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I have been hearing a lot of buzz about a new product called PPX3k. Today we learned it has been released. PPX is a program which allows you to create a custom interface that suits their needs instead of using the normal, stock, Pocket PC interface as supplied with the operating system.
Michael Pollard and the staff of PPX3k have been working diligently to create an environment for the Pocket PC that is both easy to use and easy to create. Utilizing industry standard bitmaps and easy access dialogs, anyone can now create a User Interface that works for them. Michael Pollard, lead administrator and programmer for PPX3k has been leading this effort since early in 2003. “Initially, we were going to release a “Lite” version, but I kept pushing out the code until I realized that our current version had fulfilled every objective but one for what had been envisioned for the full version”.
With this release, users can have virtual pages, layers, overlay images, icon support and plug-in compatibility. Mike Stous, an IT Operations & Support Specialist for a Midwestern company said “PPX breaks the mold imposed by the rigid Today Screen, allowing you to have your PPC exactly the way you want it. Instead of how someone else thought it would appeal to the masses.”
Gustavo Victoria, an International Liaison Officer based in Ecuador, commented that “PPX will be an indispensable add-on in the international PPC market because of its outstanding capabilities and the option users will have to create interfaces utilizing their own native languages.” referring to the ability to use bitmap graphics created by the users themselves.
PPX For PPC is an enhanced shell with interface design capabilities that allows for the replacement of the standard Pocket PC interface. It allows you to replace the Today program and the standard Taskbar with a more functional version, while safely leaving those objects accessible if needed. PPX For PPC supports Virtual Pages, Layers and Today plug-ins to make the computing environment easier to navigate as well as more pleasing to the eye. PPX is easily customized using industry standard bitmaps (.BMP's) and is easily configured via dialogs.
PPX For Pocket PC has been introduced to the market at a special discounted rate of $9.99 (U.S.) through the remainder of 2003. It is expected to rise to $14.99 beginning 2004.
Hey all,
I just had to take this for a spin, so I did the paypal thing. If you do take advantage of the sale, and use Paypal they give you an extra $1 off. So I got it for $8.99
I am still VERY new to this and it took me about 1/2 hour to figure out what is going on with it. It is not the easiest thing to configure at first, but I started to get the hang of it. I am sure other PPX'ers will be able to catch on sooner or later than I did. Below, you can see my first screen: A Little XP Start Action:
As you can see from the screens, Today plugins DO work. I think it will be pretty cool for an application launcher and task manager if people can get past the learning curve.
Anyone else using this?
Hi Brad... yes, I use it. (I was a beta tester for the product)... here are a few of my UIs for PPX... there are more at my site (speedZone).
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Tom Perconti (aka SpeedRacer - Lancelot of the Information Superhighway) http://myweb.cableone.net/evalondon/...one/index.html
speedZone: soup up your Pocket PC!
Tom,
Hi, and welcome! Your site was one of the first I was referred to during registration. Grabbed your XP theme and spent a LOONG time fiddling with it I'll tell you what - this skinning tool can be more addictive than gaming. I had to unload it off the screen midday yesterday because I just kept playing with it - and not doing what I was supposed to be doing.
Thanks!
hehe... tell me about it! I find myself going on to the next UI design before I've even had a chance to appreciate the work that went into the previous one. And too often I'll look up and see that I've spent two hours on some graphics...when I had other things to do as well!
It seems that PPX is so flexible, there are going to be some dramatic new interfaces in the near future. I am afraid my skinning skills aren't quite up to speed with others, but I can imagine, there will be some wild things to come.
Here's the result of my fiddling last night...HAHA :
It takes up about 600K. I have it installed in memory (because it is the key piece of software on my device), I've never tried installing it to a card. But all of my UIs are on my SD card and they do indeed work from there.
How much resource will this baby use?
Can it be installed into storage card?
Mine is installed in main memory too...since it runs on startup - I would be afraid of some freeze or something causing a hard reset. (It's happened to me with other apps like this in the past.)
P.S. Dada, I am giving the Vito sound explorer a try based on your advice. It's pretty nice. Got a nice recording of my little girl singing songs for the "audio scrapbook."
Glad to see you like PPX. It's a great tool. Heres a UI I recently did.
Ok, heres my newest. I took my old PPX-Lite W2k skin and remade it as a UI for PPX. But this is even better than the Lite version. It's so true to the original that you actually have to do a double tap on the desktop icons to make them work! ;D For anyone who has used any MS Windows for any length of time, it feels eerily natural.
