Winterface Gets A Major Upgrade To V1.1
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There’s been a lot of discussion over at our Winterface review. In fact, it’s the article with the highest number of comments thus far on My Today Screen. It’s been a great place for readers to voice their opinions and for the developer (VITO Technology) to find out what you want and the problems you face. So this new version of Winterface (v1.1) will be something that many of you would be looking forward to which include:
New Gestures
Start the application with an upside down tick (^). This is one gesture that should not interfere with other applications so you’ll no longer be pulling up Winterface when you don’t want to.
That’s not all for gestures though. Do the gesture of a tick or v (V) and you’ll be closing the current application. This is definitely one of the more useful features and I think the only application/feature that I see on Windows Mobile that allows you to close an application with a gesture.
Tasks & Calendars
You wanted counters for them? Well you have them now. That’s right. Those numbers signify upcoming events for your calendar and active tasks in task. A lot more useful right? But you’re using Windows Mobile so I bet you’re expecting more and VITO does not disappoint.
Tap on the calendar icon and it’ll show you what those upcoming events are. Need to make an edit? No problem because Winterface will allow you to do so as well. What about tasks? Well, tapping on it will take you to the task application where you can “take care of business”.
Files
So linking to programs and settings is great but there are many of you out there (me included) who would love to be able to tap on a file open it directly from Winterface. So VITO relented and now give us that option. Thank you VITO!
Lock Screen
Have a certain type of Lock application that you prefer instead of the one that comes with Winterface? Or maybe you don’t want to have a lock screen in the first place. Well Winterface now comes with the option to turn off the lock screen if you choose to. Suuuhweeet!
Bug Fixes
There are some bug fixes as well included in this updated version. VITO mentions that it is now impossible to delete the Menu and Running icons of the program, there is no more doubling of certain icons like Phone and the bug with HTC devices and the battery icon is also fixed. No word about the Omnia though at this time.
Back Up Your Settings
Unfortunately, if you are looking to upgrade, it’s going to be slightly troublesome as VITO points out:
If you need to backup your settings, you only should rename file pages.db (for example, pages_old.db) in the Winterface folder. Then you should uninstall the old version of Winterface, rename it back from pages_old.db to pages.db after that install new version of the program. All other updates that are higher than version 1.1 won’t need this operation as the program will do it itself.
Do keep this in mind for those of you who have set up Winterface the way you wanted and do not want to go through that all over again.
For those who want to give Winterface a go, head over here to download your copy. They retail for $19.95. Read my review of it here. (via VITO Press Release)
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Today we’ve downloaded new version 1.11. We’ve fixed some bugs.
1. Fixed the access to settings on most of the devices (if it doesn’t work on your devices let us know which one).
2. Fixed bug in landscape mode.
3. Fixed bug with the freezing of the device when moving pages.
4. Fixed bugs connected with calendar.
New features for those who have FunContact installed
1. By pressing “Contacts” icon, Winterface opens FunContact.
2. If you have missed calls you are directed to the call history in FunContact
Yes, but the icons are now black and white (ugly). Why can’t Vito create a decent set of color icons and/or allow the existing applications use their own? Excel, Word, etc. have quite nice color icons which may be used instead of the bland black and white ones you supply now.
Better yet, why don’t they offer several free skins and information on how to ’skin’ Winterface yourself.
Still, no quick dial for devices with keypads and no T9 support either. Closing a phone conversation with the red phone button on the device, exits Winterface to the WM6 Today screen, forcing you to re-activate Winterface.
Nice update but… still, Winterface has a lot to add to make it truly useful and let you use the phone AS A PHONE without the need to leave it and work from the standard WM6 interface.
Hope version 2.X will be closer to what I need
I’d say it’s a great update, the new gesture is great, no more interference with other programs, it also seems that the motion rednering is more smooth.
Color choice is entirely personal in my opinion.
The option to disable slide to unlock screen is great.
However, there is still one minor bug I found annoying. While answering a phone call, if the phone’s screen goes to sleep/blank, and if you try to bring the keypad/dialer screen back, it instead goes to winterface, which means one more key to press. If you have slide to unlock enabled, even worse, it ask you to unlock the phone first and then a extra key press to go back to the dialer/keypad screen.
Other than this minor bug, I think the software is one more step closer to been perfect.
Li
Of course “color choice is entirely personal” - that’s why you must have a CHOICE and/or the option to PERSONALIZE. As it is now, you have neither - yet.
My question is: will we and if yes, when?
