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Over the next few weeks I will be doing double duty as a judge in the button enhancer category of Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazines and also presenting reviews of them here. So, you can get a better idea of the software programs in that category and how I will be judging and voting.

Here’s the full list of all the software reviews in the button enhancement category:

FantasticBytes’ Softkey Manager

Burr Oak Software’s HotButton Plus

Hundera’s HButton

Momidi’s BtnPlus

AE Keyboard Mapper

Today, I’ll be doing a review of AE Button Plus. This button enhancer program will enable you to press on a hardware button and perform a variety of tasks or run a program. This button enhancer program is somewhat similar to HButton where you can assign several tasks or run different programs for each hardware button. Unlike HButton, this program isn’t free but at a very modest price of $7.99, you may find that it is well worth the money as it offers more than what the freeware HButton or other similar freeware button enhancer softwares.

Hardware button assignment support

The program overall, allows you to assign various hardware buttons and button combinations (Start, OK, Option+Send, Option+Start, Option+Start, Side, OK key, Windows Key, Enter/Action, Volume Up, Volume Down, Green Phone Button, Red Phone Button, Left Softkey, Right Softkey, Up arrow, Down Arrow, Left Arrow, Right Arrow). As you can already see, AE Button Plus already offers more hardware button support than HButton or other button enhancer programs so you can get an idea why I mentioned that the $7.99 is well worth the money. But wait! For each of these hardware buttons and button combinations, you can assign up to 4 different applications or tasks! Depending on the number of key (or key combination) presses (ie. 1, 2, 3 or hold/long press) you can perform a specific task or launch a particular application. Also, they are not necessarily simply limited to launching programs but perform other tasks like toggling bluetooth, and other normally inaccessible tasks like the display of uptime information, bring up a “show actions menu”, etc.

Unlike other button enhancer software programs, AE Button Plus does require a bit more time and effort to set it up. It’s not difficult to go through, but you will need to set it up before it can be used.

For those who want to skip over all the detailed review and just want a summary, you can jump to the review summary

The screenshots provided below are taken from AE Button Plus’ website. To view a larger picture of the screenshots, simply click on them.

Setting up AE Button Plus and button assignments

To set it up, you will first need to assign the tasks or applications for each hardware button or button combination. You’ll need to launch the AE Button Plus program. You’ll be greeted by the main screen. By default, you should see a list of the various hardware buttons and button combination at the top part of the screen and a huge box at the button with the words “Do Not Touch”. You can scroll down the list and select the hardware button or button combination and start assigning the tasks. Highlight the hardware button or button combination at the top half of the screen. At the bottom part where you see the “Do Not Touch”, tap on it and you should be taken to another screen where you can assign specific tasks for single, double, triple and long press of the button or button combination.

4 tasks assignment per button/button combination

Most likely we will be assigning the first button press as it seems to be the obvious choice. As shown in the screenshot, you can see that after selecting the single press you are given a drop down menu (and it’s a long list) of tasks (61 to be exact, can you believe it?) you can perform ranging from running an application, to simulating a specific key press to toggling bluetooth, etc. You can also run an application that’s installed in RAM, or even on the expansion card. Once you’ve assigned a specific hardware button or button combination, you MUST save it by bringing up the File Menu (via Left softkey, “Save and Exit”). If you forget to save it, it will not be saved and thus won’t work. So, that’s very important. A good idea is to assign one button or task at a time and “Save and Exit” each time so that you guarantee that it’s saved before setting up the next task.

Perform more than launching apps for each key

So, with 4 different tasks or applications you can run for each hardware key or key combination, you can understand the usefulness of this application and how much more this program offers over the competition. Unlike other button enhancers, you are not limited to simply running an application but can perform a variety of other tasks. Imagine how much easier commonly used tasks can be easily assigned and performed by a few hardware button or button combination key presses!

Here are more screenshots of the program:

Video of AE Button Plus

Video at YouTube

Here are my observations:

The Pluses

Vast tasks support including expansion card

Of all the various button enhancer programs (freeware or not), AE Button Plus has got to be the best application in the category simply by offering more options and tasks available for each hardware button or button combination and a huge list of tasks that can be performed (uptime info, task manager, etc). Of course, unlike some of its competitors, the program is not as graphically oriented or graphically presented as others but on a functional point of view, it certainly impresses, well, at least it impresses me since I’m more into substance over style as most of you may be aware.

Choice of 61 different tasks

The impressive line up of 61 different task options for each button or button combination has already swayed me over. I especially like all the normally inaccessible features such as uptime information, battery status, reset info, etc that can be accessed via AE Button Plus.

Up to 4 different task for each button

Aside from that, I am impressed that up to 4 different tasks can be performed for each key or key combination. Also, the expansion card support is another huge plus.

The Minuses

Conflict with Treo 750

Of course, similar to other button enhancer programs where there’s obvious software/hardware conflict with my Treo 750, AE Button Plus also experienced some conflicts where some button presses or combinations would not work. Again, I believe that it is due to the way the Treo 750 was designed with respect to the OS and I believe that other Windows Mobile devices may not experience such problems or conflicts.

Some time required for button assignment

Although it shouldn’t take up too much time to set up and assign the keys with the tasks, it does take a bit of time. So, those who want things running immediately may not like spending the time for button assignments.

Cumbersome software registration process

My only other gripe about the program is the cumbersome software registration process (obviously to combat piracy). Upon purchase of the program, you are originally provided with a special code. You will then be required to input this code at the AE Button Plus registration website where you can then be provided with the official registration code. Also as a preventative measure, each request for the registration ID is logged and recorded. I can understand the reasoning behind it, but like many consumers, are not impressed by all the extra hoops I needed to jump over to register the program. Lastly, the extra time and effort that is required to set up the program can also be considered a minus although in my opinion, spending those extra few minutes are well worth it.

Review Summary

Alexander Eltsyn’s AE Button Plus is an amazing button enhancer program that has won me over and earned my top vote for the Button Enhancer category for this year’s Smartphone and Pocket PC magazine Awards. The extensive list of choices plus the support for four different tasks for each hardware button or button combination truly makes it stand out from others in the same category. The extra bonus of supporting programs installed on the expansion card definitely helps add extra points for the application. However, similar to other applications in the button enhancer category, AE Button Plus also exhibited some conflicts with certain hardware button or button combinations, which I attribute more to the underlying Windows Mobile OS and the hardware make up of the Treo 750 than to the software itself. This is an all-round excellent application that I strongly recommend for those who wish quick access to commonly used tasks and applications and have given top marks in voting for the button enhancer program category.

Don’t take my word for it. Why not try AE Button Plus for yourself? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts about the program.

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