SPB Mobile Shell
 

A screenshot of my device:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27...t/sshot006.png


Get it here:

http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/pock...e/mobileshell/

A few thoughts:

(1) it seems to use less memory than TF 2.1. I used to boot up with 42% used memory after installing the TP tweeks cab. Now I boot with 39% used.

Yes the screenie below shows 41% used but as you can see I have screen capture active to take the screenshot. But it WAS 39% used prior to starting the screencapture utility.


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27...t/sshot010.png

(2) It seems less of a battery drain than TF 2.1. I'll confirm this by the end of the day.

(3) the interface is in my OWN opinion the best one going for windows mobile.

(4) it is compatible with WM 6.5...or so the devs say. lol!


As I greatly value the input of this forum I'd love to know your thoughts on this shell. Thanks :laughing6:

**** Confirmed the battery drain is lower. With stock TF 2.1 my drain was 205 mA. With stock settings on MS 3.5 the battery drain is 192 mA (screenie below)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27...t/sshot009.png


Here is the youtube video review from pocketnow.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmvDr7wAPFQ


************Update 11/06/09*************************

The NEW version 3.5.1 beta is out. Get it here:

http://www.spbclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29539

Oh and the beta is of course free.

Some fixes they list:

SPB Pocket Plus close button makes Shell unresponsive
Set Ringtone doesn't work for Contacts
6.5: Theme shows incorrectly for Carousel and Tiles views
Added current conditions threshold for weather widget
Agenda: One day is shown twice, 25 осt date is the transition to "winter" time
3D SMS viewer: First word disappears after enter
Twitter issues fixes
Kinetic scrolling doesn't stop on Asus P565
3D SMS viewer: Picture is absent.
3D viewer: Date isn't shown for SMS and Email
3D email viewer: First account always shows
Birthday widget doesn't update itself when contact info is changed
New filter category is available only after MS restart
Task widget makes task sychronization with Outlook longer
Feature: introduced default action for weather widget (now choose between "Open forecast" and "Open conditions")

************************************************** *****

* I also found the "reply" button has been fixed in SMS and MAIL.

* Happy to report bluetooth is still working lol!

* When I upgraded I did NOT lose my custom settings.


****************************Update 11/09/09********************************************

Bug found/fixed (well worked around)
Problem:

When you try to use Opera 9.7 beta while using SPB Mobile Shell the Opera splash screen comes up but Opera never starts.

Solution:

Use Sk Tools "Free Up Ram" prior to using Opera 9.7 beta. My guess (and yes it's a guess lol) is that 9.7 beta uses 3-d acceleration. See my previous post regarding trying to play games like xtract.

Here's some screenshots proving Opera 9.7 beta works using this method:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27...t/sshot007.png

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27...t/sshot008.png

In short it seems that MS does not release the 3d-acceleration so you have to "force" it to release before playing games or using opera 9.7 beta. Hope this helps.

If it does...thank me! (click it kids lol)
***************************Update 11/10/09*********************************************

Want to add Skyfire or Opera 9.7 to the internet launch menu in Mobile Shell? Just edit the registry.

Use your favorite registry editor (I use PHM registry edit) and navagate to

\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Spb Software House 2\Spb Mobile Shell\Menu\Root\Internet

There you will see several keys Opera being one of them:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27...t/sshot003.png


Create a NEW KEY under the Internet section called "Skyfire" like you see above or Opera Beta like you see above.

The fast way would be to just copy each value under the Opera key into the Opera Beta or Skyfire key.

My values look like this for Opera Beta:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27...t/sshot004.png

Check will always be 1

File will be the path you have Opera Beta installed
(ex my path is \storage card\program files\Opera mobile\OperaL.exe)

Image path will have the EXACT SAME path as the File path:
(ex my path is \storage card\program files\Opera mobile\OperaL.exe)

Index defines the order of objects in your Internet Launch Menu. I have
Opera Beta set as the 11th item. Change yours to a number that doesn't
exist. For instance I had 10 items in my menu so I made this number 11.
If you have 8 items change the index to 9. 15 items change it to 16 and
so on.

MRU is 0

Text is Opera Beta

save and you're done. Now do the same with Skyfire or any other browser you wish to add to the Internet list. the result looks like this:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y27...t/sshot005.png

Enjoy.


***************************************Update 11/10/09 ********************************

Well it seems the folks at SPB are very active and on the ball with fixes as another release has come out today:

it's 3.5.1 RC as opposed to 3.5.1 beta

get it at:

http://www.spbclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29539

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

I used MS for about three weeks at one point.

After the novelty wore off, it bored me & I swapped back to TF3D Rhodium.

