Megalauncher 4 released!

[zefram]

Look for yourself:

http://www.megasoft2000.com/palm_division/megalauncher.htm

[williepalm]

Just downloaded it. Trying it out now.

[zefram]

Be warned, though. It's nothing more than a new skin. I'm really dissapointed.... :-(

[Wolvy]

Also PalmGear has it on the main page as MegaLauncher 4 but the link takes you to VIP 3.2.2??

[williepalm]

Too bad they have not released the backgrounds and skins for it.

[yorrick]

I have just loaded it up. There are a few nice to see features (such as hiding tabs) - though I am still wondering if this is any better than LX...
ML4 takes up a lot more RAM than LX and both seem to do things just as well for my needs.

Will need a few days to work out which to go for later on...

[tanker_bob]

The only significant new items I found were the support for OS 5, 16-bit color, skins, backgrounds, and icons sets. As was pointed out, there are none of these available other than the stock 16-bit color skin, so it's impossible to evaluate that functionality. What I have discovered, though, it that ML4 apparently doesn't support the display of application hi res icons in the OS 4 version like ZLauncher does. Still looks like ZLauncher's feature set and implementation is superior, and changing over was the right move for me. YMMV.

[Wolvy]

And ... I know this is ClieSource ... but just to let you guys know that ML4 does not seem to work on the Palm TT because when an app is highlighted and you try and launch by using the centre push button of the DPad ... nothing happens.

[werul]

What the developers needed so long for?

Besides looks I can´t find any advantage over ML 3.2.2 (ok, is supports Hires+ and OS 5, on my T675C I don´t need either of them).

No card manager, as far as I can see no way to easily create own backgrounds, no OS5 icon display.....

Really disappointing:(

But fortunately I switched to ZL:D I don´t see why to change back again.:D

As Tanker_Bob said before in previous threads, megasoft2000 has become a game company. I´m disappointed by there system apps such as FastCPU, ML 4.0 and MegaClock. Though the games are real fun:)

[wid4008]

Ha ha ha!

What a great relief for me man!
So is that what the developers of megalauncher took so long to
come out with?!
I didn't even bother to install it in my precious NR70 and just tested it out on POSE.

The verdict:
ML4 is nothing, I repeat, nothing ever close to the mighty Zlauncher.
I am SO GLAD that I did not wait stupidly for ML4's release.:)
I am EVEN GLAD that I am a happy registered owner of Zlauncher.:p

ML4 is a REAL disappointment IMOHO.
Zlauncher RULES!

[werul]

Originally posted by wid4008
Ha ha ha!

What a great relief for me man!
So is that what the developers of megalauncher took so long to
come out with?!
I didn't even bother to install it in my precious NR70 and just tested it out on POSE.

The verdict:
ML4 is nothing, I repeat, nothing ever close to the mighty Zlauncher.
I am SO GLAD that I did not wait stupidly for ML4's release.:)
I am EVEN GLAD that I am a happy registered owner of Zlauncher.:p

ML4 is a REAL disappointment IMOHO.
Zlauncher RULES!

I competely second this!

I just tried it out. It is not only not faster than ZL, it is slower, even without background (I have the CDII skin and background with ZL)!
No way to create shortcuts for apps in any other direction on MS but /Launcher. It noticed my games in the /games direction on the card (created with ZL) but it copied the app to RAM and didn´t move it back after leaving the app.

I deleted it instantly! Forget ML 4.0:D

[werul]

Only thing I regret is that I wasted time for betatesting:mad:

[Lazarus.Long]

"What ist that :confused:" Was the first thing that goes through my mind as i saw the new MegaLauncher.

The second was "Why they need so much time to develop this :confused:"

All in all this new software release is very dissapointing and so the best Launcher (IMHO) wins and that is (for now), ZLauncher ;)

Lazarus :cool:

[williepalm]

For non hires pda owners, ML4 is still a good Launcher for them

[werul]

But for the LoRes user, you not only have no advantage over ML 3.2.2, you even lost the archive feature.

And for functionality, since I have a card manager integrated with ZL I wouldn´t like to miss it.

[NR70V-o-holic]

Very, very disappointing!!

I´m so frustrated that I´ve been waiting so patiently for this
Release, and like Werul that I´ve wasted my time for
Betatesting. None, really none of the suggestions have
been implemented or changed over Beta4. In addition
this release seems to be not more than a Beta5, cause it
still is buggy. Not worth to waste my time anymore and
finally, I will delete and forget it.

Now it´s time for me too, to jump the boat and buy the
one and only: ZLauncher!

Sorry Megasoft, except of your very good games, you lost
the "Launcher-Race" short after the Startingline.

