Profile Manager Round Up

[AndyCr15]

Okay, I'm after a program that will manage profiles for me. When I go to work, I switch it to work and the phone goes into a silent more (vibrate) checks e-mail every 15 minutes and gives me reminders of sms, missed calls etc.

I plug my HD into the car and it puts the sound back on, I don't get reminders, just the initial message, Bluetooth comes on and connects to my car kit.

I get home, BT turns off, WiFi comes on and reminders come back.

There seems to be quite a lot of different options out there, so I propose to make this the definative thread on the matter. Please post what software you have used, provide a link, give the price (if applicable) and a short 'review'. I will edit into this post everyone's findings and it can then be used as a reference to all those that come along asking. Sound good?

So, I've used -

pocketMax - phoneAlarm (http://www.pocketmax.net/phoneAlarm.html) - €14.50 (Lite version - £13)

http://www.pocketmax.net/images/pa_v2_ani.gif

Pro's - Very powerful, options to set almost everything thinkable in your profile..
Con's - Not the best UI. Today screen friendly (not so good for TF3D).

Phone Weaver (http://www.sbsh.net/product.php?id=28) - $14.95 (£10.27)

http://www.sbsh.net/pictures/products/wm_pro/phoneweaver/overview.jpg

Pro's - Pretty good control. Nice UI. Can change profiles through an icon.
Con's - Setting profiles can be confusing. (How do I have vibrate, but with reminders?) No location based profile switching.


To come...

CellProfileSwitcher (http://thinkabdul.com/2006/10/31/gsm-laccell-id-location-based-wifibluetoothprofile-changer-software-for-windows-mobile-ppc/) - FREE


SPB Phone Suite (http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/phonesuite/screenshots.html?en) - $19.95 (£13.70)

http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/phonesuite/screenshots/120.png

Pro's - Reasonably flexible. Very nice interface.
Con's - Requires a today screen. No location based profile switching.

Location Profile Mobile (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=470501) - FREE

Far too early days. Very basic at present.


rk Sleep (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1428076)

http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=47109&d=1187079982

I haven't tested rk Sleep yet.


CommMgrPro (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=299070)

See this post (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=3218627#post3218627) for information on this product.

[AndyCr15]

PocketZenPhone (http://www.pocketzenphone.net/PZPForum/index.php)

http://www.pocketzenphone.net/PZPScreenShots/PZPAnimated.gif

[AndyCr15]

And maybe this one too?

[AndyCr15]

No one with any experiences they wish to add?

[deedee]

I've tried most of the above and am currently using SPB PhoneSuite, as much because it integrates with Mobile Shell as anything.

I would agree that PhoneAlarms interface leaves lots to be desired and PhoneWeaver is just bewildering.

What is missing from PhoneSuite is the ability to change ring tones/notifications on a profile by profile basis. All you have control over is the volume and vibrate function. I am a member of the SPB forum and this is a currently outstanding feature request

[AndyCr15]

Does anyone know if there are any more options out there?

[TVDinner]

Hello. Here is what I am looking for. So far I am very frustrated with my HTC FUZE with this one feature.

I would like to have more control of the phone profile options like I used to have on my Blackberry phones. Basically I want to be able to make set custom profiles as I want them.

For example. With my old phones I was able to use an "advanced" feature in the phone profile section to create what I called a "Night" setting. When this setting was activated the entire phone was on silent (texts, emails, etc, everything was silent) EXCEPT the phone. The phone would ring if I received a call. So it was basically a "phone only" setting. This was perfect at night because I would only receive a call if it was a real emergency.

I KNOW that I can go into the Sounds and Notifications settings and turn everything off except the phone, but I have to do that manually and if I change phone settings everything goes back and I have to again manually do what I want.

I HAVE tried the Inesoft program and the spb phone suite. both have profiles built into them, but no way to do what I mention above with my "night" setting.