~John

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

Few things....

First, personally I think you should have pointed users at SPB's site, not Sprints / Handmarks. Just my opinion...unless of course you work for Sprint then I can understand where you're coming from.

Second, there is a rather large problem with SPB Mobile Shell 3, that they never bothered to address / resolve in the recent 3.5 upgrade. That's here:

Official SPB Mobile Shell 3 Breaks TP2 Dialer's Contacts Options Thread; fixable?

Third, what about an option on the poll for "Already using it"? Otherwise I can't vote sorry.

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

It isn't really all that stable.

It crashes on my once a week, but the usability is so much better than touchflo that I love it.

I will continue to use it till I can get a good 6.5 installed, an I loved 6.5 on my old touch pro.

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

i've used the shell on my vogue, mogul, touch pro, and briefly on my tp2 (i didn't run it long enough to check out the total functionality on the tp2). However, it is a great piece of software that's really customizable, runs stable and efficient, and overall just has a great look to it. i noticed on my tp that it seemed to be better on the battery as well, but ironically it seemed to run smoother on my vogue (400 mhz) than on my tp (528 mhz). i have a few friends who won't commit to flashing their fuze's but they absolutely love the mobile shell 3.5, however i agree with jmorton.... i got bored with it too and switched back to touchflo.

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

spb is cheaper than sprints gouge

and its stable

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

@jmorton10 and tr0s: No critisism / sarcasm intended what so ever, and this is pure curiosity on my part...

I've seen posts before, quite possibly yours John, where users get bored with SPB MS and switch back to manilla. I'm really curious what it is MS doesn't do, or doesn't do well compared to manilla? Is it a performance thing? Is it that TF3D is less customizable and therefore simpler to use e.g. everything all within a few tabs?

Personally, and everyone has their own needs and preferences, I have to have a screen with my upcoming appointments, and not just a couple, right in front of me, plus my mail/vm/sms counts...without having to move between pages (tabs). Perhaps there are tools out there for manilla that I'm simply not aware of that accomplish these types of things???

Thanks in advance for any unbiased, honest, and positive feedback.

@OP: Sorry to semi-hijack the thread...but I think this is related.

@phoenix316: There has to be something else on your phone conflicting. I've used MS on my TP1, Treo Pro, and now TP2, and unstable is not word I would use with this product. I can honestly say I don't ever recall a time MS crashed my phone. Perhaps I'm just lucky ;)

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

I don't work for sprint. I was just googling around and saw this. I had no idea they had an official site. I have sprint and this is what I found but as I said I greatly value the input of this forum and just created this thread to find out what others thought.

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

After reviewing the version on SPB's homepage I see I'm running the same version. Is there some difference?

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

I don't know, I really don't have all that much installed that would cause it to crash.

But it will lock up, everything else will work fine, if I push the start menu button the start menu will come up and other programs will work, but just not SPB mobile shell, causing me to soft reset.

It aint that big of a deal to me as it has only happened like 3 times in since I got it, so most of the time it works great.

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

No, there is only SPB's version, no matter where you get it from.

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

Bizarre, sorry to hear that! Have you tried completely uninstalling it and reinstalling it? Make sure you back up your MS settings beforehand in case you try this (Launcher | Settings | SPB Mobile Shell | tap the lower RH corner icon | Backup Settings).

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

I absolutely love Mobile Shell and wouldnt be without it. But I too have a tendancy to switch back and forth between TF3D and MS3 based on boredom. I cant wait for 6.5 so I can switch between those 2 and Titanium :D

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

I've been running it for a few weeks and NEVER had it lock up or crash. Nor have I had the dialer issues from that link...

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.5(Microsoft Windows; PPC; Opera Mobi/16643; U; en) HTC_Touch_Pro2_T7379)

i havent really done any troubleshooting on it as i am waiting for unlocker and 6.5.

i find it so much more useful than anything else I have tried

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

Updated with new battery life info!

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

MS 3.5 has only crashed on me maybe once in the month I've had it on my tp2. Had the 3.0 on several diff devices. I must have a.d.d. or something because I go back and forth alot from manila tf3d to the shell. I find thats the best of both worlds. They both have their +'s and -"s.

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

I actually had the opposite problem. I got pretty bored of TF3D within a week. Don't get me wrong, TF3D isn't bad...there are some nice features. For instance it has a great weather tab (not great content) but I LOVE the weather graphics. The Browser tab is nice, and the Email and SMS tabs are ok. I also like the music tab. But the bottom line for me is customization. I hate how none of the tabs are very editable. To be honest, Mobile shell is not as customizable as I would like either, but it's far better then TF3D. It all boils down to what's important to you though. TF3D is more of an eye candy app with decent functionality, and MS3.5 probably leans a bit more towards Functionality and optimization with a fair amount of eye candy also. If they allowed you to create a few of your own tabs and install widgets, or links to programs and maybe personalize the Home screen more to your liking TF3D would be incredible!

