1src Forums - Zlauncher 3.0 b3 how is it different?

rldunn

04-03-2003, 09:19 AM

The three things I've noticed so far are:

1) If you uncheck Auto Hide Tab Caption in Display Preferences and then choose Hide Caption on tab-specific preferences, the icon will properly display for the active tab when using side tabs. The earlier problem was described here:
http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9431

2) They added an additional Hotsync button for the top and bottom bar. Now you can choose one that will launch the hotsync app or one that actually begins a hotsync (similar to the cradle button). They had changed the button from the former to the latter, but I asked them to give us the option back, since if you used a Wifi hotsync, you'd have to hit the hotsync button (which would attempt a cradle hotsync), then hit cancel, then begin the hotsync from the hotsync app.

3) They moved the option to show the top bar into the Top Bar setup menu. Same thing for the bottom bar. In earlier betas, it was on the more screen for the Display preferences.

Tixx

04-03-2003, 09:22 AM

Originally posted by rldunn
The three things I've noticed so far are:

1) If you uncheck Auto Hide Tab Caption in Display Preferences and then choose Hide Caption on tab-specific preferences, the icon will properly display for the active tab when using side tabs. The earlier problem was described here:
http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9431

2) They added an additional Hotsync button for the top and bottom bar. Now you can choose one that will launch the hotsync app or one that actually begins a hotsync (similar to the cradle button). They had changed the button from the former to the latter, but I asked them to give us the option back, since if you used a Wifi hotsync, you'd have to hit the hotsync button (which would attempt a cradle hotsync), then hit cancel, then begin the hotsync from the hotsync app.

3) They moved the option to show the top bar into the Top Bar setup menu. Same thing for the bottom bar. In earlier betas, it was on the more screen for the Display preferences.

Cool:) I wasn't being a smart@ss in my last post, I just downloaded it and that is what the e-mail said that they sent me:)

*YellowRose*

04-03-2003, 10:05 AM

I can't wait for by tab settings for zoom or no-zoom, fonts, etc. Then they can stop.

;)

caldjeff

04-03-2003, 10:15 AM

So are we looking at a pretty stable app now? Can we expect a public beta soon?

sebring

04-03-2003, 10:19 AM

I've been running v3 Beta1 since it came out and have had no stability issues at all.

rldunn

04-03-2003, 10:20 AM

Me either. The latest email said the release version will come next week if no surprised pop up.

rldunn

04-03-2003, 10:21 AM

Originally posted by *YellowRose*
I can't wait for by tab settings for zoom or no-zoom, fonts, etc. Then they can stop.

;) Yeah, I would like that too!!

squeff

04-03-2003, 10:43 AM

I've found that in B3, my top bar gadgets no longer appear. Even if I use the updated skin that comes with B3. I've already reported to ZZTechs.

rldunn

04-03-2003, 10:46 AM

Starting with b2, they changed the top bar gadgets to work the same way as the bottom bar gadgets do. So if you put your top bar gadgets over in the right-hand boxes, they'll probably show up just fine (unless you have Categories displaying).

I changed mine last this with b2 and they're still displaying just fine with b3.

squeff

04-03-2003, 10:54 AM

Rldunn,

Thanks. I do have categories displayed. And I had the gadget in the LEFTMOST position (actually, the second to left). When I moved it to 4th from the RIGHT (since I have categories), it now shows.

Macabre Man

04-03-2003, 11:09 AM

where do you get Beta3?

Tixx

04-03-2003, 11:24 AM

Originally posted by Macabre Man
where do you get Beta3?

Got it from my e-mail this morning. Did you check yours?

Enceladus

04-03-2003, 11:36 AM

It is very stable for a beta. I have had no crashes for a long time with Zlauncher.

It is so far ahead of other launchers now. Totally worth the ram it takes up to me because of the integration of everything

LaStigmata

04-03-2003, 12:28 PM

The B3 version also added a gadget button for displaying all the gadgets at once and being able to use them when they pop-up. Now you can have all the gadgets in the press of one button.

