BKBROIL Review: TodayTaskMaster

[bkbroil]

A month ago I was in the throws of trying to decide on which model to purchase for my next Pocket PC. I had narrowed it down to the iPaq 4155 and the Toshiba e805. I decided on the Toshiba e805. Not because of the VGA screen but because of the great "hacks" or free applications that were being written for the Toshiba. My main software stomping ground for the "hacks" has been PocketPCTools because of the great MyVGA application.
This review is not about MyVGA though, it is about another utility that I found while trolling through their site every day. The application is TodayTaskMasterIt is an application that will work with any XScale Pocket PC and it was written by PocketPCTools team member Hellweek.
I was given the chance to not only try this application out, but discuss the background AND future of the application with Hellweek.
bkbroil: Why did you create this application and how many man hours have you put into it?
Hellweek: There are many software packages out that provide great functionality. I am hard pressed to find a slot where something is needed. When you look at TTM it is clear there are many
programs that have the same functionality as TTM yet TTM was created because I needed al the utilities in one spot. I am always looking for opportunities where I can perhaps do it better then an existing app.
As of this writing TTM has had over 150 hours of programming and research.
TodayTaskMaster is an application that brings together in one simple interface, the most used control panel applications that most Pocket PC owners tend to use most.
Let's start with the TodayTaskMaster Icons (The icons represent the multiple utilities available)

Across the top of my screen there are 8 main icons followed by the running applications (ActiveSync and Pocket Informant in this screen shot)
The Icons represent the following utilities within TodayTaskMaster:
1. Green eye (OverClocking, Screen Off)
2. Red Power Off
3. Green Reset
4. The Inspector
5. Power Status button
6. Memory and Storage
7. Computer Processes
8. Flaming X
Please note: The ActiveSync and Pocket Informant Icons represent running applications on my device.)
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Green Eye

The "Green Eye" serves two functions:
1. Screen Off
First is the Screen Off function that will turn your screen off but allow applications to still run. I use this mostly for listening to music. Keeping the screen off causes the Pocket PC to utilize very minimal power so I can listen to my hearts content while also allowing the Pocket PC to site in my pocket and I won't have to worry about anything touching the screen and stopping the playback. To view the screen again all you need to do is hit the hardware "Home" button. I personally mapped this function to my Today button. 8-)
2. Overclocking
The second and the most interesting function of the entire application is the "Overclocking" utility. Hellweek has taken the time to define every detail that there is about overclocking in the PPCTools forum . (You have to check this out! 8) )
To summarize Hellweeks post (and believe me this is the "dumbed" down version ), there are a number of settings that are documented by Intel that can be controlled through three variables. Adjusting the variables allows the CPU to run at different clock speeds. (Ahhh...the caveat is that the higher the clock speed the more juice you need.)
The screens above display the available options that TodayTaskMaster provides. It allows me to drop my 400mHz Pocket PC to run at 99mHz all the way up to 590mHz! I have run at 590mHz for a good clip of time and found the Toshiba e805 to be very stable. I don't know how you feel about overclocking your PPC, but this sort of utility gets me excited! I feel like I've found a loophole in Toshiba's device that they didn't even know about. Yes, you sold me a 400mHz unit but it's running at close to 600mHz.... nah.....nah.nah.nah.nah...naaaah....naaaah
bkbroil: Was writing an application that Overclocks the CPU challenging?
Hellweek: Over clocking was a challenge but not where you would have expected it. You see the code for doing the switch was simple and only amounts to about 30 lines of code. It was all the supporting functions that made it a challenge. I never ever in my life needed to do so much conversion from Binary to Decimal and Decimal to Binary. This was also the best part of the program, researching how the XScale CPU works has been fantastic.
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Red Power Button (shown in first screen shot) This function is for suspending or powering down you device. I believe Hellweek specifically created this for the Toshiba because the power button on the Toshiba is extremely small. In Hellweeks words "They must think we have girl fingers.".
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Green Reset

This utility allows you to soft reset your device without having to go through the pain of trying to find that "little" hole with your stylus.
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The Inspector

This utility displays a dialog of the most used control panel applications. I use the function to re-align my stylus control whenever I switch from VGA to QVGA.
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Power Status

This utility give you a status of the power health of your device.
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Memory and Storage
This utility will display all memory available on the device including all removable storage cards.
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Computer Processes Status