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

Having tried SBP MS a few times and comparing it to HTC Manila... they are not even in the same class.

My opinion:
MS is an eye candy toy, not a tool. It hinders productivity for a business user, not enhances it. The shell breaks dialer features and other native functionality and it is not at all stable or battery friendly. The product is not free, it is a commercial product and the support is just not there. I have tried MS on a few phones with NO other software or hacks and it is simply not stable.

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

i think exactly the opposite!

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

And just to show how YMMV, I find MS completely stable and much more functional than TF3D. I have my MS set up so that I have one touch access to my appointments, work and personal email, text messages and contacts with a clean and efficient home screen.

I found I could do much more things more quickly with MS than TF3D. Perhaps that will change when we get Sense UI in 6.5?

http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/3763/screen001i.png

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

really i don't know how u say that! u are not a real wm user!

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

Used MS on and off since 2.0 days...love the direction that they are going...and love the fact that they are receiving user customization support...go search around XDA and you'll know what I mean.

Also, providing now one of several Sense look-a-like themes.

I, too, have gone back to Rhodium manila. IMHO, MS is eye candy...more fluff than substance really...the 3.5 update is nice...but it doesn't play well with the TP2. The dialer feature thing has been addressed...but haven't seen anyone mention that the Bluetooth toggle doesn't work.

Also, another case in point concerning the fluff, is the 3d message view. Looks great...but you can't function in that UI. When u choose to reply...you're sent back to WinMo's native messaging screen.

I normally run MS for about 2-3 weeks...and I'll go back to manila...just a change of pace...especially when we can't flash our phones yet.

OP, good looking out...but you should search the forums first...because SPB is all over the joint...esp in the software and theme sub forum.:laughing6:

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

I used 3.0 which had bugs, and have been using Mobile Shell 3.5 since day it came out. I would have to say it is about as stable as you can get, I have no issues with dialer, and being as customizable as it is, I can put every quicklink or appt or whatever on one screen and with a mere slide of a finger I can go right to another page that is totally customizable also, I can do 5 pages on one look and 5 on the lifestyle look (good for the weekends) . It's like having my professional phone during the week and then on the weekend I switch phones for my playtime, multimedia, taking it easy , weekend on the go mode. It also has eye candy with the gsensor functionality on the carousel(which looks cool as heck) and has the 3d mode on sms and emails if desired. Everyone who sees it on my phone ends up using t on their winMo devices after I show them. There is also the SPB MobileShellSkins which lets you mix an match different style icons, launcher buttons , etc. the contacts and organization is exceptional also giving you different views and access to contacts. I am puzzled why someone would not find it good for work as well as Manila...and definitely much better looking. It's not a major install and you can get a two week free trial at
www.spbsoftware.com . I do believe its fully functional for the trial period, then if you donot like it just go to "remove programs" and take it off. You can change the layout, icon size , and add some cool widgets too , The birthday widget is a nice extra. It tracks your birthdays from contact list. this is just one little extra I like, not to mention the soft reset button that is available in the tool section. I know the TP2 doesn't require many soft resets but when it does, it is a pain to have to remove the back cover. Try it, if you like it, great, if you don't, remove it..No harm done.Say thanks :)

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

that stupid carousel was one of the things that turned me off about MS.

I thought it was cool as hell the first time I saw it, but after using the program for three weeks I realized all those features where 100% useless fluff (in three weeks, I don't think I ever used the carousel once -that silly thing makes the device HARDER to use, not easier & reminds me of something an iphone user would love)

~John

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

I agree about the carousel and the 3D mail, totally useless, but neither are required to be used.

