Database Develop

SPB Shell locking phone

Hi Guys
SPB Shell is locking my phone as soon as I try to click any of its options -which is a bit rubbish as you can imagine!
Basicaly, the problems started as soon as I installed the "Diamond Theme for SPB MS2.1" (see thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=402021&highlight=spb+shell+diamond+theme )
When I soft reset, the phone comes back up as the default SPB shell and does not show the new skin (should it?). Now I am new to SPB Shell so I guessed i needed to switch themes? I then click on any SPB menu/option and it freezes instantly, requiring a battery out reboot.
The skin instructions say to copy the skin details into the program files\spb shell directory and thats it, no other instructions.
Yes I have used search but, as that thread has over 1200 replies .... I get more hits than an Uzi at 2 feet. Besides which, is this not an SPB Shell issue rather than a theme? Of course, it could also be "pilot error" i.e. im being an idiot!
Im running standard, out of the box, Diamond with no cooked roms. I am also using the latest trial verion of SPB from the SPB website.
Any ideas? Am I being a muppet?

The problem is that the skins you have tried to put in SPB is in QVGA whereas the Diamond is VGA so it is uncompatible.
For the moment there are no many VGA skins but you can find some here :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=405646

I downloaded some VGA specific skins..... unless they were labeled wrong?

Monty Burns said:
I downloaded some VGA specific skins..... unless they were labeled wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried the VGA skins and also had problems. The skins did not look very appealing anyway. Ended up reinstalling SPB Mobile Shell which overwrote the new skin with the original and all is good again.
Extremely impressed with SBP Mobile Shell. The interface is as fast as the iPhone, is highly functional, and looks great also with its 3D effects. Have now given up on Touchflow 3D.
Strongly recommend all Diamond users at least try SPB Mobile Shell.

Riker88 said:
I tried the VGA skins and also had problems. The skins did not look very appealing anyway. Ended up reinstalling SPB Mobile Shell which overwrote the new skin with the original and all is good again.
Extremely impressed with SBP Mobile Shell. The interface is as fast as the iPhone, is highly functional, and looks great also with its 3D effects. Have now given up on Touchflow 3D.
Strongly recommend all Diamond users at least try SPB Mobile Shell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's right. I try Mobile Shell and I am very impressive. This is much faster than TF3D and much more customizable .
Now I am just looking for an application that can replace the media player in the touch flow, instead of using Media player (not really easy to use with the fingers! )

Touchflo 3D vs SPB Mobile Shell

Hi,
I've read a lot of pros to deactivate TF3D and install Mobile Shell because of the performance, and i was hoping to hear from people theirs pros and cons and i DON'T mean "i like TF3D bla bla" but an explanation too!!
I thinks it's a lot of storage to be used, or can it be installed on the internal memory?!

TF3D lasted about 20 minutes for me, it looks great but didnt really give me what I needed, when I needed it.
I found it dreadfully slow and fairly clumsy ...yes, I know you can tweak it to the N`th degree now, but still seems to be more cosmetic than funtional. Just a thin flash skin over WM6, and it resorts back to WM6 when you have to do more in depth things with the phone.
I guess I was biased towards SPB Mobile Shell though, as I`ve used it on my last 2 phones (Tytn and Tytn II) and love the way it simplifies and speeds up using the phones. It is not just an improvement over the TF3D but also Windows Mobile. Far more user friendly!! (finger friendly)
I have the latest version on my diamond and love the ability to thumb/finger scroll through the options/section just as well as the TF3D, it`s still layed out well, although I don`t like the way they`ve done the frequently used/favourite programs bits... I liked having the start square infact I prefer the layout of the previous version (9 squares rather than the 6 squares and the messy favourites bar at top.)
It doesnt look as lovely and unified as the TF3D but I realise that you can change the theme. It can look a bit garrish with the multicoloured icons .
The now (today) screen is far more useful on SPB as you can add/remove options.. still not as customisable as real today screen (I probably haven`t found all the plugins tho ?)
I would download the trial as see what you think.
I give TF3D a big thumbs down and SPB Mobile Shell a big thumbs up
Hope this all makes some sense / is of some use, as am slightly sloshed *h*i*c* !

