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This Review Was Originally Posted on iGlobility.com from 20061017 to 20061024
Review:
xBar 3.0
from
Xetranet.free.fr
Isn't it just so cool how many people have a different interpretation of
how a task should be accomplished? I think it is! To that end, this
weeks review is for the
xBar 3.0
task manager application from
xetranet.free.fr.
I discovered this one night while surfing about looking fr a thermometer
for my PDA. Not that I need a thermometer in my PDA, but the prospect of
being able to determine the ambient temperature just by using my PDA
seemed pretty cool. So, I did some searches on Google, and VOILA! Up
pops xBar 3.0! There was not a trial version available so I wrote the
developer, and within no time they had set up a test version for me. For
the prompt service, my hat comes off for
xetranet.free.fr. Way to go!
Now, on to the review!
I have used many different task managers, with my base install including
WisBar Lite. I like WisBar, but it is not always reliable, locking
up at inopportune times. This is usually cleared up with a soft reset,
but that is a bit of a pain. I also use
iLauncher from SBSH.net because it adds the ability to put quick
launch icons at the bottom of my screen. All of theses have their
advantages and disadvantages. This brings us to
xBar 3.0
from
xetranet.free.fr. As I mentioned above what attracted me to
xBar 3.0
was the thermometer feature. What kept me using it was the ease, and
simple features the developer has incorporated into the small footprint.
My criteria for a quality task management application...
1. Must be easy to use.
2. Must be easy to setup.
3. Must be reliable.
TOP
1. MUST BE EASY TO USE
xBar 3.0 is
quite easy to use, but takes some getting used to. One of the nice
features of the product is that it assigns itself to the action button,
and when depressed for a couple seconds, xBar opens, and is ready for
use. With other task managers, I have had to assign it to a button to
get it to open. To get WisBar to activate on a button, I had to modify
my registry and assign it to the left softkey. For information on
hacking your registry, please see
www.pocketpctweaks.com (USE AT YOUR OWN RISK). xBar takes over the
action key, but does not interfere with the normal operation of that
key, just merely provides an additional function.
For Ease of Use, I give xBar 5 Globes
SCREENSHOT ONE: Base GUI
SCREENSHOT TWO: User
Designated Shortcuts
SCREENSHOT THREE: xBar
Macros
2. MUST BE EASY TO SETUP
For me, xBar was easy to setup because I understand scripts and some
basic programming. For my mother, this would be a showstopper because
she is still using a stone tablet and chisel (sorry mom!). To access
some of the advanced feature of the program, one must edit the ini files
that are included with the app. Once you get into the scripts, they make
pretty good sense. What one does not understand, the developer has
provided tips for on the
xetranet.free.fr website. Using the scripts, one can also skin the
interface in a way that appeals to an individuals taste. Skinning is not
something I am good at, so I look for prepackaged skins that I like.
While there are some out there, most of them are for the SmartPhone
version of xBar
3.0. Also, setting up shortcuts to use like the ones see in
SCREENSHOT TWO is a simple matter of copying a shortcut from your
program group to the menu folder within the xBar installation folder.
One of the neat things I found after installing xBAR was that there were
macros included that I could use outside of xBar, like adding them to my
start menu and using the directly. This was a nice surprise once I
realized what they were for!
For Ease of Setup, I give xBar 3.5 Globes. This is because one needs
some limited scripting skills to realize the full potential of the
application.
3. MUST BE RELIABLE
Well, normally I am one that likes to just gab on and on, but in this
case, I will keep it short and sweet.
During testing, xBar never failed to work as the developer specified.
For Reliability,
xBar 3.0
gets 5 Globes
TOP
CONCLUSION
Wow, I believe this is the shortest review we have had on iGlobility. To
be honest, I like it that way. Give me a product, tell me what it is
supposed to do, and then let me break it. If it does what the developer
advertised, then Craig is happy! xBar achieves this quite well. Aside
from the setup, which for most PDA users would not be a problem, xBar is
one sweet little app. It will remain installed on my MDA, and will be
installed on any future PDA I happen to use...
RECOMMENDATION
If you are looking for a task manager that is easy to use, relatively
easy to setup, and is just plain reliable
xBar 3.0
from
xetranet.free.fr should be given serious consideration. The only
recommendations I can make to the developer would be to make he setup a
little easier, and to provide a trial version. Adding an easier setup
would add bulk to the small footprint, so I would rather have the more
difficult setup. Given that mom does not use my PDA, ease of setup is
not so important, but must be mentioned. On a 1 to 5 globility scale, I
give xBar 3.0
4.5 globes.
KUDOS to
XetraNET!!!
© 2007 Craig L Sheppard & the KORBEK institute
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