iWindowsMobile Communication Suite Review Part 1
Posted by Steve Laser on 08/21/08 in Mobilitysite Reviews, Software, Vito Technology
The Suite contains four software programs which include, Winterface, ZoomBoard, SMS-Chat, and FunContact. Part 1 will cover Winterface v1.1.
For the record, Vito Software owns the iWindowsMobile website.
Winterface is a mobile shell for Windows Mobile 5 and 6. This launcher replaces your default screen and is fully customizable, allowing you to determine what programs, plug-ins, files and contacts you want to make easily accessible. I tested it on an Hp Ipaq Hx4705 running Windows Mobile 6.1.
Read on to learn more about Winterface.
Activation
Vito’s products have an unusual activation process. This activation locks the program onto one device. Once activated, you cannot then load the software onto another device. So if you upgrade or change devices you must repurchase the program.
Here’s how it works:
To activate:
connect your device to Internet
start Winterface
press Menu > i (About) > Activate
choose “I have Internet”
type in your activation code from the e-mail you received from VITO after purchasing Winterface and press Activate now.
If your device does not have internet access then you must send an email to Vito, then they will email you back a code. Online activation is far easier.
I found the activation process to be a bit difficult. Somehow I only managed to activate Winterface, though the activation should have worked on the whole suite. I emailed Vito and they quickly responded with a corrected key.
Startup
Winterface will load by default onto your device. If you have to open it you can do so with a simple gesture. See photo below:
On my Hp Ipaq HX4705 it worked successfully about half the time. You will probably find that although companies such as Vito/iWindowsMobile are producing excellent finger friendly software, the pocket pc screens are more sensitive to the point of a stylus rather than the far larger touch of a finger. Nevertheless, using the gesture is still useful.
The Lock Screen
The lock screen is an optional feature that provides a simple method to unlock your screen a la the iPhone. As with all pocket pc software that utilizes finger friendly features, I found it works better with a stylus, as when I use my finger the pocket pc has a bit of trouble understanding what is being done to it. I must reiterate that it is finger friendly and Winterface is doing a great job of utilizing finger friendly gestures, but the pocket pc screens are not as capable of understanding these gestures as an iPhone screen.
What I like about Winterface is that the black screen is transparent, allowing you to see what’s underneath. I also find it to be quite attractive and like the use of the three dimensional buttons. The lock screen shows the date and time. The lock screen can be turned on or off through the Winterface menu.
Managing Your Screen
Pressing the Menu button icon at the top left of the main screen opens up the settings. They are quite intuitive. At the top left is the letter “i”, which shows you the About screen. The “?” opens up your internet and brings you to iWindowsMobile help. The “-” minimizes Winterface while the “x” closes it. Winterface comes with many icons preloaded onto the screen. You can easily add more. The initial screens holds a maximum of 15 icons. Additional ones go onto the next screen.
To choose a program simply touch the area just right of that program’s text:
That will place a checkmark next to it. You can choose multiple programs. When done press the checkmark at the bottom of the screen and the icons will be added.
You can just as easily add files, settings and contacts. I chose to add the screen icon, so I can easily switch between portrait and landscape.
Winterface is designed for finger-scrolling. Just swipe down or up and your screen will scroll just like using a scroll wheel on a mouse. That is a nice touch. It is especially useful if you have many contacts or applications to scroll through.
When pressing the back arrow I expect to return to the Winterface Menu. But that is not the case. It returns you to the main screen instead. I would like it to return me to the menu in case I have more changes I would like to make.
Plug-ins
If you have an appointment the applet calendar will show the number you have in red (look closely at the photo below. On the far left you will see two red circles with numbers):
Other applets show battery charge remaining, time, memory, bluetooth status, number of incoming phone messages, emails, ringer profile and more.
Moving and Organizing Icons
I found this feature to be a bit strange. Since the first screen only holds 15 icons, I am utilizing a second screen. Notice the dots at the very bottom of the screens:
These dots tell you how many screens you have and which one you are on. To go from one screen to the next you simple make a gesture with your finger as if you are sliding one page over. If you are on the first screen, swipe your finger left to go to the next. In order to move icons around you must press and hold any icon until the program goes into edit mode.
To remove an icon from the screen press the red X. To move an icon you “grab” it by touching the icon and dragging it to your desired destination. If the first page is full and you drag an icon from the second page onto it, it will automatically move an icon from the first page to the second. If you move an icon on the first page to the spot of another icon on the first page, they will swap places. It took me awhile to figure this out. In edit mode everything is jiggling and at first, moving icons can be confusing. To escape edit mode press the center button of the d-pad.
I found that moving icons was not very easy. I found it difficult to “grab” one. If you don’t grab it in the right place the screen starts to slide as if you are trying to move to another page. Once you get used to this feature it becomes easier to utilize.
Running Programs
As you know, Windows Mobile devices do not actually close programs when you click the X at the top right. This software does not include a utility for that either, to my surprise. To view running programs you just click the icon:
To close a program click the red circle. To return to the main screen press the back arrow. To switch to a running application just click on it.
Help
Winterface includes a built-in help if you have internet access on your device. It also comes with a pdf manual that you can view online or load onto your device. At the beginning I had a couple minor questions and the fine people at Vito were very quick to respond and help via email.
Conclusion
You don’t need the manual. This program is very intuitive and easy to use. It is beautifully rendered and solidly built. It has not crashed on me yet. I love the finger friendliness, the handy interface applets, the customizability and the support that iWindowsMobile provides. It is a very attractive looking program as well. And despite Windows Mobiles’ meager ability to understand finger-friendly gestures, this software adds much utility in that regard and is fun to use.
I would like to see an easier way to register the product, the menu screen back arrow to return to the menu instead of the main screen, and a utility that automatically closes running programs. It would also be nice if the OS were better able to support finger gestures, but that is for a future version of Windows Mobile.
You can get the Suite or individual programs at iWindowsMobile. The Suite sells for $39.95. Winterface sells for $19.95, ZoomBoard $14.95, SMS-Chat $14.95 and FunContact $19.95, so the Suite is a great value. Stay tuned for part 2 of this reviewing coming soon.
Written by Steve Laser · Filed Under Mobilitysite Reviews, Software, Vito Technology
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Steve, thank for the great job you’ve done. Everything you’ve written is just to the point. I hope you’ll enjoy using our software.
Great job. I have tried this and like it for the most part. I just wish all the icons would be in color.
Vito Products don’t seem to be suited to those who might mod or tinker a lot though, considering that you’d have to RE-pay every time you had to do a hard reset on your Tilt. I was actually considering buying Winterface, but thanks for explaining about the activation process. It’s a big turn off to me. It’s like purchasing a copy of OS X or Windows XP (cuz I’d never purchase Vista ;) ) and having MS or Apple tell you that you can only ever install the OS on ONE computer that you own, and ONLY one time.
Meh.
Doug
Actually, there is such an inconvinience for our users, BUT if you read the license agreement more carefully, you will see the following: “the user has right to ask for 3 more keys (1 per 3 months) if he/she bought new device or changed OS on the device”. I don’t think that you change OS or device oftener than once in three months.
I would also like to add that when a customers asks us for a new key after he purchased a new device or has it repaired, we issue a new key without any problems regularly.