MegaLauncher 4.3 Released

[aaronchow]

MegaLauncher 4.3 just released with updates as follows:


Added French language support.
Added upper and lower panels independent control.
Optimized icons displaying on the screen.
Fixed time displaying error in the "World time"
Fixed error of clock displaying (from the Graffiti area) on Palm 500/505/515 devices.
Some improvements and the whole program optimization are made.


You can download it at MegaLauncher's Website (http://www.megasoft2000.com/palm_division/megalauncher.htm).

http://www.megasoft2000.com/palm_division/js/MegaLauncher/img/MegaLauncher.jpg

[williepalm]

ZLauncher still the best :)

[wid4008]

Oh yeah, I agree.

Zlauncher rocks!

[poisonberry]

It's nice to see such a strong and fiercely-argued debate, with much in-depth analysis. My own view? MegaLauncher is nicer.

;-)

[hogs]

Just to take the opportunity of this thread to thank Megasoft2000 team for having released a French release of ML4.
There is a lot of people (in France and Switzerland) who do not feel confortable with English written software.

Thanks a lot :)

ML4 rocks !

[YTTAN]

What so great about zlauncher?

[Utes Rule]

Hogs, have you made any new skins (since X-Style and Honey) for ML4? I have loved your skins in the past and look forward to seeing what you can do!

I'm a big ML 4.3 fan!

[DanT]

I'm still using 3.2.2 and still hesitate to upgrade it to 4.3 with all of the commotions posted in this site previously for 4.0-4.2. To those that have happily upgraded from 3.2.2 to 4.3, would you please post your reasons to upgrade? Would the benefits of upgrading outweigh the turmoil you have encountered?

Thanks

[Utes Rule]

DanT, I have had ZERO of the reported problems with ML 4.x (whatever version I have had). I own a NR70.

My main reasons why you should upgrade to 4.3 are the following:

1. 320x480 screen support!

2. Background Support!

3. Ability to change and customize your own icons (on the screen).

4. Ability to add icons to the Category Tabs (if you put it in 8 tabs mode, with each tab having it's own icon, it only shows the icons and it looks very nice).
5. It is just plain better than 3.2.2.

I'm excited to play around this morning with v. 4.3 and look forward to v. 4.4.

Utes Rule

[mistrfree]

Originally posted by YTTAN
What so great about zlauncher?

Have you tried Zlauncher 3? I'm assuming that you havn't, once you try it, you'll know the answer.

www.zztechs.com

[hogs]

Originally posted by Utes Rule
Hogs, have you made any new skins (since X-Style and Honey) for ML4? I have loved your skins in the past and look forward to seeing what you can do!
I'm a big ML 4.3 fan!
:) Thanks
I must say that credits for X-Style have to go to 4AMFriday.

Last one I made was "flotte" (http://www.cliesource.com/sdownload/fileinfo.php?id=3045).
I faced some compatibility problems with TT owners that I wasn't able to solve. I have been waiting for the tutorial and was quite disapointed due to the very very few explanations provided. Without any programming skills, no way to create a skin with the provided file... I still prefer ML to ZL, but I do not have any "objective" reason... I like it and that's all. (Also tried ZL, SS and Yishow...)

If you go to the skin section, you have to see Torsten's skins which are very nice too ! :)

[intrepidsilence]

Anyone else notice some garbage at the bottom of the icon area on the new ML4.3 when you have a full screen of icons? It seems to be "cutting" into the bottom tool bar by 4 to 6 pixels...

[poisonberry]

DanT - I've also upgraded to 4.3 this morning and it runs beautifully. The only trouble I had with 4.2 is that the world clock didn't show the right time. Upgrade with confidence [standard disclaimers apply...]

I *love* the X-Style skin, BTW. Would *pay* for more skins from this designer...

[NR70V-o-holic]

Originally posted by intrepidsilence
Anyone else notice some garbage at the bottom of the icon area on the new ML4.3 when you have a full screen of icons? It seems to be "cutting" into the bottom tool bar by 4 to 6 pixels...

Yes, same here...


