Database Users

TF3D vs SPB Mobile Shell

hi,
i'm trying to work out which shell replacement to use on my experia. i've used the full version of spb mobile shell on my kaiser and quite like the functionality although it looks pretty dull. i'm tempted to install TF3D but would like the opinion of someone who has used both as to which is better ?
unfortunately, i need the ability to go back to the standard wm homescreen as i don't think any of the shell replacements can take advantage of standard wm today plugins (i'm thinking david andr birthdays here which i use to warn me in advance of upcoming birthdays so that i can get a present in time ...)
does anyone have any opinions ?
thanks in advance ...

I use all.. I use WM today screen. and spbshell and tf3d.. I choose what I like at that moment. Thats why the panels are so handy

thanks kev!n - you don't find that your phone slows down at all ?
how do you access all 3 ? do you have TF3D set up as a panel od you access all 3 from panel 1 on your x1 ?
thanks

Yes I installed it as a panel. And acces it all with panels. And the phone did not slow down for me so I think its great

thanks for that. did you manage to get the full version of mobile shell working as a panel or are you using the panel version ?

mobile shell + pocket plus + phone suite all the way
TF3D is only a little eye candy no more, and I prefer more info on screen than good graphics on screen.

I have both installed (as panels). No problems here, running very nicely.
Using TF3D more, for the most part simply because the HTC Music Player is more touch friendly (although the eye candy doesn't hurt either if I'm being completely honest).
Can't really see a reason not to have both, especially now that TF3D is available in panel form (and also more stable in that form if others reports are to be believed).

NZtechfreak said:
I have both installed (as panels). No problems here, running very nicely.
Using TF3D more, for the most part simply because the HTC Music Player is more touch friendly (although the eye candy doesn't hurt either if I'm being completely honest).
Can't really see a reason not to have both, especially now that TF3D is available in panel form (and also more stable in that form if others reports are to be believed).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree 100% i'm using both and they both work great. I'm hoping someone comes out with a WVGA skin for spb mobile shell panel. If not who knows i might try and make one myself.

Ever so slightly off topis but....
I've got the normal version of SPB MS installed rather than the free panel version. I can access the normal today screen at any time.
A senior member called GREATBAL has made some fantastic skins/mods for mobile shell, these worked perfectly on my Kaiser but unfortunately due to screen resolution they don't work on the X1.
Anyway I have PM'ed GREATBAL and he gave me this reply
'The Xperia-ish theme won'twork on the X1's screen resolution. But it would be very interesting to get hold of the graphics files in the X1 so we came make it into an MS theme. Those graohics files would be hi-res and suitable for VGA/QVGA devices. The images i used are drawn from scratch using photoshop based on screenshots i found on the net. but they are low-res suitable for QVGA devices only'
So if anyone can send these files to the great GREATBAL you never know what magic he could do for us!!

Greatbal has a wvga spb mobile shell theme. Ultimate Windows 7 or something like that. I doesn't work on the spb mobile shell panel but it might work on the full version. I dunno.

Do you mean this one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=407487
Post 3

nim said:
Do you mean this one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=407487
Post 3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yup that is it. I took some screen shots and they are shown here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=407487&page=64

I followed the installation instructions in the post and installed this last night including soft reset.
It crashed my X1!.........but soft reset again and its been fine.
It's an OK theme (for the time being).

Hmmm it didn't work for me at all. The theme is chopped off on the bottom.

Does anyone know how to change the default view on the panel version of SPB Shell so that it displays the 'home screen' when opening rather than the 'shortcuts' view?
I hope I've used the right terminology, I'm a bit of a noob.
Cheers,
Ronnie

Bump...
Thanks in advance.

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!

To go wm 6.5 from 6.1 when using SPB Mobile Shell?

