Steve Sharp
10-10-2006, 04:00 PM
<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/16781/header1.jpg" /> <br /><br /><b>Product Category:</b> Utility<br /><b>Manufacturer:</b> <a href="http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com">Spb Software House</a><br /><b>Where to Buy:</b> <a href="http://www.mobihand.com/pocketpcthoughts/product.asp?id=398">MobiHand</a> [affiliate]<br /><b>Price:</b> $24.95 USD or $9.95 USD when upgrading from version 2.x<br /><b>System Requirements:</b> Windows Mobile for Pocket PC 2002, Windows Mobile 2003 or Windows Mobile 5, 1.8 megabytes of storage space The program may be installed to main or expansion memory.<br /><br /><b>Pros:</b><li>Eases navigation;<br /><li>Tightly integrates with the Today screen;<br /><li>Enhances the functionality of often used actions;<br /><li>Adds features that are not included with the operating system;<br /><li>Includes additional themes for the Pocket PC.<b>Cons:</b><li>Finding help regarding how to use the new functions can be elusive;<br /><li>New users paying full purchase price may find the price tag to be a bit steep.<b>Summary:</b><br />It’s been about a year and a half since Spb released Pocket Plus 2.5, and they’ve obviously been hard at work trying to improve the features and capabilities of the new version. So, if you thought Spb Pocket Plus 2.5 had a nice list of features, you’ll love the new version 3.1.2...maybe...depending upon how you use your Pocket PC. They’ve kept the standard staple of features such as opening multiple Internet Explorer windows, “close” buttons that actually close applications instead of minimizing and .ZIP support, but they’ve added support for applets, quick switching between applications and several other interesting things. Whether you’re a current user and want more out of Pocket Plus, or you’re new to this handy utility, chances are Spb Pocket Plus 3.1.2 can help you get more out of your Pocket PC.<br /><br />Read on for the full review!<!><br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/16781/today.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 1: Pocket Plus enables the user to customize and group items on the Today screen.</i><br /><br /><span><b>A Big New Plus</b></span><br />Covering a product like Spb Pocket Plus 3.1.2 offers a special challenge. On the one hand, it has become one of the most popular utilities available for the Pocket PC and, as such, it has a large and long-time following. On the other hand, those new to the world of Pocket PCs may not realize what Pocket Plus is and what it does. So, how does a reviewer enlighten newcomers to all of the features and functions of this program without boring all of those who already know what it does but who simply want to know what’s new? Perhaps the best approach is to give an overview of the product, for those newcomers, the old timers who only want to know what goodies are in the new version can skip ahead to the next page.<br /><br />In short, Pocket Plus provides an easy approach to customizing your Today screen. It enables a user to quickly switch between applications, allows the user to monitor system resources, and it provides a simple interface that enables the user to change settings, customize views, group Today screen icons for easy access. The user can easily change themes, and it provides support for creating and extracting .ZIP files, enables the device to open multiple instances of Internet Explorer, allows Internet Explorer to be viewed in full screen mode, and finally, it integrates with other Spb applications such as GPRS monitor and Weather.<br /><br />Overall, Pocket Plus integrates with the operating system so well that it almost feels like a part of the it! I’ve gotten so accustomed to the Pocket Plus Today screen that whenever I get a new Pocket PC or look at a Pocket PC without Pocket Plus installed, it just doesn’t look or feel right. The point being that it’s the sort of program that becomes hard to do without once you’ve had a chance to learn how it works. For all that it was before, now it offers even more features.<br /><br />If you’re new to the world of Pocket PCs, you will likely find Spb Pocket Plus to be a valuable addition to your device because it packs so many features and enhancements to the operating system and the interface. Whether someone loves Pocket Plus or hates it, it would be hard for anyone to dispute the fact (although I’m sure some will anyway) that it makes customization and navigation of the many settings on a Pocket PC much more user friendly. In many ways Pocket Plus is like a set of tools that provides functions that should have been included with the operating system but weren't.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/16781/IEscreen.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 2: Pocket Plus supports opening multiple windows in Internet Explorer.</i><br /><br /><span><b>What’s New</b></span><br />Because of the popularity of this program, I feel certain that the main reason a majority of you are reading this review is to try to determine whether you should spring for the $9.95 to upgrade from version 2.5. My answer is, it depends. How’s that for being direct in an indirect way? The one feature that is potentially attractive to everyone, regardless of what you use your Pocket PC for is the Safe Mode feature. <br /><br />If you’ve ever installed some misbegotten beta software or some application that is not compatible with your device, you know that it can have your Pocket PC screwed up like a $2 watch faster than a bolt of lightning. Really bad or incompatible programs can make it impossible to boot the Pocket PC. I don’t know anyone who enjoys doing a hard reset, but that’s often the only choice there is when the device just won’t boot. Just as Safe Mode for your desktop computer allows you to boot up and remove the offending application, the Safe Mode feature in Pocket Plus 3.1 does the same thing. However, Safe Mode is even more important with a Pocket PC because we obviously don’t have the option of booting from a floppy disk as we do with a desktop PC, and there’s not much a person can do with a Pocket PC that won’t boot.<br /><br />I will provide an overview of some of the new or modified features included in version 3.1.2, so you can be the judge as to whether upgrading is worth it to you.