DeeDee, I am also using MobileShell and currently spb phone suite, but as mentioned above it does not allow me to set up custom profiles the way I want to.

I look forward to any feedback anyone might have. Thanks!

[deedee]

DeeDee, I am also using MobileShell and currently spb phone suite, but as mentioned above it does not allow me to set up custom profiles the way I want to.

I look forward to any feedback anyone might have. Thanks!

In PhoneSuite there is the option to edit notification type, set this to "Off". Should work, it does for me, just tested it.

[TVDinner]

In PhoneSuite there is the option to edit notification type, set this to "Off". Should work, it does for me, just tested it.

can you post a pic of where this option/command is because I can not find what you are speaking of. Thanks!

[deedee]

OK, it may be a version thing, not sure which version you have, mine is 1.3.0 Build 1559.

[TVDinner]

OK, it may be a version thing, not sure which version you have, mine is 1.3.0 Build 1559.

that is the same build I am using, but the setting image you posted still makes you receive either the sound or vibration you have set up for text messages, emails, etc. You have to still manually go to Sounds and Notifications and manually turn off the sounds/vibrate for those features. And once you chance back to another profile, those settings all reset and you have to manually adjust them again the next time you want to use your custom profile.

I think my point is that there is no way to make a set profile the way you want. I wish you could just do this

Phone - vibrate and ring
email - off, or no notification
text - off, or no notification
sms - off, or no notification
calendar - off, or no notification

something like that.

[deedee]

Weird, I have just retested the settings as in the screen shot and while the phone rings, and I can hear the ring tone, an email is delivered in silence. Not tested SMS yet but I can't see why it would be different.

[TVDinner]

Weird, I have just retested the settings as in the screen shot and while the phone rings, and I can hear the ring tone, an email is delivered in silence. Not tested SMS yet but I can't see why it would be different.

right, it WILL work if you set everything in the sounds and notifications settings as I described. BUT when you switch profiles in phone suite during the day (in my example I was setting up a night setting) and then go back to the Custom one, all of the sounds and notification settings have reset. you then have to go through all of them again and uncheck vibrate or sound. You can not set the custom profile so it SAVES all of the phone settings for repeated use. The next time you have to set it all up again. does that make sense.

I just tested on my fuze and exactly what I describe above happened. it worked as i wanted, but when i switched profiles, and then tried to switch back to the custom one, I was forced to reset the sounds and notification settings for each thing. that makes no sense and takes to much time.

[AndyCr15]

phoneAlarm will do all this for you. It has by far the mosy options. You can even change how often e-mail is checked in each profile.

[TVDinner]

phoneAlarm will do all this for you. It has by far the mosy options. You can even change how often e-mail is checked in each profile.

I will check it out now. thank you for the feedback.

[AndyCr15]

I would add, the best way to run it is -

Turn off TF3D in Today settings. Add just pA. Go to pA options and enable TouchFlo mode. Reset the device. When it comes back up, it will load phoneAlarm and all you need do is press the left softkey labelled 'Manilla' to load TF3D with pA running in the back ground.

Then, make a file in your start menu -> programs that points to "\windows\paWakeup.exe" -pm. Call it something like Profiles.lnk and then add that to your programs tab on TF3D. Now when you tap that, you can manually select a profile.

It now seems to run with very little impact on phone performance.

[TVDinner]

Andy
I do not use TF3D. I use spb Mobile Shell. Do you have any idea how this program will work with that application.

[AndyCr15]

Hmm, you can probably get it to work in a similar manner as I explained above, but set the left soft key to run mobile shell instead? The link for profile changing I would think will work the same...?

[TVDinner]

Andy, I have installed the program, but am a bit lost. Not sure how to use the features with Mobbile Shell

[AndyCr15]

Have you read the bit I posted about making a profile.lnk?

Set up your profiles, press your link to change them. You can also use automatic switching...