Hat's off to ZZTECH.

dunn

04-03-2003, 12:31 PM

any chance to upload the b3 over here?

thanks

rldunn

04-03-2003, 12:33 PM

Originally posted by LaStigmata
The B3 version also added a gadget button for displaying all the gadgets at once and being able to use them when they pop-up. Now you can have all the gadgets in the press of one button.

Hat's off to ZZTECH. That was actually added in b2, but I agree with you that it's a nice addition. I have it on my top bar!!

rldunn

04-03-2003, 12:36 PM

Originally posted by dunn
any chance to upload the b3 over here?

thanks No, the developers have asked the beta testers not to make this version available until it's been tested more, so we'll stick to that. You can email them and ask to be a beta tester, or you can wait until next week when the final version is ready.

BTW, nice name :)

dunn

04-03-2003, 12:43 PM

Originally posted by rldunn
No, the developers have asked the beta testers not to make this version available until it's been tested more, so we'll stick to that. You can email them and ask to be a beta tester, or you can wait until next week when the final version is ready.

BTW, nice name :)

i see.. thanks for replying.

btw, is there any feature to set icons close to one side just like what yishow did :eek: ?

thanks ^~^

LaStigmata

04-03-2003, 12:44 PM

Originally posted by rldunn
That was actually added in b2, but I agree with you that it's a nice addition. I have it on my top bar!!

Sorry I missed it in b2, but how can one try every thing at this pace. I was also trying to get a new skin done, I even seen the icon, but did not check it out.

I am going to have to pay more attention.

Thanks

LaStigmata

04-03-2003, 12:45 PM

Originally posted by dunn

i see.. thanks for replying.

btw, is there any feature to set icons close to one side just like what yishow did :eek: ?

thanks ^~^

Not yet.

sebring

04-03-2003, 01:05 PM

Originally posted by LaStigmata
The B3 version also added a gadget button for displaying all the gadgets at once and being able to use them when they pop-up. Now you can have all the gadgets in the press of one button.

Hat's off to ZZTECH.

Hey I'm glad to see the addition of the gadget-gadget. I asked them for this a couple of times and they said they would consider it. These folks are incredibly responsive. If you ask for it and it makes any sense and can be done, you will get it.

With this gadget-gadget, I can really clean up my interface and still not have to make decisions about what tools to leave out.:)

Tixx

04-03-2003, 01:13 PM

Originally posted by sebring

Hey I'm glad to see the addition of the gadget-gadget. I asked them for this a couple of times and they said they would consider it. These folks are incredibly responsive. If you ask for it and it makes any sense and can be done, you will get it.

With this gadget-gadget, I can really clean up my interface and still not have to make decisions about what tools to leave out.:)

Don't know if this has been requested, but should just check here first. Compression of apps in trashbin.

sebring

04-03-2003, 02:18 PM

I haven't asked for compression, but I did ask for support for moving apps AND their related DBs to MS, like Megalauncher, or better yet support for moving editable DBs to MS also.

Tixx

04-03-2003, 02:25 PM

Originally posted by sebring
I haven't asked for compression, but I did ask for support for moving apps AND their related DBs to MS, like Megalauncher, or better yet support for moving editable DBs to MS also.

I put in the request:) That would be a good feature as well:)

Yoyoman412

04-03-2003, 06:08 PM

I think a couple of great features that Zlauncher needs, which I have requested are resizable tabs, you can enlarge or shrink the tabs to your comfort in order to display the full tab title name. It would be great to see something similair to what LauncherX does which is having docs and hacks in icons which when tapped, open the doc/hack in the doc reader/hackmaster. Also it would be great if each tab were able to show their own view (icons, list, info).

Some software that would be great is a low res theme converter. It would be so sweet to open a high res theme and click convert and have a low res theme pop out. I have a low res device so you can see what thats much wanted.

As hard as it might be, I would love to see ZLauncher take up less space. But I can agree with some people when they say that space is worth it, but still, 9k is a lot of memory for one prog. And speed can sometimes be an issue. Faster would be nice (but I think I have speed problems cause I have an ancient Visor Prism)

Hopefully all this will eventually come out. ZLauncher will be even more perfect than it already is.

