Review: Facade Today Screen Customizer

A few months ago, I made the switch from Windows Mobile Pro (Treo 750) to Windows Mobile Standard (Samsung BlackJack II). There were several reasons behind the move as well as several hesitations. One of which was the differences in home screens. I was really going to miss the WM Pro “Today” Screen. I grew accustomed to have appointments, tasks, new mail, and other points of information available at a glance.

I quickly learned about a third party plug-in for WM Standard that was very similar to the “Today” Screen. Supporting Smartphone 2003, Windows Mobile 5 and Windows Mobile 6 devices, Facade ($14.95) is a highly customizable, tab-based home screen plug-in developed by SBSH software.

Schedule and Task Tabs

The center piece of Façade is the Schedule and Task Tabs. When highlighted, each tab will show an overview of upcoming appointments and tasks. When clicked, you are taken into the Calendar program or Task Menu. The level of information displayed while the tab is highlighted is customizable depending on your preference.

Launcher Tool

Facade has a row of icons that are used to launch programs on your WM Standard device. These icons can be customized to allow you to display up to 23 icons/buttons. I like using this feature because it prevents the need to drill down to programs or settings by taking you directly to what you need.

Additionally, Facade comes equipped with a few pre-defined buttons that allow the phone to reset, powered off, screen rotation and configuration which helps simplify these actions. The Launcher can be used as a stand alone tool bar at the top or as an additional tab.

While there are no speed-dial shortcuts with Façade, you can create speed-dial short cuts using a third party utility. Much like the XML customization, I consider this an option for the more advanced user.

Information tool bars

At the bottom of the screen Facade can display two permanent information bars that will display the phone’s profile and message status (SMS, Email and Voice). When you highlight and click on these bars, it will take you to either the Profile Settings window or the Messaging Menu. Additionally, if you miss a call, another information bar will appear alerting you to the missed call and when this bar is clicked, it takes you to your Call History.

Customizability

The program is rich in customizable options with regards to what is displayed and how it’s displayed. I counted seventeen display options for the schedule tab alone. You have three different layout designs that come in blue and green color schemes. In addition, you can find third party themes to customize your phone more to your personal style.

Colors? You can even customize the color of the text, shadows, background, separator line, blend, selection, highlights, and the separator line. Want to tweak the layout? Change the font, modify the spacing? You have those options as well.

Facade also offers advanced customization using XML layout writing. This allows advanced users to redesign Façade’s appearance and feel. SBSH offers a XML reference guide in their online support section as well as downloadable skins on their online forums (http://forums.sbsh.net)

SBSH offers a comprehensive, 28 page owner’s manual that can be downloaded from their website. The manual clearly defines each option in the numerous settings menus making it very user friendly.

Expandability

Facade has the ability to integrate with PocketWeather, another SBSH program. This will allow you to display weather information on your home screen. Facade also has a plug-in import utility that will allow you to add existing plug-ins to the layout.

Overall Impression

My first impression after installing Facade was that it looked busy. It lacked the flow the WM Pro’s Today Screen offered but then again, I’ve been using WM Pro for well over a year and grew accustomed to its appearance and functionality.

After using Facade for a short time and learning more about the customization, the program grew on me and grew fast. I have come to appreciate the Launcher Tool to quickly access programs and settings. Having my schedule on the home screen is very convenient in my daily planning and being able to customize the appearance adds a personal touch to my phone.

I would have preferred to see speed-dial buttons included in Facade instead of needing a third party utility to create them. Not everyone can navigate through such utilities and I think it would be easier for the average user to be able to create the buttons from one of Facade’s straight forward settings menus.

I prefer Facade’s home screen much better than the home screen provided by WM Standard. It offers more detailed information at a glance and a simplistic way to access programs and settings.

I can see Facade appealing to the advanced user with its ability to be customized through direct XML writing as well as the novice with customization through the existing settings menus. If you want more out of your WM Standard home screen, Facade deserves strong consideration.