Don Tolson
03-19-2008, 06:46 PM
<img border="1" alt="" src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-mar08-mobileshell-mainscreen.jpg" /><br /><p> </p><p><strong>Product Category: </strong>Today Screen Plugin<br /><strong>Manufacturer:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com">Spb Software House</a><br /><strong>Where to Buy:</strong> <a target="_blank" href="http://software.pocketpcthoughts.com/product.asp?id=10499">MobiHand</a> [Affiliate]<br /><strong>Price:</strong> $29.95 USD;<br /><strong>Specifications:</strong> Requires Windows Mobile 5 or greater. Needs approximately 3.4Mb in ROM for qVGA, 4.4mb for VGA. Supports English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Polish, Czech and Dutch.</p><p>Pros:</p><ul> <li>Greatly improved functionality at the Now screen; </li> <li>Finger friendly; </li> <li>Smaller memory footprint; </li> <li>Very user configurable.<br /> </li></ul><p>Cons:</p><ul> <li>Some sections (like Settings) still require the stylus; </li> <li>Gesture feature seems almost an afterthought; </li></ul><strong>Summary:<br /></strong>When Spb first released Mobile Shell in January 2007, it represented a combination and evolution of the existing Today screen plug-ins. But it also gave us a completely new look and feel. Not quite the 'revolution' of the iPhone's interface (and PointUI's Windows Mobile implementation), but Mobile Shell's simplicity and finger-friendly interface convinced many of us (including yours truly) that soon, we'd have a device with no need of a stylus. So now along comes the 2nd generation – Mobile Shell 2.0. What's new and changed? Can it truly replace all the other Today Screen plugins? Is the stylus now a thing of the past? Let's take a look under the covers and find out.<br /><br />Read on for the full review! <MORE /><br /><p><strong><font size="4">Installation</font></strong><br />One of the complaints of earlier versions of Spb Mobile Shell was that it was a bit of a memory hog and in some cases, adversely affected the performance of the entire unit. Spb has done a considerable amount of rework of this version – reducing the memory footprint for both installation and running. The software is available as a .CAB file for direct install on the PPC, or as an .EXE if you prefer to install through your PC running an Activesync/MDC connection. When you run the install routines, you'll see that there's no option to load the application to an external memory card, nor would you want to. Since Mobile Shell works directly with the main elements of the O/S, you wouldn't want to introduce delays and timing issues due to access to external card drivers, etc. All in all, Spb Mobile Shell 2.0 uses just over half of the memory, compared to version 1.5 (1.24Mb vs. 2.34mb on the qVGA version. VGA and Square smartphone versions have similar ratios)</p><p><font size="4"><strong>Starting at 'Now'</strong></font><br />As with earlier versions, Spb Mobile Shell injects a 'Now' screen which is displayed immediately after the unit is awakened from sleep mode. There are two flavours – Professional and Classic – which are very similar to the look in the earlier version 1.5</p><p><img border="1" alt="" src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-mar08-mobileshell-professional.jpg" /><br /><em>Figure 1: Mobile Shell 2.0's 'Professional' Now screen. The Classic look is displayed at the top of the review.</em></p><p>The major difference, however, is the addition of a tabbed screen selector at the bottom of the screen. The Calendar/Clock icon/tab returns you to the time/date/appts main screen of the Now interface. The checkerboard icon presents the application selection menu(s), with a selection of standard and most recently used applications along the top of the screen.</p><p><img border="1" alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/zt/auto/1205865574.usr15.jpg" /><br /><em>Figure 2: The Applications menu.</em></p><p>The hierarchy developed for the applications will be very familiar to those who have used earlier version of Spb Mobile Shell.</p><p>Back on the Now screen, the Person icon takes you to the Speed Dial screen at which you can select from one of your 15 'favorites'.</p><p><img border="1" alt="" src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-mar08-mobileshell-contacts.jpg" /><br /><em>Figure 3: The contacts screen.</em></p><p>To configure your faves, just tap on any empty box (shown by the + icon) and select a name from the list of contacts. If a picture is associated with the contact entry, it will replace the icon. If not, the name will be displayed. By tapping a configured entry, you can get direct access to all the methods stored to contact that person.</p><p><img border="1" alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/zt/auto/1205865634.usr15.jpg" /><br /><em>Figure 4: Individual contact information.</em></p><p>If the person you want isn't part of your 'Fave Fifteen', there's also an icon in the bottom right corner of the screen, to access a smart contacts search.</p><p><img border="1" alt="" src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-mar08-mobileshell-contacts-search.jpg" /><br /><em>Figure 5: Smart Contacts Search.</em></p><p>This search makes use of the now fairly common telephone pad input with predictive intelligence, where you start typing in whatever info you want (first name, last name, phone number, email, etc.) and based on the combination of letters provided, the search will display entries which match. Providing more information narrows the search.