Jonathan

*YellowRose*

04-03-2003, 07:18 PM

Originally posted by Yoyoman412
(but I think I have speed problems cause I have an ancient Visor Prism) EXCELLENT REASON #1 to upgrade to a Clie: SO ZLAUNCHER WORKS!

Tixx

04-03-2003, 07:49 PM

Originally posted by *YellowRose*
EXCELLENT REASON #1 to upgrade to a Clie: SO ZLAUNCHER WORKS!
:D

Yoyoman412

04-03-2003, 10:38 PM

Originally posted by *YellowRose*
EXCELLENT REASON #1 to upgrade to a Clie: SO ZLAUNCHER WORKS!

Hehehe, Zlauncher works just great and I am able to enjoy all the exact same function as all you clie users. I just dont get the big high res eye candy screen.
You may ask what am I waiting for and why I havent gotten a clie yet, well thats because I will only buy a clie if its a smartphone. I have an excellent Visorphone/Visor Prism combo and enjoy searching the web when my device is all in one piece. So basically I am being patient and waiting for either a clie smartphone or the new Samsung SGH to come out. That Samsung looks SWEET. I am buying that thing so fast when it comes out (and yes I will wait till the end of the year to get it and keep my Visor Prism).

Jonathan

riversen

04-03-2003, 10:51 PM

Can I ask a very dumb question? What and where is the "Gadget" button? I didn't see this.

Another thing... I just found the Toggle the Top Bar in the menu. Now my ZLauncher 3 is just as fast as my 2.3 version. How cool is that? I guess I am just a bit slow.

rldunn

04-04-2003, 12:30 AM

Originally posted by Yoyoman412
I have an excellent Visorphone/Visor Prism combo and enjoy searching the web when my device is all in one piece.Oh, YOU'RE the one who got that combo. I kept hearing rumors that someone really bought the VisorPhone but never knew who it was until now :)

rldunn

04-04-2003, 12:32 AM

Originally posted by riversen
Can I ask a very dumb question? What and where is the "Gadget" button? I didn't see this.

Another thing... I just found the Toggle the Top Bar in the menu. Now my ZLauncher 3 is just as fast as my 2.3 version. How cool is that? I guess I am just a bit slow. If the skin you're using hasn't been update in the past couple of days, you won't see it. With the default skin, it looks like a blue square, kinda. It's in the bottom row of the top and bottom bar setup rows.

riversen

04-04-2003, 12:41 AM

Maybe, I have the wrong skin, but I still don't know what you are talking about. I downloaded the really cool science looking one. I like that one and the icons, tabs, etc. are all crystal clear. Very nice, but I wonder if the "gadget" button is the little button at the bottom that brings up my bottom bar? Maybe, I just don't get it.

Yoyoman412

04-04-2003, 12:59 AM

Originally posted by rldunn
Oh, YOU'RE the one who got that combo. I kept hearing rumors that someone really bought the VisorPhone but never knew who it was until now :)

Ha, Ill have you know, those rare VisorPhone users out there prob enjoy their device more than most people enjoy their other cell phones. If Handspring wouldnt have been so stupid and stop making Visors and the Springboard, then maybe this "rumored" VisorPhone combo device would have been more common.

Jonathan

tanker_bob

04-04-2003, 06:26 AM

Other important changes have been made to beta 3. ZZTech cleaned up some minor display refresh issues. In addition:

If you drag an app to the graphics tab bar, the tab in which the app currently resides is not offered as a possible target location. That fixed an error message that was generated by trying to move an app to a tab where is already lived.

The way the file manager handled its file list was changed. Previously, if you moved or deleted a file, ZL reread the current directory before redisplaying the file list. If there were a lot of files present (like in RAM), that really slowed things down. In beta 3, ZL's file manager works from an internal buffer, deleting files from it as well as the current location, then redisplays the file list instantly. This provided a huge improvement for the file manager when working in large directories.

