HandySwitcher is a convenient task manager for Windows Mobile Pocket PC that allows you to switch between running apps and also lets you close unnecessary programs to free up system memory. Keep reading to learn more about this useful tool.
Overview
Most of the time, an average user has no idea which apps are running in the background on his Windows Mobile Pocket PC. When multiple applications are open and running in the background, they eat up system memory resources, slowing down the performance of your device. Tapping just once on the HandySwitcher icon on the home screen displays a list of all running apps and you can end any task by simply tapping on the cross icon in front of each entry.
HandySwitcher is an effective task management tool for Windows Mobile Pocket PC that not only allows you to switch between running apps easily, you can also use it to close or end unwanted running tasks with a few taps so that maximum memory and system resources are available for other running programs.
HandySwitcher is developed by DinarSoft (same developers who produced MemMaid) and can be purchased from their website for $9.99. For trial purposes, the developers also offer a free trial version that can be downloaded from the description page or by clicking here.
The program is compatible with all Pocket PCs operating on Windows Mobile 2003/SE, 5.0, 6.0 and 6.1 and supports square, portrait and landscape screen modes.
To install the application on my device, I downloaded the .EXE trial version setup file on my desktop computer after connecting it to my Pocket PC and then used Microsoft ActiveSync to run this file.
Examining HandySwitcher App
Once the app was successfully installed on my Pocket PC, I restarted my device and noticed that a HandySwitcher icon had appeared on the upper taskbar of my screen.
Tapping on this icon displayed the programs main menu where I could see a list of all the running apps with a cross sign in front of each entry. I could then end any task or running application by simply tapping on the cross sign in front of a specific entry. Just where the app list ends there are three more options at the bottom and I was able to end all inactive tasks by tapping once on the ‘Close all but active’ option.
The ‘Close all’ option allowed me to close all running applications with a single tap and tapping on the ‘CPU usage’ option opened a new window displaying the CPU usage for individual running apps.
On the CPU usage window I tapped on the ‘Memory usage’ tab that further displayed the amount of memory used by an individual running the application. Then I opened the main options menu that displayed all the available options that can be configured to tune the program according to your own specifications. Here I could configure all the actions by tapping on the ‘Actions’ tab like selecting okay or ‘X’ button to end a task, tap to close all, tap and hold to close all, tap to show menu, tap and hold to minimize all and enable ok hardware button support.
If you don't want to close a specific app and keep it running all the time, you can add it in the ignore list by tapping on the ‘Ignore’ tab on main options menu.
Selecting the ‘Menu’ tab from main options menu allowed me to configure a list of menu items that I wanted to display on the applications main screen that can be opened by tapping on the app icon on the upper taskbar. Then I tapped on the ‘Display’ tab to configure display properties like selecting the language, displaying menu and custom program icons and background image.
You can also display the HandySwitcher icon anywhere on your home screen by tapping on the ‘Icon’ tab and select menu colors by tapping on the ‘Colors’ tab on main options menu.
After completing the configuration process, I saved all my settings and came out of the application. Now whenever I tapped on the HandySwitcher icon on my home screen, I could easily end and switch between apps. It is as simple as that.
Final Verdict
After using the trial version for some days, I concluded that Dinarsoft HandySwitcher is the most convenient and easiest way to switch between applications and end running tasks.
It includes a long list of options menus that allow you to configure the application in any way you want and has a very small footprint, utilizing the almost negligible system memory so that other applications can run uninterrupted.
The application is as functional as advertised by the developers on their website and I had no trouble accessing it from the program icon displayed on my home screen with a single tap and then ending tasks and switching apps according to my will.
This not only gave me full command over all the installed applications but also freed up precious system memory and resources so that other apps could run at full throttle.
The price of $9.99 also seems to be quite fair, considering the usability and functionality it has to offer. Windows-based PCs include a very convenient task manager but sadly there is no such provision in Windows Mobile platform and I think that HandySwitcher truly fills up this gap.
SOURCE: DinarSoft