[TVDinner]

i can't figure it out, lol

[AndyCr15]

Maybe ask on his forum?

http://www.pocketmax.net/

[TVDinner]

Maybe ask on his forum?

http://www.pocketmax.net/

thanks for the link. I will check that out today.

[montecristo1]

No one with any experiences they wish to add?

Profiles for Windows Mobile is my favorite!

http://www.mobilecastle.biz/mobiles/pocket-pc-applications/28401-profiles-windows-mobile-v2-2-0-672-a.html

[TVDinner]

Profiles for Windows Mobile is my favorite!

http://www.mobilecastle.biz/mobiles/pocket-pc-applications/28401-profiles-windows-mobile-v2-2-0-672-a.html

can you create and save custom profiles with it and choose what does or does not work whenever you want it to.

[dourediff]

Does anyone know if there are any more options out there?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1428076

rk-sleep... on the similar lines

[AndyCr15]

Thanks, do you have any experience of this software?

[NLS]

If nobody else does it, I'll probably make a mini review of CommManagerPro - a program made by a fellow XDA-Devs user, not some company and a program that I believe beats the cr*p out of the others.

[kauka187]

If nobody else does it, I'll probably make a mini review of CommManagerPro - a program made by a fellow XDA-Devs user, not some company and a program that I believe beats the cr*p out of the others.

that would be great as im looking for the best profile type changer solution that works perfectly with touchflo 3d on my HD

[my969]

I've been using PZP
www.pocketzenphone.net
might not be as pretty as the others but very configurable and best of all you can backup your settings so you just have to restore your settings whenever you flash in a new ROM

[NLS]

OK let's do a mini review of CommManagerPro.

It is shareware program made by Daniel Herrero and the main support thread is right here in XDA Devs (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=299070). I am not sure of the limitations after test period expires, but the thing is you can try it full for some time (so DO it).

The power of the program is its feature set which continuously expands, without changing the price or charging for an upgrade. In fact as you'll find out below, there is great new functionality (I am talking about something that could be a whole different program and there ARE commercial programs for this functionality) coming in about a month and although *I* proposed Daniel to charge something for it, he said he will not (!).

Anyway, let see what it does (a quick n' dirty list, without screenshots)...

CommManagerPro is:
- A profile scheduler, based on time/day and GSM cells basicaly, but also other factors. So for example myself, I have four profiles:
(a) A profile automaticaly selected when I am at work (detected from the GSM cells around there), where I have WiFi on and BT off (don't use a headset there).
(b) A profile automaticaly selected for home until 23:30, where WiFi and BT are off (no wireless for now near my 9 months old son).
(c) An automatic profile for home at night (23:30 - 7:30) where GSM is also off and volume is off.
(d) A profile automaticaly selected when I am not at home or work, where BT turns on (since I can be on my bike where I have a headset in the helmet).
(e) A profile automaticaly selected if I have an appointment and use the word "DND" in it (!). Mutes the phone.
(f) A profile for airplane mode, manually selected.

- A manager to switch on and off the various device radios (and not only). In case you don't want to mess with profiles (or even on top of them).

- A mini tracker (not very extensive functionality, but still works).

-

It's home screen is where you see signal strength, battery charge, active profile (where you can also select one and lock it), and a set of buttons to turn individual things on/off. WiFi, Bluetooth, volume, GSM etc.

Each selection (inc. full profile) can be switched on "for ever" (until changed by another profile, a schedule etc.) or for some time. This way you can turn Bluetooth to do an exchange for a few minutes and don't have to remember to switch it off again.

The real power of the program though is hidden in its settings.

Let's describe the tabs roughly.

In the first tab, we see cells that are around and active cell. We also see if this cell is already assigned to a profile.

