Why use SPB Mobile shell with custom roms out? - Page 5

**BlackDynamite** · #41 (**permalink**) 12-11-2009, 04:34 AM

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 The underlying OS is pretty good, but the interface was outdated.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

simurg · #42 (**permalink**) 12-11-2009, 04:56 AM

I have been using SPB Mobile since v1. They made a leap in V2 in good direction. 3.0 was avesome and I used it on my Touch Pro with no option in my mind. I always found HTC Touch Flo is cumbersome. What is the point of having all those kind of different screens for every application?

Anyway, 3.5 bring some very nice goodies such as tasks and some completely bogus features such as 3D Mail viewer. There was a huge problem with 3.5: Perf. The UI responsiveness was significanly down comparable to 3.0.

Now I use SPB Mobile Shell 3.5 on NagaRom. NagaRom is really good because I don't get any HTC software there. In any case, SPB Mobile breaks the HTC Dialer, the only HTC useful component.

For the moment, I enjoy the flexibility and the beauty of SPB Mobilr 3.5 but still curse on the perf everyday. I hope 4.0 would be all about perf and UI customization.

zizo72 · #43 (**permalink**) 12-11-2009, 04:59 AM

well backup and restore is not working for me. "Failed to load file" is all i get... defeats the purpose, doesn't it?

**BlackDynamite** · #44 (**permalink**) 12-11-2009, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zizo72

well backup and restore is not working for me. "Failed to load file" is all i get... defeats the purpose, doesn't it?

Mine works. I just uninstalled my 3.5.1, installed the new 3.5.2, and restored from my backup file. The only thing not restored is my background (which is easy enough to change)...

zizo72 · #45 (**permalink**) 12-11-2009, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaltyDawg

Mine works. I just uninstalled my 3.5.1, installed the new 3.5.2, and restored from my backup file. The only thing not restored is my background (which is easy enough to change)...

when you do a backup you do it with the contact pictures or without?

**BlackDynamite** · #46 (**permalink**) 12-11-2009, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zizo72

when you do a backup you do it with the contact pictures or without?

With...

gcianc · #47 (**permalink**) 12-11-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quazimodem

That's great and all but you do realize that this thread is regarding a UI/Today screen replacement right? A task manager is a completely different thing.

sure do. those complaining HTCs lame task manager is disabled by Mobile Shell can use this better, free task manager. understand?

BOO B) · #48 (**permalink**) 12-11-2009, 06:12 PM

Has anyone else noticed that after installing MS 3.5.2 that callhistory is blank? Well actually its not blank it has black font with a black background. It is the only part of MS that has black font instead of white. If you tap on one of the calls it turns gray then you can notice that it has black font. Am I alone here?

BOO B)

JimP · #49 (**permalink**) 12-11-2009, 06:26 PM

Not trying to be picky here, but I'd rather have the clock style of the original Verizon rom. I looked at the different skins and didn't see it.

Does anyone know how to program the shell to use that clock style?

i360 · #50 (**permalink**) 12-11-2009, 07:13 PM

That 3rd party task manager (thanks for posting) doesn't appear to pick up all the programs running like the SPB one does. What I mean is i'll open it and it says nothing is running, and then ill use SPB TM and it will list programs like Comm Manager and Active Sync running. I do like the readouts the 3rd party one has though...

Oh well, I can use both I guess.