Thinking of installing SPB Mobile Shell

[syrguy1969]

Originally Posted by Cmass

I went through the whole users manual as well - although found it a bit lacking. (too general)

Amen to that!! People have been saying that since before it even cam out LOL!!!!

Originally Posted by Cmass

I can get most of it working OK except I can't get the "front screen" to be anything different than the page with the tabs on it. I set it so the clock and calendar - which I thought was supposed to be the front screen - does come up upon waking up the device but that is the only time I see it unless I navigate to it via the Spb menu. I thought it was supposed to be the default screen??

I assume you mean the NOW screen? If so, SPBWatcher is the app that keeps Shell running so you don't have to keep going to SPB menu to open it again!!

Originally Posted by Cmass

Also, I can't get my player controls to stay up front. They disappear now requiring me to navigate to it to pause or change songs etc..

What player is that? I use S2P, and that takes over the full screen with large controls.

Originally Posted by Cmass

Button size:
I just accidentally found a way to make the buttons huge: Hold the volume button. Hold up = large buttons. Hold down = back down to normal. Unfortunately, all it is really doing is magnifying them so the icons are grainy and you have to finger the screen around since many are now off screen....but hey, it's a start....

Your right, that is a kinda cool magnifier, but not that great on quality of image LOL!!!

[Spr0ckEt]

The yellow star is favorites, I believe. What appears under that section can be edited in the MAIN SPB Mobile Shell settings under one of the tabs. (Advanced, I think)

[syrguy1969]

Where is this yellow star that may be favorites? I have a grey star on my NOW page (depending on choice of buttons they may be different colors) right next to the voicemail button...the furthest to the right of the four buttons directly above the bottom bar, and it is a task manager for me, when I hit the star it shows a list of running apps, and I can close any or all (or a combination) of the running apps.....VERY useful!!!

[Image911]

Okay... I tried the Omnia's on-board animated Widget, but just found that there were too many that I didn't use or want... and wished there was the ability to edit the available listing (maybe in a subsequent product/software update). As a former VX6700 and VX6800 user, I am a veteran Ultimate Launch and PhoneAlarm user, and loaded same on my new Omnia, but - opted to remove same soon after, as they just felt slowish and almost weighty, despite the faster OS. I admit that I even downloaded the Diamond 2D theme - like many of our fellow readers, only to remove it soon after. It just wasn't what I really NEEDED (rather, they were all eye-candy than truly functional items).

I DID, however, purchase and download the latest version of SPB Mobile Shell (as well as a number of other SPB products), but found them to be too "cartoony" or loaded with more "stuff" than I required... and they, like the others - were removed, one by one. The icons SPB provided just aren't what I would have selected and aren't customizable to the average user. I'm not a kid any longer, and don't require theme park or arcade graphics to keep my attraction.

You know, Samsung gave plenty of consideration to what they put on their devices prior to release. Oh sure, there are a few upgrades we'd all like to see... like the front facing 2 megapixel camera (that Verizon had removed for some reason) and an UNLOCKED GPS (that Verizon ALSO had locked-out, in favor for the pay-for-the-service of thier exclusive VZ Navigator). I DID, however, download the Samsung 2 theme (as Verizon had THAT one removed...!??)... but, when push came to shove - I went back to the Widget.

"Why?" you ask...!?

Well, it's simple. I like looking at the background photo - of my beautiful wife in her bathing suit, and the few selected widgets (digital clock and note pad)... strategically placed - in both - horizontal and portrait format. What's more, the screen isn't loaded with a bunch of additional baggage... rather, I get individual "balloons" whenever I get a text, SMS or email message... allowing me to view or delete each individual item, at my choosing. A truly nice and user-friendly / interactive feature - that ISN'T available when NOT in the widget format.

So, as nice as the SPB Mobile Shell is... it isn't for me.

[syrguy1969]

The funny thing about your poost Image911 is that I agree about the 'cartoony' icons (that is why I use the skinning app....more choices) but that is actually the thing I DON'T like about what Samsung put on the Omnia....their icons look like they came off a PowerPuff Girl cartoon and I wouldn't want them showing for anything LOL!!!

