SPB Mobile Shell 3.0 Themes (Or is PointUI that much better?) - Touch CDMA Windows Mobile ROM Development

I have SPB mobile shell.. lovin it right now, just like the different interface, good change of pace.. was wonderin if anyone has any themes for it that I shouldn't miss out on?
Also I haven't tried PointUI yet, mainly because I'm happy with the Shell3.0 right now, but I'm curious if it's better? My thread about programs you use with your Vogue someone mentioned Shell3.0 then said he moved on to PointUI.. leading me to believe its better? Or maybe he just wanted a change of scenery like myself

I used spb for some time. I just loaded pointui a few days ago. I think spb has a slight edge here. Not at a point of deciding yet.

mobile shell is a little better imo. pointui has a cool senseui theme that has come out recently, I haven't used it but you should try that out too.

yeah i just started messin with spb so ima probably stick with it for now and maybe try pointui after awhile, if anyone has any themes they think are a must have please hook me up im with the original spb theme right now which im not complaining since i just got it its brand new to me

I think I'm sticking with spb. It is more feature rich, especially with messaging.

Related

Spb Mobile Shell 2.1.3 is out!

and it works on the HD.
I disabled TouchFLO and run now Mobile Shell.
boba23 said:
Does it have a official 480x800 skin? Or is it still streched like the previous versions. Didn't look that good in my eyes ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Main screen uses additional space, the others are stretched.
Will this work with the existing skins? Anyone?
Stretched sucks...
jtcrusader said:
Will this work with the existing skins? Anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don´t think so.
Anyone wants to show a screencap of the new mainscreen in 480x800?
Spb Mobile Shell v2.1.4
Version 2.1.4 (December 11, 2008):
* Fixed an issue with calendar on HTC Touch HD and Samsung Omnia
Thanks for the info.
​
jtcrusader said:
Will this work with the existing skins? Anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried 2.1.3 with skins from here. It works, but changes the look of SPB Mobile shell back to the 'old' layout which is kind of different and the graphics really don't look so good on the big screen, maybe on a X1 you can't tell it so clearly because the screen is smaller (with the same resolution that is). It's also buggy, some icons on certain skins don't show, sometimes the weather doesn't show correctly, stuff like that.
Looked at a number of skins and decided, that the default skin was by far the best...you might give it a try though. Now running 2.1.4 with the default skin and find it way more useful than Touchflo 3d.
alfa said:
Spb Mobile Shell v2.1.4
Version 2.1.4 (December 11, 2008):
* Fixed an issue with calendar on HTC Touch HD and Samsung Omnia
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and where to get ?
didnt find it at spb
at sbp under pocketpc
I love this software
it has great features and makes the HD or SEX1 wonderful and gives him a bit of iphone flair
hope they extend the functions until we dont need the winmo interface anymore
not as nice as touchflo but far more functions
it is worth a try and if happy a buy
It`s working great... I don`t really like the today screen it would have been great if it looked better...
It would be nice to run touchflo3d and with Spb Menu on the Today screen instead of the Programs button... best of both worlds... because with SPB i don`t really use the today screen as much as the first Calendar tab in its menu... which looks great...
It would be nice as a today screen... or maybe you can use it as such i don`t know. :|
dh-paule said:
and where to get ?
didnt find it at spb
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/mobileshell/?en
SPB Mobile Shell really sucks imho
they don't appreciate our skinning abilities, they don't release any technical documentation for customizing (api, calls an so on) and every release mess ALL layout settings so all our work in finding correct layout has to restart for any little release. It's simply frustrating, so i don't even release my theme (90% done for my xperia) 'cause I don't want encourage people to use spb product. They don't deserve us.
Even integration with THEIR products (spb phone suite, necessary for phone profiles) is simply RIDICOLOUS as you can't have a wifi switch on "home" screen, 1 year old request on spb forum and no response
PhoneWeaver is FAR better, and I can invoke menu (fully customizable with self-explainatory skins) with a hardware button using TouchFlo3d
Been using Mobile Shell on my HD for a few days now, and I've had to soft reset the device almost once a day during the test.
Applications keeps crashing and the device hangs.
I find the GUI far better than TouchFLO, but in its current state it is of no use for me.
-KJ
MS 2.1.4
This new build doesn't crash at all for me. I'm using original rom with my Touch HD and it runs perfectly. I would like to see some skins for for this software that would compliment our beautiful WVGA screens though.
And.. Will you share it with us ..?
Pandemoniumone said:
This new build doesn't crash at all for me. I'm using original rom with my Touch HD and it runs perfectly. I would like to see some skins for for this software that would compliment our beautiful WVGA screens though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
enistgok said:
And.. Will you share it with us ..?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can get it from SPB, it's been out for some time now.
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/
I'm just waiting for some nice skins for the WVGA screen, I'm not much of an artist or graphics designer...wish I had it in me.
Pandemoniumone said:
You can get it from SPB, it's been out for some time now.
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/
I'm just waiting for some nice skins for the WVGA screen, I'm not much of an artist or graphics designer...wish I had it in me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you post the files here please I cannot seem to find them
I definitely liked SPB Mobile Shell on my QVGA device. Tons of great skins have been developed. Just not too many available for WVGA yet though. Of course they're coming out with Mobile Shell 3.0 soon and PointUI 2.0 should be out shortly as well. I'll probably just wait to see how they do.
http://www.imarche.net/omnia/index.php for a nice set of skins for Mobile Shell