</p><p>Lastly, the 'X' icon at the right hand side of the Now screen exits Spb Mobile Shell and returns you to your normal Today screen. As with previous versions, Spb Mobile Shell also attaches itself to the right soft key from the Today screen, so you can always return to the interface, should you need it. <br /><PAGE /><br /></p><p><font size="4"><strong>Programs! Get Your Programs!<br /></strong></font>The Applications section of the interface is where Spb has obviously spent a great deal of time and effort in accessorizing the interface. Although they have reduced the number of selections (and increased the button size), they have added a set of 'most commonly used' selections to the top of the screen.</p><p><img border="1" alt="" src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-mar08-mobileshell-applications.jpg" /><br /><em>Figure 6: The Applications menu – notice the 'commonly used' icons at the top of the screen.</em></p><p>To be honest, I haven't been able to discern exactly how it decides what to display in the top line entries are determined, but it seems to be a combination of most commonly needed with most recently used. Regardless, it seems to keep most everything I usually need very handy!</p><p>If you tap on the Tools entry, you get a list of very useful utilities provided by Spb. By the way, did you notice that cool animated transition? Take a look at some of the others as you move from screen to screen.</p><p><img border="1" alt="" src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-mar08-mobileshell-tools.jpg" /><br /><em>Figure 7: Tools menu.</em></p><p>For me, this replaced a number of other plug-ins from other vendors I was installing and configuring after a hard reset. The really neat part of these tools is that they are all designed with the same 'finger friendly' concept. For instance, if you select the Task Manager, you get a list of the running applications.</p><p><img border="1" alt="" src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-mar08-mobileshell-running-tasks.jpg" /><br /><em>Figure 8: List of applications running from the Task Manager.</em></p><p>Then, when you select one from the list, you get various options of what to do with this task (or the others running!).</p><p><img border="1" alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/zt/auto/1205865757.usr15.jpg" /><br /><em>Figure 9: ...And what would you like to do with this application?</em></p><p>Configuration<br />Well, if you're into customization and tweaking of the interface 'just for you', Spb is has everything you need. Tapping on the 'Settings' icon from the Applications screen, then the Spb Mobile Shell icon, takes you to a multi-tabbed interface at which you can change just about everything within Mobile Shell and the Now screen to any thing you desire.</p><p><img border="1" alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/zt/auto/1205865814.usr15.jpg" /><br /><em>Figure 10: Adjusting the tabs displayed on the Today screen</em></p><p><img border="1" alt="" src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/don-mar08-mobileshell-animation-options.jpg" /><br /><em>Figure 11: Changing the animations between menus</em></p><p>The only downside here is that this section is written in the 'old' style, so you'll probably have to get out the stylus to make many of the selections, since they're a little small for a finger. However, with all the options available, there's definitely a trade off between accessibility and the number of screens required!</p><p><font size="4"><strong>Gesture Support</strong></font><br />With all the hype now about the iPhone's use of gestures to navigate the screens, lots of applications for Windows Mobile have been jumping on the bandwagon to provide simple gesture support. (Good examples are PointUI, HTC's TouchFlo and the upcoming WM7!) Most of the Spb Mobile Shell 2.0 navigation however, sticks to the Next / Previous arrows at the bottom of the screen.</p><p>Spb has made one gesture-supported feature though. If you are at a normal screen (not within Spb Mobile Shell) with the task bar at the top, and touch the left side of the task bar and drag down, a series of 3 'mini-screens' will appear.</p><p><img border="1" alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/zt/auto/1205865889.usr15.jpg" /><br /><em>Figure 12: Gesture-supported Spb Mobile Shell mini-screens</em></p><p>As you can see from the screenshot above, these are half-size versions of the 3 screens within the Now interface. By holding your finger on the screen and placing it over top of the desired screen and releasing, you will be taken directly to that part of the Spb interface. If you change your mind and stay where you are, just move your finger outside the mini-screen area and release.</p><p><font size="4"><strong>Conclusions</strong></font><br />Is this the be-all and end-all of Today Screen Plug-ins? An iPhone killer? Not quite. It's a big step forward from the previous generation, and Spb has done its usual superb job with the interface. I think, that with a little more thought on the configuration interface, and more gesture support in moving from screen-to-screen, we could have something that puts the Apple owners to shame. (or at least, highly envious :-))</p><p><em>Don is an Associate Director with Fujitsu Consulting and leader of its Enterprise Mobility Community. He now spends a good deal of his time installing and playing with new ROMS for his HTC Kaiser/AT&T Tilt, courtesy of XDA-Developers. His ever-understanding and suffering wife just rolls her eyes and wonders why he can't just 'use the phone'?</em><br /></p>