| Spb Mobile Shell Review | | | | you have ever used cellular phone. It is |
| | | | really well considered. The menu has |
| Windows Mobile based phones have great | | | | eight icons with submenus which |
| abilities for communication, | | | | perfectly fit in a landscape mode. For |
| productivity, entertainment. But more | | | | example, "Messaging" icon opens the |
| complex devices are harder to use. Most | | | | submenu, where you can choose from items |
| users while switching from regular | | | | like: "Create new SMS", "Create New |
| cellular phones to PDA-phones notice | | | | E-Mail", "Read SMS", "Read E-Mail". Very |
| that PDAs are harder to control when | | | | user-friendly, now you don't have to |
| things come to simple phone tasks, like | | | | navigate through folders and menus of |
| one hand operation, making calls from a | | | | Messaging application. |
| phonebook and so on. For example, to | | | | Every icon contains such submenus with |
| write a new text message on the Windows | | | | additional useful functionality that you |
| Mobile phone you have to start Messaging | | | | can easily access. In Multimedia you can |
| application and tap "New" button. At the | | | | browse media library, start a slideshow |
| same time, there is a "New Message" item | | | | or launch different modes of camera. |
| in every simple cellular phone's | | | | No need to tap on a screen with a |
| | | | stylus, all can be reached with a device |
| However, there is one significant | | | | navigation button or numeric keyboard. |
| advantage for Windows Mobile phones - | | | | "Now" Standby screen |
| these inconveniences can be improved | | | | |
| with good software. Spb Mobile Shell | | | | Spb Mobile Shell also features a nice |
| will warp all the power of Pocket PC | | | | standby screen, called "Now". This |
| with easy and familiar interface. Let's | | | | screen can be activated manually, by the |
| take a closer look. | | | | time-out or every time you switch your |
| Spb Mobile Shell consists of three | | | | device on. |
| parts: a powerful Today Screen plug-in, | | | | This screen shows all current |
| a cell phone-like menu and a new standby | | | | information in a very tight form. Clock |
| screen. | | | | (digital or analog), weather for today, |
| Today Screen Plug-in | | | | battery charge status and signal |
| | | | strength, missed calls, SMS, e-mails and |
| Today Screen Plug-in is a light version | | | | upcoming appointments - all this |
| of Spb Pocket Plus, Spb Weather, Spb | | | | information on one device screen and |
| Time and some sort of photo-calling | | | | easy enough to read on the go - the |
| application. | | | | thing mostly missed by users after |
| One of the biggest advantages of Spb | | | | switching to Windows Mobile Phone. |
| Mobile Shell Today plug-in is that it | | | | Simple, nice and useful! |
| saves space on your Pocket PC's Today | | | | Conclusion |
| screen. When you install Mobile Shell it | | | | |
| creates four Tabs: Home, Time, Weather | | | | Spb Mobile Shell is a great application. |
| and Dial. | | | | Power means nothing without control, and |
| The Home Tab is a smart quick launch | | | | if Windows Mobile potential is power, |
| panel. Its icon shows you battery charge | | | | then Spb Mobile Shell is control. |
| status and the content is automatically | | | | It has practically everything that is |
| formed from frequently used | | | | needed for comfortable work with PDA |
| applications. | | | | like with an ordinary cell phone: |
| The Time Tab shows you time in three | | | | - Several Today Tabs, by the way, big |
| time zones of your choice and the next | | | | enough to press with a finger |
| alarm time. | | | | - Convenient dialer |
| The Weather Tab shows a forecast for a | | | | - Photo-contacts on one of the Tabs |
| selected city. | | | | - Support of third party plug-ins |
| In the Dial Tab you can place photo | | | | - Excellent menu: every application or |
| icons of your contacts for speed dial. | | | | setting can be easily reached without a |
| | | | stylus |
| Also, you can add any Today plug-in as a | | | | - Under Tabs' stripe there can be other |
| Tab. For example Spb Pocket Plus for | | | | elements of Today Screen. The opening |
| customizable quick-launch of Pocket PC | | | | Tab will simply overlap these elements. |
| applications. | | | | |
| If you use Spb Time and Spb Weather, the | | | | Besides, Spb Mobile Shell operates quite |
| corresponding Tabs also have extended | | | | quickly, Tabs are switched instantly, |
| functionality like multiple alarms and | | | | and there is no difference in operating |
| weather forecasts for different cities. | | | | speed after the installation on Pocket |
| Auto-hide function is another prominent | | | | PC. |
| feature of Spb Mobile Shell Today | | | | As a minimum, this utility will allow to |
| plug-in. It keeps Tab contents hidden | | | | spare a considerable amount of space on |
| when not in use, thus leaving Today | | | | Today by compressing six rows to one |
| Screen free to enjoy nice background | | | | neat row on the screen. And as a |
| pictures. | | | | maximum, it will enable to navigate a |
| Phone-like menu | | | | PDA with one hand only without a stylus. |
| | | | With such application your device gets |
| The second major part of Spb Mobile | | | | cell-phone usability and keeps all |
| Shell is its Menu. It can be assigned to | | | | advantages of Pocket PC system, |
| any hardware button or to the soft key | | | | something that you should really give a |
| of your PDA. | | | | try. |
| Spb Menu will look familiar to you if | | | | |