Database Develop

Spb Mobile 2.0 vs Tf3d

I'm not really gettin used to touchflow yet and I'm checking out other options. So... Lets get down to business:
The things that bugs me in touchflow are:
1.the todayscreen not being able to show more calendarevents.
2. the sms screen, the whole layout really
3. The mediaplayer
4. The alarm, every aspect there as well
I know that there are substitute programs for most of these problems BUT as I have to go in and select the appropriate program I fail to see the advantage of Touchflow..
The things I love with Tf3d are its speed and beautiful graphics and they will be soarly missed if I would go with another shell.
Are there any other touchfriendly options?
What are the pros and cons with Spb mobile shell 2.0? Especially regarding these issues!
Yours sinceraly
Adis Hardis

Sorry but I think you're a bit lazy. Why don't you just download a trial of spb mobile shell and see for yourself?

To be fair, I think he wants opinions..
SPB Software always rates highly in my books, I used to use the Shell on my Hermes. My girlfriend used to hate it, as it restricts access to the main features of the phone unless you kill it off.
But I guess if you tweak it to how you want it, then you never need to access the back end of the phone, pretty much like the HTC one I guess.
SMS's are visible (at least the count) on the main screen, and link direct to the pocket outlook folder
Media player - There's non built in, so again it's just a link.
Urm, Alarm again is built in.. Unless you put SPB time on??
Guess its worth a try! There's plenty of support on their forums, and hundreds of themes for it

I'm no expert in these areas but can I install spb without uninstalling? (and loosing all the settings and so forth). Cause thats my main concern!
Lazy or not, thats what forums are there for in my opinion, to get input and help...
Adis Hardis
Ps
Thank you MikeSel

Yeah you can, there simply 'today' plugins so you can disable one, and enable the other.. Make an informed decision and then dump one if you like.. Or just keep both, and leave one disabled
Have fun, and give me a shout if you get stuck!

Nice, I'm on it, thanks for your help Mike!
Peace
Adis Hardis

i just recently installed SPB mobile on my diamond and i love it a lot more then TF3D. I thought TF3D was great at first, but it a shame it's not configurable even with TF3D advanced config etc installed. Only the very basic functionality is available. It does look very good though and maybe the future could hold great things for it. But for now and the near future SPB mobile is the winner for me
-it's better and more customizable
-it's got lot's of good plugins
-the latest version got guestures like touch flow
-runs smooth as silk
-great animation without slowdowns
-all of the functions are easy accessible

Tried spb 2.1 for a week, but changed back to tf3d.
For my use, tf3d its enough and mobile shell, is atm a bit slower than tf3d and i dont like the default look. And with a better looking vga skin its slower than the first versions of manila, so i stay with tf3d.

Alternative OS Frontends

Can anyone point me to other frontents for Windows Mobile like for example
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/mobileshel

PointUI Home was another one that I tried on my previous WinMob phone, it's very responsive and smooth but it's not the most attractive front end in the world. Also, not being able to see the clock and upcoming appointments at the same time got right on my tits. To be honest I've yet to come across a front end with a Today style screen that shows everything the default WinMob one does (i.e. date/time, tasks, appointments and count of unread emails/messages) which annoys the hell out of me, I don't understand how these various companies have spent time writing front ends intended to replace WinMob yet can't give us a Today screen that even has the functionality of the default one. Is it really that hard to do?

thanks, i tried and installes 1.51a of it, but nothing happens, still standard winmob frontend... how must i intall it properly?

bravemenrun333 said:
thanks, i tried and installes 1.51a of it, but nothing happens, still standard winmob frontend... how must i intall it properly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it's installed properly you should now have an entry for it in your Programs list, you can just launch it from there like any other application and I think it then remains resident.
On a related note I found this Wizbar app that seems to allow the customisation of WinMob though I haven't tried this one out. There are some themes for it here.

