Do You Use Your Finger As Stylus?
With the recent Apple’s iPhone announcement, the “finger touch” has been the point of discussion all over the Web. That makes me wonder what application on PocketPC platform that was designed to use finger instead of stylus. And should software developer create more application using finger interface?
I spend most of my working day in my car. Using a PocketPC in that environment is very different from using it from your desk. The GPS navigation application is designed with large buttons suitable to finger use but I find, unfortunately, it is very rare to find a PIM application that takes this consideration. The Calendar, Contact, etc..are swamped in to the small screen with tiny fonts, very hard to read…And using Microsoft Voice Commend is not reliable due to ambiance noise.
There was one application that was extremely well designed, Mobimate’s Contacts Pro, which is now has become an “abandonware” for PocketPC. The screenshot is from the Palm version but the look and feel is similar. The buttons are large, the predictive input as well as the capability to search Last, First name or company is very handy. With few finger tap, you can find what you are looking for, another tap, the contact information will display on almost full page…I still use this application throughout the day.
The other “Finger friendly” application is SPB Full Keyboard, which is designed for data/text entry. This application is not for car use - It offers full screen mode, you can enter text using large and easy-to-press buttons.
Spb Full Screen Keyboard 3.0 provides all the features to make typing as simple and fast as possible:
- Smart misprint correction
- Smart learning algorithm
- New VGA skins
- Portrait and landscape modes
- Windows Mobile 5.0 support
- Ideal input mode for entering large texts
- Full screen layout
- Large, finger-sized keys
- Word completion
- Integration with any Pocket PC applications
- Customizable keypress sounds
- Automatically edits selected text
- ‘Skins’ and regional layout support
- Can be bound to a hardware key
Please share if you know more “finger-friendly” application you might know!
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
- Pingback by SolSie.com / The Lighter Side of Mobile Technology » Blog Archive » Gadgetmix Reviews Vito Quick Contact V3.0 on January 30, 2007 @ 2:00 am
and phraze-it is great for a thumb input method. can easily enter any text with thumb, one-handed, and still leave you with a view of what you’re typing.