Spb Mobile Shell - Windows Mobile gets a facelift

Spb has released what they're calling an operating system upgrade for Windows Mobile devices, although it's probably safer to call Spb Mobile Shell an elaborate skinning and program launching application.

The program is designed to account for the fact that many new PDAs are mobile phones, while the Windows Mobile operating system is really designed as an interface for tiny computer-like devices. In fact, for the most part, Microsoft's default interface for Pocket PC and Smartphone devices hasn't changed very much at all since Pocket PC 2000 was released. You still have a Today Screen, Start Menu, and separate pages for programs, settings, and connections.

Spb Mobile Shell lets you replace the Today Screen with a Now Screen, which provides some of the info you need most often. In addition to an analog or digital clock, battery info, and weather forecasts, you can customize the Now Screen to include info such as upcoming appointments.

The right soft button brings up Spb Menu, which is a large-button program launcher for easy one-handed navigation. When you click on an icon, a list of action commands pops up. For example, if you click on notes, you can choose to show notes or write a new note.

If you're a fan of the Today Screen, Spb Mobile Shell includes a program launcher plugin with tabs for weather forecasts, clocks, and telephone speed dialing.

Spb is hoping that hardware makers will preinstall the sofware in ROM before shipping new devices, but you can also download and install the program yourself. It'll take about 2MB of memory. Spb Mobile Shell is available now for $29.95. There's a 15 day free trial available. Oh yeah, and this program is Windows Mobile 5.0 only, although it's hard to find that anywhere on Spb's web site.

MobilitySite has a video of the program in action.

Tags: mobile shell, MobileShell, osupdates, program launcher, ProgramLauncher, skin, spb