A Radical New Interface for Windows Mobile (1/2)
Spb Mobile Shell 3.0
INTRODUCTION
Spb has released the much anticipated update of Mobile Shell. The new Spb Mobile Shell 3.0 is probably one of the most advanced interfaces we have ever seen. First spotted at Mobile World Conference 2009, Spb had us wondering when the final version would be available, and now we can all enjoy this unique application. The program will virtually change your Windows Phone into an entirely new mobile experience. Read on for the full review!
WHAT'S HOT
The upgraded version now sports many new features that include customizable widgets, professional and lifestyle home screens, Facebook integration, 3D screen switcher, kinetic scrolling and Windows Mobile 6.5 support.
This is the new Professional Layout, similar to the Spb Mobile Shell 2.0
SETUP
The program installs like nearly every other Windows Phone application, just download the CAB file to your computer and transfer to your device. There is also an EXE file that may be downloaded and installed directly from your computer through Active Sync.
The program menu has implemented the kinetic scrolling, so when you slide your finger up and down past the menu the page will bounce back. This is the same useful feature of Windows Mobile 6.5. It would have been nice if Spb adopted the hexagon style of early builds of Windows Mobile 6.5 that Microsoft disregarded.
Setup is easy, just click an icon and the program will help you customize it.
PRODUCT FEATURES
When Spb Mobile Shell 3.0 is first launched on your device you will be brought to the Professional layout which is similar to Mobile Shell 2.0 but has a more sleek calendar, plus weather information and many new notification icons. With just a flick up or down the page changes to the lifestyle home screen which can be customized with a multitude of widgets or applications. A click to the lower left will activate the program carrousel, a 3D style interface which smoothly transitions from one useful Spb screen to another. There is also a setting which will change the carrousel into a panel-type interface that displays all of the useful Spb pages onto one screen. The favorite’s contact page is similar to Mobile Shell 2.0, but now integrates Facebook, so photos can be downloaded and updated regularly. With the new version however there is also a favorite’s contact carrousel that emulates the same 3D kinetic scrolling transitions of the program selector.
The new sleek calendar shows one to four weeks worth of appointments. Unlike the default calendar on Windows Mobile this one will show you the next month threaded directly into the upcoming weeks.
The settings on the calendar are easy to set up.
The weather screen will give you a four day forecast and break down each day into quarters.
Here is the 3D carrousel interface; just flick your finger side to side to change the program.
The alternative panel view that can be changed back to the carrousel from the settings button in the lower right corner.
The contacts page can now hold many more contacts than Spb Mobile Shell 2.0 and a click on the contact will give you more choices in contacting them.
The Facebook integration is very useful in updating or downloading higher quality photos for your contacts. The program will automatically launch the Facebook application and begin loading photos from your friend's and contact's profile.
Now your contacts get a stylish carrousel as well.
Setting a ringtone for each contact is much simpler than trying to do it through the default Windows Mobile contact list.
With just a flick of your finger either up or down will change the Professional layout to the Lifestyle layout.
The background of the Lifestyle layout may be customized to any photo or picture on your device.
One of the widgets of the lifestyle menu that can be selected is the backlight widget, a quick and touch-friendly way of changing your backlight brightness.
In the Lifestyle layout any widget can be moved to any area of the page, certain widgets allow for resizing. If you have someone that you contact regularly just put them on your Lifestyle for fast retrieval.
Spb Mobile Shell 3.0 has many widgets in the program already, there are talks about even more that may be downloaded in the future. Click over to the next page, where we talk about options.
