Database Users

PocketCM contacts 2.0

Is out (since 2/17) and works flawless at 96 DPI.
Fast, smooth, BIG contacts, nice skins
What's new:
- Category edit in contact
- Backspace button on phonepads
- New theme option in order to allow clean bubble
- Preloading of some image to allow smoother use
- Added menu to all panel, you can now choose the SIP while editing note or contact
- Performance enhancement
- Greatly enhanced performance in some scenarios
- SMS counter is back
- Bug fixes
http://pocketcm.com/contact.php
EDITED
May be it is well known, but if you push PHONE button for more than 250 msec a menu' will appear. Releasing the button PocketCM minimize itself, moving the finger to the other button's area you can choose the options menu'

Have you successfully installed pocketCM 0.2 on your athena?
I've tried several times but I never succeed in. The installation process doesn't cause any problem but the program graphic is completely a mess. I' have tired to change the theme with a VGA-compliant one but it doesn't work well anyway. Can you explain me how have you exactely installed it? I feel kind of idiot, but i badly need a decent contact manager (and the default one, in my opinion, it is not decent at all).

HI.
I just installed PCM Contacts in my Athena. It is necessary to install in the same
directory the vga-test.zip file that can be found in the Theme section of their forum.
This version wants directly the .zip files instead of the old .ctm (?) ones.
Hope this helps.
Mauro

I'm also a user of PocketCM. It just looks perfect on my Athena running with 128dpi.
It ist Important to use a vga skin (.zip file in the Versions newer than 0.15) !!
They also offer a very usable SIP (PocketCM Keyboard) that i use as a default.
Everything is freeware ans runs without any problems on my Athena.
On good thin is that PocketCM and PocketCM Keyboard can easily be set to other languages (German in my case) just by using an other skin.

Thanks to everybody. I've installed the program and the VGA them but still there are some issues. In addition of being a little slow, when I tap on the phone button the keyboard doesn't show up correctly. Can you send me the theme that works on your device?
filippo.visintinATgmail.com

i've got pocketcm0.20 and i basically use it for its threaded sms function...is there a way to map the hardware message button to go directly to pocketcm's sms function page instead of the WM sms page...or when i get a new message and click read or something to go directly to pocketcm's sms service?

here you have a VGA theme perferctly working with the athena. Thanks to Gidello, great job http://pocketcm.com/phorum/read.php?22,8595

bapssystupr3m3 said:
i've got pocketcm0.20 and i basically use it for its threaded sms function...is there a way to map the hardware message button to go directly to pocketcm's sms function page instead of the WM sms page...or when i get a new message and click read or something to go directly to pocketcm's sms service?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
anyone know of this??

try this one :
http://pocketcm.com/phorum/read.php?22,8595

Best software for customizable thumb friendliness

Maybe it's just me with my small thumbs but I find many applications place frequently used items in hard to reach places like these
I saw a SPB Mobile Shell movie where the employee left the uncomfortable places unused in his shortcuts menu, so I know I'm not the only one with this issue Of course I can't expect developers to cater to my every wish so I was wondering which programs have the easiest to customize interface. That is, not the best quality software but software where I don't have to give up my studies to learn to implement a new interface
Specifically, I'm looking for
Mp3 player - (using MortPlayer at the moment)
Keyboard - (Blimkeys is almost right for me)
Phonepad
But any and all links to easily (fully) customizable software are greatly appreciated.
See the thumbnail for areas which I think should be avoided, darker is harder to reach...

One of the best thumb friendly media players is S2P by A_C. I have it on a Windows Mobile PDA that i use as a front end in the car, load the MP3s onto an SD card and away we go.

Forgot to say that PocketCM and iContacts are both great contact managers, the latter especially if all you need is quick access to your contacts and their details.