manila versus spb mobile shell 3

here is something that i need your opinions, and it concerns spb mobile shell 3 and manila. based on what i have seen on the forum, it appeares most people use manila a lot because when ever a cooked rom is released by any one of our master chefs there is always mention of either something not working on manila, and judging by the number of concerns that people have towards manila, it appeares to me that most people actually use it a lot. i myself however the first thing i do, when ever i flash a new rom is to disable touch flo, which i believe is manila and instead use state of the art spb mobile shell 3, however, i just need your own opinions as to why you would just either manila(touch flo) instead of spb mobile shell 3 thanks
i use spb about one month and my opinion is , a very good program!!!!
Personally, I disable TF3D on every rom as well. In fact, I look for the versions without TF3D.
I really like TF3D, how everything is laid out and how it gives really easy access to so much information and ties so deeply into everything... However... it is slow.
Every time I'd start up my device I'd have to load up each tab once into the ram so I'd get fluid movements when I need it. (Contacts tab takes several seconds to load up the first time.) Not only that, I found myself disabling nearly all the tabs. As cool as it was, it was just too heavy for me when I only need really basic information.
I used SPB Mobile shell 2 back on my Hermes for the longest time, nearly the entire lifespan of the device, truly a great program. (That was until TF2D came out, then everything changed.) Allowed really quick access to the most important information without getting in the way of normal windows mobile. Sadly it wasn't very pretty no matter how many skins one tried.
SPB Mobile Shell 3 however, seemed very awkward to me. Accessing simply information was a pain and involved complex maneuvers to get to something that should be very simple. The 3rd version while filled to the brim with eye candy is bloated for me. All I need is a today screen, calendar, contacts and programs. I don't need a carousel nor do I need an absurd amount of buttons or cool animations to get me there either.
My choice:
Titanium on wm6.5
It has enough eye candy for me and is very simple and very fast. I'd kill for a full calendar on the today screen, but thumbcal off the appointments tab does enough for me.
version i tried was ugly, unworthy of the screen and resolution HD has, also confusing, didn't like the layout, contacts look....actually, didn't like anything
TouchFlo is simpler and better looking, really shows the screen in all it's glory and i could spend time just flicking through it to see how pretty and smooth it is, the new calendar, weather tab, people tab, sms tab....i'm shallow :/
now i use Titanium, both pretty and easy to use and customize :/
I prefer Manila. I do not have bugs on my rom. I tried SPB MS 3 but it's not as smooth as manila, no way. Icons has to load every time, then I do not have the "smooth" impression. However, scrolling in MS 3 is very fast.
For now, Manila is the best interface I tried. This is just my personnal opinion, not a judgement of MS 3.
thanks a lot guys i have used spb for a while and i must admit the new version spb 3 is the best and it is very fast as well in my opinion. i think once you learn how to use it, it does become very easy to use, ecspecially the new widgets, but what then are the advantages you guys see in manila
SPB Mobile Shell 3
suisen said:
version i tried was ugly, unworthy of the screen and resolution HD has, also confusing, didn't like the layout, contacts look....actually, didn't like anything
TouchFlo is simpler and better looking, really shows the screen in all it's glory and i could spend time just flicking through it to see how pretty and smooth it is, the new calendar, weather tab, people tab, sms tab....i'm shallow :/
now i use Titanium, both pretty and easy to use and customize :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don`t know which version you have tried, but if it has been version 3, I guess that your comment would be completely opposite. When you try the third version, and you still like better TouchFlo - then it is only question of taste...
it was, it was green, green should be illegal....those tabs at the bottom left and right are ugly, but nothing compared to those icons in between them Contacts tab cannot compare with the TF3D People tab, weather widget cannot compare to the weather tab, point by point it's just not as pretty, glossy, shiny, eye-candy, TF3D and Titanium are both a very functional eye-candy....everything is 1 or 2 pretty icons away
i like things simple but shiny, SPB MS is neither :/
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3844438&postcount=1117
I am using both for about 4 weeks. Spb Mobile Shel 3.0 for work and Manila after work. I wish i could change the taskbar of spb to manila style or even to make the background complete black and not grey so i would use only spb.
I did try them all and right now I am using manila with certain tabs active ... sms, music, internet, photos and vids, progs and thats it. plus sometimes i activate a program that i just keep there for certain times its called winter face a very light smooth application that gives you an iphone like interface and its free.
i used spb keyboard and paid for it and replaced it now with fingerkeyboard which is free but far better and the same happened when i tried spb 2 and 3
now i have no spb application on my HD and i am happier
I think i will stick manila and winterface till i get Titanium on wm6.5 when winmo is officially out
I did try them all and right now I am using manila with certain tabs active ... sms, music, internet, photos and vids, progs and thats it. plus sometimes i activate a program that i just keep there for certain times its called vitto winter face; a very light smooth application that gives you an iphone like interface and its free.
i used spb keyboard and paid for it and replaced it now with fingerkeyboard which is free but far better and the same happened when i tried spb mobile shell 2 and 3
now i have no spb application on my HD and i am happier
Both TF3d better
I have used both .. answer :
TF3D is more intergrated eg with TXT's pictures and music .
with the shell you have use the phone own txt inbox and not the raher cute scroll in tf3d , this is the same with the music etc..
I want everything in one place .. and if possile not have to see the under bonet ..

