PPCProfiles-Pro: For You Power Users Out There

[Jon Westfall]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.handango.com/BrainStore/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&jid=E3A7BFC1D28C1DACED39X2188B6F7BFE&platformId=2&productType=2&productId=160592&sectionId=0&catalog=1' target='_blank'>http://www.handango.com/BrainStore/...nId=0&catalog=1</a><br /><br /></div><i>"This version is for the professional user who wants total control of their phone profiles. PPCProfiles-Pro is an advanced, feature rich phone profile manager, todayscreen plugin, designed for the Windows Pocket PC Phone Edition. As it resides on the todayscreen, PPCProfiles-Pro provides a handy add-on option at your finger tips. "</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/westfall-20050319-ppcpro.gif" /> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=37864"> Recently we posted</a> about the regular version of this software, which prides itself on its lightweight design and simple interface. Now responding to power users who wish to control more with their profile software, PPCProfiles-Pro has been released. Affordable at $9.90, it offers automatic changes to many PPC functions when updating profile, and increased outlook support. Try out a trial today and post your reactions to this very neat looking software!

[ID64]

Looks like PocketZenPhone rip-off. Same functionality. But ZenPhone is free :?: 0X

[bretto]

Interesting comment ID64.

Maybe you havent tried PPCProfiles-Pro yet? Let me know if your device is compatable and I'll get you a copy.

If you mean that it does the same as PZP because it switches profiles then yes very similar.

The way in which it does what it does is what differs greatly.

All the features for this application have been requested by real people who have tried the alternatives and wanted something different. They have been quite specific about how they want things to work and why they cant get this from other places.

How the features are used and displayed also requested.

Ive never seen the registered version of PZP but I would imagine it to have developed in the same manner.

BTW PZP is not free. I believe only the very early versions were.

You cant provide everything to everyone. My users are all using the imate II so this is the device PPCProfiles and PPCProfiles-Pro have been designed for.

Maybe it can be of use to other people out there.

Cheers

Bretto

[ID64]

Well, I was one of the early adopters of Zen and that's why I got it for free. I agree with you about situation right now - it's aint free. Apologize about this comment :)

About functionality: check it out. Looks pretty much the same:

http://zendrui.free.fr/documentation.htm

It's not a bad thing to have an alternative. I'll try your version to see which one works better :)

[tadzio]

Hello bretto,

I just tried PPCProfiles-Pro 2.00c, as I have problems with PocketZenPhone. I noticed two things, and I'd like to hear your comments about them:

- the .dll file is 535kB huge. I am not a Windows Mobile expert, but I think as it is a Today Screen plug-in, it'll be in RAM at all times. That's quite a big bite for my poor MDA compact, especially while running TomTom or other huge software. Do you have plans to reduce this? For example, the setup part could be moved to a separate executable that is loaded only when needed.

- the other issue is that whenever I go to the Selection Options menu, I get an error message saying "No Skin Files Found!", and the list of available buttons skins is empty. I installed PPCProfiles not to RAM, but to 'Storage' (built-in Flash memory). There is a directory called Storage\Brett Darnell PPCProfilesPro, which contains the .dll file and five .bmp files, which I guess are the button skins. But somehow your program does not find them. Any ideas?

Cheers,
Daniel

[bretto]

Hi Daniel

Thanks for taking time to evaluate PPCProfiles-Pro.

Your comment about the size of the dll is a good one. That is something I should look into.

The product does need to be installed into the default directory. This is why you are getting the messages you described. The program looks to the "\Program Files\PPCProfilesPro" directory for the button skins.

Regards


Bretto

[tadzio]

Thanks for your quick reply. Good service! :)

The product does need to be installed into the default directory. This is why you are getting the messages you described. The program looks to the "\Program Files\PPCProfilesPro" directory for the button skins.

I see. Unfortunately, on a German PocketPC there is no "Program Files" directory - it's called "Programme" here. Likewise for other national Windows Mobile versions. But even then, I'd much rather install programs like yours to \Storage, where they don't consume precious RAM.

There is a Registry key called HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Today\Items\&lt;AppName>\DLL which contains the Today Plug-Ins DLL name and path. How about using this key to get the path to your DLL, and then look for the .bmp files in the same directory? There may be even simpler ways which I am not aware of - I do not have programming experience with Pocket PCs.

Cheers,
Daniel

[bretto]

That is an excellent suggestion Daniel, thank you.

I will incorporate this into a minor update in the future.

Great feedback once again!

Cheers

Bretto

[tadzio]

Again, thanks for the quick reply. :)

Sounds like you are very actively working on your program. I definitely will keep an eye on it.

For the moment PocketZenPhone seems to fit my needs better, as it consumes less RAM, picks up its icons from its installation folder, and also lets me adjust backlight settings.

But when you have a new version, please announce it here, so I can try it again. :)

Cheers,
Daniel

[bretto]

Hi All

I have a new beta trial going on at the moment. If anyone is interested in being part of the trial please let me know and I'll get you a copy of the software.

Enhancements for the new version:-
-Rewrite from the ground up.
-Condensed program size to use less memory
-Better support for wm2003se devices
-Landscape mode dialogs supported
-Context sensitive help
-Allows installation to storage card or other place besides default location
-New graphics for quickswitch and popup selection options
-Faster and better processing of flight mode and bluetooth options.
-Ringtones listbox now includes mp3 sound files to be used on devices that can support mp3s as ringtones.
-many more internal enhancements.

Cheers

Bretto

[tadzio]

I have a new beta trial going on at the moment. If anyone is interested in being part of the trial please let me know and I'll get you a copy of the software.


Hi Bretto,

good timing! I am just setting up my MDAc completely from the ground up again, and I am reluctant to add PZP as it still seems to be a bit unstable.

Your list of enhancements sounds great, so I definitely would like to try the beta! :) Please send me an email to [email protected] with the instructions how to get it.

I will do my best to provide useful feedback!

Cheers
Daniel

[bretto]

Thanks to Modaco all new versions of PPCProfiles-Pro will be made available FREE.

To get involved or grab the software slip on over to modaco.com

Cheers

Bretto

[Aitch]

Hi

I cant seem to find it over at modaco ??

Do you have a link ?

Thanks

[bretto]

Hi

This link should get you to the right place

http://www.modaco.com/index.php?showforum=151

Cheers

Bretto

[Aitch]

WOW !!

Your program is fantastic - just what a PPC needs :)

One extra feature would make it perfect ..... if each profile had a setting for the backlight - especially useful with GPS navigation to stop the screen turning off every few minutes !!

I use a program called Today Warrior for this function right now - would be great if it could be incorporated into PPCProfiles :)

Thanks again

[bretto]

Thanks for that.

The backlight control is incorporated into the next version. Due around the end of June.

If you check out the main thread over there you will find a post with a wishlist for the next version. Pretty much all of it will be incorporated.

Cheers

Bretto