Noh

[williepalm]

So far looks like no one gave a single compliment. Guess ZLauncher is still the best

[SuperSaiyan]

Yup........no contest. ML4 just doesn't measure up to ZL right now.

[williepalm]

Luckily I purchased ZLauncher before MegaLauncher

[davidrgeorge]

I'm also going to be sticking with ZL. I've been waiting to buy it until ML4 came out and I had a chance to compare the 2.

Interesting figures:
ML: ~$20
LX: ~$20
ZL: $12

The best is also the cheapest.

[williepalm]

Looks like the war of the Launchers is over now. We can get back to work.

[werul]

Originally posted by williepalm
Looks like the war of the Launchers is over now. We can get back to work.

:)

[tanker_bob]

Originally posted by williepalm
Looks like the war of the Launchers is over now. We can get back to work.
Sad but true. The market is usually more vibrant and products stronger with keen competition. Now with this disappointment and LX not panning out, that leaves just ZLauncher and YiShow at the top of the field. Hopefully they will both continue to develop at their rapid paces.

I plan on playing with ML4 more this week after backgrounds, icons sets, and skins come available, and writing a review on PDA Avenue this weekend. We already have reviews of ZL and YiShow there.

Looks like ZLauncher came from nowhere to dominate the field. What a testimony to the free market and entrepreneurship!

[jims]

Gee is ML4 out now?? **Yawn** :rolleyes:

I'm just glad I already registered zLauncher at $12 before the folks a zztech realize that they could be charging twice as much for it! ;)

[sebring]

Originally posted by tanker_bob
[B]

I plan on playing with ML4 more this week after backgrounds, icons sets, and skins come available, and writing a review on PDA Avenue this weekend. We already have reviews of ZL and YiShow there.

/B]

Isn't that a little optimistic, expecting backgrounds, icon sets, and skins to be available this week. Seems more likely a few months, given the recent rate of "progress".

[jbarr]

Well, I must admit that I too am disappointed. I try to like it and I just can't.

Has anyone had a problem with the Jog Dial in selecting an app? Upon initial launch, everything was dumped into tn "Unfiled" category. No big deal, but the point is that there are a LOT of apps there, so I wanted to scroll through the list. I can't get the jog dial to scroll past 6-9 icons. It keeps jumping back to the first icon. It I REALLY spin it fast, I can get it to jump doen a page, but it's inconsistent. This is BASIC functionality that is lacking.

For now, I'll stick with LauncherX. It's stable, it's smaller, and does what I expect it to do.

Maybe I'll try ML4.1 once they get the bugs worked out.

[Vidge]

Originally posted by tanker_bob

I plan on playing with ML4 more this week after backgrounds, icons sets, and skins come available

Backgrounds & icon sets are on the website. Didn't see any skins, tho.

[intrepidsilence]

I still like ML the best. ZLauncher is not as intuitive as ML. ML may still have some things to get right but ease of use is king and ML wins that category. Let's hope we get the new skin API, etc soon so we can start giving it the appearance we like, as I hate the new skin. (Reminds me of Winblows, which makes me want to puke...)

[wellsjs]

Can you not drop in your own backgrounds? What format is required? Since the "View Manual" speaks of "bitmap," is the .bmp format required? Hope not because .bmps are slow and memory hogs compared to jpegs. If my assumption is correct, I'd rather not even waste my time playing with the demo!

[tanker_bob]

Originally posted by wellsjs
Can you not drop in your own backgrounds? What format is required? Since the "View Manual" speaks of "bitmap," is the .bmp format required? Hope not because .bmps are slow and memory hogs compared to jpegs. If my assumption is correct, I'd rather not even waste my time playing with the demo!
Thanks to Vidge, I just downloaded a background file. I can't sync it here, but the size definitely spells bitmap. They are .prc files, so it doesn't look like ZLauncher where you can easily make your own. No mention of jpgs in the docs, as you say. Can't do more until later tonight.

[rldunn]

Originally posted by intrepidsilence
I still like ML the best. ZLauncher is not as intuitive as ML. ML may still have some things to get right but ease of use is king and ML wins that category.I don't know about that; maybe you think that because you've been a previous ML user in the past and know where to find things. I've never used ML because I think it's user interface is confusing. You have to click through the pop-ups of the 4 buttons on the gadget bar to find what you're looking for, sometimes not all tabs are showing and it's not real intuitive to get them to show. And I don't think their menus are very straightforward either; of course, neither are the ZL menus.

[Wolvy]

Figured out what the problem is. OKey!!
When OKey is enabled then ML does not work properly. What a shame as I will have to choose between the two and I have more uses for OKey and I will choose another launcher.