Where have you installed the progam files? In the internal storage or RAM (i guess it's called?!))

I installed it on the phone rather than the internal storage, seemed to be plenty of space. Never normally install to the phone area but feel (rightly or wrongly) that it helps running from phone memory ?? Still loads of room and phone flies along. Doesnt seem to as big an issue as it once was.

hi bro,
being an experience user with spb shell, can you kindly share with us with some skins that you are using?

I have the latest version of SPB Shell (though not installed at the moment as just flashed with a new ROM.
I prefer the SPB Shell as it is alot smoother and faster switching between the menus and the main today screen can be configured to give alot more info than the TF3D one.
For those that like to know the weather it gives you a breakdown of what the weather is going to be like at various times of the day rather than just now (I can look out of the window for that) and even the 5 day forecast can be viewed to see the expected weather at various times of the day.
As for skins the default ones that come with it are only different colours but having a choice of colours from scratch is better than the plain TF3D.
SPB Shell is very configurable compaired to TF3D but still not as configurable as some other Today screens unless like th eother poster said it comes in the form of other plugins.
I have it installed to normal phone memory and everythings fine. I haven't tried installing it to the internal memory but figure if I have to reinstall it if I flash a new ROM anyway I may as well make sure that it's cleared for a fresh reinstall.
Deffo one to give a try if you want something other than TF3D - smoother, more configurable, more skin options, ability to add more plugins.

I have to agree that TF3D is not something that is usable. As a matter of fact, I am very close to labeling it as a piece of crap. All the bad points of TF3D has been posted in this forums countless times and I do not want to repeat it. I am sticking with TF3D is because of one reason only. That is because it's the Diamond's identity. If I were to use other today plugins I would not have gotten the Diamond. Diamond and TF3D is like coffee and sugar/milk (depending on how you like it). Without it, the Diamond loses it's identity.

How about battery usage? Any difference there?

Vic5870 said:
I have to agree that TF3D is not something that is usable. As a matter of fact, I am very close to labeling it as a piece of crap. All the bad points of TF3D has been posted in this forums countless times and I do not want to repeat it. I am sticking with TF3D is because of one reason only. That is because it's the Diamond's identity. If I were to use other today plugins I would not have gotten the Diamond. Diamond and TF3D is like coffee and sugar/milk (depending on how you like it). Without it, the Diamond loses it's identity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you. But where can TF3d Themes be found?
I have found two .theme files that works and easy to set up. O2 Blue and Orange Lite. But it would be nice to get something like the White Diamond

I think its better explained this way:
SPB can house many more functions. If you need your phones apps the whole day long an need to navigate your small system every minute, TF3D is really not the thing. SPB is very good, and takes care of every single corner on your phone. Highly skinnable, and fast.
I tried it, but you know, it's too much for me.
I like a lot of apps, but I don't use em every day. So I want to fast check Email, SMS, or weather, or make a call. For those basic functions I think TF3D is the best. Just grab phone, Thumb-thingy to the right tab and off you go.
I don't need something TF3D cant do. Well, some minor things, like agenda and tasks, but I guess that'll be fixed in a few weeks