I'm very happy with SPB software though obviously it's quite expensive to buy. I think it has a free trial.
SPB pocket plus is a genius bit of software because it allows you to quickly select from up to 7 today screens each containing various today plugins and shortcuts. You get up to 6 tabs plus your regular today screen (when the tabs are set to auto-hide).
Other today plugins I'm using are Pocket Player, DevState 1.5 (as a task manager) and SPB Time, Diary, Weather and Mobile Suite (another great program). (Not cheap )
Here are some screens - the photo is a holiday shot from Turkey:

there is also vito winterface which is iphone clone...quite nice but nothing new. i still with manila

spb Mobile Shell vs TFL3D

Is there allready a discussion between those 2 user forntends?
http://www.areamobile.de/specials/Xperia_X1_vs_HTC_Touch_HD/Video.php
In this german comparisson between the Touch HD vs Xperia X1 the Touch HD was winning 3:2 and one reason was the better user interface of TFL3D vs the Panel system from the X1 but they have not taken the spb Mobile Shell into consideration which is available for free for the X1.
Beside that they have not rated the battery capacity, so at the end I would say that for both devices it is at least 50:50 and the user have to decide what direction he want to go - more multimedia with a bigger screen or more business with better battery and keyboard.
This is the background of my question. And I think it is a fair question because the spb Mobile Shell is free for the X1.
Claus
PS: Me personaly I am more in favor of the X1 (because of the battery and the hardware keys)

dingolino said:
In this german comparisson between the Touch HD vs Xperia X1 the Touch HD was winning 3:2 and one reason was the better user interface of TFL3D vs the Panel system from the X1 but they have not taken the spb Mobile Shell into consideration which is available for free for the X1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Add to that that the Touch HD TFL3D is already ported to xperia and then the whole decision is based on if you want a hardware keyboard or prefer a larger (in size) screen.
For me the hardware keyboard wins by far.

XavierGr said:
For me the hardware keyboard wins by far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
agree
can't wait to have my xperia...

Maybe somebody who has both
TFL3D and spb mobile Shell on his X1 could comment?
Claus

they are about the same...you can do more stuff with mobile shell, but TF3d looks better...so its a matter of taste really...just install both and try

SPB Mobile Shell seems far superior to me. TF3D is way too slow and requires several more clicks to get to where you want to go. It looks great, but also is less responsive and slows down the rest of your phone's interface.
One issue I have with Mobile Shell is that the task manager seems to have disappeared. Does anybody know how to get this back? It is still running, as I can see the icon flickr in it's spot sometimes, but for the most part it is gone. Also, I can't seem to uninstall TF3D which is ridiculous.

Task Manager will disappear when you use SPB Mobile Shell Panel!
+1, same here. The task manager icon on the right corner of the screen will disappear when switching to SPB Mobile Shell Panel. That's just a really wield bug and Xperia staff did not test it thoroughly at all before release!

Touch3d slows the phone down quiet alot, and crashes and is not 100% usable right now (some things still need more work to be done to be usable on xperia)
the spb on the other hand is faster, designed for the xperia, free. It is not impressive, but it is "efficient".

Efficiency is everything.
Sure, TF3D looks great but, as previously stated, eventually it slows down the device to the point where you just want to cry, alternatively, throw it out the window. I also suspect touchflo eats battery like crazy. Besides, Mobile Shell looks pretty good as well.
TF3D was great fun for a while but now I realize it really isnt very useful. I'd rather have quick and responsive before shiny and cool.

SCtud said:
SPB Mobile Shell seems far superior to me. TF3D is way too slow and requires several more clicks to get to where you want to go. It looks great, but also is less responsive and slows down the rest of your phone's interface.
One issue I have with Mobile Shell is that the task manager seems to have disappeared. Does anybody know how to get this back? It is still running, as I can see the icon flickr in it's spot sometimes, but for the most part it is gone. Also, I can't seem to uninstall TF3D which is ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd also like to know how to get the HTC task manager to show up in the upper right while using SPB mobile shell...

dinan said:
I'd also like to know how to get the HTC task manager to show up in the upper right while using SPB mobile shell...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed, me too - its the main thing that stops me settling on SPB at the moment! Ruddy stupid bug, that one!

i've figured out the solution to not having the task manager is to install aeb plus and set one of the buttons to open it's own proprietary task manager (i've set it to double click the right silver button).
works awesome and i don't have to rely on touching the corner of the touchscreen which requires using two hands.

