Windows Phone Thoughts: Spb Pocket Plus 2.5: How Good Does it Get?

It's a Utility... What's the Big Deal?
Aside from the configurable Today screen, (as if that wasn't enough), Pocket Plus features add-ons that enhance the way that applications included in the OS function. With Pocket Plus installed, clicking the "x" button in the top right corner of an application actually closes the application instead of minimizing it. Clicking and holding the "x" buttion shows a list of running applications, and you can immediately switch to another application by selecting it from the list. Similarly, with Pocket Plus installed, you can open multiple browser instances of Internet Explorer and quickly switch between them. File Explorer gains the convenience of a "folder up one level" function for easier navigation, and clicking and holding any file or folder opens a menu that adds "properties" the list of things that you can view or modify. Spb mentions that their intention for Pocket Plus 2.5 is to add features and functionality that should have been part of the OS, but were left out. Pocket Plus integrates so well into the OS, in fact, that it doesn't really feel or look like an add-on program at all.


Figure 5: Add files to a ZIP archive with one click.

Whoa! I've Heard that Something Would Make Life Simpler, About a Hundred Times Before!
Yes. There are so many products that make bold claims, and then don't live up to their billing (Yeah, I got burned on the Ginsu knives and the food processor too). So, put those bad memories of your first Flowbee haircut behind you, and rest assured that there are still some products out there that works as they're supposed to, and know that Pocket Plus 2.5 is one of them.


Figure 6: Pocket Plus 2.5 supports full-screen web browsing.