[Stymyx]

Originally posted by SuperSaiyan
Yup........no contest. ML4 just doesn't measure up to ZL right now.
I agree. Looks like simply a new face on an old package. I'll stick with LX and wait for that do-it-yourself active skin maker they keep promising.

BTW, that is a great avatar, Saiyan!

[wellsjs]

Stymyx,

Hey, I like your avatar. Hope you were able to sync your face back to your head! :eek:

[kss55442]

Anyone else try to preview a background image before selecting it? When I hit preview, my 665 froze. Only way out was a warm reset.

[Unregistered]

Ok, now that the launcher war appears to be over...
Can we get a few new Z-Skins? If I had any artistic talent I would attempt it.

Would the creator of the Yishow ONYX skin create one for Z...
How about HOGS, he created a lot of quality skins for ML... switch to Z?
Any other artist out there?

Thanks to all that have produced skins :)

[sebring]

Couple of negatives that jump out at me right away.
1) Support for apps that use long presses of the jog dial and back button, to launch, is gone. Support for these apps was there in beta4 and v3.22 and I want it back.
2) Electing to move data along with the app to MS is buggy. It won't move all the data back. Apparently launching the app after moving it and it's data creates new dbs in RAM and I get error message and it refuses to copy the db on MS back to RAM.

Apparently they gave in to the pressure from users and competition and released betaware as a final. I certainly hope they don't seriously consider this a final release.

[JS]

In the not so recent past I heard everyone speaking WONDERS about MegaSoft2000, however during my 30 minute ML4 test I was able to crash my T665 with 5 different functions of ML4.

ML4 is the same size as Z Launcher with FEW of Z's features and none of Z's stability. But hey this is just my experience, download a copy and crash your Clie a few times.

ML4 has reen retired.

[sdkat2]

I had my first crash in months with ML4. What a disappointment! I'm still going to watch for updates because the "old" ML was my favorite. Yes, I'm a Zlauncher convert but I still keep hoping for something to top it.

[SuperSaiyan]

is the default ML4 skin the only one available at present? I'm really just curious, as ZL is in no danger of being replaced here.

[froll]

Maybe I can sum this up:

Far, Far to little; and far, far too late.

[abe214]

Is ML4 a launcher at all? I mean, the Palm's default launcher is even prettier.

Now this explains why ZZTechs guys are on a holiday! They've won the launcher war hands down.

[PDH LA]

Originally posted by Stymyx

I agree. Looks like simply a new face on an old package. I'll stick with LX and wait for that do-it-yourself active skin maker they keep promising.

BTW, that is a great avatar, Saiyan!

Hope you don't have to wait as long for the skin maker as you did for the release of Launcher X!!!

It took nine months from initial announcment until the release of Launcher X. You should get the skin maker by July if you're lucky!

[byte2be]

Tried the new ML4. It's the second launcher to crash my Clie (hard reset). The first was YiShow.

I agree with most who have posted that this is a disappointment after a long wait. I particularly don't like the gadget bar. It only shows 4 like Silverscreen, and trying to find the gadgets I want is too combersome for me.

I already have LX and it's been the best one for me...so far.

[Tixx]

Wow. Completely disappointed:( Is this even as functional as Version 3.2.2? I'll see I guess:(

[Tixx]

Originally posted by kss55442
Anyone else try to preview a background image before selecting it? When I hit preview, my 665 froze. Only way out was a warm reset.

Caused a reset on my 615:(

[Tixx]

Originally posted by Tixx


Caused a reset on my 615:(

Looks like it might force me to hard reset as it keeps going to a blank white screen and won't let me in.:(:(

[sebring]

I think Megasoft really hurt themselves with this one. They would have been better off holding it another month or two.:( If you have a 320x320 screen, this is a huge step backwards from v3.22.:mad:

[Tixx]

Originally posted by sebring
I think Megasoft really hurt themselves with this one. They would have been better off holding it another month or two.:( If you have a 320x320 screen, this is a huge step backwards from v3.22.:mad:

I believe you are correct. I am syncing everything back after a hard reset now:(

[byte2be]

Originally posted by Tixx

Looks like it might force me to hard reset as it keeps going to a blank white screen and won't let me in.:(:(

This is what I had to do on my N610.

Originally posted by sebring

They would have been better off holding it another month or two.

I agree. However, they may have been under the spotlight to get something out quickly. Bad decisions on there part for hurrying the process for QC.

[Dave A]

Maybe this will force MegaSoft2000's hand, and encourage them to completely develop a new launcher. It appears they attempted to simply add BG support to the existing app and while doing so caused the main application to lose some of its previous capabilities.