The second is the most powerful tab, as in there you see/create/assign/delete profiles and schedules for them. Each profile can be configured for separate days, specific times and of course be assigned to sets of cells. Also for each profile you define what happens when you ENTER the profile and when you EXIT the profile. Things you can currently (because Daniel keeps extending it) affect:
(a) Bluetooth
(b) WiFi
(c) Speaker (and vibration)
(d) Phone (GSM)
(e) Connections (turn on and off each of them even individually - for example my provider has set up for me a separate MMS connection account and a separate for 3G "Internet" - so I never close MMS).
(f) Band selection (2G/3G)
(g) Beam (for irDA capable phones)
(h) Send a mail
(i) Send an SMS
(j) Set call forwarding
(k) Vibrate (not set vibration, but actually vibrate for feedback)
(l) Open a file
(m) Close a program
(n) Change today theme
(o) Set brightness
(p) Change your ring tone
(q) Turn device on
(r) Turn screen off
(s) Put device to stand by
(t) Perform soft reset
(almost run out of letters here)
You understand the power of the application...

The third tab is a bit of a "debug" tab as it just shows you the list of pending profile schedules for the day.

The fourth tab, handles how your profiles match with your appointmens. You can use keywords in your appointment subject or category or both. As an example you see above, that I have a profile for when I put "DND" as category.

Fifth tab deals with individual connections (network connections as you have set them). Here is where you can switch off GPRS so you don't pay because the weather wants to update.

Next tab is also a debug tab, the event log.

Seventh tab is very important when you first make your profiles (then you forget about it after all is set). It is the tab where it shows the cells you have used and when. Why is it important initially? Because for example you want to make an "at work" profile like I did. How do you know AAAAALL the cells the is possible to lock while at work? Well you see there. You are at work between 9 and 17? Then check the list and make sure to assign (DIRECT from this tab!) all cells you see there between 9-17 to your "at work" profile. You check it for two three days to make sure you didn't miss a cell (that maybe you never locked on the first day) and then you are set! Stupidly simple.

Next tab is the mini tracker. It uses Daniel's own server (for free), where you can set an account, and can log there many details INCLUDING GPS coordinates.

The next two tabs are very interesting for a "comm manager" program. The first shows the current your device draws in a graph (!) and the third, the battery level! Very nice for testing those patched radios.

Tab 11, 12 and 13 are various options. Let's see just some:
- SIM PIN
- Mail account to use
- If it refreshes periodicaly to see if it is still where it should and uses correct profile.
- Language
- If it's protected from closing by Windows (you want this)
- If it's integrated with TF3D.

In fact this last one, in not only for TF3D. What it does is that it replaces the operator's name with the active profile and schedule. You always know what operator you use, but what you want to know is which profile is active. So even out of TF3D, if you have something in your today item or dialer that shows the operator, now it will show active profile and schedule. ULTRA important feature if you ask me (but what did you expect me to say, it was my idea to add this).

So from the description of the program you can actually see some of its power.

What is coming VERY soon?

Call and SMS filtering!!! Yes it could be a separate program, but no, CMP will get this functionality too!!! A total communication manager!

What I'd like to see:

- Although I am 90% a TF3D user, I want him to fix and extend the today plugin functionality (it's a bit limited and a bit ugly currently).

- A MUCH better skin. Big blame to me though, as I started a very nice skin (and if I continued in the same rate it would be ready in less than a week) and stopped it for now (Real Life caught up with me). But invitation is open, for anyone to make something nice. Skizzo has made the original skin, it is nice (like all Skizzo work), but "too colorful" for many people's tastes (inc. me).

Apart from those things (which don't shadow the program at all), we are talking about a program that is not only "great", but it is in fact a "MUST HAVE" for WM based phones, something that WM should have embedded, or at least device vendors or telephony providers.

Feel free to go to his site and check it out: http://www.commmgrpro.com/

[danielherrero]

Wow Nick, nice review!
If you dont mind I will include it in the official guide as introduction because It explains very well what CommMgrPro is using easy words. Thanks!
Dani

[montecristo1]

can you create and save custom profiles with it and choose what does or does not work whenever you want it to.

