SPB MS 3 Weather - Any better out there? - Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General

I own a new Omnia, and am considering getting SPB Mobile Shell 3 - it seems to be the best one so far I have tried on the Omnia. With one important exception - the weather stinks! Owning a Titan before and using WBA, Titanium (on WM6.5), it seems a real disappointment to have SPB displaying weather that only shows the high/low temp for the day when these others can show hourly or real-time updates!
So I will ask the question: Anyone out there developed some wiz-bang app, widget or whatever that will show on the SPB MS 3 and replace their really lousy weather app? I did some searching but didn't come up with anything concrete.
Thanks in advance!

Doesnt SPB have their own weather app? I imagine that will integrate much better with their shell.

Yes SPB has is own weather app that, in my opinion is very good, and integrates perfectly with mbs 3.

SimpTheChimp said:
I own a new Omnia, and am considering getting SPB Mobile Shell 3 - it seems to be the best one so far I have tried on the Omnia. With one important exception - the weather stinks! Owning a Titan before and using WBA, Titanium (on WM6.5), it seems a real disappointment to have SPB displaying weather that only shows the high/low temp for the day when these others can show hourly or real-time updates!
So I will ask the question: Anyone out there developed some wiz-bang app, widget or whatever that will show on the SPB MS 3 and replace their really lousy weather app? I did some searching but didn't come up with anything concrete.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like the WPActivate widget made by storyr at ppcgeeks. It uses WeatherPanel and displays the current temp, etc. in MS3. Pressing it takes you to weatherpanel which gives you lots of weather details, radar, etc. You find it here.

Related

Better Calendar Display

I love being able to access my calendar on my phone. However, it seems like I just get small chunks at a time with the built in calendar app. When I zoom out to see my whole week for example, I only see blue lines. I don't see exactly what the appointment is.
I know that is in no small way due to the limited size of the screen but I am looking for a more effective way to display my calendar.
I am currently trying pocket informant and it gets me closer to what I want. However, it has a couple screwy issues such as the bottom arrow of the scroll bar not being displayed etc.
So, what do you guys use? Or, are you happy with the built in calendar app?
Is there another forum that would be better for me to post this question? It's not directly related to the 8525 after all.
I'm using Pocket Breeze and very satisfied with it.
i use today agenda, its a killer app with many different customizations.. Dr. P got me hooked on this app!
http://tiews.info/index.php?show=software/todayagenda
I use SPB Diary, perfect today plugin that completely replaces the agenda. It's also the only today plugin I use or need.
I use SBSH.net PocketBreeze. I beta tested SPB Diary 2.0 and even tried the final version but wanted more control over customizing so I stuck by PocketBreeze. Still SPB Diary is also a fine product. You can't go wrong with either IMO. If you want to see your appointments in Calendar though I think you have to use one of those Power PIM apps [Agenda Fusion, etc etc] personally I find them overkill for my needs I stay with the default PIM and PocketBreeze.
I like pocketbreeze for the today screen display of the calendar. It's just when I go into the calendar app itself that I'm thinking there should be something better.
I'll check out your ideas. Anyone else?
I like the FREE Calendar+
http://www.mohairsofa.com/Default.aspx/document/10
Not a replacement for the MS Calendar, but rather a Today plugin.
I think it looks very similar to "View as Agenda" on blackberry.
also try out pocket informant alot of PB users also use that app.
Another vote for TodayAgenda. Excellent app. Free, small and highly configurable.
I've been using Pocket Breeze and Pocket Informant together since I had my old Orange M2000 and it works very well for me.

SPB Mobile Shell opinions anyone ?

