yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
Well, I'm not saying mobile shell or spb in general are without flaws, far from it :p Mobile shell, like every other ui out there, have good points and weaknesses... I just find the good points good enough for me to keep using it and the weaknesses few enough to ignore them or easy enough to find workaround for ;)

Add to this that I'm quite used to it, both in using it and in tweaking it, and this together with the limited amount of spare time will tell why I'm sticking to it :)

I guess a possible turning point could be when mobile shell 5 will be released, there I will take a look at it and... well... and decide if it's worth starting all over with learning how to tweak it and converting all my previous stuff, or staying with 3.5, or, why not, switch to another ui...

I agree about spb diary, that's the thing I admit I miss the most, but luckily enough pocket informant is turning out to be a quite comfortable substitute, even if 1 click more away :)

Don't agree too much about spb weather... maybe the way it's been done may look sorta "strange", but it's almost integrated... even if it did not replace mobile shell weather, the widget is still available... the only thing that's missing, maybe, is the agenda showing its forecasts close to each day... but then again without spb diary that's pointless 'cause I'm using pocket informant all the way for agenda and tasks

EDIT: forgot one thing... I don't feel much the lack of a "good" music widget mainly 'cause I would hardly use it, though I understand that for other users that could be a stopping point
[Windows Mobile Themes] ElCondor:
Will do that when I come there!:p
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
Counting on it ;)
[Windows Mobile Themes] ElCondor:
I'm not sure though if I'll be there soon...

Depends on some other things...

Do you now Gisella H.? (I don't think so, but it'd be great if you knew her)

She lived in Genova (immigrated), she's my aunt but just immigrated back to Holland.

I always stayed there but now she went back to holland I don't know if I am going to there again.
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
I fear I don't know her, sorry :p

Even if you're not sure if u'll come or not though, just remember to buzz me if you will ;)
[Windows Mobile Themes] ElCondor:
OK. Will surely do it!
[Windows Mobile Themes] Peterjac:
Hi Vostradamus,

New version has fixed Preview problems, many thanks for that.

Will you be able to add Diamond Weather to Spb Weather panel Icons.

Cheers

Have not been able to see previews for the following: Calendar-Tasks, Contacts, Operator and Picture Frames show only small, no nedium or large preview?
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
I can do it, but keep in mind that diamond weather is still without night icons... is it ok the same? :)
[Windows Mobile Themes] raza1:
Me neither. But I can't understand his point. I think SPBMS is very easy to use with 3 switching pages; left favourite contacts, middle weather/time/date/shortcuts/battery,right calendar/alarms.

So mb MS doesn't have diary injected in it's program, but you can always choose your own favourite programs and have a shortcut to it on your main page, so it's just 1 click away.

And that's really the way I want it. Many shortcuts on my mainpage so everything is very fast to enter.:cool:
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
Well... actually I sort of understand the diary "issue"... spb diary was really a great piece of software, and having a detailed and exhaustive agenda view on my main lifestyle screen is something I would love... it's true that the current calendar widget is very poor and the tasks one is close to complete uselessness.

The agenda view provided (in my case) by pocket informant basically gives me what diary did, and it's just 1 click away... I can live with it, but I can understand who is sorely missing having all those infos right on the main screen for I myself would like to have them back :p
[Windows Mobile Themes] zlleon:
How to download it?

*MediaFire*

*4Shared*

all of them is DEAD! ........:(
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
uhmm... are you sure your connection is ok? I checked right now and they're both working fine :confused:
[Windows Mobile Themes] whs5711:
Hi Vostradamus,

again thanx for the beautiful work you are doing for all of us.

I have 3 requests though, for which I hope you can fullfill them.

The first one is an extra menubar. I tried the invisible one and findt it's funtionality fine nice,but still miss the visibility of left and right button

Can you make an extra menubar with the left and right button visible instead of invisible, with keeping the same functionality?

The second request is an extra picture widget. Can you make a picture widget that covers the whole screen area (wvga 800x480),

to be used as background on the extra created panels with the invisible/.visisible menubar?

The existing (MSKIP?) picture widget wvga does not cover the whole screen for the invisible menubar.

