Pro (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=1&osId=249&jid=D86B9CXD4CD39B51C6DD7C889293B721&platformId=2&productType=2&catalog=0&sectionId=0&productId=24948) was the best until reciently. Initially there product stood out. Many additional features and options were included in BP that others did not. Over time others began to draw level, this in part (IMO) because of there unlimited lifetime updates and creativity dwindled. The new Battery Pack Pro, will give them the incentive to create fresh ideas! (again IMO) Notice "FREE minor updates!" listed on there website :) for BP Pro. I am happy that they are charging a little now for there efforts, it will be profitable for you, me, and them! Within reason :wink:

Benefits currently with BP Pro.. The network monitor for BP, and how little space you can program BP Pro to use on the today screen, Power Clean, Alarms, etc, etc, etc. Battery Pack Pro is just getting started with the skinning capability, so we will see what comes of that. :D


I would suggest a demo of each to see what you like better! (>first hand<) Run them both synonymously for a spell :!:

Battery Pack Demo (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=1&osId=249&jid=D86B9CXD4CD39B51C6DD7C889293B721&platformId=2&productType=2&catalog=0&sectionId=0&productId=24948)

Spb Pocket Plus Demo (http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=1&osId=249&jid=EX66A4ED631213642C337D7F3D532435&platformId=2&productType=2&catalog=0&sectionId=0&productId=50351)

[Kash76]

I also have both and always come back to SPB Plus.

[piperpilot]

I'm just the opposite. I've tried both and keep coming back to BatteryPack. Pocket Plus takes up too much real estate on my Today screen. I have a lot of information on my Today screen--Date, WeatherPanel, Calendar, Tasks, Inbox, BatteryPack Program Bar (3 rows of application icons) and BatteryPack battery bar--and I don't like scrolling. I have found that PocketPlus icons don't stretch across the entire screen and thus take up a lot more vertical space on my Today screen. A minor thing, I know, but important to me.

[Kash76]

I'm just the opposite. I've tried both and keep coming back to BatteryPack. Pocket Plus takes up too much real estate on my Today screen. I have a lot of information on my Today screen--Date, WeatherPanel, Calendar, Tasks, Inbox, BatteryPack Program Bar (3 rows of application icons) and BatteryPack battery bar--and I don't like scrolling. I have found that PocketPlus icons don't stretch across the entire screen and thus take up a lot more vertical space on my Today screen. A minor thing, I know, but important to me.

That's why I like Plus. I don't like much on my screen so I just have battery, backlight and memory. I don't use the tabs either.

[lithium]

Thanks for the informative replies. Currently Spb Pocket Plus is installed on trial. For sure, I won't be going back to using the Pocket PC without some kind of Today-skinner. It is just too helpful to be able to launch programs from a Today screen 'desktop', monitor battery life, memory, adjust screen brightness, and to be able to close- not minimize- running proggies easily. I also like Spb PP's full screen ability in Pocket Internet Explorer. I will have to give WisBar Advance a shot too.

Following the trial, I will try out Battery Pack Plus.

I'll check back in later on this month with what I've personally come up with.

[nuka_t]

ive never used battery pack, but i dont see a need to. spb works for me. i also installed wizbar by the recomendation on this thread. its awesome, except that the input method chooser icon always shows up at the bottom of the screen with it on 2k3 se. it also dosent support landscape very well. thats another good thing about spb, it works perfectly with 2003se.

[lithium]

I ended up purchasing Spb Pocket Plus. Pocket Plus and Battery Pack Pro are worthy of a trial, you're likely to come away buying one. For myself, I thought Spb had the more 'elegant' interface. I like being able to move Today screen icons outside of the grid which BPP uses, and the Pocket Internet Explorer enhancements, including the Full Screen view. Good luck to all in finding that next piece of software to perfect your Pocket PC.