INTRODUCTION
As the demands on processors are increased with almost every new generation of Windows Mobile devices, and the boundaries of what they can be made to do are pushed to the limit by new applications, so does the need exists for processor time to be allocated on a ‘need-to-NOW!’ basis. Speedbooster from Teksoft attempts to overcome this application greed by enabling you to specify a level of priority to your most used programs and dynamically manages processor bandwidth where and when it sees a demand. So can Speedbooster improve the performance of your favorite applications? Read on to find out.
WHAT’S HOT
Here’s are some standout features of SpeedBooster…
- Prioritise.exe or installed programs
- Background monitor to manage processor demand
- Database to store favourites
- Real-time CPU usage monitor on each task
- Eight levels of priority for task management
- Application icons for easy program recognition
- Pocket PC and Smartphone compatible
SETUP
The options of a windows installer or .cab file are downloadable form the product page, both of which are delivered in zip file format along with version release notes and installation instructions, both in .txt format. Speedbooster can be installed in either the device memory or onto a storage card.
PRODUCT FEATURES
The core purpose of Teksoft Speedbooster is to add speed to your most used applications at the point when you need the power to be there. How it achieves this is by storing the details of your selected programs or .exe files in a database and monitoring the use of your device for a chosen application to be accessed. Programs and applications that are already running when Speedbooster is started will automatically be added to the main screen list.
The ability to add both .exe files as well as installed programs means that you can have Speedbooster monitor and speed up programs installed as part of your windows operating system.
From the file explorer window you can navigate to the .exe file for the application you wish to add to your database. Most of these are found in the windows directory so with ease you can have Speedbooster monitor many of the standard Windows Mobile features, such as Internet Explorer, Messaging or Phone.
Adding an application from your program menu is just as easy.
Once added, the programs and Windows Mobile applications are shown on the front screen.
To change the way in which Speedbooster manages processor allocation, the monitor for the program in question must be active.
Refreshing the main screen from the menu will update the monitoring status for each program or application in the list, and also change the on/off light to show its active or inactive status. There is currently no ‘remove’ option for the applications or programs, but this can be done by closing the program using a task closer and restarting Speedbooster. Unmonitored applications and programs do not interfere with Speedbooster’s operation but the list can get long and only three applications at a time are shown. Scrolling the list is done using the up and down arrows above and below the control panels.
Lowest speed settings ‘Idle’ and ‘Above Idle’.
Moving up to ‘Lowest’ and ‘Below Normal’.
Starting to increase the speed now with ‘Normal’ and ‘Above Normal’.
The highest priority settings ‘Highest’ and ‘Time Critical’
Each application segment shows the priority level, application name, monitor status, program activity status and REAL-TIME processor allocation.
As well as being able to monitor and unmonitor individual programs, Speedbooster’s monitor can be switch on or off for all applications whilst leaving the program still running and the list of chosen programs in the database. The status of the program monitor is shown by the activation of a red or green status indicator at the top right hand corner of the control panel on the main screen. Quitting the program will stop all activity of Speedbooster.
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doing as it claims, then I shouldn’t really need to see this, I should just notice the improvement. Getting significant results from any processor boosting software on a device that loads applications in seconds is always going to be hard to judge. Kind of like fitting an aerodynamic shell to a turtle; you can tell what it’s supposed to achieve but it’s difficult to see any tangible difference. It would be nice to know what the real time processor allocation was actually telling me. Is the reading in MHz, Percentage, RAM usage? The numbers are pretty meaningless unless I know what they are. I was unsure why the main screen interface had been designed as it has. There is a lot of ‘dead space’ on there and the need to scroll through the program list could easily be removed by re-designing the layout. It is a tool, so it doesn’t need to be pretty; just do its job. type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
HELP SUPPORT
The help support for Speedbooster comes in the form of an html file installed on your mobile device and also viewable on the Teksoft web site. It gives a brief overview of the operation of Speedbooster with a few screen shots that explain the process flow.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
size=2>There is no specific information given as to the processor requirements of Speedbooster on the Teksoft web site but it requires 371kb of storage space to install. Teksoft recommend that it is suitable for Windows Mobile 2003 and 2005 for both Pocket PC and Smartphone.
BUGS AND WISHES
is
PURCHASING
PROS
CONS
Hard to see any measurable improvement in performance
No definitions on "priority" values
Value
Ease
of Use 
Features
Overall
OVERALL IMPRESSION
I love the idea of limited processor power being dynamically allocated when and where I want it. Any move to provide this is a move in the right direction but as much as I wanted to, I simply couldn’t see any tangible improvement in performance in my device. However, by allowing users to prioritise processor power for themselves, Teksoft are on the right path to giving us more personally customisable control over the way our device works. I’m sure that we will see improvements in this software in future versions.
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