I'll vote for the Shell too: I tried Flo, really tried as it looks so good, but found it was just unworkable!
Shell is clean and simple, and fast. Also, I use a P3600i in some situations (such as when I really want to hear incoming call rings) - using Shell keeps me to a common interface.
These are the setting that I use:
TABS Home TODAY Date
Time SPB Shell
Weather Owner
Dial Tab Messaging
Calendar
Fring
SPB Menu Internet IE/Opera + Favorites
No Data
Fring
Internet Sharing
Comm Mgr
Multimedia Media Player
Camera
Pictures
Voice recorder
Album
Tools Task Mgr
File Browser
Rotate
Lock
Profiles
SPB Backup
MemMaid
App to Date
Programmes (auto)
My Menu 1Calc
TomTom
Ozi
Stock Mgr
Best Crypto
FM Radio
Settings (auto)
I run TLR v3 - clean and stable.
Unrelated to SPB Mobile Shell, my final 'make it perfect' was to get rid of the ring delay by:
Diamond Phonepad skin: HKLM -> Security -> Phone -> Skin -> Enable (set 1 to 0), then reset

It all depends on what you do with your phone. I tried SPB Mobile Shell and it worked nicely. Quite happy with it. It's faster and more user friendly compared to TF3D. The homescreen also looks nice and it has a nice feature where you can move your finger in a downward movement from the taskbar to choose between the 3 pages of the shell. Although the Now screen is not very customizable (maybe it is with correct plugins?), the other page u can change every shortcut to programs and such. It's nice, but I don't tweak my Diamond anymore as I used to. I saw the Orange Theme with TF3D and I liked it alot. The analog clock looks great. If you're new with the Diamond and ur tweaking and changing and everything, I suggest you get SPB Shell (or just disable TF3D). But TF3D still looks better (orange theme that is)..
I just need to find a white .tsk theme for wm6.1.. All I see is grey/red/purple/whatever... Goodluck with this..

Install SPB Mobile Shell on Diamond

I'm eager to install the SPB Mobile Shell on my HTC Touch Diamond, but I cannot seem to find any guide anywhere on how to do it. What steps do I need to take prior to the installation? Is it sufficient to disable Touch Flo 3D in the registry, or do I have to install a custom ROM?
Thanks in advance!

why would you want to use mobile shell, touchflo 3d is so much better and faster?!

for installation you don't have to disable TF3D... but in order to see the Today-Plugins from Mobile-Shell you need to disable it.

I only use Shell on my Diamond - Flo drives me round the bend. Try setting the Flo weather location using Flo - it is enough to drive one batty!
Shell may not be as pretty - but is far more fuctional IMHO.
Just grab a ROM which either has no Flo or (at the very least) uninstallable Flo.

SPB shell is easy to set up - just follow the instructions that came with the product.
go to: start/settings/today/items and disable TF3D and enable SPB. if you wish to change back do the reverse.
i use SPB. it is quicker, more intuitive and just easier than the TF3D. the black skin looks ace also.
have tried to go back to TF3D but always end up back with SPB.

Thanks for your comments! Does anybody know how much space is wasted to have Flo installed but not using it? Do I really need to go for a custom ROM?
_4saken_: Touch Flo is driving me crazy. I've been using my Diamond for a week now and I simply cannot stand it anymore. I want an interface that is practical, that I can use everyday at work, that does not necessarily impress my friends in any way. But that helps me achieve my daily tasks in the most efficient way possible.
Touch Flo 3D is very nice looking but IMHO it is not especially functional. In my world simplicity and function wins over glossiness and sluggish animations ;-)
From the demos I've seen on SPB there are many smart features that saves clicks and gives a better flow of events, as compared to Touch Flo. But then again, I have yet to try it out

Are you sure?
_4saken_ said:
why would you want to use mobile shell, touchflo 3d is so much better and faster?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try it?
I had both. the combination of SPB mobile shell + SPB time + SPB phone suite is much more flexible and gives more possibilities. As for speed - the SPB is heavy if you use custom "nice" theme.
Regards,
PV

ComPas-V said:
Did you try it?
I had both. the combination of SPB mobile shell + SPB time + SPB phone suite is much more flexible and gives more possibilities. As for speed - the SPB is heavy if you use custom "nice" theme.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With heavy you mean slow? So you've experienced the SPB to be slower than Touch Flo? Just curious!