PocketCM and rlToday will allow you to do everything

deedee said:
One of the best thumb friendly media players is S2P by A_C. I have it on a Windows Mobile PDA that i use as a front end in the car, load the MP3s onto an SD card and away we go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say S2P is very finger friendly but could be more thumb friendly. (Where, by thumb friendly I mean true one-handed usage) And then the question becomes, how easy is it to configure the UI?
deedee said:
Forgot to say that PocketCM and iContacts are both great contact managers, the latter especially if all you need is quick access to your contacts and their details.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RandomAccess would be all I need if only the right-side navigation bar could be made wider. Is this possible with PocketCM? I didn't try PocketCM very long because it's a bit unstable for me (randomly closing when sliding through contacts). This could be due to other software i have installed, not necessarily a PocketCM issue...
Thanks for your replies!

Sunra said:
RandomAccess would be all I need if only the right-side navigation bar could be made wider. Is this possible with PocketCM? I didn't try PocketCM very long because it's a bit unstable for me (randomly closing when sliding through contacts). This could be due to other software i have installed, not necessarily a PocketCM issue...
Thanks for your replies!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never had an issue with PocketCM closing at the wrong moment, it's just a bit heavy weight, and thus sluggish, sometimes

Do a forum search and you'll find more information than just asking in a thread.

I have been searching the forum for the past week and have learned a lot. For this question it was hard to find answers mainly because it seems few people share my ideas about usability.

Actualy, I use my fingers most of the time with my device. The only thing that is difficult is the close button. it is actualy the hardest buton to reach for. The rest of the places have a much larger box. If someone was to develop a piece of software or a registry hach that would center thetop bar's indicators and make the XButton wider, things would be much easyer.
Thet's about all I want for my wish list: being able to quit (not close) programs with my pinkey (at least) Hard to tap and hold an area of the screen in the corner with a thick frame around it

Hi! I tried the last few months to make my XDA More fingerfriendly...
Here my list of Programms:
ftouchsl or ftouchflo to close Programs bei sliding down
rltoday + Batterystatus to get infomations like last call on Screen (with big Icons)
Ultimatelaunch to switch todayscreen so I can use bigger icons Pocket CM, Pocket CM Keyboard and Pocket CM Calendar
Mortplayer can be very fingerfriendly! I made my own Skin because S2P has no alarm clock and I can use all options by finger
hope I could help!

ruebyi said:
Hi! I tried the last few months to make my XDA More fingerfriendly...
Here my list of Programms:
ftouchsl or ftouchflo to close Programs bei sliding down
rltoday + Batterystatus to get infomations like last call on Screen (with big Icons)
Ultimatelaunch to switch todayscreen so I can use bigger icons Pocket CM, Pocket CM Keyboard and Pocket CM Calendar
Mortplayer can be very fingerfriendly! I made my own Skin because S2P has no alarm clock and I can use all options by finger
hope I could help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I may be wrong but doesn't the down swipe of fTouchflo just minimize the application?
There is still a need for an easy to use close button that isn't tucked up in the right hand corner and blocked from fingers by the bezel.

Slide function replacing original MS scroll bar?

Is there a hack to replace native WinCE behavior on scrolling down with an iPhone like one?
Yes. I am aware there are lots of frontend applications like iContact etc. enabling iPhone look and feel. It is not what I really want. All the applications is a patchwork. It is heavy on resources, slow and basically disintegrated. Many applications are in development and lack of vital functions.
I am happy with the application set I currently have. It is stable, familiar and a-finger-operated. The only thing I miss is scrolling down like iPhone provides. One has to get stylus to scroll a scroll bar down/up.
Is there an option to replace the MS OS native library responsible for scrolling by a hacked one, which tracks the sliding finger behavior? (I am now with WM5)

if you use any ROM with TouchFlow, you'll propably forget about the scroll bars in most of the applications...
there is another programs, like FTouchFlo, which replicate the behavior of TouchFlow, with some add ons of course... you might want to check as well...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=338143
another thing you can do to get rid of the scroll bar (well most of it) is to change it's size to 1 pixel in width... so if you find your self in a situation where you really need the scoll bar, you just get the styus out and drag it on the edge of your screen....
I hope this will help....

