SPB Mobile Shell is a practical enhancement to any Pocket PC, for it gives you total access to all the operations of your device from the Today screen. Not having SPB Mobile Shell would be like trying to fly a space craft without a control panel. With this brilliant application, you can check system status, launch programs, manage tasks, perform a soft reset, and adjust almost any system control. And, you can do it all with your finger because of the large icons—no need for a stylus.

I hope that in future versions the Mobile Shell will always be available in all applications without having to return to the today screen. Another problem is that you cannot rotate the screen on square screen devices such as the Treo 750 or iPaq rw6525. The screen brightness adjustment utility did not work on square screen devices either.

This is not the most sophisticated program launcher or task manager program available. In fact, SPB makes much more robust desktop programs. But the nice thing about this shell is that you can incorporate other programs into it to expand its usefulness.

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Criteria  Rating Design 4 Usability 5 Features 4 Cost/Benefit 4 Overall (not an average)	Pros Handy access to depths of system for quick retrieval from desktop Large size buttons for finger tapping—no stylus required Works with other applications such as weather, laucher, task manager, PIM enhancers
	Cons Not completely programmable for content screens Perhaps a shade pricey Limited to five photo phone dial buttons Mobile Shell is not available from all applications Some functions do not work on square screen devices