You can use the desktop icons or the VP grid in the MoMbar for navigation. To get back to the base desktop, just tap the windows "X" button. All the MoMbar funtions work.
You can get the UI at my UI site VRams UI Library
VRAM,
Aren't you the author of the Windows 3.1 skin for PPX too? These OS emulators blow me away! 8-) 8-)
How long does it take you to make one of these?
No, I didn't do the Win3.1 UI. That would be Wally. This one took me quite a chunk of time due to a couple of mistarts. But if you count those out, maybe 5-6 hours. While appearing simple and functional, it is actually a very detailed UI, utilizing almost every aspect of the PPX framework.
Amazingly enough, even as the PPX program got more dteailed, the UI's became easier to make, until eventually, it's almost become second nature to build a UI.
I'll have to give your UI a try. Getting late here on the East coast tho' So probably tomorrow.
5-6 hours to create it? I am not so skilled with graphics, etc. so I'd probably have to double the time. But I am sure I'll try to make one eventually.
Here's another. This is just to easy!
Details: This is a nifty UI that has a popup menu at the bottom. Just tap anywhere on the short bit of the menu that show, and it will pop up the rest of the menu.
On the popup are two menu's (User and File) and the date. User contains system functions, the Program folder toggle and two programs (Word and Excel). The File menu contains all PIM shortcuts and the Appointments and Tasks toggle. You get back to the desktop by tapping the gear on any window.
The icons used for the the File and User menu are true to KDE, Ximian, and Linux.
Enjoy it with my thanks.
VRam,
That's really cool! I loaded it an have been playing around with it for awhile now.
Let me ask you something. When I try to add new programs to the "Base" screen, by tap and holding on the desktop and choosing "NEW" + small, it always defaults to the 3rd layer. Is there any way to make it default to base? Things would go so much faster that way.
Brad
Oh, and one more thing I've noticed, is if I turn off the PPC, and turn it back on, all the icons disappear and I have to reload the whole UI in order to restore them. Any idea on what I'm doing wrong?
thanks!
To answer the first question, try creating a slot in the slot config and setting to base. Sometimes that makes it take hold.
second question sounds like your running the demo version. It wont save user changes.
I definately have the full version.
I may have found what was causing the problem. I had your UI loaded onto a storage card. Maybe in turning off the PPC and turning it back on, it isn't refreshing from the card properly? I'll try it from main mem later.
thanks,
Brad
Yep, that was it. Apparently running the UI from my SLOOOOW Sandisk SD caused the problem.
No problem from the CF tho .
Hey, one other thing I've noticed. If I switch from one UI to another and then back, my changes are gone! Is that normal? Is there any way to save my changes?
Just thought I'd post my latest PPX screen. Snoopy always makes me smile, this latest PPX skin brings a smile to my face every time I turn on my PPC.
I know VRAM and sracer are using PPX, anyone else out there wanna post a screen?
PPX and VGA: The best kept secret is an article posted on PocketPCTools.com in their VGA PPX forum. It's a very interesting article that talks about the PPX applicaiton for skinning your today screen and how it's potential is yet to be seen with the VGA screen. But he really interesting part is the article mentions some folks who where posting skins with Brad back in December on this forum. And Juni is not the only good skinner out there. There are VRam, rockydog, sracer, and Chefz, just to name a few (for a full list of skins, visit ppxskins.com). Imagine if we had some of that talent move over to the VGA side. Now you can see why I say the surface has only been scratched. There are a lot of talented individuals out there, I'm sure many with e800's. If they could just take a little time to try PPX, read the manuals, and take a stab at skin creation, they would be really surprised at their results. Oh, let me remind you that I get no proceeds from creating these skins.
If you get a chance read the article, it will make you want to go out and get the application and start being creative.
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PPX is alot of fun on just a regular screen too. It's dangerous for my time usage though..if I start playing with setting up a screen or something 2 hours can pass before I know it
I've had many requests to convert my UI's to VGA. I've converted one and it will have to be the last as it is just to difficult with an actual VGA device. But it's at www.pdacore.com if you want to try it. It's called OpieX and it's a VGA version of my Opie UI.
Well, imagine using a combination of Nyditot and dotpocket to do VGA on a screen that doesn't like it. Sweat popping out of my forhead was the least of problems.
But I am sure I'll try to make one eventually.
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