Comments on: Shootout: Today Screen Shells

By: schmenge

schmenge — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:26:30 +0000

First, great review! I am really in the same position as psyjohn. I have had PocketBreeze, PhoneWeaver and iLauncher on my screen for a long time (and Pocket Weather tucked away in a PB tab). All together they cost more than either of these apps (which was already pointed out), but they also allow a bit more functionality as well. Almost anything I want is a tap or two away and both Winterface and Mobile seem to take more than that. And like Doug, I really want more robustness with tasks and appointments than either can offer, at least today. But they are nice looking and I do play with each from time to time. If I did not already own, and use, the SBSH stuff I would probably end up with one of these.

By: Doug Goldring

Doug Goldring — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:54:52 +0000

Ike, Good question. When I originally started working on this Shootout, PointUI was going to be included. As I got into it, though…having three today shells loaded at once on the same device did not work out so well.

But there are a number of free today shells and the number is growing. This was by no means an exhaustive look. Just a comparison of two of the most prominent variations.

Doug

By: Ike

Ike — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:35:59 +0000

Very exhaustive, and well-done.

Just curious how the freeware PointUI would have done against these entrants.

By: Vito’s Winterface vs. Spb’s Mobile Shell Shootout

Vito’s Winterface vs. Spb’s Mobile Shell Shootout — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 06:11:05 +0000

[...] you are interested in a Today Screen Shell program it is well worth a look at Doug’s “Shootout: Today Screen Shells” over at My Today [...]

By: Kenneth

Kenneth — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:33:05 +0000

A little warning to potential SPB Mobile Shell customers:

Recent versions have a horrible battery drain bug, reducing battery life by around %30, which is a lot for most Windows Mobile devices. My Tilt would get around 2 days of use on a full charge (I don’t use my data connection and rely on WiFi when I can), but with Mobile Shell, that drops drastically to about a day to a day and a half.

For other interesting interface choices regarding HTC devices, check out the device specific forums at xda-developers, as they usually manage to port various newer interfaces to older devices (such as the Manila 2D interface I use on my Tilt).

By: psyjohn

psyjohn — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:10:16 +0000

LOL, Konstantin

I suppose that is a fairly high price when you add it up. I bought them separately over time (and with a discount) so I hadn’t really realized how much the total was. After months of use though, I think they’re worth it.

BTW, I have the font sizes set large enough to be comfortable for my over 40 year old eyes.

By: Konstantin

Konstantin — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:46:31 +0000

Well, they should for $35 price tag, they should, psyjohn
Do they make you squint at display also?

By: Home Screen Shoot Out | Gear Diary

Home Screen Shoot Out | Gear Diary — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 03:15:59 +0000

[...] Goldring has written a pretty cool article on alternative Windows Mobile interfaces, exclusively at My Today Screen. The article looks at two of the bigger contenders, Spb Mobile Shell and Vito Technologies [...]

By: psyjohn

psyjohn — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:37:20 +0000

I had been considering a new shell interface for a while for my device, and after reading this review I was excited to try both products. I hate to say it, but with what these 2 have to offer it’s no wonder the iPhone is so popular. Mobile Shell has no way of removing the weather icon, which leaves me with either an “N/A” on my screen or a weather report from several hundreds of miles from my home. The launcher is truly lacking when compared to apps like iLauncher. Winterface is a very pretty app, like most of the fare from iMobile/Vito. However, like their other apps it lacks user configuration options. Adding apps to the launcher brings up beautiful color icons against the black background, but there is no way to change the default B/W icons to color, leaving the screen looking odd. Also, it has no way to edit the shortcut names. This results in single letters being cut off from titles and moved to the next line.
I like the idea of these shells, but until they are fully developed I’ll be sticking with a combo of PocketBreeze and iLauncher on my today screen. Those 2 (with PocketWeather only one slide away) give me a full presentation of all my important information that Mobile Shell and Winterface can’t.

By: dsgoldring

dsgoldring — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:59:26 +0000

Thanks Konstantin and Olga,

I have to admit that I was as surprised as anyone by the outcome. I really expected one or the other to pull way ahead. But they really balanced out so well. They both had a lot of strengths and some room for improvement. Great work both to Vito and to Spb on this one.

doug