VITO Releases FunContact 2.0

[Paul Martin]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://iwindowsmobile.com/contact-manager.html' target='_blank'>http://iwindowsmobile.com/contact-manager.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"VITO Technology releases a new version of FunContact. Managing contacts on your Windows Mobile Pocket PC has become easier and more fun! New features on top of finger friendly and stylish interface make FunContact a truly irreplaceable contact manager. Now even more visual effects! The new sliding out keypad allows you to easily dial numbers missing from your contacts. All it takes is tapping the red arrow, and here you are dialing the number you need. T9 contacts look up is also possible on this keypad like on smartphones. New version of FunContact provides its own contact editing. It has become possible to edit or add new contacts without going to the default WM contacts."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/martin-20071231-FunContact2.gif" /><br /><br />Check out more FunContact features at <a href="http://vitotechnology.com/en/products/contact-manager.html">VITO's website</a>. You can <a href="http://vitotechnology.com/files/FunContact.exe">download a trial here</a> or take advantage of a <a href="http://vitotechnology.com/en/products/list.php?BID=23&ID=2005">25% holiday discount</a> off the regular $19.95 price directly from VITO. Current users get a free upgrade.

[doc]

Just a few issues to gripe about here.

First off, and most important, on my PPC 6700 it starts up even slower than the previous version did... not good.

Second, since Windows Mobile is such a pain to upgrade installs on, I just uninstalled the previous version then installed the new version. The problem is that after uninstalling/reinstalling it did not remember the license/ activation. Other programs remember the license registration after doing the install hokey-pokey.

Last and least serious, is that their install GUI does not display properly in portrait mode resolution on my TabletPC.

Otherwise, I'm still exploring.

[brayndeded]

hey paul, nice find on this. doc, i just got the 6800 last week. i love it,but i see it being more of a ppc then a phone already. if i make a call and need to enter info (like to my bank or such) after the call conects, then i have to reopen the keypad on bottom of screen...little things like that made me search for a program like this with big buttons easy to push on the screen.
that being said, i love how easy this is to use, BUT...why in the sam h*ll would they go to all the work to make a great program, then make such a small freakin ABC... menu on the right side??!! its too darn small to hit accurate with your finger!!
i know i can scroll thru all my contacts, but if i have a few hundred on here and want to get to the last names with W or Z...thats alot of scrolling.
i hope the next version makes a BIGGER touch ABC on the side.
so, im still searching for another. but this will do for free for 15 days.

[doc]

I have over 500 contacts to scroll through. The buttons on the right aren't just small, they're useless unless you have the stylus ready. One work around I noticed with the new version is to use the new phone dialer and start spelling the name with the numbered keys. It will take you to that part of the list.

I think an easy feature to add would be to allow you to scroll up. So, that when you're in the A's you can scroll up to the Z's.

[brayndeded]

very good idea on that doc. another simple fix could be that when you touch the "A" button, it could bring up an alphabet and you can type the letter you want to go to. that way if i want a last name williams,i could tap the "A" then hit the "W" and takes me to all those contacts in just 2 quick taps.

do you know of any other programs out there that are like this? i do like the big buttons, so if you know of any others out to try, please pm or post. i have googled but dont really know how to term the type of program this is......contact manager??
thanks

[doc]

Before FunContact I was using Agenda Fusion for my contact manager. I still use AF as my PIM but I use FunContact as my contact manager instead because I like the GUI.

I really only use FC to look up an SMS or snail mail address since I use VoiceCommand and a bluetooth headset to do most of my calling out.

As far as I know, FunContact is the only manager to use the flick gestures. I think that the latest version of Spb PocketPlus adds the flick scrolling feature to the contact list, and a number of other programs. I use PocketPlus and it adds flick gestures to PIE which is pretty nice.

[nGage]

After you find a contact, select it and go back, it seems to go back to the start of the contact list rather than the contact that you had selected. Bug or backwards step? Otherwise it is the best app I have used (and I've used them all!0 for actually using your contacts list to call, sms etc. I really like it! Can't wait for V2.1

[brayndeded]

here is a page i found that has a few similar type programs out. i havent looked real close yet,but will in the new year!!

http://pocketpccentral.net/software/dial_screen.htm

[bjevers]

Don't forget the free PocketCM at: http://www.pocketcm.com

Version .15 comes with a nice skin, .17 doesn't, but you can find some in the themes forum there.

[brayndeded]

well the pocketcm seems to look nice as well, but it has the same problem as fun contacts...the abc's are on the left side, but still very small and too close together to be able to tap accuratly...i just cant understand why companys do this. they pride themselves on making big easy to touch buttons,but fall short on one of the most useful functions.
i will check it out after fun contacts 15 days are up, but so far dont see any advantages from one to the next.

thanks for the post bjevers.

edit---i just saw that the program is totally free...makes it rise to the top of the list right away!!

[cakira]

well the pocketcm seems to look nice as well, but it has the same problem as fun contacts...the abc's are on the left side, but still very small and too close together to be able to tap accuratly...

Hi brayndeded!

I use PocketCM in my device. It's actually a little slow (and perhaps memory hungry... I've never measured it), but I like it.