It would be nice to see MegaSoft2000 design an entirely new launcher (scraping those huge popup menu's) as the current available launchers provide more features and greater customization.

Competition is good for us as it keeps the developers active in refining there product.

[GoCats]

Thanks to everyone for crashing your Clie's so I don't have to crash mine! Big disappointment... love ML3.22 and was really looking forward to 4.0. Guess I'll give ZL a try.

[rldunn]

If they start from scratch, I hope they completely redo their tabs. I didn't like the fixed-width tabs on the original ML, and I really don't understand them now, when both ZL and LX have such innovative tabs that can easily fit 8 or 9 per line, using a mix of icons and text.

[byte2be]

I agree rldunn. Also the gadget bar...it's too cumbersome to use IMO. I like the LX or ZL implementation.

[Tixx]

Trying Z Launcher now with that CopperDeck Skin...very nice:)

[Stymyx]

Originally posted by wellsjs
Stymyx,

Hey, I like your avatar. Hope you were able to sync your face back to your head! :eek:
:D

[Mr Sheen]

Thanks. You saved my time.

After all those comments I see no point trying it.

I 'll stick with trusty ZL

Sheen

[Tixx]

Overall I seem to like ZLauncher:) Just used to MS 3.2.2 speed though which is a little quicker in the UI and such.

[rldunn]

Tixx, make sure you have the option turned off to 'Auto sync /Palm/Launcher/. This helps greatly speed-wise. Everything is instantaneous on my NX, but that could be due to the faster chip.

[Tixx]

Originally posted by rldunn
Tixx, make sure you have the option turned off to 'Auto sync /Palm/Launcher/. This helps greatly speed-wise. Everything is instantaneous on my NX, but that could be due to the faster chip.

Could you tell me exactly where this option is? I have no idea:confused:

[rldunn]

What do you mean?!? There's only one obvious place!! Oh, that's right, ZL has 9 options menus!! :) I actually wrote to them and asked them to do what CESD did for DB5 and consolidate the menus into a tabbed format so that it's easier to find and change stuff.

That option is under Options-ZL Preferences.

[tanker_bob]

Menu/Options/ZL Preferences. Checkbox just above Fast Find and the upper tap & hold bar. It's titled Auto sync /Palm/Launcher/. I had the same problem when I first tried ZL. Really slows down the loading. You can always refresh the card if you load new apps on it.

[dasaunders]

Seems really slow when MS Mount is enabled. Anyone have a fix to this problem?

[tanker_bob]

Originally posted by dasaunders
Seems really slow when MS Mount is enabled. Anyone have a fix to this problem?
Not to be too funny, but PiDirect II. :) It plays perfectly with ZL.

[Griff]

I can't even get ML to run! First a reset, memory manager related, then a fatal exception...it's now off of my Clie.

[Tixx]

Thanks rldunn and T-Bob:) It is unchecked and seem to run the same though. Probably just the processor.

[tanker_bob]

Sounds hauntingly familiar--like FastCPU 3.0 on SuperVZ CPUs.

[Joe Smoe]

Tixx,

I have a 665 w/ ZL, mine seems to run just as fast as ML. I believe that some people reported JOT and ? (sorry don't quite remember) slowing ZL and causing issues. I believe the post I refer to was lost with the others...

[Billymy]

Crashed after trying to load backgroud image. Whoops. Still using LX.

[sebring]

I have only had one crash so far, and I'm sure it was because I hadn't disabled MSMount before running it the first time. After a soft reset, it has seemed to run fine on my NR. I'm disappointed about no longer being able to launch apps using Slowlaunch and the jog dial and back button. Also moving apps and their data back and forth between MS and RAM seems buggy. Moving apps only seems OK.

[badboy]

Downloaded ML4 (saved download on pc over ML3.22 - duh #1), had both ML 3.22 and ML4 on 665...then read about the crashes here so went to delete ML4 and stick with 3.22 (which was fine for me)...deleted wrong one and don't how to get 3.22 back...duh #2!

So after reading all the hype, just downloaded and tried ZLauncher a couple hours ago. WOW! And only $12! ARE YOU KIDDIN' ME? Don't know why I didn't try this before...will be buying this one for sure :)

[sebring]

Originally posted by badboy
Downloaded ML4 (saved download on pc over ML3.22 - duh #1), had both ML 3.22 and ML4 on 665...then read about the crashes here so went to delete ML4 and stick with 3.22 (which was fine for me)...deleted wrong one and don't how to get 3.22 back...duh #2!

