Hello. Has anybody had the chance to try this new Winterface? I'm also looking at either SPB mobile shell or that other one called Sky.....something or other????? Thanks.
I haven't tried it yet, but I think I'll install the 14 day trial. I won't buy any of the shells until after the Windows Mobile 6.1 update. I want to see what will be included and I want to make sure that I don't buy anything until I know it will work with 6.1.
I tried it. Uhhh......it's ok. I have SPB Mobile Shell. I like the editability of Winterface, but I like Moble Shell's home screen. Time, weather, calendar, appointments, system and message icons are the deciding factor. Thank goodness for trials. I would be kicking myself really hard if I had to by this first.
I tried it. Uhhh......it's ok. I have SPB Mobile Shell. I like the editability of Winterface, but I like Moble Shell's home screen. Time, weather, calendar, appointments, system and message icons are the deciding factor. Thank goodness for trials. I would be kicking myself really hard if I had to by this first.
Yes, the editing bit is really nice (love those quivering icons) however the rest of it doesn't approach mobile shell... The extra menus, and access to calander, notes etc put mobile shell confortably in first place.
However this is a 1.0 release and Winterface is miles better than most of the iphone wannabe flash interfaces. If they carry on working at it, then it will be one to watch in the future.
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the thing I like about these Vito apps is that they are light and fast.
They may not be as full featured as some of the comparable apps, but for what they do, they are efficient in doing it.
Take SMS-Chat... It looks very much like PocketCM, but it is quick and smooth in opening windows and screen rotation, although it is missing the contacts feature that PocketCM has (requires Fun Contacts to enable that function)
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Winterface isn't bad. Has a lot of issues. I'm currently playing around with an HTC Cube mod, but it kind of stinks. Honestly, the best GUI that I've used on my tilt was IFonz. DO NOT buy one of the IPhone programs that advertise. They're terrible. Mobile Shell has a lot of cool little interfaces, but if you are considering Skybox, RECONSIDER! It's not bad, but it's a huge pain in the butt to get off the phone.
I want to answer this
"I have SPB Mobile Shell. I like the editability of Winterface, but I like Moble Shell's home screen. Time, weather, calendar, appointments, system and message icons are the deciding factor. Thank goodness for trials. I would be kicking myself really hard if I had to by this first."
And this
"Yes, the editing bit is really nice (love those quivering icons) however the rest of it doesn't approach mobile shell... The extra menus, and access to calander, notes etc put mobile shell confortably in first place."
Ok, let's get to it. I will not let you confuse other readers, SPB Mobile Shell fanboys. With all respect to our rivals I suggest you and other Mobility Site readers see the screenshot from Winterface below:
The left one is the lock screen that always appears when you turn on the screen. It shows you the day of the week, time, date.
If you take a closer look at the top of the lock screen you will also see that the lock screen shows you the strength of carrier signal (+name of carrier), time (true, unnecessary dublicate and will be removed in coming versions), WiFi indicator, Bluetooth indicator, phone profile (ring, vibro or silent), and the battery charge. I can agree that you will say that these top indicators can be hardly seen. We will make them look distinct in the coming version. What I want to underline is that the functionality is already there.
Now, the second and more interesting screenshot. This screenshot displays the screen that appears immediately after you unlock the unlock screen and that is actually seen behind the transparent lock screen. You may have up to 10 of such screens where you can put any icons to applications, settings and contacts.
The screen has many icons of which I want to draw your attention to Clock - actually shows current time, Calendar - shows the actual date, SMS+Phone+Email - all show counters: new messages (text messages in SMS, emails in Email) and missed calls (in Phone). Now, the important thing is that these counters are visible at the lock screen because the lock screen is transparent. And we will either make them more visible or will bring to the actual front of the lock screen.
You can also place notes or any system settings on the first screen if you use them a lot. But frankly, and honestly speaking Settings is not something very often used, so it makes sense to put all necessary settings on a separate screen and access it with a slide of a finger across the screen to slide over to the next screen where you put only the settings you really need. Isn't it simply fantastic? And talking about SPB Mobile Shell - with all respect again to their work - I've spent literally 3 to 5 minutes to find File Explorer, and I'm an experienced user working close with developers. This is not what we at VITO call intuitive. One has to learn this (sometimes hard way), and with Winterface you do not need to learn and adapt yourself to this software, you adapt Winterface to yourself and you do it nicely and intuitively.
Now, lets see what I did not answer from the posts I quoted at the beginning: weather and appointments. Weather will be there, just as calendar or clock icon - showing the actual forecast. Appointments... you know it's funny how the guys from Microsoft got you hooked to the mess of Today screen when you get a clutter of tiny things on the screen and squeeze your eyes to see your next appointment. Is this not easy, is this not natural to tap this calendar icon on the first screen and see all the appointments in the native Calendar application?
I am also looking forward to getting the feedback on how better display appointments on the lock screen or on the screens. And, please, if you want to really communicate you message, spend some time in Photoshop and make a screenshot of what you want this look like in the program. We like practical approach. Thank you all for your interest in Winterface and for tremendous feedback VITO is getting through email and forum posts.