duke911 said:
FTouchFlo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tested FTouchSL2.5. It works with limited success. For example it doesn't support MT Software TodayAgenda. Also the application side launch works bad. The function seems to be heavy on computation power and competes with today or requires a hard push and doesn't work with gentle gestures.
Is there aby option to post-update ROM with TouchFlow? How reliable the TouchFlow is?

kot_as_kot said:
I've tested FTouchSL2.5. It works with limited success. For example it doesn't support MT Software TodayAgenda. Also the application side launch works bad. The function seems to be heavy on computation power and competes with today or requires a hard push and doesn't work with gentle gestures.
Is there aby option to post-update ROM with TouchFlow? How reliable the TouchFlow is?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
Did you include some of those programmes to the exclusion list? Cos' some application comes with slide function on its own which may not work well with FTouchSL activated for it.
Also, you can configure the delay time for a gesture to work. If you like to use just a 'gentle' touch / slide to generate a quick response, try to set the delay to smaller value, e.g. 200 ms. etc.
I've no problem using FTouchSL and it's a must have for my phone.

Sian said:
include hose programmes to the exclusion list
set the delay to smaller value
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
smaller delay value did help to be more responsive. down-up slide launch works better now. all others launches don't. It seems the today interfere with the FTtouchSL. It is pity to say, but I didn't managed to exclude it. I couldn't find it as a program.

you can always use Spb PocketPlus 4, which has "smart scrolling" with a number of other features you might like. There is a fee for it though, but like I always say, if theres a will theres a way

You CAN exclude the desktop, you have to add it as a "window exception". Just manually type in either "Start" or "Desktop", I forgot which one

Azimuth21 said:
exclude the desktop as a "window exception"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this one was a good move. down-up gesture works like a charm now. (do not forget to enable gestures while except window) I am sure now, the program competed with desktop for resources to process the touchscreen control.
All other gesture movements don't work. It seems TodayAgenda still compete with FTouch

settings
what did you have for the Enable FtouchSL timeout:
how about the Gestures timeout:
i excluded the desktop. Click on Exceptions then add window title. in the window title, typed in desktop
is that right?

icontact vs pocketcm

which one do you guys think is better?

Its the way you need ?
iContact only for browsing contacts and make calls/sms with
standard WM apps.
PocketCM with above and threaded SMS function inside itselfs.
Both progs are skinnable and need less memory...so, take what you like ?

gula187 said:
which one do you guys think is better?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
icontact loads a little faster for me

depends what you need. If you have WM6.1 you prob dont need threaded text pcm offers and have to shut that part off. Icontact runs on less than 100kb RAM while PocketCM takes up .5-1mb. I prefer icontact for basic contact scrolling and initiating calls/sms/emails

well, i've tried both and do have some comment :
POCKETCM is a complete application and you can have many choice of theme, but one pity thing is when you try to edit the contacts information, there is no "copy" and "paste" feature which I think is most required feature.
As to ICONTACTS, it's fast and simple application ontop of the original contacts software inside the WM6, now you can also have some choice for the theme, and at least it's much fast than POCKETCM and you can also have the "copy" and "paste" feature. So now I just transfer from POCETCM into ICONTACTS.

gula187 said:
which one do you guys think is better?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can I ask why this is in the "Development and Hacking forum"? Seems to be related to neither...
Anyway... I prefer iContact as it is much more light weight, but it's down to personal preference.

With WM5 PocketCM is the best IMO. You finger-scroll contacts with fotos, favs, categorized, sms, and by phone number. The "new contact" page is fine (and still finger friendly), the sms are threaded and when you receive an sms it pops up PCM.

... TRY BOTH ! And make your own opinion
They are free, so you won't loose bucks trying them for a long time... And you will be able to choose witch one you want to support...

decimusmaximus7 said:
icontact loads a little faster for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes me too. PCM loads with unicode very slow. I Like iContact

POCKET CM! for me

I don't need threaded SMS and icontact is much faster on my Device, so I'm using icontact, even it doesn't show the contactpictures...

