Unresponsive Now screen

[ctmagnus]

I'm running Spb Mobile Shell 2 on a Treo 750. When I turn the device on, I cannot interact with the Now screen in any way except to press the Password button - the message indicators do not open Inbox or Messaging, the calendar does not open Calendar, time does not open Spb Time... I have no issues once I get past the Now screen.

[Jason Lee]

This is by design. If you device is locked you don't want someone to have full access to it through the now screen do you?

[ctmagnus]

I almost figured as much. However, Gear Diary's review stated that it functioned the way that v1.x did.

Thanks for the info!

[steeladept]

I am getting similar results, but the device is not locked. When I start the device out of standby, it goes to the Now screen, but I can not use anoy of the icons to go to the various parts of my device (mail, phone log, battery, etc.). I can, however, go through the buttons on the bottom (for the launcher or phone section). To get the other buttons to work, I have to close the Now screen, reopen it, and everything works fine.

Any ideas?

For what it is worth, this is the trial version of Mobile Shell 2 on a Samsung i760 phone through Verizon Wireless. There is no other software running on this device that did not come with it.

I am slightly disappointed that it doesn't completely take over the default today screen, but rather runs as an application on top of the original shell. However, I am still learning about it. Perhaps it is not possible, but with the name I had my hopes up.

[PocketPcUser05]

ctmagnus
BTW, that "Password" showing up, is most likely a bug that has haunted Spb Mobile Shell since 1.x. Unless you are using a password to lock you device, that is a whole other problem.

steeladept
Hello!
And welcome to this forum,

Just to clarify, the purpose so far seems to only replace the MS Today Plug-ins from 1.x, and enhance the user-interface with gestures and animation. It also improves the 1.x Weather and Time screens to replace the Today Plugins. They are still there, but the Now Screen now has everything you need, to tell you about Now. The Today screen was not even ever intended to be replaced by Mobile Shell. There are ways to do it, but it is not officially supported by Spb. No matter what screen you are at, your Now screen is always just a tap away, so in that sense, it is just as good as replacing the Today Screen. If it was like a today screen, you couldn't get back and forth between your other programs, if you only had Mobile Shell installed. But, since MS is as you say is like an Application, it can be called and closed and called again, very easily. That's my opinion at least. I think the biggest feature for MS 2.0, is the Taskbar Gesture, which allows you to call Mobile Shell, at any point.

[steeladept]

Thank you for the welcome. I have come to notice that MS Today Screen is as you say, however I wish it completely replaced it. With the menu screen, I can get to everything that I could through the Microsoft menus and today screen, but much more easily through finger touch (instead of stylus). Be that as it may, that was not MS2's design. Ah well, I can wish, right

However, that still does not solve the real problem I am having, and that is that when I go to different screens (such as my mail folder or my contact list for example) from the MS Today Plug-in screen, it goes nowhere. I actually must close MS and restart it for it to work properly. Of course when I close MS, it opens the application I am trying to access, so maybe more properly it is not changing focus to the correct application. Either way, this is a deal breaker for me if I can't get it working. After all, what is the point if I must close it each time I use it?

Thanks for your help.

[PocketPcUser05]

steeladept
Please, if you can, either give step by step or a screenshot, which I'd prefer over more directions.

When you say the mail folder, and contact list, this is where you have lost me.

This sounds like a similar bug that I, personally am aware of, but you may also have found something else. See, I was never really able to reproduce it, enough at least to do it as often as it seems to happen for you.

Basically, I don't understand when you are saying "screens (such as my mail folder or my contact list for example) from the MS Today Plug-in screen", and then "I actually must close MS and restart it for it to work properly.".
If I could figure out what these were, I would be able to help a great deal more.

[steeladept]

Ah, well since I can't do screenshots, I will walk you through as best I can.

1. I start the device on the [NOW] screen (classic w/ default layout, though it doesn't matter for this problem). So my screen has at the top - Battery, Mail, SMS, Phone, and Signal Strength Icons. In the middle is the clock, and below that is the weather. At the bottom is a bar with access to [NOW] (highlighted), [MENU], [CONTACTS] (I think anyway - it goes to the picture contact list if that makes sense), and [CLOSE].

2. If I click on any of the top icons, the screen does nothing. If I click on the clock or weather, they take me where they should as do the bottom bar. If I go to the [MENU] screen, All Mobile Shell screens work (such as organizer, tools, Internet, etc.); but the shortcuts at the top do not.

3. If I click into one of the Mobile Shell screens such as Internet, the next shortcut works fine. Moreover, if I go back and repeat the above, everything works as I would think it should until the screen goes to sleep. Then it starts all over again.

4. If I do not click into the [MENU] screen, and instead click on the [CLOSE] button (to close out of the [NOW] screen), whatever icon I pressed at the top (the mail icon for example), will now launch the mail application so I can send and receive mail. However, since I closed the [NOW] screen, I have to launch it from the Windows Mobile 6 default Today screen to get it started again.

It is really pretty simple to understand when you see it, but I guess not so simple to explain. I hope this helps you understand.

Thanks again for any help you are able to provide.

[PocketPcUser05]

steeladept
Thanks for the very detailed report. I will see if I can reproduce, although I really think this will be something that Spb will have to reproduce, as I don't have that device. I will try, and get back to you.
Thanks again.

[steeladept]

No problem. Thanks for the attempt. I will hope someone else checks out this post and can assist. Otherwise I will just look elsewhere. I am thinking perhaps the other program (Pocket Plus) might fit my needs. Besides this is not really a shell replacement like I first thought.

[PocketPcUser05]

steeladept
Ok..
Let me make sure I understand what is happening, on your device.
First, you turn on your device:
When your device turns on, the Now Screen is shown.
1.) You can not click on the Calendar, to open that day in the Calendar App.

2.) You can't click on the profile manager, that pops-up.

3.) Can you use gestures?

4.) Can you close the application/Now Screen by swiping downwards?

5.) Can you move around the screen, using DPAD?

[steeladept]

1 & 2 are correct. As for gestures, I do not know. I thought the swipe down was a gesture. As for that, no. And for your last question - I never used the DPAD to move around the screen before. Just to let you know, after the last post, I have uninstalled and reinstalled Mobile Shell. Once the device recharges I will see if it is still happening. Maybe I will get lucky and it will be a weird install issue?

On a side note, do you know of any good cases for this device? I got one that was from Cellet, which is okay, but the clips broke within 3 months and they don't sell or provide replacements.