About the abc's, I must use the tip of my fingertips (ok, I will admit... I must trim better my nails), but I can select the letter easily without using the stilus. And besides the shots show the abc only in the left corner of the screen, one can select the letter both in the right or in the left of the screen (both always work).

And it is freeware (but the author remember us everytime that he would like a donation to "encourage him to continue the development of it as a freeware").

[brayndeded]

hey thanks for the info there cakira. key point there again being that its free. i will try it a few days and if it works better then the others, as always,am happy to drop a few $$$.

[RobrechtV]

well the pocketcm seems to look nice as well, but it has the same problem as fun contacts...the abc's are on the left side, but still very small and too close together to be able to tap accuratly...

Hi brayndeded!

I use PocketCM in my device. It's actually a little slow (and perhaps memory hungry... I've never measured it), but I like it.

About the abc's, I must use the tip of my fingertips (ok, I will admit... I must trim better my nails), but I can select the letter easily without using the stilus. And besides the shots show the abc only in the left corner of the screen, one can select the letter both in the right or in the left of the screen (both always work).

And it is freeware (but the author remember us everytime that he would like a donation to "encourage him to continue the development of it as a freeware").

I don't know about Fun Contacts, but in PocketCM the touch sensitive area for working with the abc's is actually a lot wider than the displayed abc's themselves. You can even change the width by editing the skin file.

[brayndeded]

hey thanks robrechtv. thats some good info to use. does the program come with extra skins? if not, can you get them on the same site? im at work now and dont have access to the site.

thanks

[brayndeded]

well i was a bit scared to try this, but i did and it seems to be pretty good....for free. however..a few things to work on (if the author of the app reads this)
#1 PLEASE make the abc's on the left bigger, or in options, give a chance to have them small or large.
#2 i cant for the life of me figure out how to install a new color theme. make that easier.
#3 you cant hit the phone icon and actually dial a # from there...it only will dial a # if you have it in your contacts. whats the point of having the icon if you cant dial a random #. if you have a # for someone in your contacts, all you have to do is touch it and it will dial the #. so the time spent making the phone icon and dial pad is pretty much wasted unless they can intigrate actually dialing a new # from there. example..i have about 150 contacts and it dials them fine, but i tried to just dial a local walmart store just to see if it would call. (i dont have the # listed as a contact) and it wouldnt dial it. just said it cant find a match.

lot a work to go before i keep this.
all that said, its still a pretty nice app.........and free

[Konstantin]

1. ABC letters on the right are small indeed but the actual touch area is wide enough for even "sousage" fingers. You just place you finger somewhere above the letters and slide. Why on earth would you just tap? Simply place your finger and slide. It's that easy.
The same is true for sms button in a contact card for sending sms.

2. As for sorting the contacts by names, this is what new version of FunContact also does as well. You bring up the keypad by tapping the arrow near ABC ruler on the right and then start inputting number or you can start typing the name of a person pressing the buttons with corresponding letters. FunContact will display only those contacts that have the sequence of letters you have typed.

[cakira]

#3 you cant hit the phone icon and actually dial a # from there...it only will dial a # if you have it in your contacts. whats the point of having the icon if you cant dial a random #. if you have a # for someone in your contacts, all you have to do is touch it and it will dial the #. so the time spent making the phone icon and dial pad is pretty much wasted unless they can intigrate actually dialing a new # from there. example..i have about 150 contacts and it dials them fine, but i tried to just dial a local walmart store just to see if it would call. (i dont have the # listed as a contact) and it wouldnt dial it. just said it cant find a match.

I'm not sure, but I think that the dial pad doesn't actually dial. It's only an alternative way to find a contact. I almost never use the PCM dial pad. When I want to dial to someone I press the green button in my mobile phone. It's easier, I think.

[Paul Martin]

Guys...thanks for your willingess to help each other out. However, this thread is about FunContacts, not PCM or other alternatives. If you want to start another thread regarding alternatives, you are welcome to do that in the Software forum (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=15).. Thanks.

Paul Martin

[VitOl]

FunContact has become faster!

Along with finger friendly touch oriented interface like on iPhone FunContact has other awesome features up its sleeve that turn Windows Mobile contact management into real FUN:

quick access to list of favorite contacts
quick access to call history
instant finger scroll with alphabetic ruler
keypad for dialing and T9 contacts look up
built-in contacts editing
sparkling graphics, smooth navigation, animated menus and big onscreen buttons


Version 2.1 features:

FunContact starts about 8 times
memory usage has also been optimized
add a new contact or update an existing contact right from the call log
although not seen alphabetic ruler on the left side of the screen, lefthanders can slide the left side to choose letters
minor bugs have been fixed


Read more about contact manager for WM Pocket PC - FunContact. (http://iwindowsmobile.com/contact-manager.html)
http://vitotechnology.com/upload/iblock/8fd171a9efe99f414ccf92ba67221fc1.gif

[VitOl]

Here are some links to youtube video on FunContact 2.1 showing new features:

Scrolling (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3iga5pNTLI&amp;feature=related)

Managing favorites (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lMdDzWU_hs&amp;feature=related)

Searching of a contact (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haxiNBef914&amp;feature=related)

Create a new contact (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haxiNBef914&amp;feature=related)

Create a new contact from call history (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lr0yiIKFzw&amp;feature=related)