Doug and I posted a review of epic proportions covering both SBSH’s iLauncher and Spb’s Pocket Plus not too long ago, and a short time later SBSH informed us that they were releasing an update with some improvements to their already excellent program.

So the plan was for this post to be some quick hits about the updates between iLauncher versions 3.0 (in the head-to-head review linked above) and 3.1. Actually, JAMM doesn’t usually run reviews for minor updates, i.e. changes to the version number behind the decimal point, but JAMM rules have been falling right and left lately, so we figured, why not. Also, my gold-plated JAMM salary agreement does not include rewriting Tolstoyesque posts about details that have already been covered exhaustively, so I thought I could say a few words about the new features and be done.

And then I saw the length of the change log. Don’t get me wrong, this is awesome for consumers, but as a reviewer — SBSH, don’t you know how much work it is to describe all of your terrific updates?

Click for the details!

As we all know, if task management and program launching in Windows Mobile aren’t terrible, they’re awfully close. First, there’s the issue with the “X” minimizing programs by default. Then, the Start menu has very limited customizability and launching programs through the programs folder is just a nightmare. Either way, WM requires some fancy tapping which sticks out like a sore, well, thumb in the current finger-favoring environment.

Thumb Tabs

One of the most-requested and most eagerly awaited updates to iLauncher is support for thumb-friendly tabs. iLauncher 3.1 completely embraces finger navigation.

I especially like the option of using images, text, or both to label your tabs whether they are traditional or thumb-size. When you combine the thumb tabs with the large icon option for your shortcuts, you can launch anything you want without having to reach for the stylus. (And how much do I love the black bag icon? I feel like that was added just for me.)

Floating Panels

This enhancement was a surprise for me. I had never thought about how nice it would be to hide my shortcuts to save room on my Today screen, where space is always in a crunch. Now that it’s there, I wonder how the mobile world got along without it.

The basic idea of floating panels is that the shortcuts only come up when you want them to. Tapping the tab makes that panel appear. iLauncher is smart and pops the panel up or down depending on where there is more space.

Tapping again makes the panel go away. This saves a ton of room while keeping your shortcuts within easy reach. Plus, it looks very nice as well.

Running Programs

Before I got iLauncher, I used a freeware program called Magic Button for task management. The main reason I got it was to get true close function for the X, but my favorite feature quickly became the way it displayed all of my open programs as cute little graphics in the top bar, making keeping track of and switching between open programs a breeze. When I installed iLauncher, I missed the running programs icons.

Thanks to the new update, I don’t have to miss them any more. Here I am inside FlexMail, with ListPro and PhatNotes running in the background.

I have to mention that, when I had Running Programs enabled, my Axim repeatedly froze whenever I attempted to tweak my WiFi settings. (This is the major reason this review was not out a few  days ago. That, and the 13-14 hour days I’ve been working.) However, I contacted SBSH and they immediately began investigating the problem, and they concluded this was an issue specific to my particular device setup. This was the first time I’ve contacted SBSH support regarding a problem with one of their programs, and I was very impressed by the fast, friendly, and thorough response I received.

New Users

In the joint iL/P+ review with Doug, I wrote that, compared to Pocket Plus, iLauncher takes more effort initially to set up to be usable. This is no longer the case.

For new users, iLauncher automatically starts in thumbs mode with floating panels enabled. Thumbs mode has fewer options to customize, but in return it is very easy to set up and use, and users who want more tweaks can switch to customized tabs mode. In other words, this is the way a default is supposed to work.

Several tabs appear and are populated automatically. New to this release are the Settings tab, containing links to commonly used control panel applets, and the Tools tab, with useful commands such as soft-reset, screen capture, and new contact/task/appointment/etc.

Under the Hood

Every time a new release comes out, there are a bunch of little improvements made that casual users will probably not notice, but many of them either unobtrusively make life a little easier for everyone or are a godsend for a certain small group of users.

In the first category, the default meters and tab images have been beautified. Where I felt that this was a weakness in the previous version, the new ones are really very nice. Also, an option called free icons placement allows the user to drag icons to any position in the tab, not just in the usual strict alignments. Finally, the interface of the options menu has been upgraded to support soft keys, so menus behave more like the rest of Windows Mobile 5/6.

In the second category, power users will appreciate removal of the archaic Command Center, whose functions are now better handled using hidden tabs. Screenshot junkies can now enjoy .jpg output, and icon wizards will be happy to know that .png images are supported. Czech speakers are in luck, too — that language has been added to iLauncher’s vocabulary.

Conclusion

This 3.1 update is amazing. I can hardly believe it’s considered a minor upgrade, considering the huge changes to the interface and improvements in functionality. At $14.95 for new users and free to owners of 3.0, iLauncher is one of the best values you can add to your Pocket PC.

Where To Download

Old users: SBSH iLauncher product page (just download the trial, it will recognize your pre-existing registration key)

New users: JAMM store — don’t forget the holiday coupon code “JAMM-HOLIDAY”. 20% of your purchase will go to support the American Cancer Society.

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