I purchased Winterface about a month ago and have nothing but problems. The first and biggest is the drain on the battery. Instead of getting 2+ days of battery life, I wasn’t getting 8 hours of life. In addition when I would try to scroll left to right to the second page of icons, the program would freeze requiring shut down of the program. When making a phone call (that required input of additional numbers) the screen would go to back very quickly requiring me to push the button to restore the screen, unlock the phone (since this happens automatically), restore the keyboard with another keystroke before entering the required numbers to continue my call. If there was then additional numbers to be entered, I had to go through the process again. I think the entire Winterface program is a bust. I have e-mailed Vito Technologies repeatedly (starting within a few days of purchasing the program) asking for a refund and they have yet to respond. I personally would not do business with them again. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!!!
Al, this is only version 1.11, we’ve got all wishes from our customers on the list. And those features that are worth realizing will for sure be added in next versions.
Li, i’ve put it to the lists of bugs.
Bob, I’m really sorry that you’ve got such kind of problems.
You’ve got 14 days of free trial, so you could have used it for half a month and understand that you don’t need this software.
Secondly, we know that on some devices the battery life is reduced. We also found out that it happens because of the passwords on devices that doesn’t allow Winterface to fall asleep. We tried to fix it in the version 1.11. By the way have you tried this version?
As for the giving a call, I didn’t get you.
If you still need some help will you e-mail me at olya at vitotechnology dot com, I’ll gladly help you with the issues.
Olga,
Thank you for the reply. I will wait for next versions then to see how it goes. I will purchase the license once there is some degree of personalization and when the interaction between Winterface and the “real” keypads existent in many Smartphones has been solved.
I’ve been using Winterface for a couple of days now and I must say that I think it is a very fine product! Since I know that the good folks at Vito have been reading this, I thought I’d give my 25 cents worth:
1) Customization. I find the level of customization to be just right for the average user (me). Look at a product like Ultimate Launcher where you can modify almost every aspect of the interface, making it FAR too complicated to use. Maybe - and only if it can made simple - should you be able to change the names fo apps, files. Mostly because sometimes a long name spills over on two lines making it look “ugly”, which is a pity on an interface that is so goodlooking and sleek like Winterface.
2) Icons. The only problem I find with the grey icons is that for me, grey icons indicate something that is not active/turned of. But other than that, I’m fine with using icons that someone else has designed…
3) Dynamic icons. Great function! Would be even better if there where icons for WI-FI and GPRS networks and maybe something to keep track of GPRS traffic (nothing complicated just a small icon and Kb traffic per day). The battery icon should show when your’re charging (just for the sake of it…)
4) Page flipping. Instead of having to flip back when you’ve reached your last page, another flip to the right would get you back to the first page. And, consequently, flipping left from your first page moves you to the last page.
5) SMS-chat. Is this just me, but shouldn’t the SMS-chat (if you’re using it) icon display the number of unread messages?
All in all – a fine product that makes your windows mobile look a little bit friendlier…
best regard/d
Great product! However, still encountered a couple of minor issues here and there. 1)How do I get the date icon? Thought it’s the Calendar application but can’t seem to get the date to appear. 2) Great to have additional applets for WiFi and perhaps another icon for launching the Program folder (reason being that I don’t put all applications on Winterface). Many thanks.
d066e,
Thank a lot great feedback! I’ll put your ideas in the wish list.
Dennis,
Do you have some other calendar app instead of the default WM app?
Yes, I do have ThumbCal installed.
ISSUES with WINTERFACE
1. Calendar- Does not show a semi-transparent background as stated on instructions. Just shows the regular WM background when clicked upon.
2. Contacts- Does not show a semi-transparent background as stated on the instructions. Again, just shows the regular WM background when clicked upon.
3. The Lock Screen- this is non-existant and does not work. Yes, I checked the Menu option and there is a check on the “lock screen” button. Screen does not lock!!! It doesn’t even popup.
4. Power Saving mode- Whenever my TILT goes into power saving mode and shuts off the screen and I activate the screen again to do something, WM 6 Today screen shows up and not Winterface. This is VERY bothersome. This means everytime I want to do anything within Winterface, I ALWAYS have to activate it, over and over again.
I am using version 1.17
i have an XDA II and the slide to unlock doesnt work and the FILES button in menu doesnt work. please fix, i dont know why i should have to but this when theres others out there for free… please fix these problems and ill consider buying it. i liked it alot in the trial version but the slide2unlock is major for me and it needs to have colour icons and run smoothly…
I am not sure if this has been fixed in the most recent version (mainly because I don’t have the appropriate hardware to test) but even if it is not fixed, you can email the developer to look at the problem.