Noh

[sebring]

Originally posted by DanT
I'm still using 3.2.2 and still hesitate to upgrade it to 4.3 with all of the commotions posted in this site previously for 4.0-4.2. To those that have happily upgraded from 3.2.2 to 4.3, would you please post your reasons to upgrade? Would the benefits of upgrading outweigh the turmoil you have encountered?

Thanks

Dan,

The main reason for ugrading is support for hires+. One other feature you may appreciate is the ability to move apps and their DBs to MS like MSMount and PiDirect.

The main downside is RAM footprint, particularly if you use the backgrounds. I haven't seen any stability issues lately.

4.3 also allows you to collapse the top and bottom bars independently.

If you use the archive feature of 3.22, it isn't available in 4, I understand they plan to add it.

[DanT]

Thank you all for replies and tips. I have downloaded and will give it a shot this time. I'll report back with the results.

[Nikki205]

Downloaded 4.3 over 4.2 as Megasoft suggested in their e mail and when I started up I got ....4.2.
Sent E mail to them, but has anyone had this problem?
Thanks.

[NR70V-o-holic]

Hmmm.... Mine shows and is ML4.3...

Maybe you´ve put ML4.2 in Rom with Jackflash?

If so, you first have to move it back to Ram to update!

Just a thought....

Noh

[Nikki205]

I needed to click on the applications folder to get the correct choices for 4.3. Thanks.

[Tixx]

I didn't read this thread, but does anyone know if the card manager and the zip folder are coming ?

[Tixx]

Originally posted by DanT
Thank you all for replies and tips. I have downloaded and will give it a shot this time. I'll report back with the results.

I put it on just to see it work again and have no problems with it on my NX. I do remember the problems during its initial release as well.

[Tixx]

Also when I beta tested this the External Memory option for the top bar did not function properly. I look at it now and it still does not function properly as it says I have 16% for both Free and Used memory. Let me know if I missed something, but I reported this 3x when testing.

[DanT]

Well, I finally freed up some RAM and installed ML 4.3. Here are my instalation notes:
1. Installing 4.3 over 3.2.2 led to Fatal Alert at the end of HotSync. Luckily, a soft reset took care the problem.
2. I found both 3.2.2 and 4.3 exist within each other, so I deleted 3.2.2.
3. ML4.3 prc and its 5 pdbs take about 565 KB RAM, which is about 158 KB more than the old 3.2.2. That is not bad considering the much improve graphic and functionality.
4. New category icons are really cool. I installed category icons 2 (11KB) & 3 (10KB). Now I don't have to squint looking for the right category, just find the right icon, :D.
5. I was wanting to have 10 categories (8 are on display and 2 are hidden). ML4.3 allows me to do it. Now I can hide the "All" and personal "Archive" categories. The latter category is for apps that are already assigned to hard buttons and stylus swipes via EasyLaunch. That way I can clear up the screen from the other 8 categories to make room for background image.

One problem I have though, getting the background image displayed in ML4.3 screen. I downloaded car.zip (http://www.cliesource.com/sdownload/fileinfo.php?id=3355) and installed it to the Clie, but the ML4.3 Color & skin setup does not seem to recognize it. How would I make it work?

Thanks.

[DanT]

Originally posted by Tixx
Also when I beta tested this the External Memory option for the top bar did not function properly. I look at it now and it still does not function properly as it says I have 16% for both Free and Used memory. Let me know if I missed something, but I reported this 3x when testing.

Tixx, mine seems to display correctly.  I compare the external memory numbers with Card Info and McFile.  All three numbers are about the same.  The internal free memory numbers displayed by OEM launcher (Menu, App, Info), ML, and McFile are also the same.

[DanT]

I figured out my problem.  The skin and background color depths have to match, duh!  Attached is a screenshot of my new ML4.3 setup.

 

[sebring]

Originally posted by DanT
I figured out my problem.  The skin and background color depths have to match, duh!  Attached is a screenshot of my new ML4.3 setup.

 

I don't know why Megasoft doesn't design ML so whenever you select a skin or background, it automatically selects the correct color depth. Also seems like they would have all those settings in the same dialog box since they are interrelated.

[DanT]

I hear you and just glad to be able to figure it out myself, :D. The total footprint, including 200K background and 2 category icon sets, is 786 KB, not bad. BTW, I don't use any icon packs, just kept the default app icons. They are all good enough.