Hi there!
I don't like manila / TouchFLO / Sense. I use SPB Mobile Shell and I'm quite contempt with that. I'm on WM 6.1 -would there be any reason for me to move to WM 6.5? I mean in terms of functionality?

windows 6.5 and SPB shell
Hi,
I've just updated my windows and found a lot of interference from windows 6.5 when using the sbp shell. Im considering to go back to 6.1.
If anyone can help to get 6.5 to work with spb shell please do.
Thanks!

Thanks, I guess I'll stick with 6.1 for now

No reason at all really, SPB Mobile Shell hides the interface of WM6.1 very good and you hardly see it. WM6.5 is laggy and unstable imo so I will stay with 6.1 for a while..

Cool, I'll do the same
I just hope SPB Mobile Shell will run smoothly on the HTC Leo when I get my hands on it

niknik76 said:
Cool, I'll do the same
I just hope SPB Mobile Shell will run smoothly on the HTC Leo when I get my hands on it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries dude, if it can run WM6.5+HTC Sense 2.5/2.6 it will 100% run SPBMS without problems.

i think manila is much better than spb

spb shell 3.5 and wm6.5
i am using spb shell 3.5 with wm 6.5 for a couple of weeks without any problems.
The improvement of wm6.5 which is more finger friendly than 6.1. Is a better match for MS3.5.
Athorwise it doesn't matter much, what you use, because you're using MS3.5 most of the time.
You have to manually disable HTC Sense. Without third party applications they don't work well together.
I use tfd detacher to switch between them, but the downside is that it uses a lot of resources.
HTC Sense looks nicer but MS3.5 is more flexible and efficient when you design the lifestyle screen(s) to your needs.

I haven't tried wm 6.5.
From what I learn about the information of wm 6.5, I don't find anything that worth upgrading. I will stick to wm 6.1.

Feedback
I have installed SBP Mobile Shell 3.5 over my WM 6.1 and it works great .
I like below features of Mobile Shell:
- Multiple pages in home page (placed side by side), which can be used for multiple items in home page.
- Beautiful scrolling/touch.
- Widget features that can be placed anywhere in home page (in all pages).
There are couple of issues too:
- There is NO interface for making calls to a new number.
- We need to use the Luncher - Programs - Phone.
- But the other features of the call window does not work. Like we cant open the call history/contacts etc from that screen
Also refer another similar thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=573320
Thanks.

You can press the call button or you can add the phone as an widget.

prabhat said:
- There is NO interface for making calls to a new number.
- We need to use the Luncher - Programs - Phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Press call send key?

ArtieQ said:
Press call send key?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I know that and that is what I said in the post.
It does work by pressing the call key or adding the widget of the Phone too.
But the issue is:
- Other functions on the call window (like the opening contacts during call) etc does not work .
I am not sure how offen you open you contacts during a call. Which is NOT possible when you have SBPMS installed . Similarly there are many other issues too.
Thanks.

Indeed the functions on the call menu work only when touchflo3d is activated.
I think the shortcuts go to the actual touchflo3d.
Maybe there is a registry change so you can point them to the actual program and not to the touchflo3d alternative.
My workaround is press Startmenu - Today and from here anywhere you want.
You can read about this problem in the SPB shell forum under Topaz/Rhodium Dailer issue. They know the problem. The question is why is takes so long to come with an answer.

f.canak said:
Indeed the functions on the call menu work only when touchflo3d is activated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. That is TRUE. It does work when TF3D is ON.
f.canak said:
You can read about this problem in the SPB shell forum under Topaz/Rhodium Dailer issue. They know the problem. The question is why is takes so long to come with an answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ohh OK. Thanks for this info. Infact I did a post in their fourum, but no reply yet.
May be we need to wait for 6.5 from HTC for TD2 and may be that will be more user / finger friendly.
But it is sure that it will NOT have the beautiful Multiple Pages in Home Page .
Or a newer version from SBP with a Phone/Call widget similar to default dialer.
PS: also I found the image viewer from camera menu is much better in default WM 6.1 than SBPMS.
Thanks.

