DinarSoft HandySwitcher

June 7, 2007

One of the ongoing issues that users have had with the Windows Mobile Operating System is that the "X" button in the upper right hand corner does not close open applications, but instead merely minimizes them. While this Windows-like feature is quite handy on a desktop with 2GB RAM and a 120GB hard drive, it can make a PDA with 62.95MB total storage memory and 57.45 total program memory (to use my Treo 700wx's numbers) bog down just a bit when multiple applications are open and behind the scenes resources are dwindling. It's usually a bit of a shock to see how many programs are actually open when the user finally thinks to peek in the Memory / Running Programs list...which is when the truth is revealed: all those programs that the user assumed were closed, were actually running merrily in the background - sucking resources like a mosquito with an insatiable thirst.

It would be one thing if there was at least a built-in option in the Windows Mobile OS that allowed users to choose whether they meant to minimize or close running applications by tapping the "X", but with the exception of some of the newest HTC devices, it is simply left to the user to remember that they need to manage their resources. As you can imagine, this glaring lack of function has created a niche market for programs that allow users to hit "X" and get the exact result that they want.

Before I got the Advantage, which comes with HTC's new Task Manager and therefore allows the option of enabling the "X" button to end running programs, I was using a free utility called Magic Button; on top of the app closing function it also displays a convenient battery level indicator bar at the top of all screens. When asked if I would take a look at DinarSoft's HandySwitcher 3.0, my first thought was that the program had better add quite a bit of value to justify paying for a fucntion I was already enjoying for free.

Does it? Let's take a look...

Why would you want to try HandySwitcher? According to the DinarSoft site, "HandySwitcher is a task management program that makes it easy for you to manage the running programs on your PocketPC . You can switch between running programs, close unwanted ones to free some memory or even close all of them. Manage the running tasks on your PocketPC with simple taps. HandySwitcher provides neat solution for task management which is crucial for most users of Windows Mobile. Task management is important for user productivity and helps to keep the device running at its best."

Let's run through the various screens and talk about the different functions as we go: first up is the menu screen which is revealed when the HandySwitcher icon on the top taskbar is tapped. Any programs that are running will be displayed along with an "X"; tapping the "X" to the right of each program will immediately close it. The other menu choices are pretty easy to figure out: you can choose to "Close All But Active", "Close All", view "CPU Usage", or explore HandySwitcher's options. I should mention here that the HandSwitcher icon can also be displayed in the bottom taskbar if the top one feels too cluttered. When displayed in the bottom taskbar the icon will only be visible in the Today screen, but the program can be easily opened by assigning HandySwitcher to a hardware button.

Figure 1: The HandySwitcher Menu

If the user regularly tethers their PDA to a computer for syncing via ActiveSync, the following warning screen will display anytime the HandySwitcher icon is tapped for whatever reason. First, the ActiveSync screen will pop up, and then the warning will appear. Sometimes hitting "No" will make it go away, sometimes not. Sometimes it will cause the PDA to lock up, sometimes hitting the "Yes" will make it go away; it just depends, and this can be a source of frustration. This is probably the single most annoying thing I found about the program, but the good news is that users who sync via Exchange will very rarely - if ever - see it.

Figure 2: ActiveSync warning

The next menu option is CPU Usage, which pulls up a screen showing all running processes and their...CPU Usage. This screen is dynamic and although it doesn't show here, the various processes CPU percentages shown will jump up or down, and the Idle Process will vary wildly as the other processes use their various bits of memory. The purple line graphic will move forward and back to graphically show any processes' usage above 1%. This is geek eye candy, but I doubt that the average user will really care or understand what they are seeing.

Clicking the Memory Usage button shows the amounts of memory used by the various running processes. In all honesty, the average user probably just wants their programs to close and their device to run snappy; however, geeks may enjoy looking at the PDA equivalent of the PC's Control/Alt/Delete button press.

Figure 4: Memory Usage

Now let's take a look at the HandySwitcher Options menu, which is broken into six tabs running along the bottom of the program's screen...

The Actions tab has options for using the OK / "X" button to perform various functions when tapped or tapped and held. Options that can be set include: Close, minimize, Minimize All, Close All, Show Menu, Close All But Active, and System Default. The Program Icon options for Tap or Tap and Hold include: Close, Minimize, Minimize All, Close All, Show Menu, Close All But Active, and No Action. Clicking the "Enable 'OK' hardware button support" option means that clicking the OK button will do whatever actions are set at the top.

Figure 5: The Actions option

The Ignore List tab includes options for setting programs that HandySwitcher will ignore when closing all, as well as which programs will always be minimized instead of closed; these programs can be added to each particular list if they are already running when this option is clicked.

Figure 6: Special lists and automations

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