Windows Mobile Louisville

You know it’s a significant software change when you go from version 3.5 right to version 5.x! 

Unlike all the previous versions of SPB Mobile Shell available exclusively for Windows Mobile smartphones with touchscreens, version 5.0 is to be released for Android, Windows Mobile and Symbian. Thanks to the new portable SPB UI Engine, SPB Mobile Shell is planned to be spread to more mobile platforms.

Major updates to the new version include a new 3D engine and an improved social networking integration. The former means support for new types of eye candy effects such as 3D Media Player, 3D Photo Viewer, 3D Weather, dynamic 3D widgets and more, while the latter involves message, contacts, photo and status sync with popular services, namely Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

One important innovation in SPB Mobile Shell 5.0 is the Natural Interaction Engine which includes support for G-sensor and multitouch, a dedicated Feedback Engine providing realistic visual and haptic responses, and a Physics Engine responsible for the real-world behavior of all objects.

Can’t wait to see it!

Spb has released a Beta update to Mobile Shell 3.0, SPB Mobile Shell 3.0.1 Beta 1.  The update Beta fixes several “bugs” in the original and adds a few minor features. According to SPB, the release is not designed to add additional “standalone” features but rather to fix known bugs and add small features.

The application is supposed to be more responsive to the touch. One fix was to resolve the tremendously slow screen rotation between portrait and landscape modes. The rotation speed was back to normal levels (maybe a hair faster) when you extend the keyboard on a device such as the AT&T Fuze or Sprint Touch Pro.

A few of the more notable additions/fixes with the Beta include the addition of a “Show Today” widget; the addition of a “Remove All” command in the call log menu, and support for the “call” button in certain screens. From an individual contact screen, when you highlight the desired number to call and hit your “call” button the number is now dialed. In the original 3.0, the “call” button pulled up your dial screen.

There’s no word from Spb when the update will be finalized and it’s nice to see the prompt response Spb has made in addressing these issues. The Beta can be downloaded here.

Source: WM Experts

ChangeSkin has a huge selection of Mobile Shell 3 skins, widgets, backgrounds & icons that allow you to tweak Shell to your liking.

It only works with Mobile Shell version 3,  is quite large (almost 30MB), and you are advised to read the instructions carefully!

Check it out here.

Spb Software House has released a significant update to Mobile Shell.  Version 3 offers different modes for work and for play, along with integration of picture contacts with Facebook, account-sensitive email indicators, widgets, responsive kinetic scrolling and other enhancements.  If you have used Shell before, you will almost not recognize version 3, it’s that different!

If you have read any of my commentary before (such as this one), you know that I am all about Mobile Shell, so to say that I was excited to check out version 3 is an understatement!  So, at long last, a review copy arrived last week, and I was most pleased.
Here are my initial thoughts, after having played with the app/interface for about a week:

Professional and Lifestyle desktops

Mobile Shell 3 gives you the ability to have two different modes (for what was previously known as the Now screen). You can switch between work (Professional) and play (Lifestyle) desktops.  The Professional desktop contains everything you would need in a work scenario, and is not customizable (other than perhaps background color), but the Lifestyle desktop is highly customizable.  The possibilities are endless for the Lifestyle mode - you can add all sorts of widgets (shortcuts, contacts, indicators) to your heart’s content, and you can change the background image (which can be of desktop resolution!).  The Lifestyle desktop is actually three times as wide as the Professional one, allowing you to scroll left or right and add even more content (more on that shortly). 

Below are my Professional and Lifestyle desktops.  You can switch from one to the other with an upward or downward flick of the finger:

I’ve been having fun configuring the Lifestyle mode, as you can see.  I actually made a contact for each of my pets, and added their contact widgets along with my wife’s contact widget - making it a family affair!  The only other widget I added to the “main” page of the Lifestyle mode was the notification indicator.  I like this concept - it’s nice to switch to a non-cluttered look during “off-time”, so I can enjoy seeing the family when I turn on my device.  I can always see other pertinent info with a tap or a flick if I need… (more…)

Spb Software will offer a sneak preview of the new Spb Mobile Shell 3.0 at Mobile World Congress 2009.  Spb Mobile Shell 3.0 sets a new standard in handset user interfaces and goes far beyond what is available on any phone today.  The new software is fitted with a flexible engine for 3D animation, clever Facebook integration, kinetic scrolling, widgets, and multiple usability innovations.  Spb Mobile Shell 3.0 has gained a thrilling ‘wow’ factor and preserved the speed and clarity of device navigation.

