Thinking of installing SPB Mobile Shell

[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

[JonV]

Originally Posted by 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.

- Chris

Some of the menu items are supposed to be empty until you use Customize Menu to add items. For example I go and add Google Maps and Live Search as items in Navigation.

[Cmass]

Originally Posted by JonV

Some of the menu items are supposed to be empty until you use Customize Menu to add items. For example I go and add Google Maps and Live Search as items in Navigation.

Thank you.

I've been searching the menus but don't find where I can associate the various blank icons with an action. In Spb shell configuration? In the Skins configuration?? I'm especially concerned that my navigation icon leads nowhere.

On a separate note, is there a way to make a large picture of the person calling OR texting me show up on the front of the screen? I have finally got a small picture of them to show up, but only upon incoming calls, not texts.

UPDATE: OK, I did it:

Settings->Mobile Shell->Advanced Tab->Menu

Now you must HIGHLIGHT - in this case the Navigation item - and then click on the Menu on the lower right hand corner of the screen and choose

Add->Link If the item is not highlighted, this option is not available on the menu.

It then gives you a list of programs you can associate with that item. In this case I scrolled down and chose VZ Navigator.
I have no idea why most buttons are automatically associated with their respective actions ....but they aren't.

- Chris

[syrguy1969]

Originally Posted by Cmass

Thank you.

I've been searching the menus but don't find where I can associate the various blank icons with an action. In Spb shell configuration? In the Skins configuration?? I'm especially concerned that my navigation icon leads nowhere.

On a separate note, is there a way to make a large picture of the person calling OR texting me show up on the front of the screen? I have finally got a small picture of them to show up, but only upon incoming calls, not texts.

- Chris

The star you mentioned opening a menu with 'Items' on top is the task manager. Try running a couple apps, don't close them, and open that menu again...I bet you will see a couple items in it!!

For caller ID, I use S2U2 for caller pics, but I haven't seen one for texting yet.