I'm still trying to figure this out too. Very inconvenient

I think you'e missing the point.
SPB panel tries to place as much stuff as possible, into 'thum-able' icons so u can use the phone one handed without the stylus, hence task manager is located under the tool menu with large close this, close all options.
The only bug I found so far on SPB is the quick contacts, when you switch from portrait to landscape you lose the first entry in the list....very annoying.
I've used TFL3D and while very pretty the usability of SPB is greater hence i've switched back, my only requirement would be the ability to skin the SPB UI, now that would be cool

I'm experiencing some troubles with SPB, while I really enjoy using it, sometimes the phone freezes after using SPB for a while and then pressing the "panel" button.
Anybody else have this problem?

SBP on Xperia and task manager
When SBP pannel is active, the task manager is still accesible through the Button "Tools". It is removed from the corner to make it more "finger friendly". When you launch it, it displays the task list and then you have similar options than in the standard WM task manager, but arranged as a list of big buttons.
I agree that loading touchflo 3D slows down the UI (and eats 30Meg of memory). SBP is"ugly" but quick and efficent, specially if you remove the animations. However if you've used SBP in other WM device, there are lots of possibilities to customize backgrounds, colors, fonts etc. Maybe they want to get people used to it and then launch a "pro" version of the panel with enhanced look and functions (and not for free obviously)..

may i know whats the function of the Spb shell? Installed it,it's there in the settings, but no single change in the phone.

Uhhh..its a user interface. Add it to your panels and try it out.

mkent_barbados said:
Uhhh..its a user interface. Add it to your panels and try it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TYVM. But how will i add it into a panel?

...push the panels button, push the icon that looks like a spanner, choose a blank panel, pick the panel you want to assign (it's in the user manual).

Alternative to touchFlo 3d

Does anyone know of an alternative to TouchFlo 3D. I spoke to an HTC technician who told me that he uses a better program for his Diamond that has better response times etc, but he wouldn't say what it was. I was complaining about the response times on the phone.

He probably meant PointUI, SPB Mobile Shell, Winterface or any number of alternatives. Been trying SPB Mobile Shell 3 which is pretty good (there's a free trial) but my fav so far is PointUI (free "light" version) - http://www.pointui.com
There are also a couple of iPhone clone interfaces in the Development and Hacking section.

Thanks a lot for that echolock. I am just downloading the free Pointui to the phone. Do I have to disable TouchPro 3d before loading it or will it do that automatically. I am fairly new to the phone so please excuse my ignorance.

Yes, you have to disable TF3D before using PointUI.
After all, if you decide to keep PointUI instead of TF3D, you have to flash your phone with a naked Rom so you gain space and memory.

Do you know how to disable TF3D. My phone is an Orange branded one if that makes a difference. They use thier own ROM. I can't find a way to disable it anywhere. I have downloaded Pointui directly to the phone but I can't start the program. It isn't in programs. I have found it in my documents. Can you help.

Go to start-settings-today, under items, untick touchflo.

Thanks for that. TF3D is now disabled. Any idea how i load Pointui onto my phone now?

Download the program (which is a .CAB file) to your computer, then copy to the phone (storage card is best area)
Then, using FileExplorer, naviagte on the phone, to the location you saved it, and click on the program, it'll ask a few things, just click the left soft button.

Thanks for that. Installed it and works fine. It does seem beeter than the TF3D.