If you have a fast device PCM is nice but otherwise take iContact because it takes less resources and just runs smoother.

chihliouma said:
well, i've tried both and do have some comment :
POCKETCM is a complete application and you can have many choice of theme, but one pity thing is when you try to edit the contacts information, there is no "copy" and "paste" feature which I think is most required feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HINT! Pocket Keyboard from the same dev has copy&paste integrated! jast tap&hold the return key und you get copy and paste functions. this work for any application.

as these later versions of pocketcm loads more graphics, it slows it down even more, but if you want the latest themes, you have to use the later versions.
I just recently discovered iContact and its speed makes it much more usable for me with my device (Sprint Touch).

What about neither? Use TouchFlo on your device, and you got scrolling on with your finger while you use the Random Access option on your regular contacts? You want a prettier one then get the one from the Diamond. It comes in different colours! I find that I hardly use the side-finger action as much. Because once you have the contact you normally just dial it. So it is about the same amount of steps.
Just sayin'....

iContact for me!

agovinoveritas said:
...Use TouchFlo on your device, and you got scrolling on with your finger while you use the Random Access option on your regular contacts...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like my contacts on SIM card (old school ), so I'm using exactly the same option. Anyway, if both support SIM, my choice will be iContacts - faster is always better for me.

I prefer icontact:
1) Faster.
2) ABC grid is nice, selects a contact much easier than vertical scroll IMHO.
3) Auto close when dial a number or sms.
4) Can dial from call history.
5) Phone icon goes to real phone pad.
The advantage of pocketcm:
1) More details when view contact
2) Threaded sms (not too useful if on wm6.1)
3) Can use phone pad to search contacts

pocket cm
pocket cm is better in the sense that it had more options for customization like adding photos....but it does not let you edit contacts as easily. icontacts loads faster but does not have features like threaded texts. Its up to you decide for yourself. It depends on what you are looking for. Enjoy

icontact is much better for battery life and slower devices
pocketcm is fine for 400 mhz and above devices i think it looks better and more customizable at least to me

Am I the only one that I like the window today screen??

To be honest, I tried the touch flo 3d, the home 2, but the only thing I like is the normal, clean windows mobile today screen i like it, its neat , organized, and the xperia wallpaper gives it an elegant look. I alos modified the left menu key to initiate a new sms
what do u think?

I like it's neat clean look, but I prefer using the SE Today Panel.

trezegol87 said:
To be honest, I tried the touch flo 3d, the home 2, but the only thing I like is the normal, clean windows mobile today screen i like it, its neat , organized, and the xperia wallpaper gives it an elegant look.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, a big fan of Winmo Today screen. When I jumped ship from Palm OS to Winmo, the Today screen really makes me forget I ever had a Palm OS device... Although the fond memories of rock hard stability creeps out now and then.
Currently Using itje's incredible Touch-IT v4.5 ROM. The Touchflo is nice, but more of a gimmick then anything else... Give me plain old Today screen anytime.

It just seems easier on the Today screen, that's why I have a lite rom installed, along with TF3d and panels.

I tend to always end up back at the default today screen. Something just nice about it.

Yeah I use it all the time now as it seems to be the most customisable without being fiddley and does all I want it too... I would like a today that is a combination of several of the panels but so far have found nothing that I like more than the normal today...

i use the today screen as my default screen when at work as i like to be in control of how many appointments are displayed, reminders, etc. it's nice to be able to switch to another panel for the weekends though ...
i'm a bit concerned about some of the screenshots for wm 6.5. does the today screen still exist ?