The last request is shortcuts for jumping to panel pages (instead of panels)

I also use your shortcut buttons to jump into the extra created panels.

You probably know that MSKip has a menubar variation proplus elegance with 7 small icons rounded corners,

to jump into each page on the lifestyle panel. I use that for my lifestyle panel and find it pleasant to use.

It would be more convenient if you could make a separate shortcut for every page on a panel (for lifestyle and own created panels).

And perhaps for the professional screen too?

I hope you make these possible.
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
Hi there :)

Let's see your requests one by one ;)

1) menubar with only the panels and menu buttons visible, yet with the whole screen available to place widgets: I think I can do it, will try to see to it

2) fullscreen picture frame to be used as a background: I don't like the idea much 'cause if a user accidentally switch to landscape it's gonna crash the shell to the point that a soft reset is needed.... BUT.... you won't need that anyway: I'm currently working on a new kind of additional panel in which you will be able to change the background (via the widgets manager) and use a different one on every panel. Only little drawback will be that the custom background will not swipe with the pages, but it will be fixed in the whole panel (but then again, a fullscreen picture would do basically the same)

3) links to specific pages of a panel: on this one I have to experiment for I've never tried linking to a specific page. Are you sure it's a good idea though? the number of pages can be changed any time with the widgets manager... that would mean quite a lot of work for the scripts writing and deleting shortcuts all the times... plus if you create let's say 4 panels with 7 pages each.... you will be drowning in shortcuts!! :eek:
[Windows Mobile Themes] Margez:
Thank you very much, Vostradamus!

You did it, and you did it very good!

I like the idea with the colour changing from black to red when receiving a message/email/call!

The Icons are also very very nice!

I think I won`t be the only one using them...! ;)

Im sure other guys will like them too and maybe we get more status icons (with and without Labels) by Mr. Vostradamus in the next time.

I think I have to read now how to support via PayPal ;-)

Best Regards
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
Glad you like them :)

I actually like them a lot myself... I'm thinking of changing my current layout and start using them :p

Thanks :D
[Windows Mobile Themes] Margez:
So, I have made a donation (but half of it for your cat!:))!

You deserve it.

I hope that you remain so motivated!

Best Regards!
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
Donation received, already added you to the donor list on the first post :p

Thanks again, of course on behalf of my cat too! :D

.... and stay tuned, I should add some nice (I think) functions to the widgets manager in the next days ;)
[Windows Mobile Themes] pvezzoli:
Hi Vostradamus,

How are you??

I have installed the new widgets 3.5b, I can not find the Ferrari analog clock. Do you know where is located??

I wish you a nice day,

Paolo
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
Hi there! I'm fine thanks, especially 'cause it's weekend! :D

Did you also download and import the latest widgets libraries?

Ferrari clock is in the 20100308 library

Once the library has been imported, it will show up in the Analog Clocks category ;)
[Windows Mobile Themes] pvezzoli:
Vostradamus,

I have done it now,

Thank you for your help.

I wish you a great weekend... I think it will rain soon...

Paolo
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
Yep, it really looks like it's gonna rain, but know what? Even if it's raining... weekend is still weekend! :D

Have a great time you too ;)
[Windows Mobile Themes] benyamin_20:
Hi Vostradamus,

thanks for your beautiful widgets, I have a problem with weather widgets! I activeted them, but some of them (like manila, diamond ...) are not working and when I select them, nothing display in widget place! I activated widgets, restarted shell and selected widgets, but still I have problem!!! can you help me? thanks again.
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
Ok, let's try to understand where the problem is :)

Let's start by checking a couple things:

1) What version of mobile shell are you using? Weather widgets work from version 3.5.1 on, so if you have 3.5.0 you need to upgrade it otherwise those widgets will not work

2) did you download the latest XML definition file, place it in widgets manager folder and run the XML update function?
[Windows Mobile Themes] benyamin_20:
Thanks for your reply,

I am upgrading my spb shell to see the result and I will tell it.

my xml file is the final version
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
well, if you had version 3.5.0 on that has a 99% chance of being the problem ;)

Lemme know :)

EDIT: after upgrading, don't forget to update the xml again, 'cause mobile shell upgrade will likely overwrite qa_layouts.dat, thus deleting my xml
[Windows Mobile Themes] whs5711:
Thanx for the both solutions to come.