Life just keep getting better!

rldunn

04-04-2003, 09:45 AM

Originally posted by riversen
Maybe, I have the wrong skin, but I still don't know what you are talking about. I downloaded the really cool science looking one. I like that one and the icons, tabs, etc. are all crystal clear. Very nice, but I wonder if the "gadget" button is the little button at the bottom that brings up my bottom bar? Maybe, I just don't get it. OK, let me take a step back. If you have the latest beta, they added a few new buttons available for the top and bottom bar. So if you go into the top and bottom bar setup menu, there are now 3.5 rows of icons, whereas with the last release version, there were only 3 rows. With b3, the 'gadget' button is the button in the 4th row on the far right. Only a few skins have been updated to include this button. It sounds like you're not using one of the updated skins, so when you go to Top Bar Setup (or Bottom Bar Setup), you will probably see an empty box in the last spot on the 4th row. You can still drag this to a spot in the bar. It will display as a blank icon, but if you click on it, you will then get a popup of all available buttons.

n2ifp

04-04-2003, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by *YellowRose*
I just installed b3. How is B3 different from B2? I just got put on 'the list'. I never tried b2.

THANKS!

Tanker Bob hit the nail on the head, very perceptive of you :)! There has been more going on than most may realize and the file manager is one of them. Did I say CF memory card beta driver? ZZTech is fixing stuff without even seeing it, except for some screen shots that others can see here:

http://leggnet.com/clie/cf/

Those people at ZZTech are fanatstic, I am sorry if I have to be vague on some issues, but please understand, Thanks!

Tixx

04-04-2003, 10:34 AM

Cool! Thanks for the screen shots:)

SuperSaiyan

04-04-2003, 12:29 PM

is anybody else having problems with jpg's in b3? In b1 I could not get jpgs to work as backgrounds. In b2 it appeared to be fixed....but now I get the same error when working with jpg's again......arghh! BMP's work but they are huge in comparison. I'm using an NR70.

-SS

volcanopele

04-04-2003, 12:31 PM

Just installed ZL3.00b3 (joined beta test list yesterday). Not too bad. I really like having my tabs on the right side. That's the way I had it in Launcher X. My only complaint would be that the tabs are a tad large but I think I can live with that.

sebring

04-04-2003, 12:35 PM

Originally posted by SuperSaiyan
is anybody else having problems with jpg's in b3? In b1 I could not get jpgs to work as backgrounds. In b2 it appeared to be fixed....but now I get the same error when working with jpg's again......arghh! BMP's work but they are huge in comparison. I'm using an NR70.

-SS

No problem here. Not all jpgs work with ZLauncher. Have you tried some that worked before? I had a problem with some of the jpg images I downloaded from this site. I was able to make them work by opening them with SplashPhoto desktop and resaving them as jpg.

SuperSaiyan

04-04-2003, 12:43 PM

Sebring -
Its strange.......the jpgs already on my MS work. Nothing I put on it now will (jpg). Question: are you supposed to be able to copy jpg's to your clie from the MS? I just get errors when I try.

sebring

04-04-2003, 12:55 PM

Originally posted by SuperSaiyan
Sebring -
Its strange.......the jpgs already on my MS work. Nothing I put on it now will (jpg). Question: are you supposed to be able to copy jpg's to your clie from the MS? I just get errors when I try.

You can't copy jpg from MS to RAM. Jpg isn't a file type supported by the Palm OS. The ZLauncher backimage will always be a bmp file about 300k in size(on a 320x480 screen). ZLauncher doesn't use jpg directly, Theme Manager converts the jpg on MS to bmp for use as a backimage and deletes the bmp from RAM if you change to another backimage or select "no backimage". Since jpgs are compressed, they would cause an unacceptable slowdown of the launcher(compressing and decompressing), if they were used directly. Maybe with faster processors that will change.

I use MSImport or SplashPhoto to transfer jpgs to my MS.