Mobile Shell 3.5 is slooooow
I was extremely happy with 3.0 and decided to upgrade to 3.5. I like some of the extra features a lot but I quickly noticed that this eye candy has two major drawbacks:
- My battery drained twice as fast, reminding me of my Diamond 1
- The - otherwise very attractive - GUI is slower; opening the Wireless Manager takes 1.5 seconds and other operations that were very swift before were now slow and shaky
So I reverted to 3.0 (I have build 6501) and things are again what they were before: fast and beautiful!

I don't experience any decrease in speed jumping from 3.0 to 3.5
And my battery life improved
So I guess there must be different effects on different ROMs, settings or other stuff...

Is SPB Mobile 3.5 worth it?

What is your experience with it? Is SPB 3.5.3 worth buying?
How's the battery life? And would you use it over Co0kie 1.7?

Why don't you try it yourself? They have a 15-day free trial, after which you can simply uninstall it, if you don't like it.

I have tried it, but I couldn't really tell with the battery. That, and if there was some glitch I didn't forsee, one that was crippling in the long-run, the 15 days I have won't mean much. I wouldn't be able to see the glitch/flaw until it was too late.

And yeah, it's a double-post, but what ROM would someone suggest if I happen to use SPB instead of Sense?

I have tried it some times ago; It was ok, nothing special but after the free trail I uninstalled it and went back to HTC Sense which I'm still using!

autonomous-inc said:
And yeah, it's a double-post, but what ROM would someone suggest if I happen to use SPB instead of Sense?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This one http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=604893. Its a lite rom with no manila/chome.

It works very similar to the Android OS, which means it's a skin that doesn't really do much other than help you organize your programs. I tried it out and I didn't see much benefit of using it over Sense.
As far as battery life goes, it eats up mine quite a bit faster than with Sense. I'm using the Rhodium.

I would highly recommend that you try it by yourself and see if it works for you. Personally, i hate Manilla and i've never liked Titanium.
I started using spb 4 years ago, on my first htc phone, the touch. From then i've upgraded to the Diamond, Touch Pro, and currently using Touching Pro 2. Guess what, i still don't like Manilla regardless.
I would recommend you check it out before anything, because you just might like.
However, if you like Manilla, then stick with what works for you. Everyone is going to post up their opinion, but in the end, its going to be your money on the line..lol..
good luck to you.
-here is what mine looks like now, spb 3.5.3, after some tweaks
ImageShack.us
ImageShack.us
ImageShack.us
Uploaded with ImageShack.us

MobileShell gives your phone an Androidish feel (or should it be the other way around?). So if you like that...
I used it for a short period of time but got frustrated with it because it insists on replacing standard Windows Mobile applications with its own inferior (but shinier) versions. This is one of the main reasons I stopped using Manila/Sense
SPB's contact list and agenda view received most of my ire. If there was a way to simply launch the default applications when clicking on a SPB widget, I might have use for the software. There were other things though. The carousel is utterly useless bling, and add on widgets are very difficult to find, even off of SPB's webpage.

MooGoo said:
MobileShell gives your phone an Androidish feel (or should it be the other way around?). So if you like that...
I used it for a short period of time but got frustrated with it because it insists on replacing standard Windows Mobile applications with its own inferior (but shinier) versions. This is one of the main reasons I stopped using Manila/Sense
SPB's contact list and agenda view received most of my ire. If there was a way to simply launch the default applications when clicking on a SPB widget, I might have use for the software. There were other things though. The carousel is utterly useless bling, and add on widgets are very difficult to find, even off of SPB's webpage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Vostradamus has a great widget engine for skinning the various built-in widgets.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=574264
You should be able to put in a link to the stock applications and run those. I don't particularly like some of the Shell replacements, such as for contacts. But I use Pocket Informant, which actually has settings to integrate with SPB MS. So when I click the calendar I bring up PI instead of either Mobile Shell or Microsoft versions.
I find that SPB Mobile shell uses less battery, because it won't connect to the Internet all the time like Sense 2.5 does.

..........

apax said:
actually, if you google hard enough you will find a free one.....sorry i forgot the link...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A free what?