[YTTAN]

I had change mine. See the following link : http://www.cliesource.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=388

[DanT]

Ah I see how you uploaded yours. Monkeys see, monkeys do, so here is mine:
cool car (http://www.cliesource.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=399). Thanks to shpesft for posting the nice background in the Skin section.

[YTTAN]

not bad for your car...

[DanT]

Yea, I can always dream.

I found a glitch in 4.3. I use to be able to turn off the Clie with Back button hold (set it up by going to Pref, Jog, and tick on Extended push of Back button to Power Off). Now it would do it any more unless I'm in other screen like Wassup, DateBook, etc. Anyone has the same problem?

[Tixx]

Originally posted by DanT


Tixx, mine seems to display correctly.  I compare the external memory numbers with Card Info and McFile.  All three numbers are about the same.  The internal free memory numbers displayed by OEM launcher (Menu, App, Info), ML, and McFile are also the same.

Strange as this has been this way on both my 615 and NX.

[Nikki205]

DanT:
How do you get the category icons to stream across the top of the screen without the tab name showing? Thanks.

[Utes Rule]

Nikki...the way you do it is to select an icon for all of your categories, and then in Preferrences, select "use tabs categories view" and then select 8 columns. Voila!

Also, if you use the NX Style skin that was recently posted (it has an orange look to it), and you use a picture background and select transparent UI, it will make the background of the tab field be transparent as well. It's a nice looking skin in this way.

[Nikki205]

Dan:
Thanks for prompt reply. When I go to Preferences and check Use tabs etc., I only get a choice of up to 6 columns.
N

[intrepidsilence]

On that same subject ( Category Icons ) does anyone know of a more complete set than what is available on Megasoft's site? The Icons they have for categories don't really cover the gamut of what I need...

[DanT]

Originally posted by Utes Rule
Nikki...the way you do it is to select an icon for all of your categories, and then in Preferrences, select "use tabs categories view" and then select 8 columns. Voila!

Also, if you use the NX Style skin that was recently posted (it has an orange look to it), and you use a picture background and select transparent UI, it will make the background of the tab field be transparent as well. It's a nice looking skin in this way.

You got it! ;)

Actually I use 10 tabs, 2 of them (that contains all apps and apps that can be launched by hard buttons or finger swipes) are hidden.  This way I have a clean look (fewer icons) on each tabs, where most icons are spread out in the empty space (sky).  Even then I have as much as 18+ icons (6 columns x 3 rows) w/o obstructing the car image.  I can even put as much as 36+ icons (9 columns x 4 rows) if I collapse the top tool bar w/o obstructing the car image.

[DanT]

Originally posted by Nikki205
Dan:
Thanks for prompt reply. When I go to Preferences and check Use tabs etc., I only get a choice of up to 6 columns.
N

Use small font

[Nikki205]

Dan:
How do you get to choose 8 columns when it only gives me up to 6 to choose?

[DanT]

Originally posted by Nikki205
Dan:
How do you get to choose 8 columns when it only gives me up to 6 to choose?

I assume you're still talking about the category tabs.  You need to go Preferences (Menu, Options, Preferences), put a check mark on "Use tabs categories view", select "Small" for Font.  The Columns selection will automatically increase to 8.

I also use small icons by going to Setup views (Menu, Options, Setup views...) and select "Native" for Large icons view.  

[Nikki205]

Dan:
Got It ! Thanks for your patience and help.

[DanT]

:cool:

Please post your screenshot in the Gallery forum.  I like to see more ML4.3 samples in there.

[Nikki205]

I don't know how to post a screen shot.

[DanT]

Here (http://www.cliesource.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=408) is a screenshot of my Tool tab with hidden top and bottom tool bars.

I got to go now and will post "how to post screenshot" later.

[DanT]

Originally posted by Nikki205
I don't know how to post a screen shot.

It's pretty easy, just go to Gallery section, select screenshots, and upload photo of your screenshot.

I use HRCaptDA (freeware) to capture the Clie's screenshot.  You can find a nice tutorial in this link: http://launchplug.com/HRCaptDA.html

[Nikki205]

Thanks. I'll give it a whirl.