Has anyone tried ^subj ?
I've just installed that thing on my Vario II, seems to be ... quite cool I'll give it a try for the next 2 weeks ...
link is in here
cheers
w
First impressions: bloody marvelous.
It'll take a few days to put it through its paces.
same here... looks NICE... $30.00 is a bit on the excessive side, but doable
We have been discussing it on HoFo. The consensus is SUPERB APPLICATION, why didn't we think of it first.
HOFO forum? Can you point me in that direction please.
Mobile Shell looks interesting. Might as well give it a spin as the other Spb titles I have on my TyTN are all stable and funtional.
is a cool app but for me it takes way too much today screen space and leaves little for my fav today app spb diary.
the 'show now screen when device wakes up' is the feature i like most.
@WineCape:
HOFO is Howard Forums.
Great great great.
This is fr... AWESOME.
I asked a few developers to integrate a one-finger navigation with big buttons. But it seemed that every developer was happy using his stylus just everywhere.
This application just gives you the "Nokia phone" feeling... I just deleted some components of SpB Pocket Plus (via settings) since they are not needed anymore
I've been using this for a while now and think it is awesome. I wish that my first pda had had this interface, and I believe there is more to come as the app developes.
Fastest, you get the whole screen for Diary if you use it as a tab in shell.
I use it as the first tab, that way it can use the whole screen and is the tab which shows automatically most of the time. Give it a try.
$30.00 is a bit on the excessive side, but doable
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have other SPB products it is much cheaper. I tried it yesterday and think it is a keeper. SPB DIary works great with it.
The thread on HoFo is here: http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1104037&page=1&pp=30
17.99 if you have other SPB Products.
Thank you aadadams!
Very attractive.
Might one be able to achieve similar effects with the freeware app CLaunch?
This was mentioned in the HoFo thread as well. I would say that you can have a similar effect using several programs one of which being cLaunch, but one must admit that the implementation provided by SPB is very nice and the NOW screen is a great addition.
very nice indeed i haven't used diary before but I like this better than pocketplus to a degree...if i can get the mem status on the today screen cha ching
marisa4755 said:
Fastest, you get the whole screen for Diary if you use it as a tab in shell.
I use it as the first tab, that way it can use the whole screen and is the tab which shows automatically most of the time. Give it a try.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aha. just tried that. Superb! Thanks
i like it also.. i just wish they would make a plug in for it so the analog clock would actually display speed when connected to my gps reciever.... only cause i got stopped by a cop that said i was speeding.. then i checked my speed on my speedometer with my gps speed and there seemed to be a 5mph difference...
I just installed all my spb apps (time, weather, pocketplus and diary) on my new AKU3.3 ROM and then I read about the mobile shell.
Looks excellent, going to try it now, from the screen shots, it make wm5 more intuative.
One question I have, does it provide functionality as those found in PhoneAlarm?
No, it isn't a Phone control application. Basically it acts like an improved operating system, but lots of people on spb forums are asking for Phonealarm type capabilities. If there are enough requests they will do something about it.
I'll submit my vote that it's a great app. (The Now screen especially.)
I just wish that PocketWeather integrated nicely. (SPB Weather is a bit lacking IMHO.)

spb software group?