This utility will display all running processes on your device.
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Flaming X
Last but not least is the Flaming X. This will kill all running tasks. All applications listed after the Flaming X can either be switched to (simple tap) or killed. (tap and hold)
bkbroil: Do you have any new features planeed?
Hellweek: TTM will have additional AutoCPU settings. The most important will be CPU speed based on CPU load.
I am also will be adding some benchmark tests into TTM. As far as other ideas, I am hoping the user base can help with that.
bkbroil: Woh! AutoCPU settings! Now that's Cool!
Overall on the bkbroiler hamburger scale (5 being an industry changer ...or dare I say...a Whopper ) :P
Conclusion TodayTaskMaster:
I give the TodayTaskMaster 4 stars. If you have an XScale processor it's a must try! And hey! It's FREE!

[knelson]

I want your screen

[jkendrick]

"Girl's fingers"?
Great review, bk. Can I have fries with that?

[bkbroil]

I want your screen

Doh! The screen shots are in QVGA because I couldn't get the Snapshot application to take a full picture in VGA...

[bkbroil]

Great review, bk. Can I have fries with that?

Isn't that great? You can't say my moniker without thinking of food and getting a smile on your face....mmmmmmmm....bk--broil---er....m..u..s..t have fries..... :P :P

[jkendrick]

Use ScreenSnap by DevelperOne. Great VGA snaps.

[knelson]

even in qvga it looks better them my IPAQ

[sjo]

It is an application that will work with any XScale Pocket PC

according to the announcement, TTM requires WM2003.
Does look like a great app.

[dsegel]

Originally Posted by bkbroil

The "Green Eye" serves two functions:
1. Screen Off
...
2. Overclocking
The second and the most interesting function ...

Am I missing something or does the Green Eye actually have something to do with the overclocking function? If I tap it the screen goes off...does it do something else as well? Or maybe if I tap and hold it?
Is there a reference to TTM anywhere that says what exactly happens if you tap vs tap & hold each button?

[jkendrick]

Originally Posted by bkbroil

Doh! The screen shots are in QVGA because I couldn't get the Snapshot application to take a full picture in VGA...

I know I already mentions ScreenSnap but the free MS Remote Display Control powertoy will let you snap them on your desktop. I've had to do this in the past when reviewing apps that capture the h/w buttons and I had no way to snap a screen.

[bkbroil]

Am I missing something or does the Green Eye actually have something to do with the overclocking function? If I tap it the screen goes off...does it do something else as well? Or maybe if I tap and hold it?
Is there a reference to TTM anywhere that says what exactly happens if you tap vs tap & hold each button?

Yes....tap and hold the Green Eye...if you are running the same version as me....apparently it has been updated in the last couple of days...
There is a help file located in \program files\vengence\TodayTaskKiller\Docs
...like I said....I may be a version behind and it may be the same as above but replace TodayTaskKiller with TodayTaskMaster ...
Let me know if this helps.

[jkendrick]

In the current version the menu has been moved to when you tap the icon in the middle. The menu pops up that lets you do anything. The green icon now just blanks the screen. If you blank the screen you MUST hit the HOME button to turn it back on.
Some people are not reading the DOCS and are hard resetting because they don't realize they have merely blanked the screen and not the whole device.

[dsegel]

Thanks - I think I've got it figured out now. I knew the doc was in there somewhere, but couldn't find it for some reason.

[dsegel]

Thanks - I think I've got it figured out now. I knew the doc was in there somewhere, but couldn't find it for some reason.

[jkendrick]

echo...echo...echo..

[dsegel]

Thanks - I think I've got it figured out now. I knew the doc was in there somewhere, but couldn't find it for some reason.

[dsegel]

Not sure why the double (triple?) post, but I *am* reading & posting from my e805 so I figure I have an excuse.

[bkbroil]

Not sure why the double (triple?) post, but I *am* reading & posting from my e805 so I figure I have an excuse.

That sort of thing doesn't happen on the e900.

[jkendrick]

Originally Posted by dsegel

Not sure why the double (triple?) post, but I *am* reading & posting from my e805 so I figure I have an excuse.

VGA is 4 times the resolution of QVGA so you can't blame the e805 as there would be 4 posts.
8)

[bkbroil]

VGA is 4 times the resolution of QVGA so you can't blame the e805 as there would be 4 posts.

He's right, ya know.