McPhling “Must Have” Donationware for Treo 650
McPhling is one of those utilities that I always considered a must-have on any Palm OS device. When the Treo 600 and its expansion card came along, I found myself giving up on McPhling because it didn’t recognize apps on the card. But McPhling has now been updated and is better than ever!
I play card games on my Treo. A lot. So much so, that I find it annoying that when a call comes in I have to return to the launcher and then return to my game. I can set McPhling so that I press and hold the left arrow on the 5-way and I’ll return to the previous application, or press the right arrow for a popup list of favorites. McPhling is like a mini launcher, or a super shortcut. It won’t replace your launcher by any means, but it’s a great add on. You are limited to 14 applications in McPhling’s launch list, which is why I think of it more as a mini launcher. Just like any other launcher, though, you have the option of viewing the icon as well as application name.
The newest version of McPhling (v 5.71) allows you to include apps on your expansion card. When viewing the apps on your card from McPhling, they show up with a dashed underline. This could be important if you switch memory cards frequently.
The setup screen is simple. In the main screen, you enable the utility with a checkbox, and choose the apps you want to use. You can enable your favorite apps to appear in the popup box, and check those apps that you don’t want to return to (via the back button) if you were there. This is a great feature for the occasion that you need to go into your preferences, but would have no reason to return there. You can choose the order in which your apps appear in the popup screen: Most Recently Used, Alphabetical, Favorites at the top or bottom. You can also choose where on the screen the popup window appears.
Inside the setup screen is the Activation screen. This is where you assign the key press you’ll use to bring up the popup screen, and how you’ll return to the previous app. Your choices are varied so that you can really customize your Treo.
The McPhling author asks for a $12 donation, but no registration key is necessary, and there is no nag screen. You can’t go wrong!
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Perfect! Thanks for pointing this application out, Alli. One annoyance I’ve had with Palm devices is the steps to jump between apps quickly. I put half a dozen apps in the favorites, mostly apps on the card that couldn’t be favorites buttons in phone app. The other 8 ’slots’ are free for recently used apps. Very nice app, and so simple compared to other launchers.
If the developer ever updates, maybe he will add a configurable time to the button hold. :-) It’s a tad long IMO.
In all the time I’ve been on MTDN I’ve never come across this app. It’s great, everyone should download and install this.
It can also launch DAs (Desk Applications).
text messages that appear whenever someone sends one creates problems for me. i’m single and wish there was a way to prevent text from showing, only when i want them to. i know i can turn the phone off, but say if someone wants to use my phone and then a text come thru….not a good thing.HELP!!
James, try getting the latest Treo software version (you may already have it - check the Phone app, Phone Info, and Software version). At least in 1.12 software, the SMS application lets you set a Privacy mode where it will tell you that you have a text, but not show it. However, it’s just a single button press to view the text so it’s not much defence against nosy people! The Palm.com website has downloads, make sure you get the latest one for your phone operator.
james - i know the feeling re: SMS popups. i was in the same boat as you. i use “BUTLER” now and it has a great SMS popup suppressor. i think there are a few other programs out there that do this, but i like butler because it has quite a lot of other useful features (alarms, a decent keyguard, remote lock, and a better attention grabber). note that i am only a happy butler customer and have no affiliation with whoever the hells makes it.
RMT.