You can set up 9 profiles. For example... I have one profile I named 'office', my ringtone is low, and have many options; to have wifi on/off, bluetooth on/off, system sound on/off, screen portrait or landscape, phone on/off, if you want an app to execute or schedule a profile to take over at a certain time or day...

You can customize 9 profiles to however you want it...

I wish it had backlight settings... but it doesn't... I remember when I had a palm... there was something like this with backlight setting...

[NLS]

Wow Nick, nice review!
If you dont mind I will include it in the official guide as introduction because It explains very well what CommMgrPro is using easy words. Thanks!
Dani

of course I don't mind - make sure to help these people a bit more about your software

they need to see the Light :D

[kauka187]

so im just trying out this amazing software on my htc hd and works really well apart from the fact the cmp home screen only takes up the left top corner of my screen. is this due to the hd's resolution? im using the qvga white skin cab which i thought worked with all resolutions.

cheers

[danielherrero]

so im just trying out this amazing software on my htc hd and works really well apart from the fact the cmp home screen only takes up the left top corner of my screen. is this due to the hd's resolution? im using the qvga white skin cab which i thought worked with all resolutions.

cheers

Hi¡
YOu should install the VGA skin. You can download it from www.commmgrpro.com. If the program is already installed then only install the new skin
Dani

[kauka187]

any updates to this thread?

[danielherrero]

Hi
There is a thead about CommMgrPro updated daily here. in dev and hack thread. Today has been released the version V2.6. Currently is adding more features and actions and being ported to Android devices...
Greetings
Danii

[AndyCr15]

Oooh, maybe I'll give that a go. I like I can track a phone from the website (if I understand it properly)

I came down to PhoneAlarm being the best I'd used, but then stopped using that after I realised how much battery it used, even with the location based profile changing turned off.

[Philip]

any updates to this thread?Two updates:

1) PocketZenPhone is now free, and part of the source code has been released. The downside is that, after using PZP for many years and on many devices, I just cannot seem to get it to work with my Touch HD.

2) I have had good results with G-Profile - http://www.ageye.de/index.php?s=gprofile/about. It doesn't have the complexity (yet) of profile switching and priorities that PZP has, and the user interface is a bit unintuitive, but it looks as if development is ongoing.

[bford]

I am surprised that there is no app to add more functionality to the Manila sound tab. I have searched XDA-developers and the web in general and not found anything offering this. The profiles section of the sound tab is very sparse in allowing only four profiles and none of them is generous in its customisation options. Even one more tab that allowed savable configurations would be hugely beneficial. I can see that the immense options available in tailored profile apps are not going to be possible but just a little more flexibility would leave me happy in not needing the likes of phonealarm. Has anyone come across anything that allows additional profiles within the sounds tab?

[Trident]

This has added some nice options that I've checked out from this thread.
One that has not been mentioned is PhotoContactsPro by PocketX (http://www.pocketx.net/products/photocontactspro_ppc/). It's really great and has one of the main features that I want- a non-today icon that shows the current profile and opens the main program when tapped. The icon resides in the softkey/bottom bar between the two softkeys.
SBSH PhoneWeaver also has this functionality, but the icon that resides in the topbar is not reliable in WM6.5. It did work well in WM6.1 if anyone is using that.

[AndyCr15]

It's kinda expensive though :-/ Does it work on 6.5 ROM's?

[richratt]

I've just started using G-Profile (€4.99) and it seems excellent. You can change just about everything you can think of

- turn on/off Wi-Fi/BT/Phone/Data
- change ringtones / types
- start/stop programmes
- change the backlight

and the profiles can be triggered automatically based on things like time of day or which cell tower ID you're near (i.e. for work or for triggering Wi-Fi when you're at home) or when you're connected via BT headset.

I tried CommMgrPro on my Diamond but it installed in QVGA. I found G-Profile before bothering to try to fix it.

There's a trial available if you want to suck it and see.
http://www.ageye.de/index.php?s=gprofile/about

Cheers folks.
rich