Today screen plugins
INTRODUCTION
are one of the nicest ways to add features to your
Pocket PC. iLauncher is a Today Screen plugin
that aims to make accessing programs and documents
easier. It’s similar to the quick launch
bar in the taskbar for Windows, and
also allows for quick access to files in documents
setting.
I had tried iLauncher earlier in the year and it
was in a dire need of improvement. So when I had
the opportunity to take a look at their new version,
I was hopeful to see the program improved. Is
the program worth your Today Screen real estate?
Read on to find out!
Version 2.2 offers several new features
WHAT’S HOT
including a new display mode and two system status
indicators. The updates are certainly noticeable.
You can hit the
iLauncher forums for a full list of updates.
To install iLauncher just run the program
SETUP
from your desktop. Follow the on screen instructions and select if
you want to install the extra icons or not. Nothing out of the
ordinary.
The moment you install iLauncher you’ll
PROGRAM FEATURES
know it’s working because it sits right on the Today
Screen. The initial tab icons don’t exactly
make sense but you can alter that in the settings
as well as the display mode and all the program
icons.
The
new and improved Today Screen featuring iLauncher.
From the options selection, you’ll
have 4 tabs to explore including options, shortcuts,
tabs, and about. You will always come to the
shortcuts tab when you enter the options section.
The
shortcuts tab allows you to change what shortcuts
are displayed in each tab on the homescreen.
By default you’ll have what’s in your programs menu
under the applications tab. You can also
change the order in which they appear as well as
the icon and size of the icon for each program.
The large icon display never worked for my device
regardless of what I tried.
Tabs
tab. Say that 5 times fast. This allows
you to control the different tabs by location, name,
and icon.
The
About tab shows product version.
Where iLauncher has really shown some growth is in
its options menu. To say there are a few
options is a gross understatement. The only issue
here is that whenever you set one of these options
you must exit this menu and go back to the Today
Screen to see the effects. When you return to the
settings menu you start back on the shortcuts tab
so it quickly becomes irritating to test options.
I’d like to see some sort of visual preview.
iLauncher also offers a command center. This
offers the ability to minimize iLauncher or access
the system settings or control the shell tray tab. This comes in
handy considering minimizing and restoring iLauncher
will refresh the graphics to solve the graphics
display issues the program has. The shell tray tab simply puts one
of the shortcut tabs.
Another interesting feature iLauncher offers is
support for true VGA display. This only works
for systems which display in full VGA though meaning
smaller icons – not just sharper displays.
Most systems require some type of "hack" to use true
VGA as it makes things very very tiny.
iLauncher also offers the ability to display system
info in either a meter in the title bar or this very
odd looking meter bar across the top of the screen.
They both serve their purpose but need a little work
on presentation. It’s a nice way to keep you
more in touch with system info.
The
options for what to display with the meter and meter
bar from left to right. Both options are on. The icon next to
the connection icon is the meter and the graduated bar across the
top is the meter bar.
On
the left we have the shell tray tab being shown and
on the right the command center. As stated the
are the shell tray can occupy is a little small but
it’s useful. Both of these are using the
horizontal tab display.
Show is the third of the
four display options, the single tab
mode. To alternate between tabs you tap
on the existing tab.
No
tabs is the final display option. The command
center comes in even more handy here as it allows
you to change the tab setting. This is the
least amount of clutter but it almost requires you
to use the command center to be functional.
iLauncher and all its extras work well in landscape
display mode. I was really surprised at how
well it handled that.
Here
are the choices of things to add to a tab. You
can add a link to any document at all or to control
panel settings and even the meters. Also above
is an example of how they can be displayed.
Finally we have the iLauncher system status window.
This comes up whenever the meter icons are clicked.
Oddly enough I could not get anything like that to
happen when I clicked the meter icon in the title
bar.
In program help is limited
HELP SUPPORT
to a description of the options. As mentioned
they’re okay but need a little more detail.
For additional help you’ll have to turn to the
product support page which contains links to
product documentation, product forums, and e-mail
support.
iLauncher also comes
OPTIONS
with an application called iLauncher fullscreen.
It’s a simple overlay to folder access and doesn’t
really add much to the program itself as it has to
be launched each time.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
iLauncher
requires a PocketPC running PocketPC 2002 or Windows Mobile 2003.
BUGS AND WISHES
There are certainly some issues with this plug-in.
Most are related to display. The icons are
far too small for one to be able to read the numbers
on any of the meters, and I couldn’t get the large
icons working. I
also must say that testing the various display
options was cumbersome having to exit the program
and check back at the Today Screen. In additon, every
time you go back into the options you go to the shortcuts
tab, which is also a bit annoying.
PURCHASING
iLauncher can be purchased from
SBSH for $8.95.
There is a limited time
demo available as well from their site so you
can try it before you buy it.
PROS
- In-program
descriptions are good - Fairly
customizable - Small
footprint
CONS
- Graphic
display issues - Descriptions of options
need improvement
Frustrating to test options- WM5 Compatible
| Value |
 |
| Ease of Use |
 |
| Features |
|
Overall |
 |
iLauncher
OVERALL IMPRESSION
has come a long way in a year’s time. The program
manages to make program and document access easier, as it sets out
to do. The problem is that this may not be enough for people
to warrant a purchase. In the end I liked the
program but it looses points due to the graphic
problems and the difficulty of testing settings.
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