Looking Back on Pocket PC History

[Jason Dunn]

I was going through some old files while transferring files to a new computer (be sure to check out <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com">Digital Media Thoughts</a> for my continuing exploits!) and I came across this screen shot of the original Pocket PC operating system, released in early 2000:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/whistler.gif" /><br /><br />One one hand, the UI has become more refined, but I'm amazed at the effective simplicity of the design. I'm not sure who designed the UI, but it was a stroke of genius to show people the things they want to know when they turn on their device rather than a bunch of program icons. I wonder what the user interface on the Pocket PC will look like a few years from now? I'm hoping for a more optimized VGA experience with <i>all</i> aspects of the UI being a bit smaller, not just the text.

[Vincent M Ferrari]

As with anything, the true test of a design's effectiveness is the ability to maintain its use (with only small adjustments) through time.

Palm went with a program-centric user interface, and then programmers came up with similar "today screen" type applications. It's a great idea, and it was one of a kind when it was created. Now it's immitated.

[Kevin Daly]

Actually, I think there's a good case for some of the lessons learned with the Pocket PC being reflected in the desktop OS in future (don't laugh, I'm serious).

[Jerry Raia]

That's a good point. Other than starting Outlook there really isn't a built in way to display this stuff on the desktop in windows.

[ctmagnus]

I use Rainlendar (http://www.ipi.fi/~rainy/index.php?pn=projects&amp;project=rainlendar) for that.

[qgman]

Well, almost the original OS. It actually looks like Wisbar running there, along with an updated background image for the today screen.

[kyrkesmith]

Yeah, and surely the windows flag was the pre-xp one with the flappy tail?

[Skoobouy]

http://calagenda.berkeley.edu/help_training/usersguide/pocketpc/images/today.gif

Not quite as pretty, is it?

[yslee]

Yeah, and surely the windows flag was the pre-xp one with the flappy tail?

Yea, and the whole bar is in a darker blue as well! And the Today bar certainly wasn't this fancy.

Edit: Screenshot got posted in between my post, but that's the one! Ah, what a familiar screen..

[Vincent M Ferrari]

You know what though? For all the nitpicking on minor details, the screen as a whole really hasn't changed much. Give MS credit for knowing what they had and sticking to it for the most part.

[DaleReeck]

My only complaint about the Microsoft Today page was about tasks. The number of tasks is useless to me. I woud like to see what the actual task is if its due today.

[Jerry Raia]

My only complaint about the Microsoft Today page was about tasks. The number of tasks is useless to me. I woud like to see what the actual task is if its due today.

Yeah I never understood why they just had a number there.

[ctmagnus]

They still have a ways to go though. This

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/3482/20050130_TodayScreen.jpg

is much more functional imo.

[Ed Hansberry]

They still have a ways to go though. This is much more functional imo.
For you perhaps. That is an assault on my senses. By allowing extensibility in the Today Screen they allowed 3rd parties to come up with more powerful sections that can relay to you just about any information you want, yet the simplicity of the standard screen gives enough info for a surprising number of users. Starting them off with the info on your screen would likely turn them off to to it.

My wife goes cross-eyed looking at my today screen, and it is far less complex than yours. :-)

[alabij]

It was actually the Today Screen that turned me from palm to the PPC. Back then I thought it was so smart to see all my important info on one page. Personally, the smartest thing about the today screen was/is the ability of third parties to create plug-ins. That my friends is the genius in the screen

[alabij]

My only complaint about the Microsoft Today page was about tasks. The number of tasks is useless to me. I woud like to see what the actual task is if its due today.

Yeah I never understood why they just had a number there.

Actually it makes a lot of sense. Tasks tend to be more than appointments. For someone like me that has an average of ten tasks due each day, it makes sense for them to be organized in the task viewer.

[alabij]

They still have a ways to go though. This

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/3482/20050130_TodayScreen.jpg

is much more functional imo.


Hmmmm.... Seems pretty cluttered up.

[ctmagnus]

...And that's trimmed down from the screenshots on the PocketBreeze site! 8O

Ok, after reading yours and Ed's posts, I'm ditching all that stuff for a while and using the built-in plugins. Right away, the Today screen's much faster but also there's that much less info available to me right away.

[ventivent]

What's even more disturbing is that you watch Gilmore Girls. :D I guess that's okay, because I'm currently addicted to Desperate Housewives.

[ctmagnus]

To each his own, I guess... ;)

[KTamas]

It looks clear, simple, and yes, simplicity is good, but...i can't live without PocketBreeze, PocketWeather, Wisbar Advance2, cLaunch, iLauncher, GSPocketmagic++, etc. :lol:

[CESkins]

I still feel that elegant and informative can only best be achieved with 3rd party plug-ins like PocketBreeze that extend the functionality of the today screen. It's all relative.
http://www.sbsh.net/forums/uploads/post-126-1106872783.jpg

[cab124]

Wow....now that is a sweet looking Today screen. What plugins are you using???

[Jerry Raia]

Yeah I like those SPB icons :)

[Jon Westfall]

I still feel that elegant and informative can only best be achieved with 3rd party plug-ins like PocketBreeze that extend the functionality of the today screen. It's all relative.


A plugin in list would be nice. What is the icon with the lock &amp; key at the top - haven't seen that one yet.

Jon.

[rmasinag]

slightly OT, but what plugin do you guys think is the most simple Today plugin that displays my tasks on the today screen instead of the number (I usually have less than 5 for each day).

I'm looking for one that would be able to display tasks for one category only. I wanted to display my "today" category for my tasks and other categories.

[CESkins]

cab124 the plug-ins from top to bottom are:
1. PocketWeather (http://www.sbsh.net/products/pocketweather/) using the Stardock VGA weather icons
2. PocketBreeze (http://sbsh.net/products/pocketbreeze/) using Juni's excellent OSX VGA skin (http://www.kolumbus.fi/anders.ruohio/skinz.html). If you want to see Juni skin set in all it's wonderful glory, just take a peek at his screenshot (http://www.kolumbus.fi/anders.ruohio/wa/osxvga.html)
3. SPB Pocket Plus (http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/pocketplus/?en) once again using icons provided in the extended Today screen background file found in Juni's OsX skin set. :) *thanks Juni* :D
A plugin in list would be nice. What is the icon with the lock &amp; key at the top - haven't seen that one yet.
dadarkmcse I am using a Fujitsu Siemens Pocket Loox 720 (VGA PDA) and the lock &amp; key icon in the titlebar denotes that I have the buttons disabled (so that the device does not accidentally turn on when in my pocket because of a button press...that can eat up your battery life...when the icon is displayed only the power button can turn on the PDA. I also have a Dell Axim x50v and although it has this feature, it doesn't have this icon. Thus I am guessing it is Loox 720 specific)

By the way, Juni's skin set is free so if you like it and have a vga device, you can download and install its components. Once again, a BIG thanks to Juni for providing these masterpieces for free.