CNetX has just released version 2 of their Face Contact application, which is a fun to use Today Contact interface, that makes finding your favorite contacts a snap!

It is easy to set up and allows use of custom pictures or a selection from a colorful 3D graphics set of icons.   In my brief testing over the weekend, I especially enjoyed the use of gestures to quickly create emails, SMS messages and calls directly from the Today Screen.

Read about the update here:

Version 2.00 – June 30, 2009

• New configurable Gestures/Actions logic
  • Over a dozen gesture-assignable actions to choose from.
  • Actions added with ver. 2.00 include: Send E-mail, Send Text Message, Browse Web Page, Call after prompt, Edit Contact, Sort Contacts, Phone Dialer.
  • Double-tap gesture now supported (can be assigned to any action).
  • The Start Call key can also be configured and assigned to any action.
  • The standard system handling of Tap&Hold has been overridden, resulting in a more finger-friendly response.
  • The “Actions” configuration screen has been redesigned to support the extended gestures/actions logic.
• Improved performance and smoother animations
  • The rendering engine has been redesigned to include several device specific optimizations.
  • On most devices (especially with HiDPI screen) rendering is about 60% faster than version 1.00, resulting in even smoother animations.
  • A new “Optimization” option provides control on the algorithm used to resize/crop pictures. In most circumstances, the default “Automatic” setting provides an additional 20% performance improvement compared to version 1.00.
  • Compatibility of the “Fast” rendering mode with most devices has been improved, so “Fast Mode” is now the default on all devices.
• New layout and pictures options
  • Background rendering using the Today theme highlight color can be disabled, so that the plugin remains transparent even when selected/active.
  • The size of contacts’ pictures shown in the plugin can be adjusted.
  • The number of contacts displayed and the resulting 3D perspective are automatically adjusted based on the active picture size.
  • The depth of the reflection effect can also be adjusted (with single pixel precision) to obtain a perfect fit of the plugin within specific Today screen layouts.
  • The layouts of the “Contact Manager”, “Sort Contact” dialog box and “Customize” property sheet are dynamically adjusted to match the height of plugin control.
  • New “Picture Shape” options added. The “Rounded” shape has smoother corners.
• User interface enhancements
  • New WM6.5-like user interface with 3D shade effects for dialog boxes, pushbuttons, sliders and tab controls providing easier finger interaction.
  • Enhanced “Contact Details” and “Edit Contact” screens with 3D tab controls.
  • The 3D contrast and rendering of user interface elements can be adjusted or disabled to fit the look and feel of the device theme.
  • All settings and options are now grouped in two multi-tabbed property sheets for easier access (“Customize” and “Preferences”).
  • When needed (on square screen devices or in landscape view) tab controls are automatically hidden and replaced by menu items, so that all settings/options remain visible without the need for scrolling.
  • The “Adjust Picture”, “Replace Picture” and “Remove Picture” commands are now accessible as top level items in the “Contact Manager” menu for easier access.
  • “Restore Defaults” and “Previous Values” menu commands have been added to all configuration screens, making it easy to switch and compare different settings.
  • Dialog boxes prompting the user for mutually exclusive choices have been redesigned to use list/pushbuttons, rather than radio buttons, resulting in easier finger interaction.
  • Default values for combo boxes are now shown only when the corresponding drop down list is displayed, reducing the clutter in configuration dialog boxes.
• Smart “Call Confirmation” screen
  • The “Prompt before call” option available in version 1.00 has been removed, as this displayed a system prompt that was pretty cryptic and hard to operate without stylus.
  • A new “Call After Prompt” action can now be associated with a gesture or with the Start Call key to display a prompt before a call is initiated.
  • If the selected contact has multiple phone numbers, the “Call Confirmation” screen provides the ability to select a different phone number if desired.
• Configurable “Messaging” accounts
  • The messaging accounts used to send E-mail and text messages can now be configured as desired.
  • If multiple accounts are available, a “Prompt/Auto” option can also be selected to reflect the preferences defined in the main messaging application (which will either show a prompt or pick the most recently used account).
• New sort and caption options
  • “File As” has been added to the list of sort keys, so contacts can be displayed in the same order of the standard Contacts application.
  • Sort by “File As” is now the default sort criteria.
  • If desired, the caption can be altered to show to primary sort key only (e.g.: “First Name Only”, “Last Name Only”, etc.).
• Improved camera integration
  • The camera icon is no longer displayed by the “Replace Picture / From File” screen as this resulted in inconsistent behavior on some devices (causing the system to hang).
  • A new “Replace Picture / Camera” command has been added to the “Contact Manager” menu, providing easier access to the camera functions.
  • Any picture taken with the above command is automatically transferred to the “Adjust Picture” dialog box, resulting in a more effective and intuitive camera integration.
• New error handling logic
  • If a call is initiated by a gesture or via the Start Call key, and the selected contact doesn’t have a phone number, instead than displaying an error message, Face Contact 2.00 shows a prompt suggesting other communication methods.
  • The same applies when a gesture is used to send an E-mail, a text message or browse a contact’s web page, and the selected contact doesn’t have a definition for the corresponding property.
• Phone number tag
  • The phone number tag shown in the caption can be disabled if desired.
  • In version 2.00 the phone number tag always displays the phone number type that will be used by the “Call Contact” action (and that will appear as “selected” in the Contact Menu or Call Confirmation dialog box).
  • If a contact has never been called before (or if the last communication was not a phone call) the preferred phone number is selected in the following order: mobile, work, home.
  • The tag is omitted only if the selected contact doesn’t have a phone number, .

The detailed information about Face Contact 2.00, including screenshots, video and download links is here: Product page

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