[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo ROM Development] eaglesteve:
FtouchSL versus HTC TouchFlo - which is better?

FtouchSL versus HTC TouchFlo - which is better?

Before the above two products, I was first exposed to FtouchFlo, a useful utility that lets us scroll through directories of items as well as web pages which are normally moved by vertical and horizontal scroll bars. It worked fine, but I have always had a deep dissatisfaction with it. That dissatisfaction came from the fact that using it kills off all sound associated with touchscreen operation.

Then a while ago, I tried out the earlier version of FtouchSL beta. It suffered the same weakness as far as sound was concerned, although I was hoping that it would be different. Dissapointed with that too, I then noticed the HTC TouchFLO, which did not kill off sound. I was impressed, and wanted desperately to get the cab for it, or to upgrade to a ROM that has this built in.

When Pawell did not kept promising but did not come up with AP4 or AP5 on spl1.2, I was dissapointed. Then irus came along and within a short span of time, and cooked many rather nice ROMs. However, the only ROM that had HTC TouchFLO was the modified AP4. I was estatic to say the least, but my happiness quickly vaporised when so many connecting function did not work.

So when the Chinese ROM came along, I wanted to find out if it has it. The first version did not, so I was a little dissapointed too. Then the second version came out. SPL1.2 and HTC TouchFLO. What else do I want? I finally have i! Yes? Unfortunately, I quickly learned that HTC TouchFLo is not what I think it is. Now, in contrast to my earlier posting and position, I would like to urge all ROM cooks to FORGET about HTC TouchFLO. Do NOT cook it in, and I'm going to explain why I say this in this posting.

After installing version 2 of Mutou's Chinese ROM, I have now learned the following important points and difference between FtouchSL and HTC TouchFLO.

While the earlier version of FtouchSL killed off sound, making it difficult to know if you're going to scroll, select, or click, the latest version did not have this weakness anymore. Sound is there. Only the scrolling itself does not produce sound, but this is desirable as a way to know that you're going to move the page instead of highlighting/selecting the text, or to click on a link. The later will produce sound while the scrolling does not. This difference is in fact welcome.

HTC TouchFLO on the other hand, has always produce sound when you select and click on something. Wheather or not there is sound for scrolling is a user defined setting.

Other than sound, they are different in the following ways:

1) If you're a fan of Pocket Internet explorer but is envious of the ability to drag web pages with fingers like in Opera and Netfront, you could either instal Spb Pocket Plus (which incorporates PIE Plus), or you could use FtouchSL. Both lets you drag and move web pages like in Opera and Netfront.

This is NOT possible with HTC TouchFLO. Not obvious to me before I tried out Mutou's ROM.

2) When using Word, Excel, Notes, ProList, TextMaker, PlanMaker, eWallet, iLauncher, inesoft address book, SPB Insight, Lexisgoo, and many many more that I have tested, you will be able to scroll through the document directory as well as drag the content of the document if you use FtouchSL.

THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE WITH HTC TOUCHFLO. Again, it was not obvious when I watched the youtube videos and demonstration. Until I placed my hand on mutou's version 2, I did not know.

HTC TouchFLO only works on very limited applications. In my testing, I found out that you can scroll through lists of item in file explorer, total commander, resco file explorer, window media player playlist items, coreplayer playlist items, list of contact in Fring, list of items in Pocket Mechanics Professional, list of items in Start/Program and Start/Setting items. FtouchSL can also do all these, with one important difference explained in the next paragraph.

Some applications itself has the scrolling feature, Example include Resco Explorer, Vito Fun Contact, Opera Browser, Netfront 3.5 browser. If you mix operate these applications using HTC TouchFLO, you wil be okay. HTC touchFLO does not interfer with these applications. That's probably why it is not neccessary to have a facility to exclude any application. If you use these applications under FtouchSL however, you will find that the original scrolling capability of these applications stop to function properly. Some are affected more severely than the others, as I have found out. Netfront is less affected than Opera. Vito Contact will totally lock up. For this reason, FtouchSL requires a facility to exclude certain applications from being affected by itself.

So, you can see from the above explanation that because HTC TouchFLO benefits only very few applications, it is not nearly a complete solution as FtouchSL. If you cook in FtouchSL, then you will still have to use your scroll bar in Word, Excel, Notes, ProList, TextMaker, PlanMaker, eWallet, iLauncher, inesoft address book, SPB Insight, Lexisgoo, and many many more . So, you still need FtouchSL. BUT FtouchSL and HTC TouchFLO CANNOT coexist. You use one of the other, but not both. In fact, the moment you install FtouchSL, it will tell you that you need to disable HTC TouchFLO.

SO WHY COOK IN HTC TOUCHFLO which MUST BE DISABLED if you want to finger flick though ord, Excel, Notes, ProList, TextMaker, PlanMaker, eWallet, iLauncher, inesoft address book, SPB Insight, Lexisgoo, and many many more ?

Forget HTC TouchFLO. It is for demo only. Not good enough for real use, IMHO.

As for Movement Sensor, I personally would be happy to see it dissappear. It cause endless trouble and lock up. I think the moment you remove it, you will find the ROM fly. I'm not the expert so I'm guessing on this one.

So.. Mutou, and every other cook. The next version that I hope to see is without these gimmicks. Just lean and mean fast machine.

Thank you for reading this very long post.