For the third one , I agree it ends up with a lot of shortcuts if one is using 7 pages and 4 extra panels (that is 4x7x16 app's, besides the lifestyle panel and professional panel)

The idea of jumping from page to another page within the same panel is still appealing to me though. It would be convenient I think, when one uses many pages.

One does not change pages frequently I hope.

Perhaps I have to forget the idea of pages and re-arrange my apps into more panels? It's another way to look for a solution of jumping? Perhaps that will do for me.

Can you supply a shortcut to the lifestyle panel and to the professional panel?

I can't find such a shortcut that do the jump to those panels.

Yet I use the caroussel option to go back to lifestyle panel and professional panel.

No mather what solution you will come up with, it will be a nice improvement.

And thanx in advance.
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
I had already planned to add a function to create (only if the user wants them) shortcuts to standard mobile shell panels, so they should be in the next release :D

About the shortcut to specific pages, I still have to dig into it and experiment, I want to complete the things I'm already working on first :p Dunno if I'll be able to do it for the next release though (I still need some time to complete current "projects" and I don't wanna delay it too much)

Will try to see something about that for the next+1 ;)

Oh, almost forgot.... the menubar is ready, will definitely be part of the next release :D
[Windows Mobile Themes] benyamin_20:
Thank you, I have upgraded it to 3.5.3 and all widgets are working. they are so nice :) of course they worked after updating xml file again. thanks.
[Windows Mobile Themes] BrooklynZoo:
Hi I am having a problem installing this program. I searched here and Google for an answer and couldn't find one.

I followed the instructions exactly (on two separate occasions now), and I always end up with the following error message: "Missing XML definition file in Widgets Manager folder." Even when I manually put it in there afterward, it seems to disappear and give me the same message. Any idea what this is?

Again, I am 99.99% sure I followed the instructions, and I searched for this issue with no luck. I hope this hasn't been addressed before...

Thanks to anyone who can help.
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
The message you're getting means that you try to run the Xml Update function when "widgetsZioGian.xml" is not present in widgets manager folder.

You wrote that you've put it there and it "disappeared": that's normal 'cause when you run the Xml Update function it looks for the xml file, and if it's present it inject it inside the configuration file of mobile shell and then it deletes it 'cause it's no longer needed.

The update xml function must be run

only once

every time a new xml file is released, after that you're good to go and you can activate all the widgets you want (of course after importing the libraries)

Hope I've been helpful, lemme know if you still have problems ;)
[Windows Mobile Themes] sahus:
Hi Vostradamus you are the best to make icons too spb mobile shell.

I would have liked it if you could make some for the new theme to mskip wp7 Theme.

You 2 makes spb mobile shell the best
[Windows Mobile Themes] BrooklynZoo:
thanks so much for responding to my post so quickly! Ahh, I get it about the XML file being deleted automatically. Makes sense. So why am i getting that message?

After reading your post, I ignored the message and tried to install widgets. Some works, some doesn't so far. Actual widgets dont seem to work, but changing the appearance of the slider on the bottom did work. WHen in the program, I am unable to preview the widgets (none come up), and I get that popup message I referred to a lot. Any ideas? SHould I start again from scratch?
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
Uhm... that sounds a bit messed up :p

menubars working does not actually mean a lot for they're completely unrelated to the widgets and the xml

so the widgets are not working, may I ask a bit more details?

- Did you donwload and import the widgets libraries?

- If you did, are you sure you picked the right ones for your device (qvga or vga)?

- Do they show up when you go to the activate widgets menu?

- No widgets name showing up when you go to the preview menu sounds a lot like widgets libraries not imported....
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
Hi there :)

My widgets manager and all the currently available widgets should be 100% compatible with mskip work, so you should be able to use everything together, if that's what you mean ;)

If I got it wrong (and it could very well be for I just finished dinner and I fear I drank too much wine), please bear with me and explain again what you meant lol :D
[Windows Mobile Themes] BrooklynZoo:
Totally. I have a TOuch Pro 2.