So after reading all the hype, just downloaded and tried ZLauncher a couple hours ago. WOW! And only $12! ARE YOU KIDDIN' ME? Don't know why I didn't try this before...will be buying this one for sure :)

I currently have three launchers on my NR. ML3.22, ML4 and ZLauncher. They don't seem to interfere with each other at all.

[rcornia]

Does anyone know how to use the icons from their website with ML4? I downloaded them all, but can't find anywhere to change icons. I tried AppIcon, but that didn't find them. I tried all 34 menu/preferences locations in ML4 and couldn't find out how to use them. I read the manual and didn't find it there. Anyone?

[Amy]

Well, I had a bad feeling about trying ML4 out but decided to see what it was like anyway. It froze on me twice (this was immediately after starting the program, I wasn't even able to try it out or anything) and the second time I manually reset it, it did a hard reset all on its own. I'm just very glad that some of you posted about your problems with it because I did a backup immediately before installing it.

This is one program that is being deleted (or actually, deleted itself, it must have known what a horrible program it was) and will never come near my Clie again. I can deal with bugs and will tolerate a lot but causing my Clie to hard reset itself isn't something I'll put up with.

What a disappointment. :(

[pcmommy]

After a fatal alert it did a hard reset on my NX, man that pissed me off! I only had a backup from a month or so ago, so alot was lost. MEGALAUNCHER - THANKS!

[Mr Sheen]

Originally posted by Tixx


Could you tell me exactly where this option is? I have no idea:confused:

Under ZL preferences

Good day,

Sheen

:D

[tanker_bob]

Originally posted by rcornia
Does anyone know how to use the icons from their website with ML4? I downloaded them all, but can't find anywhere to change icons. I tried AppIcon, but that didn't find them. I tried all 34 menu/preferences locations in ML4 and couldn't find out how to use them. I read the manual and didn't find it there. Anyone?
Drag the app icon to the 'i' icon at the bottom of the screen (information icon). One of the buttons in the info window allows you to change the app's icon. It isn't like ZLauncher where you automatically get new OS 5 icons for the standard apps.

[n2ifp]

I was turned off by the way the beta testers were treated. From what I read, it's still a beta on the ML site.

[Tixx]

Originally posted by Joe Smoe
Tixx,

I have a 665 w/ ZL, mine seems to run just as fast as ML. I believe that some people reported JOT and ? (sorry don't quite remember) slowing ZL and causing issues. I believe the post I refer to was lost with the others...

Thanks for the info, but your processor is twice as fast as mine:)

[Wolvy]

I contacted Megasoft and complained about the conflict with OKey. The came back yesterday and said to download the new version 4.1 from their website. However, after reloading I have the same problems.. They do have backgrounds now on the site which work well ... but still need that functionality with OKey.

Also the highlighted app scrolling is still not fixed, as when you change direction the highlighting of the app often dissapears.

I've moved temporarily (or maybe permanant if ML4 is not sorted) to LauncherX.

[tanker_bob]

Well, I downloaded 4.0.1 tonight and gave it another run. I installed a background this time and categorized the apps. I'll play with it off and on this week, but it really is just 3.2.2 with backgrounds and 16-bit color support. The top and bottom tool icons eat way too much screen real estate, always blocking the top of the background. Haven't had any crashes on my T665C yet, and I run a lot of hacks. When I swap from ML to ZLauncher, WOW, what a difference. ZL seems far better thought out as far as screen real estate and customization. Plus, I can easily make my own backgrounds for ZL, but not so for ML. Looks like I'll play w/ML long enough to write a good review, then its off my T665C in favor of ZL.

[rcornia]

What isn't working with yours when you run Okey? I'm running ML4.0 and Okey and everything seems to be working fine.


Originally posted by Wolvy
I contacted Megasoft and complained about the conflict with OKey. The came back yesterday and said to download the new version 4.1 from their website. However, after reloading I have the same problems.. They do have backgrounds now on the site which work well ... but still need that functionality with OKey.

Also the highlighted app scrolling is still not fixed, as when you change direction the highlighting of the app often dissapears.

I've moved temporarily (or maybe permanant if ML4 is not sorted) to LauncherX.

[tanker_bob]

Notes on size. ML4 takes up 841K on my device including all the support files, icon db, and backgroud, but minus a skin, since there aren't any yet. ZL takes up 780K w/o the skin.

[Wolvy]

What isn't working with yours when you run Okey? I'm running ML4.0 and Okey and everything seems to be working fine.

If OKey is enabled and you have highlighted an app for launching ... pressing the centre button the DPad on the TT (I use both a Clie and Tungsten T) does not launch the app.

Also moving through apps only works by pressing the centre of the DPad. I can use the up/ down buttons when using LauncherX.