..............

1st cab I install after every EnergyROM update. If you flash your phone at least once a month the trial on the Spb site is good enough as it's 30 days long.
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App

I've been using SPB since version 2, and I like it. It's much less resource-intensive than Sense, and I get better battery life with it. I don't automatically update didily squat, so that wasn't the difference-maker in regards to battery life. If any of y'all want the latest version of SPB available fo' free on the scene, pm me with yer email. The cab is a bit under 10 megs, so it's sendable through gmail.

EnergyROM Titanium version comes with all NRGZ28's tweaks and pre-installed app choices, but without Sense. So I use that.
I occasionally switch back to Sense, but always decide that it's pretty but less useful, so always go back to SPB Mobile Shell, with MSkip's tweaks.

apax said:
spb mobile shell 3.5.3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The program is available from their website www.spbsoftwarehouse.com, but it is a 15 day trial version.
This is never a free program

Well, it can be free but much to SPB's chagrin...

...............

apax said:
trust me, i found a free one through googling it...i been using it for over a month now....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course you did, you can find practically everything for free, but discussing, or even encouraging warez is not in accordance with the forum rules.

NEW ROM coming soon.....

New rom wm 6.5 ( build 21883.5.0.73) with 3.003c drivers , english version, based SPB Shell Mobile 3.5.5

That is bad Idea.
surdu_petru said:
New rom wm 6.5 ( build 21883.5.0.73) with 3.003c drivers , english version, based SPB Shell Mobile 3.5.5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't do that. Have you read the Forum rules?
6. Do not post warez.
If a piece of software requires you to pay to use it, either pay or find your cracks and serials somewhere else. We do not accept warez nor do we permit any member to promote or describe ways in which Warez, cracks, serial codes or other means of avoiding payment, can be obtained.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SPB Shell Mobile is payware - if you make a ROM with it, that's not good.

New rom with many programs....
It's not a big deal with this room but it s nice for anybody how want have the expirience with android system...
I have included nice end usefoul software : TotalCommander with regedit ( you can edit registry free), Opera 10 v3 beta, net.c 3.5, skype3, youtube_downloader, Adobe Reader LE 2.5, Office 2010, Flash Lite3.1, and some
player audio end video.
I leave you to appreciate the quality and usefulness of this software.
See you soon...

SPB Shell Mobile is payware - if you make a ROM with it, that's not good.
Why ??? I don't understand what you meen...

surdu_petru said:
SPB Shell Mobile is payware - if you make a ROM with it, that's not good.
Why ??? I don't understand what you meen...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to buy the SPB Mobile Shell if you want to use it. You can't cook a ROM and make it public so that everyone can download it because its illegal.
If you make a ROM for yourself with SPB Mobile Shell that's O.K.

It 's based with a free software SPB shell , end you don't need cracks seryals or keygenerator for it. The software is free to try ....

surdu_petru said:
It 's based with a free software SPB shell , end you don't need cracks seryals or keygenerator for it. The software is free to try ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you mean this one?
If yes, then you have to purchase it and pay for it.

Ok you are right. I will make anather rom like SPB shell without SPB Mobile Shell.
But for that I need time maybe some week, because I don't have many time for make a new rom. See you later....

surdu_petru said:
Ok you are right. I will make anather rom like SPB shell without SPB Mobile Shell.
But for that I need time maybe some week, because I don't have many time for make a new rom. See you later....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Happy cooking. If you need some help, just ask.

Thank's very much...ofcourse I do...

surdu_petru said:
It's not a big deal with this room but it s nice for anybody how want have the expirience with android system...
I have included nice end usefoul software : TotalCommander with regedit ( you can edit registry free), Opera 10 v3 beta, net.c 3.5, skype3, youtube_downloader, Adobe Reader LE 2.5, Office 2010, Flash Lite3.1, and some
player audio end video.
I leave you to appreciate the quality and usefulness of this software.
See you soon...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmm... haven't seen you here before... anyway, do you mean something like this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=760335