PS There is already Winterface 1.01 available. Issues we faced:
- lags in settings screen when adding settings icons on some devices
- dublicate icons of settings in the settings list upon adding on some devices
- contacts displaying only first names in the contact liist upon adding
- unlock bypass by gesture
- bluetooth icon indicator on lock screen not appearing
Last edited by kkk; 07-10-08 at 03:45 AM.
Reason: added about WiFi and Bluetooth indicators :)
I want to answer this
" this
"Yes, the editing bit is really nice (love those quivering icons) however the rest of it doesn't approach mobile shell... The extra menus, and access to calender, notes etc put mobile shell comfortably in first place."
Ok, let's get to it. I will not let you confuse other readers, SPB Mobile Shell fanboys. With all respect to our rivals I suggest you and other Mobility Site readers see the screenshot from Winterface below:
As someone who you specifically quoted in your reply I would like to take issue with you over a few points.
Firstly, The original poster asked what people thought about this new bit of software. He specifically asked about it in comparison to SPB mobile shell! The other mobilitysite member that you quoted said it was 'OK', admittedly not high praise, but not really an out of place attack either.
Having purchased several pieces of Vito software in the past (smart navigator, ringtone maker, button mapper, and UK base maps) I decided to try the software and see what I thought.
I've tried lots of these apps in the past, and been very disappointed by a lot of them. So I tried the vito software... which was harder than i thought as the links on your site for cab files don't work with pocket internet explorer.
I then said what I thought about it. And although there were some nice things in it, which make it better than a lot of other products, it wasn't as good (in version 1.0) as SPB mobile shell. I even said it would be worth considering when you added extra stuff, but you cut that bit out...
After this, you, accuse me of being an 'spb fanboy' who is attempting to 'confuse' readers of Mobilitysite.
For this, I await you apology.
Secondly, you completely ignored/missed the point about extra menus and access to menus notes etc.
Compare the two scenarios.
In Mobile Shell, if I want to look at a calendar Item, I get a second level of menus asking if I want to
A new appointment
open in today view
open tomorrow's calendar
open this week's calendar
open this month's calendar
It will then open the calendar in the chose view.
With Winterface, I get dumped straight into the calendar app, and have to manually go to those in the 'microsoft way' that you said you didn't like!!!
I have similar menus for camera, media player, coreplayer, notes, Internet bookmarks, internet history...
These are finger friendly and unlike the buttons in winterface, also work with the hardware buttons to select things!
These don't exist in winterface and are major reasons why your 1.0 release is not as good!
Originally Posted by kkk
And talking about SPB Mobile Shell - with all respect again to their work - I've spent literally 3 to 5 minutes to find File Explorer, and I'm an experienced user working close with developers. This is not what we at VITO call intuitive. One has to learn this (sometimes hard way), and with Winterface you do not need to learn and adapt yourself to this software, you adapt Winterface to yourself and you do it nicely and intuitively.
hmm.... I would have thought that either the tools button, or the program files button would be the obvious places to look for the file explorer, so i'm really amazed you couldn't find it. Incidentally the browse files button has a nice submenu that will allow me to choose the starting directory for the file explorer (my device, my document, storage card, last used directory)
I couldn't find any level of this 'intuitive' function in Winterface. If I was new to windows mobile I would have to learn and adapt to the Microsoft way of doing things, and wouldn't have any help here from Winterface!!!!
Neither app is perfect, try both before you buy them... but I really can't see anyone using mobile shell ditching it for winterface 1.0x
and KKK/anyone else, free to pm me if you like, or carry this on in the forum.
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Last edited by psionandy; 07-10-08 at 06:53 AM.
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to psionandy For This Useful Post:
A developer willing to p*ss off potential customers with an attitude that is very defensive.
It is fine to tout your work and defend it, it is not fine to make radically general assumptions of members here who were asked for an opinion.
For me, I do not use SPB Mobile Shell but find your software totally unoriginal and with the attitude you display for those who do not rave over your work, I would never buy or support your work.
To come here and disrespect the members here the way you do is not warranted and shows, to me, you are not willing to listen to potential customers who may want certain features included before making a purchase of your software.
None of the opinions expressed above were directed to you or your company in a personal or malicious way.
Your post was both.
Sorry, you lost one customer here and would not be surprised if you lose other potential customers with your outburst above.
David
Last edited by harpgliss; 07-14-08 at 11:33 AM.
The Following User Says Thank You to harpgliss For This Useful Post:
It's a pretty slick user interface although it does have bugs... things like selecting the battery icon and having the keyboard slide sound menu pop up, or not being able to use the joystick button to navigate the main screen, or not being able to add applications/settings/contacts to the main screen per the instructions in the manual (how the heck did they miss that one???). I'm sure once VITO hires better test engineers or prohibits the ones they have from drinking on the job (how else could they have missed so many obvious bugs???), Winterface will be more than worth the 20 bucks.
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