gStart Menu

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

Another cool app from a Pinoy developer...gStart Menu, a FREE Start Menu replacement for Smartphone 2003 / 2003SE developed by Lawrence Patricio (lspatricio / greatbal) is now in Version 1.1

Functionalities:

1) Can display your Start Menu items as List or Large Icons.

2) Option to display and customize background images (bmp, gif or jpg). Right now, images on the \Storage\Application Data\Home can be chosen.

3) Option to customize colors.

4) Able to delete and rename shortcuts (except system shortcuts e.g. Contacts, etc. One can use the File Manager for this, depending on the ROM)

5) Dynamically Create and move Folders

6) Dynamically move Shortcuts between folders

7) Re-order your shortcuts (compatible with Start Menu)

Navigation:

[*] = previous page

[#] = next page

[0] or [back Key] = up one level (directory tree)

[action] = select

[1-9] = program shortcut for current window

Version 1.1 out now! Click Me

New in version 1.1

1. Support for QVGA devices such as C550

2. Support for international characters

3. Support for different languages

4. Added options on highlight style of the grid icons

Post Updated: October 18, 2005

Mabuhay ang Pinoy! :o

[Guest Confucious]

First problem spoted already. It says it was released on 9/12/05 - December the 12th hasn't been reached yet :o

I will try this tomorrow, it looks nice, hope it works on the C550!

[Guest inlinesk8a]

how do i activate it

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

First problem spoted already. It says it was released on 9/12/05 - December the 12th hasn't been reached yet :(

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

9/12/05 is September 12, 2005 :o

[Guest inlinesk8a]

lol!

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

how do i activate it

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You need to manually tweak your registry in order for the replacement to be recognized by the phone.

1. Close appman.exe using task manager

2. Using a registry editor, navigate to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Shell\Rai\:MSStart

3. Rename '1' to '1backup'

4. Create a New String Value '1' with Value Data 'gStart.exe' (see sample screenshot below)

5. Click Start button in order to view results (as first 2 screenshots on initial post)

[Guest inlinesk8a]

whats a regitry editot is it free?

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

You can use the free registry editor, PHM Registry Editor:

http://www.phm.lu/Products/Smartphone/RegEdit/

[Guest inlinesk8a]

do i install it frm my pc or phone

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

Alright. Attached is a CAB file which when installed, will create the required registry value for gStart to run. Also, a backup is created.

Close 'appman.exe' then install the CAB file on an app-unlocked C500.

gStart.Tweak.CAB

I tried it on my C500 before posting and it worked. Note: only C500.

[Guest inlinesk8a]

it wont come up on my start menu

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

it wont come up on my start menu

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

1. Install gStart CAB file

2. Close appman.exe using Task Manager

3. Install the 'tweak' CAB file

4. Click on Start button of your phone to load gStart

If the above instructions don't work, you have to manually edit your registry. :o

[Guest inlinesk8a]

there is nothin running , how do i close appman.exe lol

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

there is nothin running , how do i close appman.exe lol

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Use SP Task Manager.

Launch SP Task manager > Press 2 to view running processes > Highlight 'appman.exe' > File > Kill Process.

[Guest inlinesk8a]

dont its in the list view though

how do i put it to teh icon view

is ti justa prog tht u gta run from teh start list

[Guest RichA]

Screen is wrong on the C550.

--Rich

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

dont its in the list view though

how do i put it to teh icon view

is ti justa  prog tht u gta run from teh start list

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

To toggle icon or list view, hit Menu > Options > View.

The idea with gStart is to replace 'appman.exe' / the default Start menu list of the phone.

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

Screen is wrong on the C550.

--Rich

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Rich,

This is something the author needs to be aware of. I will let him know of such issue on QVGA screen.

Thanks.

[Guest MrNibbles]

Thanks for the .reg key in the cab!!! saved me a few secs of fiddling :o

does no one say thank you on these forums any more? :(

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

No problem. You're welcome :o

[Guest mwille]

Good idea this :o

Some problems with it though : I have my startmenu divided into folders so that there are no more than 8 items in there. Now if I open one of the folders not all the item IN the folder are displayed..

For example my startmenu folder "programs" has 8 items : 1. Camera, 2. Codewallet Pro, 3. Mobiluck, 4. Multimedia album, 5. Pocket TV, 6. TomTom Mobile, 7. Video recorder, 8. Clearvue (folder)

If I go in to this folder using Qstart only items 2,3,5,6 and 8 are shown. It would appear as if the system (ROM) items are not being displayed.

Also if i attempt to enter the "Microsoft" folder (containing Iexplore, messenger, activesync etc.) Qstart freezes up. Perhaps because this folder has ROM items only ?

Anyone seen this ?

Edited September 12, 2005 by mwille

[Guest gpcarreon (MVP)]

Same here. Can't view some LNKs inside Microsoft folder like Internet Explorer, ActiveSync, MSN Messenger...basically links to in-ROM files.

This needs to be addressed in the next upgrade. lspatricio should see all your comments.

BTW, its gStart :o

[Guest kurtfhouse]

THis looks like a brilliant program, it gives windows smartphones the start menu they should have had IMHO. Will be watching with interest for when the C550 compliant version is out!

Thanks to lspatricio for his hard work =D>

[Guest lspatricio]

Same here. Can't view some LNKs inside Microsoft folder like Internet Explorer, ActiveSync, MSN Messenger...basically links to in-ROM files.

This needs to be addressed in the next upgrade. lspatricio should see all your comments.

BTW, its gStart :o

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

hmmmm.... thanks for the feedback guys. I'll try to take a look at it. I've tested the app on the Voyager(Smart and Orange ROMs) and the O2 XPhone2. Never seen this problem.

Anyways, i'll see if i can do anything about this.

[Guest lspatricio]

Hi Rich,

This is something the author needs to be aware of. I will let him know of such issue on QVGA screen.

Thanks.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

OK. I'll address the issue if i can on the upcoming release version.

Thanks for the feedback.

@pzee, i may need to borrow a C550 though.... :o