Yes and no
jobook said:
With heavy you mean slow? So you've experienced the SPB to be slower than Touch Flo? Just curious!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Diamond is VGA (probably you know ). The SPB mobile shell uses bmp so to make custom theme you should double pics size and as result file size. So theme becomes heavy. However it does not make the program slow, but eats memory... So we came to the classic Windows situation - shell eats all memory dedicated for programs...
As for usability issue : the interface is more informative then 3DFlo. not too much though.
Cheers

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).

[Q] SPB Mobile Shell 3.5.5

I already uninstall SPB Mobile Shell v3.5.1 and install SPB Mobile Shell v3.5.5 to my x2. After i install i try to run the SPB.Before that i'm using GrowingPanel. But my panel always came out as home.not SPB home like the picture as i attach.
My phone also unstable after i install. Hmmm...How to fix that?? It's the software are compatible with x2??

i see in this pic that windows is 6.5 ... so there are 2 conclusions:
1)you are on the old ROM 6.5 and in this case the prog. will run fine (choose the default windows panel and from setting- home- and choose the right tab there -click on spb shell)and you would get it without any problems.
2)if your device has 6.5.3 like the rest of us , then i don't recommend you to use the program as you won't be able to click start menu icon ... as the program will take all the screen.

How do i know version window mobile on my device? 6.5 or 6.5.3 ??
i check my phone at system>about
-------> "window mobile 6.5 profesional"

it is so simple ....
old rom 6.5 has start button on top like here
new rom has start button like here

ok..now i know...i'm using winmo 6.5.3.
2)if your device has 6.5.3 like the rest of us , then i don't recommend you to use the program as you won't be able to click start menu icon ... as the program will take all the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok i need to uninstall SPB Mobile Shell v3.5.5. and install back SPB Mobile Shell v3.5.1.
tq.

i used spb 3.5.5. the performace of X2 with spb 3.5.5 wasnt the best. i mucjh like the 3.5.3 version.

it's spb v3.5.3 can be a panel same like spb v3.5.1 ??
what a the different with this two version??
you have screen shot..?
if posible...please share the link...
tq.

no it cant be a panel. panels are unstable and take space. if you want to use spb shell you better make hardreset and use clean wm6.5.3 with no panels and slidewied. they boath suck. when you have clean wm6.5.3 ypu simpley instal spbshell 3.5.3 and its fine. i have noticed the batery life isnt the best with spb shell. i use clean wm6.5.3 with titanium today screen. its farely stable, farely fast, hase alot of ram free, has almost 180MB internal space free... if you get sick of panels and slideview you search the X2 section of xda forum for making the phone clean and stable..

To "gbajzelj"
Hi my name is Sebastian
I want to know "How to" make my SEX2 "clean and stable"
I'm not a lazy guy, but i have searched in forum and i don't find an "How to" step by step or just i don't saw it (even if i put my spectacles).

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=680194
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=7098131&postcount=14

nice links

Xperia X2 is basically sucks.
my xperia X2 only supports SPB 3.5.1, All other versions have bull **** performance

The version of SPB Mobile Shell pre-installed on your Xperia X2 is an modified version specially customised for Sony Ericsson, with support for panels.
The latest version of SPB Mobile Shell, 3.5.5, downloadable is a generic version without panel support. Also when installed, it runs in trial mode, and requires a product key that you can obtain from SPB.

I've parted from SPB mobile shell long ago after experiencing issues in performance

I'v just added the generic SPB 8 to my X2A and really like it ... and I haven't noticed any performance issues that faizulrahim mentioned ...
However, just for information, the selection of backgrounds only works with the lifestyle and not the professional style ... also, it may be my imagination, but when I switched from professional to lifestyle, I noticed that the battery life was less ... only lasting a little over a day instead of 2 days -- but I wanted to ask if anybody else noticed that -- or was it just my usage when I switched to the lifestyle?
Anyway, I find the generic SPB 8 a lot nicer -- especially the carousel part ...