Is there any problem using spb pocket plus, weather, time, diary and etc.?
Does it affect the performance of the Wizard?
Thanks!
amar963 said:
Is there any problem using spb pocket plus, weather, time, diary and etc.?
Does it affect the performance of the Wizard?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have them all and use some of them. I have kept Plus and Diary on my MDA and use it daily.
Weather is not accurate. Get SPB Traveler instead of Weather and Time.
I would not buy SPB Finance if you use Quicken 2007 or 2008. It is not compatible with SPB.
SPB Backup is good.
Tried SPB Wallet and it was not an app that I found to be something that I couldn't do with phone contacts or Excel.
Hope this helps.
If you want a Weather app, I would suggest Pocket Weather.
Dear asctony,
Thanks for your reply
I just want to know if these applications cause any conflict in general.
As you mentioned, Weather is not accurate but at lease it's much better than HTC Touch Flo weather plug-in
I have SPB Weather and find it's reasonably accurate in the UK. (Not perfect 2+ days ahead, but to be fair nor are most online weather sites I find.)
I'm also evaluating SPB Phone Suite at the moment, which is useful for adding photo dialling icons to the today screen. It also adds a lot of other phone-related 'fixes', which I must admit I haven't really noticed/used. I will almost certainly buy this, although for $19.95 it's pretty expensive.
amar963 said:
Dear asctony,
Thanks for your reply
I just want to know if these applications cause any conflict in general.
As you mentioned, Weather is not accurate but at lease it's much better than HTC Touch Flo weather plug-in
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have not incurred any conflicts and I have a lot of apps on my MDA and have had it for 14 months.
If I were to buy SPB Apps today, based on what is available, I would buy:
1. Backup
2. Diary
3. Pocket Plus
4.Traveler (Weather, Time, Conversion, etc., all in one)
SPB Apps are buggy at times and don't seem to be consistant in how they perform. So, again, I have tried them all, and only use Backup, Diary and Pocket Plus.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
Here is the site to obtain more info.
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/downloads.html?en
I think the most popular are:- \ My experiences with them:-
SPB backup \ very good and simple, can have problems finding a file to backup, which causes it to fail the automatic soft reset after it backs up (this can be solved with a reg edit)
Weather \ I have used this every day since I bought it, it's the best if you can't use freeware and you can add custom data sources. I currently have data updating issues, maybe due to wm6. (Traveler is possibly better, but a much bigger program, which includes currency rates, clothing sizes, more cities by default and a small clock, but NOT the same functions as spb time)
Time \ It used to be a must have for me except for two reasons, 1 the alarm doesn't work correctly for wm6 and, 2 alarms don't support wma (only mp3)
Diary \ faultless. not the most customizable available (sbsh) or the simplest (today agenda (freeware)) but the best I think
Pocket Plus \ Simply put - not required. It looks nice but I can't think of anything it can do that freeware can't (wm5NewMenu is very good) can't do, so I gave up using it (SBSH's ilauncher is possibly better)
They're a good company for ease of use products, they all look nice and are uncomplicated in general. But, their support can be lacking, and their releases are slow and infrequent, compared to sbsh who often release updates weekly compared to twice a year from spb, and they are not as customizable as even some similar freeware apps.
I have Spb Mobile Shell and works great
bbobeckyj said:
I think the most popular are:- \ My experiences with them:-
SPB backup \ very good and simple, can have problems finding a file to backup, which causes it to fail the automatic soft reset after it backs up (this can be solved with a reg edit)
Weather \ I have used this every day since I bought it, it's the best if you can't use freeware and you can add custom data sources. I currently have data updating issues, maybe due to wm6. (Traveler is possibly better, but a much bigger program, which includes currency rates, clothing sizes, more cities by default and a small clock, but NOT the same functions as spb time)
Time \ It used to be a must have for me except for two reasons, 1 the alarm doesn't work correctly for wm6 and, 2 alarms don't support wma (only mp3)
Diary \ faultless. not the most customizable available (sbsh) or the simplest (today agenda (freeware)) but the best I think
Pocket Plus \ Simply put - not required. It looks nice but I can't think of anything it can do that freeware can't (wm5NewMenu is very good) can't do, so I gave up using it (SBSH's ilauncher is possibly better)
They're a good company for ease of use products, they all look nice and are uncomplicated in general. But, their support can be lacking, and their releases are slow and infrequent, compared to sbsh who often release updates weekly compared to twice a year from spb, and they are not as customizable as even some similar freeware apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right!
I've been using Time since 20 days and it was great with WM5, but after I flashed WM6 to my phone I noticed some problems.
I was thinking that maybe other ROM version will work fine with the application but failed with different ROMs.
Which software you recommend as best and guaranteed alarm? web address please?
Thanks to all
amar963 said:
Dear asctony,
Thanks for your reply
I just want to know if these applications cause any conflict in general.
As you mentioned, Weather is not accurate but at lease it's much better than HTC Touch Flo weather plug-in
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may want to read some of the postings on SPB's Forums before you decide to buy any of their products.
Here is the link for their forums:
http://www.spbclub.com/forum/index.php
asctony said:
You may want to read some of the postings on SPB's Forums before you decide to buy any of their products.
Here is the link for their forums:
http://www.spbclub.com/forum/index.php
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks!
The web site you recommended is great
Spb backup is great.
I also use Insight every day to keep up on things.
I didn't like the weather app, I use Marsware WeatherPanel....It is very accurate and fast.
Spb Diary -- Could not get through a work-day without it. Rock-solid, no-nonsense app that gets the job done better than a lot of flashier programs.
Spb Pocket Plus -- Essential to the way I work and navigate in WM 5. It adds a few small but but critical tweaks. You may not need it though.
Spb Insight -- If you do a lot of reading on the internet, this is an indispensable app! It will change the way you use the web. Best 20 bucks I've ever dropped on any hardware or software.
kidlockatong said:
Spb Diary -- Could not get through a work-day without it. Rock-solid, no-nonsense app that gets the job done better than a lot of flashier programs.
Spb Pocket Plus -- Essential to the way I work and navigate in WM 5. It adds a few small but but critical tweaks. You may not need it though.
Spb Insight -- If you do a lot of reading on the internet, this is an indispensable app! It will change the way you use the web. Best 20 bucks I've ever dropped on any hardware or software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree with most of the comments. However, I don't use Insight anymore. I use NewsCopier - Free Edition V 1.1. I found it much faster and more selections. Here is the link for it:
http://www.freeware-palm.com/download-newscopier-v1-1.html
asctony said:
I use NewsCopier - Free Edition V 1.1. I found it much faster and more selections. Here is the link for it:
http://www.freeware-palm.com/download-newscopier-v1-1.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear ya.
I'll bet there are several better headline/summary/link news readers than Insight, but that's not why I use it. What I like about it is -- I can update complete articles for 20 feeds in a snap on a wireless broadband at home every morning, and read them all day without having to connect to the internet or any cellular service at all.
And they don't need to be RSS/Atom/etc. feeds, either. Half the stuff I download comes from sites that don't even use feeds. Or if they do, I pull stuff that they don't feed.
But not everyone may want or need that.
I use Spb Mobile Shell (top of my Avatar photo) It's weather tab is fairly accurate and tracks with the local forecasts. The photo speed dial tab is nice as is the battery / most recent applications tab. The clock is there, but I don't access the multi time zones much.
As far as performance, I have only run it on the Uni and the Athena, without conflicts or hang-ups. Can't testify to using it first hand on the Wizard.
kidlockatong said:
I hear ya.
I'll bet there are several better headline/summary/link news readers than Insight, but that's not why I use it. What I like about it is -- I can update complete articles for 20 feeds in a snap on a wireless broadband at home every morning, and read them all day without having to connect to the Internet or any cellular service at all.
And they don't need to be RSS/Atom/etc. feeds, either. Half the stuff I download comes from sites that don't even use feeds. Or if they do, I pull stuff that they don't feed.
But not everyone may want or need that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I download from 20 different feeds daily also. I just counted them to see how much I was downloading from. I also read them during the day without being connect to the Internet or any cellular service using NewsCopier. So, there are commonalities among both apps. The good thing about this thread is that you now can try both of them and even more and make your own decision. Not every app is suited for everyone or anyone user.
asctony -- Thanks! The page didn't seem to mention that. Will definitely follow up on it. Is that version usable on a wizard?
Got it. Thanks again.
I've used them all. The only one I use now and is rock solid is Diary. Phone Suit is VERY buggy. Most of the features only work intermittently. Weather is not nearly as good as WeatherPanel. I could not get Finance to work with MS Money Plus (2007). SPB Shell, Plus, Time, Traveler, and all the rest are too heavy on the PDA resources compared with what they do. The cost benefit analysis leans too far toward cost to justify using them.
kidlockatong said:
asctony -- Thanks! The page didn't seem to mention that. Will definitely follow up on it. Is that version usable on a wizard?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a T-Mobile MDA. Model: WIZA200 Pocket PC
I run with:
IPL 2.26
SPL 2.26
GSM Radio 2.25.11
OS WxtRom 2.26.10.2
I have been using that version on my MDA for over 8 months. No problems and I do use it daily.
Let me know if you need anything else.

