My Windows Mobile Today Screen - June 20th 2007

The Today Screen is one of those features that can make your Windows Mobile device the personal information dashboard it was meant to be. However, it does take time to find the appropriate plug-ins that meet one's personal needs, configure them for the limited amount of available screen real estate and memory available.

I personally have not found the perfect combination and I am continually tweaking my Today Screen to see what works and does not work. I have decided to create a category and going forward post a history of my Today Screens. Back in 2006, I posted a Today Screen which worked well on my MDA here.

Since then, I reviewed Spb Mobile Shell 1.0, I like the one handed experience and decided to use it. When I moved to the Wing, Spb Mobile Shell 1.0 did not work well under Windows Mobile 6 so I went back to using Fizz Weather 2.4, SBSH Pocket Breeze 5.2 (probably the number 1 application I use), and the device lock.

Unfortunately this configuration lacks a battery meter and Spb Mobile Shell's soft reset function. I tried to find some small applications for these functions, but could not find anything that worked well with Windows Mobile 6.

This week Spb Software House released Spb Mobile Shell 1.5 which supports Windows Mobile 6, provides a number of key enhancements and bug fixes. I am trying it out and will post an update to my review of Spb Mobile Shell 1.0.

The new Now screen which you can configure to display at power on. I like the calendar at the bottom which can be linked to a PIM, however it is not that useful since the only available code is to launch the PIM without regards to the date you tap. That said, the programming API is there to make the add-in more useful, but it looks like Spb is looking to third parties to develop it.

The Today Screen Spb Mobile Shell plug-in presentation has not changed, however configuring it has become easier.

For now I am pretty sure I am going to stick with Spb Mobile Shell, although I still have to decide whether I want to keep the Classic Now screen or New Professional Now screen at power up...

Comments

[TheWoz]

I was wondering how you are doing with remaining memory. I seem to be a lot lower than I thought I would be. When you say "In the WIngs" what do you mean. Thanks

[Stephen Skarlatos]

I have two issues with memory. Running the camera and SlingPlayer (I have to reboot), otherwise I don't seem to have issues with the rest of my software. Although I don't use those two often, it is a pain to reboot. It is not perfect, but works.

There are discussions on xda-developers about the page pool size of 12MB HTC and T-Mobile used for the Wing. Paul from MODACO has a guide to changing it to 4MB or 8MB. http://www.modaco.com/Pauland39s-Guide-to-changing-the-HTC-Touch-T-Mobile-Wing-PagePool-Size-t256280.html .

It is a risky procedure, but this is enough of an annoyance that I may try it.

In the Wings, means that I need to or want to try the software. With the T-Mobile Wing, your questions makes me think that I should change that heading for clarity.

[TheWoz]

I use mine more for communications. IM and Email and phone, I am using emoze. I think it it big and on device and my gps software has to be on the device for proper use of the bluetooth com port. i get a message quite regularly about being out of memory.

I agree about the naming of "In the Wings" but the rest is awesome. There are not many Wing Sites yet, and this one rocks.

Sorry i missed you at TechEd. It would have been great to chat. I spent alot of time in the Windows Mobile Area. But even more in the Server side. I am a Senior Systems Engineer.

I will be around. trying to get blogging working next.

[TheWoz]

More Questions. Best way to learn

Did you remove all of the t-mobile apps. The looks of yur list is yes. But making sure I am not assuming anything.

For email are you using more than one mail system? Do you use exchange direct push?

DO use any IM's

Thanks. Tring to get a handle on how and what I can do.

[Stephen Skarlatos]

Thanks you comments, I appreciate the feedback. It is too bad we missed each other at TechEd, maybe at a future MS conference.

Yes, I did remove all of the pre loaded T-Mobile apps that showed up on "remove programs".

I use Exchange Direct push with 4smartphone.net. I forward all my various email addresses to 4smartphone.net. They should have Exchange 07 up this summer which will greatly improve the experience with html mail.

I use Messenger. You can email me @ steve (at) mydigitallife.us. I can email my messenger id.

If I have time this weekend, I think I will move ahead and change the page pool.

[TheWoz]

let me know how the page pool goes i am readind and thinking about it now. I have been looking for registry shanges to move stuff to storage cards found Ringtones and decided to ditch notes for a better app. either onenote or one of the tools you are using. PhatPad and the product from webis.

emailed emoze for help on moving to storage card. found a 16M log on the device that is a real pain. i will let you know how that goes. My post email is also my msn. I will email you later with the other info.

thanks

[Stephen Skarlatos]

All I can say, WOW what a difference. I went with a 6MB page pool (middle of the road), I now have about 11-13MB free vs 3-5MB free. Right now things seem to be running much smoother.

Now to see how it does over a 24 hour period.

[TheWoz]

Sounds like i will try too then. what did you use for a hex editor. I did not see a reference in the article

[Stephen Skarlatos]

I used HxD (http://www.mh-nexus.de/hxd/)which was Paul's suggestion in his article. It worked great on Vista.