<br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/16781/features-screen.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 3: Pocket Plus features and plug-ins can be easily configured to suit the user's needs.</i><br /><br />Version 3.1.2 provides a list of commands that can be mapped to hardware buttons. For those who use certain applications or features frequently, being able to quickly and easily map that function to a hardware button is a very nice feature. For example, I've mapped my unused “Record” button to a close program context menu. So, when I press this button, a context menu pops up and lists all of the programs that I have running. Each program has an “X” next to it and I can choose to close any running program or all running programs, depending upon the settings I’ve chosen for this feature.<br /><br />Another new feature that I’ve come to love is the fast program switching feature incorporated into version 3.1.2. This feature allows the user to assign often used programs to a hardware button and cycle through them by pressing the assigned button. Given that it’s easy enough to put on your Today screen whatever programs you frequently use, this may not matter, however, this does prevent the user from having to look for the icon.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/media/users/16781/context-screen.gif" /> <br /><i>Figure 4: By tapping and holding an object in Internet Explorer, a context menu opens to provide options.</i><br /><br />In version 2.5, Spb incorporated the ability to open multiple windows in Internet Explorer. In this new version the program also offers what Spb refers to as a “Link Context Menu.” In short, when you’re viewing a Web page, you may tap and hold a link on any page and a menu will pop up. The menu allows you to open the link in a new window, open it in the background while remaining on the page you were viewing, or copy the link to your clipboard. If you don’t have a Web enabled Pocket PC, or you don’t subscribe to a GPRS service, this feature obviously will not do you any good.<br /><br />As long as we’re on the topic of Web-related content, we may as well consider the encryption capabilities of version 3.1. Are you interested in or in need of AES encryption? Spb 3.1 supports strong encryption. For many, this probably isn’t a big deal, but it’s a nice feature for those who need it. Again, if you can’t or don’t access the Internet with your Pocket PC, then this feature doesn’t add any value to the program.<br /><br />Another potentially useful feature in this version includes the ability to add icons to the Today screen from File Explorer. The user can navigate to a file and choose that file to be available on the Today screen. So, in essence, this means that any files you have on your Pocket PC or your memory card can be selected and made available on your Today screen.<br /><br />Last, and pretty much least, are two fairly superficial additions to Version 3.1.2. These additions are mostly eye candy but they include extended themes and new icon sets, and there are now three sizes of icons to choose from instead of only two. Also, icons can be assigned to the tabs on the Today screen. <br /><PAGEBREAK><br /><span><b>Nothing’s Perfect</b></span><br />This is the part where I get to indulge my whining, peevish side. The user’s manual for Spb Pocket Plus 3.1.2 is 21 pages long. It does have a lot of functionality and the manual does have a lot of screenshots to illustrate the explanations. Maybe 21 pages isn’t so big for a program with all the features that Pocket Plus has, and maybe I’m just being unreasonable—it wouldn’t be the first time, I’m sure. I wouldn’t mind the fact that the manual has so many pages, or even more, if it was as clear and in-depth as it should be.<br /><br />I found the user’s manual to be very helpful in understanding how to use some features and fairly ambiguous about explaining others. For example, they sometimes show a screenshot of some feature they’re explaining, but they don’t always tell you exactly how they were able to get to the screen that is being displayed. <br /><br />My other beef with the program is that several of the features require the mapping of hardware buttons. “What’s so bad about that?” you may ask. Well, for people who have scads of hardware buttons that aren’t already mapped for important functions, it’s not a big deal at all. However, the IPAQ 6315 that I used for this review isn’t exactly riddled with extra buttons for special, user-defined functions. For this reason, it's a plus that multiple applications can be assigned to a single button, but it doesn’t overcome the fact that there are two other functions that must also be mapped to hardware buttons, and I simply don’t have two more buttons to spare.<br /><br /><span><b>Conclusions</b></span><br />Spb is a top-notch software manufacturer, and Pocket Plus 3.1.2 is a top-notch product. New users can easily set up the basic features without much difficulty at all, and “power users” can get as fancy and creative as they wish in building shortcuts and special functions to satisfy their needs. I don’t wish to start a war over which utility is best, and I already know that a person can search around for several free or inexpensive programs that can be used together to accomplish some of the same things that Pocket Plus will do. Opinions abound, but to my knowledge, there is no other single program that will do all that Pocket Plus 3.1.2 will do. Maybe everyone doesn’t need all of these functions. Maybe a couple of simple programs will accomplish all that you need in the way of additional features. Everyone has his or her own personal preferences and needs, but in my opinion, whether you’re spending $24.95 as a new user, or $9.95 to upgrade your old version, you could do a lot worse than spending your money on this product. A free demo version of the application is available at Pocket PC Gear and Handango.<br /><br /><i>Steven Sharp is a senior systems analyst by day and a freelance writer by night. He is a 40-year-old native and lifelong resident of Huntsville, Alabama. He has been freelancing for 16 years and his first book,</i> The Art of Managing Everyday Conflict<i> was released by Greenwood Publishing Group in May of 2004.</i>