Windows Mobile Louisville

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 Software House has released Spb Backup 2.0 - a tool for making reserve copies of personal data and system settings for Windows Mobile phones.  Spb Backup safeguards from data loss, eliminates the pain of reinstalling applications after a hard reset, a ROM or device upgrade, and delivers a flawless restore experience.  The new Spb Backup 2.0 is smarter, twice as fast, and makes moving data between Windows Mobile phones as easy as unpacking an archive.

Spb Backup 2.0 will come to the rescue if a hard reset disaster strikes, or if the device is stolen or lost.  Spb Backup Sync makes it easy to keep a recent copy of all data and system settings at a secure desktop PC location.  Spb Backup 2.0 will restore from the archive, even if data has to be moved to a new device or ROM.  The backing up process itself is so easy, that regular backups will become second nature.  Spb Backup 2.0 works for both Pocket PCs and Smartphones and copies the entire device, including contacts, sms, emails, storage card files, and even preferences and shortcuts.

Originally, Spb Backup sprung up from Spb Clone technology - a product, trusted by thousands of enterprises for creating exact copies of “master” PDA devices.  The new Spb Backup 2.0 offers a handy desktop component - Spb Backup Unpack.  The tool allows viewing and exploring the backup archive on a desktop PC and pulling out single contacts, messages, and tasks.  During the restore process, Spb Backup will automatically detect if device or ROM upgrade is taking place and prompt to select the appropriate restore mode. (more…)

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!

(more…)

Spb Software House pulled a fast one, and announced the release of Spb Mobile Shell 2.0 a day early!

Version 2.0 is a significant upgrade to the original version of Mobile Shell.  It’s an application that completely overhauls the Windows Mobile user interface, making it more direct, logical and slick.

We’re wrapping up the final details of our review - we were waiting until tomorrow to post, since that was supposed to be the release date!  More shortly!