TPII with SPB MobileShell

I have to say, I persevered with TouchFlo but after putting the superior MobileShell on it's clear HTC have a long way to go before getting it right.
The front screen is just such a waste of space, if you could at least configure it to display mails, calls and a couple of shortcuts I'd be happier. If I want to know the time, I look at my watch!
So if anyone is new to TouchFlo and new to MobileShell then give it a try just to compare, you don't have to stick with TouchFlo at the end of the day.
Added bonus is that most of the apps and extra skinning still work without the today plugin enabled so it still looks pretty.
i tried and took out the SPB MS 3.0... have iswith my contact mgr.. i am back to touch flow
i switched from touchflo to spb mobile shell and im loving it! so much better than touch flo for me, i can actually get to my messages etc with a few less clicks!
I really like Spb MobileShell. Nomore TouchFlo for me.
i went with spb as well but changed back to touch flo. Touch flo has much mroe information readily available without needing to launch any addition apps. it is very functional. spb isnt bad but lacks some of the data i am looking for. If i didn't have touch flo i would certainly consider spb as a primary interface. defiantly worth a try for those who have yet to give it a go.
I works pretty well on my TP2.
I do prefer Touch Flo 3D2 because i really don't use the functions on Mobile Shell.
I was usin an iphone for the past 2 years.. ( since it came out )
when i saw the Tp2 i was really impressed
and decided to change...
never used a WM device before.. never had a smartphone before
besides the iphone.. so im kinda new on all of this...
when i saw the starting menu.. i was really surprise in a bad way..
being used to have all the app right there ( iphone )
and now having the touch flow... it was pretty awkward
for me, same day of having the TP2 i was lookin for cool apps
and found SPB.. and from there.. i never went back to touchflow!
im so happy usin the SPB
For those of you who are trying the phone with both TouchFlo, and without it, can you tell us how much RAM is available after a soft reset in both cases?
Thanks!
i was not sure wich memory i was supose to
tell you so heres both
Storage Total 277.60mb Free 71.35
and Program Total 187.61mb
free 86.99mb
this is usin SPB shell and after doin softreset.
im guessin the one u want is the second one..
wich is the one that uses the RAM...
Wow! If there's only 87Mb left, out of 288Mb RAM total, something is taking up a whole lot of memory. Could you try it again, after enabling the TouchFlo Today plugin, and disabling SpB?
Of course, none of this is critical if in fact the phone can run a half dozen apps or so, along with your favorite GUI, whether it be TouchFlo, or SpB, or SBSH. My iPaq gets down to about 40Mb free, out of 128Mb, and it doesn't seem to hinder it in any way. I use the SBSH interfaces on it. It runs WinMo 6.0 Classic.
Have you noticed whether or not the phone is as prone to memory leaks as other WinMo devices are? It wouldn't be the phone's fault if it were, it's more about WinMo than the hardware methinks.
Thanks for the reply!
yups, memory leak seems prevalent here. i only have the default programs running and available RAM drops to about 80+MB.
freeway4you said:
i was not sure wich memory i was supose to
tell you so heres both
Storage Total 277.60mb Free 71.35
and Program Total 187.61mb
free 86.99mb
this is usin SPB shell and after doin softreset.
im guessin the one u want is the second one..
wich is the one that uses the RAM...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't that storage capacity?
Try to soft reset and click on the topright icon and see what percentage it says.
The main issue I had with MS3 was the fact it can't interact with the bluetooth, so I'm sticking with TF3D until SPB can get MS3 fully compatuible with the TP2 (would be unfair to expect them to have it compatible at launch since they haven't had the phone for long enough to iron out the bugs!).
can you please post some SPB Mobile Shell 3 screenshots?
thedudelasse said:
I works pretty well on my TP2.
I do prefer Touch Flo 3D2 because i really don't use the functions on Mobile Shell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, your vid-review of the pro 2 is great !!!
I order one and I hope that I get my pro 2 this week I like the touchflow more than the win 6.5 home screen on my kaiser, must test the touchflo on the toch pro 2.
greetings from Berlin
vdKarel said:
Isn't that storage capacity?
Try to soft reset and click on the topright icon and see what percentage it says.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea thats what i did..
the second one i gave is the RAM not the Storage capacity.
hehe
hi
i HAVE O2 xda oRBIT, i mafacing a problem with it now, when i start the phone the windows is booting and the volume control come ups and then the phone hangs, i tried reseting and tried by removing batery nothing helped me.
can any one help me on this please.
thanks
baradhan said:
hi
i HAVE O2 xda oRBIT, i mafacing a problem with it now, when i start the phone the windows is booting and the volume control come ups and then the phone hangs, i tried reseting and tried by removing batery nothing helped me.
can any one help me on this please.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did this problem start right after you installed SPB Mobile Shell?
freeway4you said:
yea thats what i did..
the second one i gave is the RAM not the Storage capacity.
hehe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, lol,
Well, I got just TouchFlo3D and I have just a little more right after softreset.
Total: 188.21 MB
Free: 92.61
Switched to Mobile Shell as well because it offers much more individual editing of the screens, but I really miss the contacts and the SMS/MMS interface from TF3D.
Does anyone have a good recommendation?

