Why use SPB Mobile shell with custom roms out?

[nomaxtech]

Originally Posted by n8n

The question is really, do I use a custom ROM underneath to enhance MS stability/performance.

All the gee-wiz performance hog crapware and UI drives me crazy. I want speed and flexibility, and will sacrifice all the animations for them.

I have a few killer apps that I'd like to include in a core ROM, and I'm wondering if its worth the trouble of getting into ROM flashing, or whether I should just install on my stock ROM add MS and my killer apps.

Hence the question I posted, soliciting responses from MS users who have used with and without custom ROMs.

Thanks

I have used both stock and custom roms. Custom roms are 'cool' and and all, having neat applications already there after a hard reset, and some of them have nice looking visuals, but really, stock does just fine. I got sick of having to reflash every couple of days because of updates and bug fixes. The stock roms went through serious testing before they were released and usually stand up to the test of time. (I mean, damn, look how anxious we all are for an official 6.5 to be released and these chefs are popping them out twice a week (no offense you guys, you do great work with what tools you do have and have taught me a lot, thank you) ) You can have your app cooked in the rom or just install it after the reset. No big difference either way.

I do want to add that I used the Touch Pro 2 cleanup cab offered in this forum as a sticky. I think it does a great job stripping the stock rom down and it's damn fast afterward. Even with MS 3.5 and all its animations and clear glass and 3D effects.

I have a Sprint TP2. Not sure what's up with the Verizon stock rom.

[jasoraso]

Originally Posted by n8n

Thanks cbreze,

The question is really, do I use a custom ROM underneath to enhance MS stability/performance.

Thanks

One of the benefits of a custom ROM is that they are now based off the USCC 6.5 rom which included some fixes that Verizon and Sprint need - i.e. Bluetooth now works as it should with the ROMS's based on the USCC ROM ...

But I guess n8n is already on USCC so he may not see that benefit

(On my TP1, I used MS, but with my TP2, I've finally come to like TF3D ... but with this talk of MS, I think I might try it again

[BlackDynamite]

Okay, I haven't read through all of this yet. I read the first page and a half or so, and I just couldn't hold back any longer- I have to post...

So Mobile Shell is my interface of choice, by far. I can't stand Manilla. And yes, you want a custom ROM. Let me break it down for you...

I ran the stock ROM running mobile shell like everyone else until we had an SPL to flash. I am now running the indagroove ROM. Why is it the way to go? Because...

#1: The stock 6.1 is good, but it still has Manilla. No point in having Manilla take up space and resources if I am not going to use it anyway,

#2: The indagroove ROM does not have Manilla. Not only that, but it is WM 6.5.

#3: WM 6.5 has bigger menus that are way more finger friendly. I haven't touched my stylus in a long time.

#4: Stealth internet tethering and a bunch of other little perfomance tweaks are already included by default.

#5: You can seriously configure Mobile Shell however you want, with very little effort. No registry tweaks, no copying files to certain directories, nothing difficult at all. They made it so easy to do it just blows me away that not everyone uses it.

#6: You can easily backup and restore the Mobile Shell settings with the built in backup and restore feature. Just save the backup file to your storage card and restore it whenever you need.

#7: When you flash to a new ROM, you can keep your same, familiar interface by installing Mobile Shell and restoring the settings. So when a better version of Windows Mobile is released, you don't have to get used to it in order to get up to speed. Just install your Mobile Shell, restore your settings, and you have the familiar interface that you have been using all along.

#8: Lets face it, the biggest knock on Windows Mobile has been the interface for several years now. The underlying OS is pretty good, but the interface was outdated. And Mobile Shell is probably the best interface on the market (and gets updated pretty regularly).

Check this video out, it shows how it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGrfQ7IKGBs

[cbreze]

Originally Posted by n8n

Thanks cbreze,

I have not yet tried MS. I'm returning to the WinMo world with a TP2 after a few years on BB. WinMo now seems sluggish relatively.

I don't need all the eye-candy of the sense UI, particularly if I can trade that for performance and customization. I've been aware of MS since my days of yore with a Treo 700p, although I never tried it.

I feel that with today's hardware, there is plenty of system resources to make it fly and MS is likely the best option to get me the performance I want.

So my question is not really to MS or not to MS, I will in fact try it and most likely make it my default.

The question is really, do I use a custom ROM underneath to enhance MS stability/performance.

All the gee-wiz performance hog crapware and UI drives me crazy. I want speed and flexibility, and will sacrifice all the animations for them.

I have a few killer apps that I'd like to include in a core ROM, and I'm wondering if its worth the trouble of getting into ROM flashing, or whether I should just install on my stock ROM add MS and my killer apps.

Hence the question I posted, soliciting responses from MS users who have used with and without custom ROMs.