which one u prefer: TF3D v/s SPB Shell

doing a poll to see which is more popular among X1 users.
i like spb shell because its simpler and faster.
I like TF3D cause it make the PDA Phone not like PDA phone anymore = ="
And TF3D is pretty good look, also TF3D access is not slow
And I agree with you SPB Shell is access is faster than TF3D "mean the click times to access which you want"
BOTH!
Why choose between them when you can have both?!
I have Manilla 3D as a panel and SPB MS (retail version) mapped to my right hardware button
call me old-fashioned, but i am using the WM Today Screen with a couple of plug-ins (PocketInformant, Pocket Weather, ...)
SPB Shell would be pefect, but as long as it has problems showing whole day appointments, it's not usable for me.
honestly speaking i prefer the SE Panel 1...but it doesnt mask the Windows mobile as much as the other two..hence i didnt mention it.
but for quick access ..its best
tflo3d rulez. spb software is p.i.t.a. to skin (even more than manila...), poorly documented, poorly integrated even with other spb software, huge, memory hunger and drains battery very quickly. Only pro is that support landscape
I'm actually using SE panels and love them.
That's exactly what I need: a lot on the screen, all the apps shortcuts.
I appreciate all the other solutions but they're less functional just for me.
And not really my taste. Especially Spb.
So I just use panel with 25 apps on it plus all the connectivity and calendar+clock. I also have some most used apps on popup menu.
The second panel is only clock+calendar&entries and CommManager shortcut. Perfect...
P.S. As I see there's no functional difference between two SE panels....

