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SPB Software House is one of the top Pocket PC developers, one of there great apps Spb Mobile Shell was #1 best selling Pocket PC program at Handango and PocketGear in 2007, The winner of Pocket PC Awards 2007 as the best User interface/menu improver and The winner of Shareware Industry Awards 2007 as the best program for PDA.

Mobile Shell made it easier for the Pocket PC users to navigate their device and gave more control of their device that was lacking from the standard MS OS.

On the flurry of that Spb has launched Mobile Shell 2.0, so what is new you ask? For starters the SPB soft key now launches the NOW screen rather than the grid of icons, the NOW screen has four new icons at the bottom of the screen.

Now Screen. Classic Layout.             Now Screen. Professional Layout.

Calendar

This is the main screen that you will come to, it as all the main info like Weather, Email/ SMS & Missed Call Notification, Sound, Clock, Dairy. At the top is also has Battery indicator, Carrier name and Phone signal.

Launcher

The Launcher screen has to separate areas the first two rows of icons 12 in all are applications that are used the most, with the ability to Pin apps that you want to use all the time, the larger 6 icons are the familiar Spb Menu icons enabling the user to access main menu folders.

Contacts

The user is able to add up to 16 contacts and view and dial the contact from this menu, photos are also enabled.

Close

The last icon is the close button.

What’s New in 2.0

All Functions Under One Roof

Spb Mobile Shell 1.0 had three components: Now Screen, Spb Menu and Today plug-ins. In Spb Mobile Shell all the functions of these components exist in the new tabbed full screen window.

Features of the new tabbed window:

• Three panels: Now Screen, Spb Menu, Speed Dial
• Thumb optimization icons at the bottom for quick access
• Changing panel with gesture (animation effect can be changed in options)
• Animated transitions (can be turned off in options)

First Panel: Now Screen             Second Panel: Spb Menu

Third Panel: Speed Dial              Animation Options

Another great addition is the ability to change from your today screen (or any other application for that matter) to any of the three Mobile Shell screens with just a gesture from the start menu, very much like Alt Tab.

Taskbar Gesture:

Now Screen Selected                     Spb Menu Screen Selected

Price and Upgrade Policy

The price has not been changed between versions. Spb Mobile Shell 2.0 will be available from spbsoftwarehouse.com for USD 29.95.

If you are Spb Mobile Shell 1.x owner, you can upgrade to 2.0 for 50% off the retail price. If you purchased the previous version within 90 days from the release date, you are entitled to a free upgrade.

More details regarding Spb Software House’s upgrade policy at http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/support/upgrade_policy.html

Overall

I found Mobile Shell to be a great and well worth the upgrade from 1.5, with how easy it is to use and navigate through the menus and access parts of my device was excellent, the icons also look polished and great in on my Axim X51v (VGA).

I give it a 10/10 just because it is so good and how it is so user friendly, point in question I gave my Axim to my wife to have play with Mobile Shell 2.0 and with in seconds she was able to understand how Mobile Shell worked and use the Now screen, Spb Menu and navigate to other applications from that menu.

Now my wife does not use PPC’s or even my Notebook so a huge plus for those that are new to the Pocket PC world.

To obtain a copy of Spb’s Mobile Shell visit http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/mobileshell/?en

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PPCApache (7 Posts) - Website | Twitter | Facebook

Jason has been using WinMo devices for the past 8 years starting with the iPaq 1700 series PDA them moving through to conversion devices and also an Axim X51v, Jason has been working in the Telco industry for the past 5 years. His current devices are the iPhone 3G 16GB with OS 3.1, Motorola Q9h 6.0 smartphone & an iPod Touch 16GB (1st Gen) . Jason also enjoys reviewing products & being involved with technology.