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

Yes carousel is eye candy , but there are different doors to different functions, you never have to use the carousel..Choices,,,that's what I like about Mobile Shell compare to the stock setup right now....of course that will change after (if) the unlocker finally comes out...but it's .. I still use the carousel sometimes now, but I have everything setup on all my pages just the way I like which makes it super easy and super functional . I do disagree about the 3d email being useless , it allows you to read a lo of an email without actually opening it. I know this is also in stock setup, but it's just nice to have the "option"

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

I installed the 10 demo earlier today and while the first glimpse of MS was impressive, I'm finding that I'm not all that impressed. First off, I wanted to put the updating stock quotes that are on the tf3d scroll bar onto my desktop but I can't them the routine that does that anywhere. Second, immediately after installing MS on my Imagio my voicemail and messaging starting going whacko but they seem to have stablized now. Third, they offer very limited options for the desktop weather and the closest city near the small town where I live is over 80 miles away so that weather doesn't do me any good. I looked all over to find how to put in my local weather but couldn't find a way to do it. I downloaded the ms guide pdf and there is also nothing at all in there about how to add your local weather. Fourth, I now have an icon on the top taskbar to the right of the connection icon, I have no idea what it is and no idea how to get rid of it. Again, I looked all through the ms guide to find out what it is and there is nothing in there about it.

The Imagio does run faster with ms 3.5 but fast is pointless when I can't get the apps I need, remove icons that I don't need and when messaging and voicemail seems that it may be compromised. All in all I'm not a terribly happy camper. I'm going to play a little more with it tonight but I'll probably be removing it within the next day or so unless I can find out how to make this thing do what I need for it to do. TF3D may not be quite as fast but it does do the things I need for it to do and it makes it easy for me to get to those things.

R

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

Racedog,

Tap and hold anywhere on the screen to bring up customization. You're pretty limitless on what you can do to customize the screen. Tapping and holding on the icon you don't want there should bring up an option to "remove."

Make sure everyone checks out MSkip's customizations for MS 3.5. They're pretty slick. Check out XDA Devs for the links.

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

I'm looking looking looking... can you be more specific, a link maybe?

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

really? I hit bluetooth and it turned on. lol! I think the problem here is with most ppl trashing this is that you guys haven't used 3.5. Granted earlier versions of this shell were bugged and the current version still has a few bugs (such as the reply button. Just hit the note itself in 3d view and you're taken to a screen so you can reply. do not use the reply button) but I honestly don't know of ANY shell (windows mac whatever) that has 0 defects.

I think you're all being a little too harsh. As for eye candy vs productivity? I have all my office mobile links/instant messenger/tasks/and appointments on ONE screen. TF 2.1 doesn't do that. It's that simple. And I can reconfigure it how I like. again TF 2.1 does NOT have that ability.

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

Oh and yes it is commercial software. However there is a 15 day trial. Give it a shot. if you don't like it uninstall it. :)

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

Yup!

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=575162

I wasn't at a place with easy access to copy that in before. Check the sig in that link for all his different variations and read his FAQs to find out the differences :)

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

Many many thanks!!

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

The functionality is more than adequate I would say. It just needs to be setup to your liking. You can basically shortcut anything and put it where you want..It doesnt get much easier than that unless there was a true kick *** voice command program that did everything. It's like any software and it takes some experimenting and exploration. But , functional, I think, it definitely is. And you dont have to flash it, its just an app, basically.

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

Went to bed with full bars on my battery, woke up with full bars on my battery. Nuff said.

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

I've used MS3 on my Omnia and MS3.5 on my TP2. It was the only interface I used on my Omnia. That said, after using 3.5 since its release on my TP2, I've now switched to Manila.
The comm manager doesn't work through MS3.5 (easily fixed - change your shortcut), but more importantly - it most definitely screws with the HTC dialer functions. If you rely on those features, like to reliably answer your phone, etc... you really should wait until SPB figures out a fix. Which, based on prior experience, may be a long time coming.
Manila (on the TP2) offers a serviceable Stock screen, a solid weather screen, and quick access to your programs. And it's free. It markedly outshines MS3.5 on the TP2 (for me).

I should add...
(1) no noticeable battery drain, not an issue
(2) linkage/integration to some of SPBs own programs doesn't exist or work correctly - which is ridiculous
(3) slows my TP2 down more so than Manila

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

Again

(1) I was at 205 mA drain using TP2. I'm now at 192-194 mA using MS 3.5
(2) Can you be more specific? The only link I saw that didn't work was the reply button in 3d view for messages. Easily worked around by just TAPPING THE MESSAGE TO REPLY.
(3) No way. I have more memory free (see my first post) now than with TF 2.1. I had 41% used with TF. I now have 39% used with MS 3.5.
(4) Com manager works. I hit it and I'm able to turn on/off the phone, blue tooth, flight mode and wifi. if you'd like I'll make a youtube video proving this.

Please, sir. I made this thread hoping for accurate truthful information on this shell which seems to work just fine despite the naysayers. I honestly tried each problem you've had and I am just not having these problems.

Re: SPB Mobile Shell
 

FWIW, I love MS3.5. I use it with MSkip's Ultimate package and it works without problems or issues and no noticeable drain on battery. Highly recommend it.