The standard Today just works. Give you access to what a PDA is for, PIM. There is a plugin called TodayAgenda which makes it perfect though.

glad you guys think the same way
btw, any idea how to make a shortcut for the start button? I downloaded a program, H button, that enables me to long press a key and a program comes up... but i want to access the start menu that way

trezegol87 said:
glad you guys think the same way
btw, any idea how to make a shortcut for the start button? I downloaded a program, H button, that enables me to long press a key and a program comes up... but i want to access the start menu that way
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you trying to assign a hardware key to Start Menu? If so, go to Start>Settings>Buttons

All this talk is making me want to use the Today panel more! I just tweaked it a little bit and I'm going to give it a try next week.
Does anybody know of a way to get more programs on it? Skype is on the list, and I think TomTom is, but I'd like a couple others.

I need to use the today screen to see the G-Alarm plugin, how much Internet traffic I had this month (SPB Wireless). Also I find it very convenient to use Elecont Dialer (a scrollable row of contacts to call or sms) and Elecont Launcher (a scrollable row of apps).
So I usually end up using it, even if SPB Shell is more touch-friendly. It just doesn't display all the information I need in one screen.

I always seem to go back to the spb panel as my default. its simple and looks clean i think compared with tf3d and point ui. im hopeing that when the new 3.0 shell comes out that it wont replace the spb x1 panel (although i know it will).

I've tried all the panels, shells etc. You name them, I've tried them. As said before, the Touch-IT v4.5 ROM is nice, but gimmicky. I admit I've installed it, but only to get GPS tagging of photos. I untick it in Start -> Settings -> Today -> Items immediately after it's installed.
I appreciate all the work that's gone into developing it, but its way too busy for me
My preferred interface is iFonz 2. The interface can be as simple or as 'busy' as you like. I prefer to have just a few icons of the programs I use regularly on screen as well as icons for the frequently called contacts. Also its very finger friendly.
For the programs that I use infrequently, it's no hassle to find them in Start -> Programs, and contacts are easy to find in iContacts
Caps

Hart and soul of my machine.
without it, I had never changed to a winmo device.
Maby it's time to start a thread : "show of your real todayscreen"

talbas said:
Hart and soul of my machine.
without it, I had never changed to a winmo device.
Maby it's time to start a thread : "show of your real todayscreen"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you post your skin and the programs used ?
Thx alot !

fotoingo said:
Can you post your skin and the programs used ?
Thx alot !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ArielBattery2.1http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=364278
PDC_clock http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-pocket-digital-clock.html
SpbWeather2 http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/pocketpc-software/weather/
ElecontLauncherhttp://www.elecont.com/launcher-for-pocket-pc.aspx
Inesoft Phonehttp://www.inesoft.com/eng/index.php?in=phone.html
PDAStatusFull http://corner-a.com/page.php?3---http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=3289885
good place to say thank you to the developers

some questions........
sorry made this post in the wrong damn thread!!!!
on the subject of todays screen check out
http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/products/pocketpc/WisBarAdvanceDesktop/
wisebar desktop is really amazing if you want to pimp out your today screen!!! (hit there fourms for free and custom skins!!!)
example of skins
http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15113

Hey friends, I'm with you. I think the today screen is one of the best inventions of Microsoft and is really underrated. It just makes sense to have active plugins share the most precious place on a mobile - the information screen after switching the device on. I think the iPhone is ridiculous in this regardö - just showing icons of the programs that can be launched is lame. Also, there are really powerful plugins available for Windows Mobile. I'm personally using the built in date/time and messages plugin together with PocketBreeze for all the organizer stuff and PocketPlus for system status (battery, memory), finger friendly app launcher and additional plugins as tab (spb weather actuall). Then I use the system tray as quicklaunch and for showing the currently selected phone profile from PhoneWeaver and my softkeys start Contacts and WM5NewMenu, with which I can very quickly place a new appointment, SMS, Email, Note and so on. With this setup, I can really use the device, not only play. Everything is just one or two clicks/actions away and I always have a good overview of what's going on.
I really don't understand why so many people want a better iPhone instead of a good Windows Mobile device. Windows Mobile has drawbacks but also strong points, of which the today screen is one of the strongest I think.

I am also a big fan of the Windows today page. I think it's the only one that can be entirely adapted to everyone's need, all other software are nice graphically, but not as effective as a well prepared today page.