Thanks

I think ms works well with every rom I've tried(about , but , and I'll probably catch crap for this, I think the vzw oem rom is the most stable, quickest, reliable etc etc of any rom out there. I'm running the oem now after yet again switching back from custom for stabilitry issues. I have it set the way I like /need it and I'm running ms as my ui. It runs circles around tf3d(sense) for functionality,stability and ease of use, not to mention all the options it has on board. Your with sprint? I hear that rom is also very good. I was stuck with the oem for 2 months until the unlocker was finished and released. I went flash crazy trying them all and always come back to oem. I'll try more, but have yet to find one as stable as oem stock. I think you'll like ms, no matter which rom you end up with as spb really got it right. All their apps are very good.

[quazimodem]

I'm not a fan of HTC Sense or the Touchflo UI at all. I feel like it forces you to use your phone a certain way. Originally, I was not a fan of SPB Mobile Shell because prior to the TP/TP2, it was a memory hog and lagged my phone a lot. When I got my Touch Pro 2, obviously the phone hardware is better in a lot of respects, so I decided to try the new SPB Mobile Shell 3.5 and see what has changed.

I was pleasantly surprised how much it has improved and how well it works on any custom or stock 6.1/6.5 ROM. (not the 6.5.x roms that have the start menu at the bottom, Mobile Shell doesn't support that version of the WinMo OS).

It's smooth, intuitive, better built-in support for facebook/twitter, and you have better flexibility on customizations. I just noticed that a new version was released today v3.5.2. It does have a slight learning curve but once you RTFM or play around with it to figure it out, there's a good chance you'll appreciate what it has to offer.

If anyone does decide to try it out, my suggestion is to load a custom ROM that is clean without any bloat or any additional UI software that you won't be needing. Then load Mobile shell. JD's ROM is nice but if you can find a custom rom that doesn't have Sense or Touch Flo, the better....

Originally Posted by n8n

Thanks cbreze,

I have not yet tried MS. I'm returning to the WinMo world with a TP2 after a few years on BB. WinMo now seems sluggish relatively.

I don't need all the eye-candy of the sense UI, particularly if I can trade that for performance and customization. I've been aware of MS since my days of yore with a Treo 700p, although I never tried it.

I feel that with today's hardware, there is plenty of system resources to make it fly and MS is likely the best option to get me the performance I want.

So my question is not really to MS or not to MS, I will in fact try it and most likely make it my default.

The question is really, do I use a custom ROM underneath to enhance MS stability/performance.

All the gee-wiz performance hog crapware and UI drives me crazy. I want speed and flexibility, and will sacrifice all the animations for them.

I have a few killer apps that I'd like to include in a core ROM, and I'm wondering if its worth the trouble of getting into ROM flashing, or whether I should just install on my stock ROM add MS and my killer apps.

Hence the question I posted, soliciting responses from MS users who have used with and without custom ROMs.

Thanks

[tok]

Originally Posted by quazimodem

I just noticed that a new version was released today v3.5.2.

Just upgraded... noticed that the HTC Task Manager is gone after updating! Anyone else with the same issue?

[lefty11]

Originally Posted by n8n

For those of you who have run SPB both with and without a custom ROM, can you please comment on the following:

*Stability with/without custom ROM of choice
*Performance with/without custom ROM of choice
*Custom ROM of choice

I have run it with MightyRom CDMA ROM for TP2 on Sprint . It works very smooth and fast with WM 6.5 , but you probably will experience some bugs over time such as notifications, possible taskbar issues. I am not saying you definitely will but custom roms usually have a bug or two even when stable(which MightyRom seems to be the most stable custom ROM out for the TP2 cdma right now.

I reverted back to the crappy stock Sprint 6.1 Rom and Mobile Shell runs perfectly , except its not as fast as it is with the 6.5. But I never have issues with that MobileShell 3.5.2 on the stock ROM . I would love for Sprint or HTC to release CDMA WM 6.5 ROM so I could get the speed and stability . I think Mobile Shell does everything very well and lets me customize several screens with what I need use most frequently and it is super easy to make your own backgrounds .

[xredjokerx]

can someone test this for me? i modified the qa_layout.dat so that you can use mskip with white font on the calllog

http://www.mediafire.com/?umizy3zdzaz

let me know! thanks! this is on 3.5.2 by the way...

[fish1900]

Originally Posted by xredjokerx

can someone test this for me? i modified the qa_layout.dat so that you can use mskip with white font on the calllog

http://www.mediafire.com/?umizy3zdzaz

let me know! thanks! this is on 3.5.2 by the way...

Yes problem solved. Restor original Calllog.xml end voala withe font color

[mprezive]

Hey everyone, I'm new here and I just gave mobile shell 3.5 a try (using the trial now). I am not a huge fan of paying for software, but I'm highly considering paying for this It is smooth, I can custimize everything, and it is easy to use. There are some downfalls (bugs), but they are minimal and aren't really a huge deal.