TF3D is too slow for my liking, any better options?

Hi all, its been a while since I posted but I am the former user of the 8125,8525, and 8925 (tilt) and haven't used a pocket pc phone since then. I had my stints with the Fuze & Touch HD but thats another story. Anyways Ive been using the iPhone 3g/3gs for the last year and I recently sold it to purchase the AT&T Tilt 2. I must say although the phone is very good looking and this is the best qwerty I have ever used, the phone lags and it is kinda slow especially comparing phones like the iPhone or BBerry Bold 2. What are my options in terms of Navigating the GUI without TF3D? I remember when I used to own my pocketpc's I used a program called "HTC Home" which was simple,fast, and efficient. Does that program still work on the Rhodium? Do I have any options of using something similar to the TF3d but faster? Or will changing my ROM make the difference up in speed? Let me know what you all think and thanks in advance. Also What does "Manilla" mean?
Dude there are so many ways to have a decent UI without manila go through a lot of the rom threads and read about each one, Most have light versions and a titanium version that eliminate tf3d completely. MANILA= TF3D they are one and the same as I see it, some people might get more technical with you but its like a tilt 2 and a touch pro 2 different names for basically the same thing, minus a few hardware differences when talking devices. Also Give SPB Mobile Shell a try, you can download a trial and if yuo like it can either purchase it or do one of those promotions and get it cheap o pm me and I'll let you know where to find it I myself love tf3d and cant wait till it becomes fully modifyable with the ability to make my own tabs for whatever we see fit, It will happen just gonna take a while and have some genius' coding things so quick links can be installed in the script with copy and paste so its easy for everyone to do. I think there may be a few other 3rd party UIs out there too, so just play around and see what fits you. And if you cant fully uninstall something its not like a hard reset cant be done! Always backup what you dont want to lose.
See here for HTC Home for WVGA/VGA devices.
Buy an HD2
Windows default "titanium" is also very customizable and much less RAM eating than TF3D.
I´ll stay with Manila 2.1 working very smooth for me
I really lost interest in this phone the more I used it - I found tf3d to be too slow... Rather than flash ROMS, I gave SPB Mobile Shell a try. It's awesome! I removed all items from the today screen and just run the shell.
Memory usage is different as well. Before I had to keep it under 50% to get the phone to run. With Mobile Shell I just keep opening programs up to 80% and the interface doesn't lag.
Give it a try...
Want a familiar and friendly (as well as FAAST) interface?
Google iPhoneToday. It's mimics the iPhone interface and is very easy to setup shortcuts and icons.
Simply go t your SETTINGS>TODAY button and disable TF3D and ENABLE iPhoneToday.
I love this interface much better as it's quick and to the point. Also less memory uses than TF3D