I am happy with Shell because it is pretty finger-friendly and I can set things up pretty much how I want them!! The widget screen is nice, but I need more on my screen and faster ways of getting to other things (without those cartoon icons LOL).

The good news for Image911 is that they are working on releasing new widgets (weather, stocks....) soon, I think they are out for the i900 already, so I think maybe the rumored January upgrade may have more suprises for us!!! (the unlocking of GPS is promissed for the first half of 2009, so I wouldn't expect that in the January upgrade (if we get it then).

P.S. The front camera is not in our devices because video calls are not supported in the US yet.

[Image911]

...Powder Puff Girl Widget icons... ?! Damn. Yup. You are sadly right! Aahhhkk...!!! Yeah, I have to agree that I am looking forward to any Verizon-friendly upgrade. I forgot to mention that the BIGGEST reason I opted NOT to keep any of the previously loaded applications, was because they are all memory hogs, SPB Mobile Shell included. Yeah, we have lots of room, but I've got many installs (even when loaded many on My Storage), and currently open with 16.77 MB remaining free (and 50.83 Programs free). Many are "required" to make my work (Public Safety" EMS/Fire Service/Emergency Management) easier. To load anything more will only bog it down - like thick syrup on a cold day.

[syrguy1969]

Your right, they do hog the memory (SPB is famous for that), but I am OK with that Shell and A_C's apps are the only things I have on main memory, so it runs pretty well!! Weedahoe posted the URL I was looking for about the GPS...if your interested, here it is:
http://www.wmexperts.com/articles/ve...o_open_up.html

[Cmass]

syrguy1969, the star on my screen leads to another screen that says "items" on top of it....and the rest is blank.

Unfortunately, I'm finding a bunch of other buttons are blank as well - such as my Navigation button. Clicking that yields the same screen as does the Games button.

I have also found that when I associate a contact with a picture, it no longer shows up when they call. I only see it when on my contacts page.

Update: OK, this is REALLY wierd! In the Customize Menu section under the Advanced Tab I moved some of the items up and down in order to arrange their associated buttons properly. However, now the Game icon is floating around randomly by itself and showing up in VERY weird places on the screen - out of alignment and all.

- Chris

[Phantom27]

I'm not sure about SPB Mobile Shell. I installed it and the skins and LOVE it. However, it is really buggy!!!! It seems to lock up alot!! I just realized that I'm running version .2 instead of .4 So I tried to uninstall it and forgot to uninstall SPB Watcher!!! Now I'm stuck with an error that says "MenuLauncher.exe" "The file 'MenuLauncher' cannot be opened. Either it is not signed with a trusted certificate, or one of its components cannot be found. If the problem persists, try reinstalling or restoring this file." Then I just get a spinning color wheel and I can't do anything. I don't know how to fix it!!!! I'm stuck!!!! Help!

Edit: I had to soft reboot about 5 times since installing SPB Mobile Shell (10 minutes).

[syrguy1969]

Originally Posted by Phantom27

I'm not sure about SPB Mobile Shell. I installed it and the skins and LOVE it. However, it is really buggy!!!! It seems to lock up alot!! I just realized that I'm running version .2 instead of .4 So I tried to uninstall it and forgot to uninstall SPB Watcher!!! Now I'm stuck with an error that says "MenuLauncher.exe" "The file 'MenuLauncher' cannot be opened. Either it is not signed with a trusted certificate, or one of its components cannot be found. If the problem persists, try reinstalling or restoring this file." Then I just get a spinning color wheel and I can't do anything. I don't know how to fix it!!!! I'm stuck!!!! Help!

Edit: I had to soft reboot about 5 times since installing SPB Mobile Shell (10 minutes).

What other apps do you have installed? I have to wonder if there is a conflicting one in there somewhere!! As far as Watcher goes...when you reset now, what do you get? I know you have the error, but if you get the WM button in the top left corner or you can press the upper right button (if you still have it assigned to it) to get to the Programs listing, go to settings, and Today screen. In the items page uncheck Watcher and you should be fine!!

(or...I guess if you can get to settings you may as well go to remove programs and uninstall Watcher LOL!!)