- Did you donwload and import the widgets libraries?

Yes, I downloaded and imported this one:

Vostradamus Base Widgets Library (QVGA).zip​

- If you did, are you sure you picked the right ones for your device (qvga or vga)?

Yes, I think QVGA is correct.​

- Do they show up when you go to the activate widgets menu?

Yes.​

- No widgets name showing up when you go to the preview menu sounds a lot like widgets libraries not imported....

I did import the library. It is the process than takes a few minutes, right?

Ok, so the invisible widget works, but not much else. I tried one of the clocks, and it didnt look right. ANd then I tried one of the weather widgets, and it just replace the previous widget with nothing. As in previous widget disappear and nothing is placed in its stead. I tried a few weather widgets.

Im sorry, if you cant figure this out, maybe I will try to uninstall everything, restart, then install again. If that doesnt work, I may just accept my lot in life! :confused::cool::D

I followed these instructions, i think:

For the first install, you will need to download:

- Vostradamus Widgets Manager

- Vostradamus Base Widgets Library (qvga or vga according to your device)

- Vostradamus XML Definition file

Now, how to proceed:

- Install Vostradamus Widgets Manager NOT ON DEVICE MEMORY. Just choose to install it on memory card or any additional memory your device has (that's because the Widgets Manager itself is not large, but the Widgets Libraries will be) (NOTE - I installed on Memory Card)

- Extract the base widget library anywhere on your device

- Extract the XML definition file in Widgets Manager folder

- Run Vostradamus Widgets Manager

- Choose the "Update XML definition file" option

- Choose the "Add Widgets package to Library" option

- Select the widgets library file you previously extracted

- Wait for it to be done (it may take a while, that library contains all my widgets so far)

- Done! Now you can activate all the widgets you want (using the appropriate option)
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
Oook, maybe we're starting to get to something :)

First thing I notice is: touch pro 2 if my memory does not fail me is a wvga device, so it looks like you got the wrong library

About the widgets not showing previews, that's most probably because for the libraries up to 20100308 preview images are in a separate library (that's because the preview feature was not yet implemented when they've been released) so you need to install the special preview library too in order for the previews to work :)
[Windows Mobile Themes] BrooklynZoo:
Ugh. I'm a fool. orry to bug you with a phone specific misunderstanding, as opposed to an issue with the software. I will try the correct files and let you know.

Thanks for helping and being so nice about this silly mistake. I will let you know how it goes!

Again, thanks!!!!
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
u're welcome ;)

Keep me posted ;)
[Windows Mobile Themes] Peterjac:
No previews

Hi Vostradaums,

No previews of the following Categories:

Calendar-Tasks, Contacts, Operator,

Picture Frames only show small previews no medium or large.

What have I not installed.

Peter

All other categories, have previews.
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
That's not your fault, don't worry :)

Calendar-Tasks - I realized I forgot those previews after releasing the preview images library :p Guess I'll add them later on

Contacts - no preview there for it would have been quite pointless: contacts skins do not have any "graphical" part, they are just the same contact picture a little bigger or a little smaller so no point in wasting memory to only show the normal contact picture :)

Yes, you can "skin" contacts by placing the contact picture over an "empty" link, but that would not show in "contact" preview 'cause it's a combined usage with another object (the empty link)

Operator - no preview for that too 'cause it does not have any graphical part either... it's just the usual operator text name, only with a different font color... I thought that using memory for such a simple thing would have been pointless ;)

Picture Frames - different sizes of a picture frame looks exactly the same just with a bigger or a smaller picture inside, that's why I included only the smallest one, always the same reason: trying not to waste memory :)
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
Released version 4.0 :)

ChangeLog, Detailed Info and download links in the first post ;)

Enjoy! :D
[Windows Mobile Themes] LUDANNCO:
When i preview a widget i can't go back ? I only see the widget but how do i go back ?
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
tap anywhere on the screen and pick "exit" :) this will close the image viewer and you'll go back to the manager
[Windows Mobile Themes] LUDANNCO:
When i tap on the screen nothing happens. I can't see the exit button.