Today screen interface suggestions

WM Prof 6.1 - TP2 - T-Mobile
Trying to figure out what to do about the today screen. I have gone between HTC TouchFLow3d and WM and am not overly happy with either. Left HTC because their contact screen does not return you back to the previous selected contact. I am new to touch screens and it can be painful to finally get to the right contact. Then accidently select the contact above or below, click on back and be returned to the As. WM is just plain ugly.
What are some suggestions. I hear about sbd and cookie. What other interaces are out there and what do you use or suggest?
THanks
I disable Sense and use WisbarAdvancedDesktop 2 to get exactly the interface that looks like I want. There you can build the today screen nearly totally free. Look here for examples:
http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=60
SPB Mobile Shell: http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/mobileshell/
Inifinity: http://forum.ageye.de/viewforum.php?f=57&sid=2353928fca9fe6940d2bc2f845891662
Titanium (new Windows Mobile Theme).
I think you'll find that the SPB that burton linked to will probably be a lot more comfortable to use, it runs a lot leaner than Sense does, and is just a lot more approachable...but still very powerful when it comes to customizing. And, there's pre-built themes you can apply if you find one that suits you.
If you really like customizing and lots of functionality, you may like Pointui Home2 which I use. See my sig for details... it's memory footprint to comparable to Spb MS too. The theme/suite I use in Home2 is one I coded to look like WP7, but have real functionality not just look nice/flashy.
i am leaning towards a commercial, paid interface to replace TF3D. need it to be pretty stable. i have already spent so much time playing with this phone that my family is about to mutany. so betweem spb and pointui how would you rate their stability, ability to customize, and ease of customization - and anything else to compare.
wm 6.1 prof
tp2 - t-mobile
tf3d 3.0
thebrenda said:
i am leaning towards a commercial, paid interface to replace TF3D. need it to be pretty stable. i have already spent so much time playing with this phone that my family is about to mutany. so betweem spb and pointui how would you rate their stability, ability to customize, and ease of customization - and anything else to compare.
wm 6.1 prof
tp2 - t-mobile
tf3d 3.0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I honestly haven't used the pointui interface myself yet, but I can say that SPB is ultra-stable (especially compared to TF3D and Sense), and presents a nice small load to the system resources. It's been around for years, and even ran smooth and stable on my previous HTC phone, the Wizard, which had barely a third of the processor power and memory capacity that the TP2 has. It's also about as easy to configure as a phone GUI can be, and extremely flexible and customizable....there's literally dozens and dozens of themes and styles available for it, both here and across the net, all of which are extremely easy to apply and/or switch between.
I'm not saying anything bad about pointui, I just don't know it. However, I do believe that SPB will have more "ready-to-use" stuff to find than pointui, just based on how often I see them.
Also, SPB allows you a free trial version, so you can give it a try without committing
sirphunkee is correct about Sbp MS. Compared to Pointui Home2 it is much easier to hit the ground running with it and is more polished overall with lots of customization. Both it and Pointui are very stable on just about any device. Both can get away with low memory footprints since they offload larger sized images to storage memory, though I'm not sure if MS can, but Pointui allows you set the image threshold to either use more memory for speed or more storage if you need memory to run more apps or stay stable. I've used all flavors Pointui and all the other UI's and I aways come back to Pointui, since it's scripting engine is just as powerful (C#-based) as MortScript allowing for extreme customization and speed at the OS level. Sorry rambling... to sum it up there are many UI's/Today plug-ins that are great and varied. I'll list some, but besides TF3D/Sense, Titanium the most integrated for WM the 2 imho that are at the top are Pointui Home2 and Spb MS3.5.
Here some others to try...
1. HomeScreen++ formerly BatterStatus very powerful Today plugin and great for integrating standard today screen with most PIM info or just having single screen for all important info.
2. iLauncher
3. ThrottleLauncher
4. Infinity
5. And more...
Again to me MS and Home2 are the best and both have trial versions that don't really expire. Go with Home2 if you need more functionality (PIM-wise) and love to spend time customizing otherwise go with MS3.5 if you want instant eye-candy and shorter prep time customization-wise. Both have all the basics and more to start off and both have great support communities (I'm a community dev on Pointui forums). Whichever you choose, these two, or some other will be a great choice.

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