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VITO Technology GoodWin v1.21
INTRODUCTION
Apple's iPhone did away with the need for a stylus with its
compelling touch interface. Attempts to replicate the user experience of the iPhone
on Windows Mobile with a substitute for the Today screen seem to be cropping up
quite regularly, and VITO Technology
has put forth their attempt with GoodWin. GoodWin provides stylus-free access
to your SMS messages, task list, e-mail, and phone as well as direct access
to all the applications and system settings for your device.
But is it compelling enough to leave your Today screen in the past?
WHAT'S HOT
GoodWin key features include:
- A finger-friendly replacement for the Today screen
- Direct access to both applications and system settings
- Task management
- Today screen plug-in
SETUP
Setup is a straight-forward process. Download the software and
launch the installer. GoodWin will install the desktop components and once you
connect your mobile device, ActiveSync (AS) or Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) installs the mobile
components on your device.
PRODUCT FEATURES
Microsoft has managed to pack quite a bit of information on the Windows Mobile Today screen, but it certainly doesn't lend it itself to stylus-free navigation. Most of the items on the screen are just too small to reliably tap with a fingertip.
As an alternative, GoodWin provides a finger-friendly solution to using your Windows Mobile device.
Like the unlock feature on the iPhone, GoodWin is unlocked by sliding a button across the screen.
The smaller icons at the top of the GoodWin interface show battery status, ring profile, time and cellular signal strength.
Tapping the ring profile icon opens a menu to quickly change profiles. The other icons or text at the top of the screen open related System Settings applets.
Tapping one of the large icons at the top of the GoodWin interface allows you to easily access your SMS messages, task list, e-mail and phone. Red flags indicate unread messages or incomplete tasks.
The remainder of the GoodWin interface is a scrollable array of icons divided into three sections: favorite and running applications, installed programs, and system settings. Tap-and-slide gestures produce a very smooth scrolling effect which allows you to quickly run through all the icons (and there can be many). Tapping an icon will launch the application, while tap-and-hold will display an application menu.
The application menu allows you start the application, add/remove it from the Favorites group, or even uninstall the application. If the application is already running, you have the option of switching to it or shutting it down.
For those applications that won't shut themselves down nicely, you will be presented with the option of forcing them to terminate.
One really nice feature of GoodWin is its inclusion of all the System Settings icons in the application list. If you find that you frequently need access to WiFi settings, for example, you can make it a favorite and get quick access to it from the Favorites section (this can be seen in one of the images above).
If you find yourself back at the Today screen, GoodWin provides a plug-in to get back to the application launcher or other tools.
GoodWin serves as a rather efficient application launcher. Its menus scroll into view with smooth animations and the graphics have a nice, professional feel to them. Some gesture interfaces I've used have been buggy in that you might accidentally register a tap instead of a tap-and-slide, but GoodWin doesn't seem to have any of those problems. If you would like to see GoodWin in action, VITO Technology has put together a nice little video showcasing its features.
