Although Windows Mobile 6.5 might be with us quickly, it’s sadly not going to be the entire person interface overhaul that many individuals had been hoping for. Instead that’s now set to occur with the launch of model 7, which continues to be a way off. This leaves many individuals nonetheless searching for a Windows Mobile shell that can make their system a bit extra finger-friendly to make use of and that is the hole that Winterface hopes to fill.

They say imitation is the sincerest type of flattery and there’s definitely a few of it occurring right here. Once the shell has loaded it turns into fairly apparent that Winterface has borrowed closely from Apple’s iPhone, however let’s face it, that’s no dangerous factor.

Winterface takes over the whole display of your system (though you’ll be able to tweak it to point out the Windows Mobile title bar) and presents you with a grid of enormous icons. There are two default skins included with the software program. The first makes use of a fairly drab trying black and white design, however shows 16 icons per web page, whereas the seconds makes use of bigger, extra vibrant graphics however is restricted to exhibiting 9 icons per web page. We discovered the second of those way more nice to make use of.

The iPhone affect makes its presence felt in just about each facet of the shell. For instance, it makes use of the same row of dots on the backside of the display to point out you which of them web page of icons you’re at present on. However, not like the iPhone you’ll be able to’t faucet to the left or proper of those dots to change pages, however as a substitute have to maneuver via them by swiping your finger – not an enormous trouble admittedly. And whenever you go to wake your system from standby you’ll discover that Winterface makes use of the same ‘slide to unlock’ mechanism to that employed by Apple.

One of the most effective options of Winterface is that you would be able to add an icon to the grid for just about any setting that it’s good to entry frequently. Added icons might be positioned wherever you want. So you may add the Wi-Fi on/off change subsequent to the Web Browser or alternatively group it along with different communications icons on a devoted web page that you just’ve created. Many different shells place settings controls like these in a sub menu, however Winterface’s strategy is quicker to make use of as a result of it normally includes much less finger faucets. The system can be very versatile as a result of it lets you create duplicate icons. For instance, you’ll be able to place a Wi-Fi change subsequent to the browser button, but in addition add one to a web page stuffed with communications associated settings.

It’s additionally straightforward to maneuver icons round on the display and between completely different pages or to delete them. In half it’s because it blatantly copies the iPhone strategy to icon administration. To mange your icons all you need to do is press and maintain on certainly one of them. All the icons will then begin to jiggle. Once they’re jiggling you’ll be able to drag them round on the present display, transfer them to a different display or delete them by tapping on a purple X on the prime proper hand nook. To end you simply press the centre of the D-pad button they usually all calm down once more.

One of the shell’s main strengths is that most of the icons are dynamic. Stuff like battery stage, sign power and calendar date are proven on the precise icon so you’ll be able to glean the data you want simply by glancing at them quite than having to truly faucet on them. It additionally makes use of an iPhone model number-above-the icon function to inform you of recent emails, new textual content messages and missed calls.

There are loads of different neat options too. On the primary web page of icons you’ll discover the Running icon that calls up an inventory of all of the purposes at present working in reminiscence. There’s a button right here to shut all working purposes or you’ll be able to faucet on a purple dot subsequent to every app to shut them individually, whereas truly tapping on the applying icon will take you on to the app.

When you’ve bought one other app loaded you should use Winterface’s personal gesture stroke to immediately return to it. All you need to do is draw a rainbow model arc together with your thumb throughout the display and Winterface will come to the fore once more. In our expertise the system recognised this gesture about 90 per cent of the time, though there are events when it’s not possible to get it to reply. For instance, making an attempt to attract it within the grid view in Excel simply causes Excel to group choose its cells.

We did discover a few bugs within the software program when it was working on our O2 XDA Zest. The most evident was to do with the battery icon. Although the primary icon did truly dynamically show the remaining battery life, whenever you tapped on it you had been dropped at the GSM/3G Networks settings web page which is both a bug, or a really unusual design choice.

Also, the lock mode didn’t lock all of the buttons on our system. The left/proper d-pad controls remained lively once we had been working Winterface in full display mode and many of the different buttons remained lively when it was working with the Windows Mobile title bar exhibiting.

The software program can be at present missing some options, equivalent to the power so as to add your personal again floor wallpaper, and the climate button at present must be downloaded individually, maybe as a result of it appears to place extra drain on the system’s battery. We additionally weren’t overly eager on the way in which Winterface offers with contacts. It doesn’t have a separate menu for contacts, as a substitute you simply add your favourites to the grid view. However, in the event you want fast entry to numerous generally used contacts this will depart you with loads of pages of icons to swipe via.

Nevertheless, what Winterface has accomplished properly is to current you with an interface that actually may be very finger-friendly. To the most effective of its capability it tries to keep away from main you to menus with tiny tick bins or buttons which are too small to be tapped with a finger. Of course it could possibly’t cease this taking place whenever you truly enter Windows Mobile purposes, however all the things that’s below its management is well pushed with simple finger presses.

”’Verdict”’

For probably the most half Winterface is a speedy alternative for the usual Windows Mobile interface with a handsome design and a neat iPhone model structure. There are nonetheless some bugs to be ironed out on this new model, such because the battery indicator one we got here throughout with the O2 XDA Zest, however to be truthful, the software program appears to be up to date in a short time. Version 1.3 solely appeared in February, however already model 1.31 is out. There’s rather a lot to advocate right here, so in case your Windows cell doesn’t come preloaded with a contact model shell, then its undoubtedly value downloading the 14-day trial of Winterface to see how properly it really works in your system.