SPB Mobile Shell Makes Windows Mobile Pretty
http://www.youtube.com/v/mDW5YaoDFV8&hl=en&fs=1
We got word from Spb Software that their Mobile Shell product just arrived in its third iteration. Version 3.0 is now available for Microsoft Windows Mobile 5 and Professional Editions, so amateurs need not apply. ;) New licenses are $29.95 while owners of the prior version can upgrade for $14.95 and there’s a 15-day free trial to have a look-see. The software adds a ton of useful customization to your Windows Mobile user interface:
* Professional and Lifestyle home screens (for work and for play)
* Widget-based photo contacts with Facebook integration
* Widgets
* 3-D carousel and hardware accelerator support
* Ringtones, contacts, profiles, and wireless management
* Many integrated tools such as Weather, World Time, etc.
* Highly customizable for the needs of phone makers and mobile operators
Just like the name says: it’s a shell that makes your device far easier to use. It’s not bad on the eyes either: check the above video walkthrough for the 3-D carousel, and if that doesn’t convince you to give a try, perhaps this review at MobilityMinded pointed out by Mobility Site will.
Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
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As someone who has been using Mobile Shell 2.x for almost two years now, I’ve got 3 major issues with Mobile Shell 3.0:
1. No ability to include Tasks in the Agenda/Calendar view.
2. Call Log has no ability to Add New Contact from an unknown call entry, and there’s no way from the shell to access the regular call history screens to view more details.
3. Screen-rotation is excruciatingly slow on devices like the Touch Pro.
PS– I did buy and WILL CONTINUE to use MS3.0 in spite of those issues… yes, it’s that good.
It is a delight. Plain fun to fiddle around with…which just amplifies the reality crash when you dig through the grooviness and get smacked with WinMo’s stern little menus, still lurking there three or four levels down. Largely, however, SPB elegantly cushions and protects you from the beastie that is 6.1.
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After purchasing the Verizon Omnia 910, I quickly looked around for a finger friendly shell. As we all know WM 6.1 just isn’t. Tried Mobile Shell 2.x and it was ok, not great. Added themes from iMarche and it was better, but performance was miserable so I moved on to PointUI. Yes it’s more finger friendly, unfortunately it was slow and quite unstable, so off it came. I tried WAD and a few others all in futulity. I eventually went back to Mobile Shell basic with no iMarche deciding to wait for Mobile Shell 3.
Downloaded version 3 and with a day’s use, I have to say it’s quite nice. My omnia is performing fine, and the new finger friendly UI is very good. Yes it needs a few things as mentioned above, but its intuitive.
Now if MS or SPB could just make outlook mobile and some other features finger friendly….
I don’t think that 3 was worth the wait. They are moving in the right direction but WM 6.5 and 7 are going to blow it away in functionality. I have tried 3 on a Palm Treo Pro and HTC Diamond. Works better on the Diamond but not great on the Treo. It is not as configurable as version 2. I think it is cumbersome to use. I have an Omnia as well but still prefer version 2.
I love it.
It’s working very fast on the Omnia and Touch Pro, and there’s no chance I’m getting back to the TouchFlo3D after this.
More of my thoughts in case you are interested:
http://mobilespoon.blogspot.com/2009/04/warning-spb-mobile-shell-30-released-it.html