I use scott seligman's launcher on the standard windows today screen,it just add's program icon's to today screen,one tap open's any application,no sliding this thing here,flipping this there,scrolling up or down.
It's not finger friendly though,unless you have pointy little finger's,or usually use a stylus anyway,but it doesn't get much faster or less resource hungry than this simple app.

WAD from lakeridgesoftware.com is pretty incredible
let me know what you think

TF3D and Mobile Shell

I keep going back and forth between the two on my Imagio, but I think once we get TF3D 2.5 I'll be able to stick with HTC's software. Question is: Will the Imagio handle it well?
BTW thanks for the resource here!

me too, I have been going back in forth between the current touchflo version on the Imagio and SPB Mobile Shell.
Has anyone come up with a tweak yet for touch flo 3d 2.5 for the Imagio.

SPB MS 3.5 for me
I have been playing with TouchFlo since the first version on the HTC Touch and it is just too much work. I downloaded MS3.5 and I couldn't be happier. It takes up fewer resources and the customization is as easy as dragging and dropping. I use the leisure theme with a five panel widget home screen. You can add picture frames as widgets among other cool items. The contact management is integrated with Facebook automatically and the smart dial is awesome. If I decide I want to do custom icons later, I can get as deep into the xml component as I want.

dbigdawg said:
I have been playing with TouchFlo since the first version on the HTC Touch and it is just too much work. I downloaded MS3.5 and I couldn't be happier. It takes up fewer resources and the customization is as easy as dragging and dropping. I use the leisure theme with a five panel widget home screen. You can add picture frames as widgets among other cool items. The contact management is integrated with Facebook automatically and the smart dial is awesome. If I decide I want to do custom icons later, I can get as deep into the xml component as I want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See, now, I get the whole "pretty" thing with this shell, but I found it to be just too confusing because it has a lot of redundancies. On the other hand, TouchFlo by HTC is really powerful, but it needs more "clues" to find all of its functionality. Idunno..I just wish we could get this thing hspl unlocked so that the gurus can start cooking up some new roms..

TF3D does not work for me. I need to quickly check email and delete tehm on the fly and access many parts of the phone. Why cant we load the new Sense UIon the Imagio. MS 3.5 is great but the contacts and dialer are badly broken. I cant search for contacts easily by typing parts of the name (only searches file as field) and from the dialer screen you cannot get into the details of a contact to E.G. select an alternate number to dial.

I have been trying both on my new imagio, and am currently sticking with SPBMS3.5. The main reason is that for some reason, the text messaging interface with TF3D messes up my ability to rotate to landscape when replying to a message. I am not sure why...
I have hard reset, and it works for a short period of time, because it seems to be using the standard Winmo texting interface. After receiving a message from a contact, the interface seems to switch to a custom TF3D version, and I can no longer use the landscape keyboard.
Plus I like that I can have virtually all the things I need on a sweetly configured main screen at one tap.
My two cents...
Gary

The folks over at PPCGeeks have unlocked the Imagio! And there are a number of ROMs already ready for flashing. As for TF3D and Mobile Shell, I have found no issues with TF, and with the new Cookies home tabs, its even easier for me. I tried that mobile shell, and there were too many reduntant applications, and by the time I got what I wanted set up, it was several pages between what I really needed and what I needed to go through. That, and after a couple days, my phone started to really get buggy. I finally gave up and went back to TF.
Now, that was before flashing to an Energy ROM. Things are much better now! Check out PPCGeeks HTC Imagio section, several ROMS there waiting for you!

You know I just saw those this weekend and they look very promising! Especially the MaxManilla on the horizon. I am not sure whether to go with Manilla or Cookies...Any thoughts?
As for the TF3D and texting, I did some googling and found the fix. Sorry, but I can't remember, but I think it was on PPCGeeks. Had to add some manilla reg values and change one other and voila! It works now. Still not sure if I like TF3D better than SPB, but I am giving it a shot. What I do like is that SPB can have multiple weather cities. I don't think that I like the 3D mail reader on either app.
Thanks again for the tips.
Gary