I have to soft reset every time.
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
:eek: you you mean tapping on the screen while the widget preview is displayed? and no popup menu appear?

Will try to reproduce it, never heard something like this happened before (image viewer is an external app, it's not mine, so I'll try my best to reproduce the issue)
[Windows Mobile Themes] LUDANNCO:
Yes thats what i mean no pop up menu appears. Everything else is working fine.

Great app.
[Windows Mobile Themes] samarain:
very good this 4.0 but only need 1 thing to be perfect for me ;) can add transparent icons, like small, medium and big? :) thanks
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
by transparent icons you mean invisible links?

If that's what you mean, they're already available... they're part of the base widgets library :)

If that's not what you mean, then could you please explain in detail? (sorry, english is not my first language... sometimes I can miss something) :p
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
mmmh... could you please give me some details about your device?

model? rom? os version?
[Windows Mobile Themes] LUDANNCO:
Samsung Omnia 900

wm 6.1 professional

CE 5.2.20270 (build 20270 1.3.1)

PDA i900XKHJ3/XKHJ3

TEL i900XXHI4
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
:eek: definitely strange... that's the same phone I had before and a collegue of mine still have... and it's working flawlessy on it :confused:

Did you already try to uninstall and reinstall?
[Windows Mobile Themes] tacchan23:
So many chancges and improvment... guess I'll have to start again rearranging my mobile shell^^ the different background for every pro page sound really nice!

P.S. I made a more colored version of the dusk taskbar, maybe u like it more as it should be a little bit more readable
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
always very active, aren't you? :) Way to go, your taskbars are great! :D
[Windows Mobile Themes] tacchan23:
Senti chi parlaXD (I can't say that in english°_°)
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
lol :D :p ;)
[Windows Mobile Themes] LUDANNCO:
Reinstalled everything still the same problem.

I will try it again later. Good night.
[Windows Mobile Themes] neverland13:
I add new pro panel, but now i cannot delete it. bug or i'm missing something?
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
I'll try several installations and combinations with other softwares... hope I'll be able to reproduce the issue... honestly, I'll make also "random" experiments for I don't really have any idea what the problem could be :confused:

(if you could also write me which other softwares you have installed I could try with them on too, just to be sure)

oh, and another experiment you could try would be going to the "tools" folder (subfolder of the manager), try running EzViewer.exe manully and see what it does.

Normally, it should open with a completely black screen, then you should be able, clicking anywhere, to open a menu.
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
Already reported by a friend of mine via email, it's a small bug: I forgot to add the pro panels to the remove panel function :p

Will post the fix for it tomorrow in the morning as soon as I'll be at office (almost midnight over here) ;)

Sorry for the inconvenience :p
[Windows Mobile Themes] Margez:
Hi, Vostradamus!

I`ve got a question.

If I choose the invisible menu bar, then there is no possibility to enter the SPB Menu or am I just too blind? :p

I can add the main menu as an alias but then it is very slow.

I think mskip and others had a solution for this. They created a Mobile Shell folder in the main menu, so it was possible to add the SPB Menu as a Widget.

I hope you understand what I mean (sorry for my bad english).

Would it be possibly or do you plan something like that?

Or am I really blind:confused:

Best regards
[Windows Mobile Themes] kevin_diu:
I can help for traditional chinese translation

plx PM me
[Windows Mobile Themes] Vostradamus:
Hi there :)

If you go to the "create shotcuts" menu, you will see an option named "MS Panels".

Using it will add shortcuts to all ms panels inside a subfolder of mobile shell "tools" menu, then you will be able to use them as shortcut widgets ;)
[Windows Mobile Themes] LUDANNCO:
When i go to tools and run EzViewer it opens with an example of a widget and gets stuck, it doesn't open any menu.

Programs installed are SPB Time, Resco Contact Manager, Phonex, Nodata, Thumcall Agenda, SK Tools, F1 Pocket 2010,Opera Mini 5 beta,Resco Explorer

and some SPB Cards.

Thanks for your support.