GANZ

04-05-2003, 01:52 PM

Originally posted by volcanopele
Just installed ZL3.00b3 (joined beta test list yesterday). Not too bad. I really like having my tabs on the right side. That's the way I had it in Launcher X. My only complaint would be that the tabs are a tad large but I think I can live with that.

Where did you join the beta list??

I e-mailed ZZTechs directly but I CAN"T WAIT!!!! I am a reg'd user.

Tixx

04-05-2003, 02:02 PM

Originally posted by GANZ

Where did you join the beta list??

I e-mailed ZZTechs directly but I CAN"T WAIT!!!! I am a reg'd user.

They get back to you quite quickly with the beta. Just hold tight:)

tanker_bob

04-05-2003, 02:13 PM

Deferred gratification, the insidious crippler of youth. :)

First rule of beta testing is to respect the rules and wishes of the folks for whom you are testing. ZZTech requested us not to distribute the beta. I hope that if they do accept you as a tester, you will likewise honor the conditions.

Also, wanting an early version of a product with which to play is not the same as beta testing in the sense that's useful to the company. Testing involves systematic exercising of the program to define repeatable problems, then accurately describing them to the developer so that they can reproduce and fix them. The first couple of hard resets or lost data usually provide a good reality check on a tester's dedication to the task. If anyone is not willing to do all this, then I humbly suggest that they wait for the final release.

Tixx

04-05-2003, 02:21 PM

Originally posted by tanker_bob
Deferred gratification, the insidious crippler of youth. :)

First rule of beta testing is to respect the rules and wishes of the folks for whom you are testing. ZZTech requested us not to distribute the beta. I hope that if they do accept you as a tester, you will likewise honor the conditions.

Also, wanting an early version of a product with which to play is not the same as beta testing in the sense that's useful to the company. Testing involves systematic exercising of the program to define repeatable problems, then accurately describing them to the developer so that they can reproduce and fix them. The first couple of hard resets or lost data usually provide a good reality check on a tester's dedication to the task. If anyone is not willing to do all this, then I humbly suggest that they wait for the final release.

Sometimes beta testing really sucks, but I keep doing it all the same:) ZL's betas are seemingly more stable than a great number of final releases by other companies. Just my experience anyways.

tanker_bob

04-05-2003, 02:53 PM

Originally posted by Tixx

Sometimes beta testing really sucks, but I keep doing it all the same:) ZL's betas are seemingly more stable than a great number of final releases by other companies. Just my experience anyways.
It can get interesting. ;) ZL and Datebk5 both tend to be high-quality betas, although the icon transparency issue in DB5 p8 and 9 gave me pause. As for the rest--long live BackupBuddy!

GANZ

04-05-2003, 07:30 PM

tanker_bob

04-05-2003, 08:01 PM

I've seen over a dozen direct requests from folks looking for a copy of the new beta on the Yahoo! forum and here. I apologize if I lumped you in the wrong pile.

n2ifp

04-05-2003, 10:04 PM

Originally posted by Tixx

Sometimes beta testing really sucks, but I keep doing it all the same:) ZL's betas are seemingly more stable than a great number of final releases by other companies. Just my experience anyways.

They certainly are stable, haven't been able to crash yet from a ZL beta, amazing :)!

SuperSaiyan

04-06-2003, 12:52 AM

Is it really difficult to get on the beta list? I sent a request to zztech and was loading up b3 the next day.

So far, I can't find any "glitches". A suggestion or two but nothing else.

Question: I'm using the copperdeck II skin (amazing btw)
I'm not sure if this is the same for all skins but......... when I have the tabs running down the sides, the tabs are facing from the screen in. Shouldn't the be facing from the edge out? It wouldn't hurt to get rid of that separator line as well.

tanker_bob

04-06-2003, 06:10 AM

The tabs are modeled after a file folder. They look like they are in the correct direction to me.

GANZ

04-06-2003, 08:58 AM

Originally posted by tanker_bob
I've seen over a dozen direct requests from folks looking for a copy of the new beta on the Yahoo! forum and here. I apologize if I lumped you in the wrong pile.

No problem TB, I understand where you're coming from..:)