SPB vs TouchFlo 3D

I'm seriously thinking about flashing my HTC Touch HD with the basic WM6 ROM (without TF3D) and using the various SPB products to provide me with the interface I need.
The way I see it, the SPB products will probably be faster than TF3D (I've got my HTC Wizard running pretty quickly this way), more stable and they offer more variety (TF3D tabs are very limited in what they can do and hard to customize)
Has anyone done this? Can you tell me about your experiences?
You don't have to completely install a TF3D-free ROM. You can simply go into Settings > Today > Items, uncheck TouchFLO 3D and check your replacement UI.
That's what I did when I wanted to try the new PointUI Home 2 on my Touch HD.
Zaza le Nounours said:
You don't have to completely install a TF3D-free ROM. You can simply go into Settings > Today > Items, uncheck TouchFLO 3D and check your replacement UI.
That's what I did when I wanted to try the new PointUI Home 2 on my Touch HD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah yes! I forgot about that
What's PointUI and is it any good?
Tried PointUI
It's good - very fast and I like how colourful the interface is. It's still very limited though but hopefully that'll change in the future. It's definitely one to keep an eye out for
I'm installing the various SPB packages now and will report in a short while
Hmmm.. I'm torn about SPB
It's quite clearly a very good UI with a lot of capabilities but there's still something about it that I don't like
It has a weird sort of 'rigidity' which only allows you to do things the SPB way. I also don't like the flow from one screen to the next
Try spb mobile shell - the latest version and then install this free software from here http://www.imarche.net/omnia/index.php
Think you will be nicely surprised at what you can achieve....
regards
jpw
I really like the TF3D. It has a smooth design and runs pretty fast.
I also like the weather section and although there are some nice UI in the market i think i will stick with the TF3D.
JPW said:
Try spb mobile shell - the latest version and then install this free software from here http://www.imarche.net/omnia/index.php
Think you will be nicely surprised at what you can achieve....
regards
jpw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm.. still too rigid for my liking.
i use spb software and have ditched touchflo, dont bother with mobile shell as it offers me nothing in function
i use the following:
spb pocketplus
spb phone suite
spb weather
also on my today screen i have owner info edited to display as follows:
Owner: MY NAME
Touch to contact
at the bottom i have rsshub on autoupdate (trailling spb insight but not sure about it
in the past i have used spb diary on the today as well, but find it can comprimise some confidentiality issues so dont bother, after all my diary is but one touch away
i save at least 3mb of program memory and subjectively id say my machine is faster for it.
i can access all my functions i use daily with one touch on the pocketplus screen (ive done away with all the tabs and just have the one screen with my program icons) switch profiles with a swipe of my finger and likewise wifi etc on/off
sure it doesnt look as glam as tf3d but it offers me so much more function
as for the rigidity of spb products... yes they do want to do things their way, but ive used their software for a few years now and its second nature to me
I found this thread when looking for replacements to TF3D on my touch pro. I've been using SPB mobile shell for a few weeks now, and would mostly be ok with it if it wasn't for the annoying notifications that force me to exit mobile shell, and clear from the normal today screen. Do any other mobile shell users have that problem, or have you figured out a way around it?
Take a look at yrgo you might like it. It is highly customizable. here is a link to its website
http://www.2daysoft.com/yrgo/videos-and-tutorials/
Switched to SPB
I'm using SPB Mobile Shell + SPB Weather + SPB Phone Suite instead of TF3D.
Never looked back. And with SPB MS 3.0 coming TF3D will be like a toy
http://www.spbmobileshell3.com/
brusko1972 said:
Take a look at yrgo you might like it. It is highly customizable. here is a link to its website
http://www.2daysoft.com/yrgo/videos-and-tutorials/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, that's one heck of a customizable desktop. Seems like it could be really good once I get used to the UI.
I like the shell3 alot and have the tf3d and titanium actually removed from the 6.5 custom rom I'm using. Works much faster that way anyhow and I was growing weary of the limited functionality eyecandy of tf3d. But got a question and didn't want to start a new mobile shell thread. Anybody using ms who's figured a way to change font color on the shell ui? I know there are apps that will do it on the today screen, but can't seem to do it on the shell interface itself. Anybody got any info? Thanks
I bought SPB Mobile Shell 3 due to the good reviews it has generally received. However, after a week solid of use, I found it to be sluggish, so I asked for a refund which they promptly provided
It definitely has potential, looking forward to seeing what the next iteration is like. I'm using Point2Home now - quick, finger friendly and just pleasant to use, although I really wish some of these would go deeper in re-skinning the windows interface.
i like spb mobile shell 3 , but there is something which puts me off it but i just cant put my finger on what it is (maybe lack of customization) but im led to believe its getting better
I tried SPB3 and after a few weeks, I went back to TF3D. SPB was sluggish and it just was not as smooth as TF3D. I love the concept behind it and it definitely makes getting to your functions much easier. It just needs a lot more refinement. Especially in the area of text messaging
I'm not having sluggish issues at all and think it to be quite snappy. So I'm not understanding those comments, but there are so many diff roms out there that surely that is the difference in alot of cases. I thought that tf3d was sluggish on the email opening especially it would really lag at times. Then I read that the 6.5 roms had that issue. I'm not getting email open lagging at all with ms3. To each their own.
Hi there...
I've installed SPB Mobile Shell 3.0.1 and I LIKE IT A LOT!
but does anyone know HOW to get the name of provider onscreen?? (lifestyle)
thanx!

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