Designed to be highly flexible, with not just the end-users, but also the device manufacturers in mind, Spb Mobile Shell 3.0 offers many different levels of customization, and is a viable basis for a new generation of world-class smartphones on Windows Mobile platform.

Spb Mobile Shell 3.0 is scheduled to release to manufacturers in late February of 2009, with release to the consumer market expected to follow in late March.  According to Spb Software upgrades policy all end-users, who purchase software within 90 days of a new version’s release, are eligible for free upgrades.

To say that I am excited about this pending release is an understatement!  Mobile Shell has been so impactful on my device, it even replaced TouchFLO 3D on my Touch Diamond!  I can’t wait to see how Spb has improved upon what I already consider the single most important app required on a Windows Mobile device! Woot!

Spb Softwarehouse has released a minor revision to Spb Mobile Shell.  Version 2.1.1 (July 31, 2008) includes the following enhancements:

• Better support for new device models
• Improved design for black colored themes
• Opera 9.5 support (OEM version only)
• Fixes for password prompt related bugs
• Fixes for device lock related bugs
• Better support for 320×320 devices
• Other minor bug fixes

You can download the update here.  Current version 2.x owners can upgrade for free.  If you have an older version of Mobile Shell or never have tried it/owned it,  get it here.

Spb Software is partnering with Toshiba Information Systems (UK) Ltd – Mobile Communications Division, to deliver the ultimate mobile device experience through the recently launched Toshiba Portégé G810. The Portégé G810 features the Spb Mobile Shell-based Toshiba Touch Interface, a customized version of Spb Full Screen Keyboard, the Spb Pocket Plus smart scrolling component, and other Windows Mobile customization enhancements. The strong combination of a powerful platform and functional hardware, complemented by a set of usability tools from Spb, make Toshiba’s Portégé G810 a very fast and intuitive smartphone.

“We designed the Portégé G810 as a stylish touch screen Windows Mobile phone, ideal for both mobile-working and socializing, as it combines a powerful operating system with an incredibly user-friendly interface,” says Bertrand Issard, Head of Product Planning & Strategy, Toshiba Information Systems (UK) Ltd. “We turned to Spb Software, with their extensive Windows Mobile software and usability expertise, to support us in creating a highly intuitive user interface for our Portégé G810,” he concludes.

“Microsoft is committed to support a vibrant partner ecosystem and always delivers opportunities to create solutions that meet a wide range of Windows Mobile customers’ needs,” comments Fabio Falzea, acting as Mobile Communications Business Lead, Microsoft Central & Eastern Europe Area. “The Toshiba - Spb synergy is one good example of the rich benefits the Microsoft ecosystem secures to the market, where partners are able to complement each other’s strengths and deliver new innovative and rich experiences on Windows Mobile platform”.

The Toshiba Touch Interface has been localized into 13 languages, has been skillfully embedded into the operating system, and is incredibly stable. “Toshiba’s Portégé G810 has a very fast and responsive screen, with outstanding color quality,” - says Yaroslav Goncharov, Spb Software CTO - “the Spb Mobile Shell gestures and animation are especially striking, emphasizing the pure beauty of this finger-friendly mobile device.”

Further Information

Further information about this project can be found at the Spb and Toshiba websites:
About Spb customization for Toshiba Portégé G810
Toshiba Portégé G810 website
Spb Mobile Shell

Spb Softwarehouse has released a minor update to Spb Mobile Shell.  Changes in version 2.1 include:

• Data connection indicator on the Professional Now Screen
• Voicemail support
• 320×320 screens support
• Hardware keyboard support
• Stability bug fixes  

 I’m glad to hear about the Voicemail support!  You can download the update here.  Current version 2.x owners can upgrade for free.  If you have an older version of Mobile Shell or never have tried it/owned it,  get it here.

Over at Spb Club, there is a wildly popular discussion thread about Mobile Shell custom layouts available for download.

While these are technically not endorsed by Spb Software House, Spb is still cool with people expressing themselves with their own tweaks (as is evident by the lively forum discussion they allow!).  It’s great to see people created some very cool alternatives to the default screens.  This one shown here is just one of many available. 

Check it out if you have Mobile Shell 2.0 - there are some screens that I am tempted to try out!

There has been quite a buzz about Spb Mobile Shell 2.0, so I was delighted to receive my advance review copy so I could begin playing with the app and prepare a review.  This review has a couple of ”firsts”:  it is the first review posted on our new site, AND it is our first combined written and video review! So, without further delay, I will post the video portion here at the beginning, then follow up with an extensive written review. Both are intended to compliment one another, so, enjoy!

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