Menneisyys

It was a few weeks ago that I’ve reviewed the initial 1.0 version of Teksoft’s new all-in-one task manager / keyboard macro / screenshot taker etc. application, Smartbar. Then, I didn’t unconditionally recommend it because of some of the shortcomings.

Fortunately, the excellent folks at Teksoft have implemented everything what I’ve asked for / criticized on in my previous review and also fixed the 1.0 bugs. This means the new version sports:

1. a REALLY working Close button – now, you don’t need to go to the Today screen to shut down an application. Excellent!
2. VGA compliance. I’ve tested it on the HTC Universal. It worked flawlessly.
3. a sufficiently large timeframes for capturing shots (one shot every minute / 30 / 10 / 2 seconds) in multishot mode in the screen capturer application
4. etc.

I’ve also spotted some new, minor bugs in the current, tested build (1.2.008, dated 12/03/2006), which will surely be fixed:

1. While it’s nice to see the CPU usage meter in Task Manager, it has some problems: during my tests, it repeatedly reported 0% for tasks that did consume a CPU cycles considerably (for example, Resco Audio Recorder recording into MP3).
2. The “Switch to” list of the Close/Minimize menu sometimes isn’t properly updated and doesn’t list active applications
3. There’s no Today plug-in any more (at least not on the Universal – I’ll report back as soon as I manage to test it on the Wizard)
4. The application, it seems, is still (?) incompatible with non-Phone Edition Pocket PC’s. It didn’t find a related library on neither my VGA WM2003SE Pocket Loox 720 nor my QVGA WM2003 HP iPAQ 2210 (fortunately, I didn’t end up having to hard reset the latter, unlike with the original version). (Note that I couldn’t test the title on my other WM5 devices as they’re either being repaired – yeah, the dreaded “fried HTC Wizard sound switched switch” problem – or loaned to would-be Pocket PC buyer co-workers to find out why it’s worth buying a Pocket PC. As soon as I get them back, I’ll deploy the new version on them too to find out how they fare.)

The Teksoft folks have also addressed what the HowardForum forum users asked for / complained of:

1. The per-CPU registration has been changed to per-owner name-based one. Now, you can deploy your copy on any number of your PDA’s and can also continue using it on your future ones.
2. The credit-based paying has been changed to a direct, PayPal-based one. Now, purchasing a Teksoft app is far easier – and less expensive.

Verdict

Go give this title a try – it’s really capable and already a decent alternative to, say, iLauncher 3, Spb Pocket Plus or the Today plug-in of Resco File Explorer.

__________________
MS MVP- Mobile Devices.

jdigitL

i wasnt happy with the fact that it REPLACED many items in my start menu right after the install. also didnt play nice on my h6515 with a 240x240 screen, was a pain to uninstall (had to revert to a manual uninstall, which a "lay" user would not be able to do without a hard reset). so far, unhappy with both the products they are selling (purchased licenses for both, unfortunately). the potential is there, however :)

John

Menneisyys

Originally Posted by jdigitL

i wasnt happy with the fact that it REPLACED many items in my start menu right after the install. also didnt play nice on my h6515 with a 240x240 screen, was a pain to uninstall (had to revert to a manual uninstall, which a "lay" user would not be able to do without a hard reset). so far, unhappy with both the products they are selling (purchased licenses for both, unfortunately) John

Thanks for the repsonse. Indeed it seems this is a pre-WM5 problem: with my WM5 Universal, there're no such problems.

On my WM2003 iPAQ 2210, on the other hand, it indeed has put some four links and on my WM2003SE PL720, one.

I'll include this info, along with the square screen problem (having no 240*240 device, I couldn't test the latter) in the next iteration of the review.

__________________
MS MVP- Mobile Devices.

jdigitL

(bows indefinitely)

raul tinca

Quote:

i wasnt happy with the fact that it REPLACED many items in my start menu right after the install. also didnt play nice on my h6515 with a 240x240 screen, was a pain to uninstall (had to revert to a manual uninstall, which a "lay" user would not be able to do without a hard reset). so far, unhappy with both the products they are selling (purchased licenses for both, unfortunately). the potential is there, however

Thanks John for your feedback. The software is not yet available for 240x240 screen resolution, as you can see the product section only lists 240x320(QVGA) and 480x640(VGA) resolution support. We have token notice of your experience and plan to release a version for 240x240 (square screen devices) like your device. I will update shortly after the version has been released.
Can you please detail on "it REPLACED many items in my start menu right after the install" i'm not sure what you mean.

Bests,
Raul Tinca
Teksoft, Co.

Menneisyys

UPDATE (12/07/2006): justanothermobilemonday frontpage. This MobilitySite thread may be worth checking out for more info on the square screen compliance (the title, currently, is NOT compatible with square-screen devices!) and some warnings on SmartBar's displacing some items in the Start menu on pre-WM5 devices. (Note that these links are all moved to Programs - that is, they aren't lost / destroyed at all. It's there that you'll find them.)

I've also received a message from Teksoft; they state they'll fix the first, second and fourth problems I've listed and that the Today plug-in has been left out deliberately.

__________________
MS MVP- Mobile Devices.

jdigitL

replaced, as in i had specific items in my start menu and the smartbar put its own shortcuts without asking me. i had to go back to set the items i previously had set. not a big deal, just annoying (it did make me mad, however).

just had a bad experience. i hope others have better success. this today app has some potential. thanks for the reply Raul.

and Werner

(repeatedly bows) im not worthy :)

john

raul tinca

Thanks John for your quick reply.
I will add this to the to do list. I hope that the 240x240 version when ready will improve your experince ;)

Cheers,
Raul