B of the first part of our workshop on e-mail clients for Windows Mobile, we talked about free software. For obvious reasons, those often do not possess all the necessary functions, and declared the possibility of not always work correctly. So now we consider the most notable commercial postal service - ProfiMail and FlexMail.
ProfiMail
ProfiMail - an excellent program for e-mail, familiar to many more smartphones based on operating system Symbian. This mailer combines rich functionality and very user-friendly interface.
Interface
The program interface is quite simple and is performed under the motto "nothing more". Someone, perhaps he will recall the famous desktop e-mail client The Bat!. In the main window displays a list of mailboxes, separately made the folder "Archive" and "Sent Items" (the display of these folders, you can disable the settings). IMAP - accounts are designated as semi-transparent folders. Opposite to each of the boxes very clearly posted information about the total number of messages and unread messages. At the bottom are the basic controls:
- "Menu" - the main program.
- "Update All" - by pressing this button to update all mailboxes for which the option "to include in the update.
- "File manager - Built-file manager.
- "Exit."
Controls are separated from each other at sufficient distance, therefore easily can be upgraded e-mail and browse the contents of letters without using the stylus. In addition, the soft keys in ProfiMail tied to hardware buttons on your PDA or smartphone that adds convenience when viewing mail.
Settings
Creating and editing accounts hosted by a relatively simple and intuitive. In "My Account" there are three options - Edit, Create, and Delete.
In the input parameters, besides the basic mailbox settings, such as user name, password, type box (the program supports POP3 and IMAP), you can find a few additional points:
- Receive messages. If this option is enabled, the verification mail messages will be fully loaded from the server, otherwise - only the headlines.
- Included in the update. Noting this item checked, we are able to update the box by pressing the "Refresh All" in the main window.
- Send a blind carbon copy. An interesting option, which allows you to send a blind carbon copy on any mailbox that the user indicates at this point.
- More. In this section you can change the port the POP3 and SMTP, enable authentication APOP and SMTP, activate a secure SSL connection, set a limit on the number and amount of downloaded messages.
Another nice moment that will be useful for users new to the settings in your mail client, is the presence of hints for each menu item. These tips are located at the bottom of the screen.
In addition to the settings on each mailbox, the program provides also general settings, where the user sets the access point to connect to the mail server, select the font size (small, normal or large), enables or disables the panel read the message, and activates several additional options .
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Among the additional options: - Update Period-mail, which is set in minutes. Unfortunately, setting up automatic updates of each box in the program is not available. Accordingly, the auto update will be made for all the boxes in settings are enabled option "Enable the update.
- Sound alerts. You can select sound notifications for incoming messages. Correctly play the files in the format wav.
- The volume of alerts.
- Imaging. Useful option to obtain images in the message body format html.
- Scale images. The scale of the map image in html-mails.
- Show - Archive / Sent. Show or hide the corresponding folders in the main window.
- Auto-Start. Autorun program.
- Language. Select Interface Language. Submitted 13 languages, including Russian.
- Color scheme. Choosing the color scheme of registration of the six proposals.
Your Mail
The program supports simultaneous work with several mailboxes (up to eight in total). All boxes are displayed in the main window. Each of them can be updated individually or, as previously described, to update all selected mailboxes at once by clicking on the icon "Update All". One major advantage over other ProfiMail postal service is the availability of flexible custom rules and filters to deal with incoming mail. The filter is adjusted once for all the boxes.There are many filter conditions and possible action to "elect" of letters, such as:
- Note the removal of
- remove immediately
- get header
- get the message
- lower priority
- raise the priority of
- Hide Post
- stored in the folder "..." (this option when testing was not working)
- free part of the message (the necessary volume in KB).
The following conditions are met: - Subject begins with ... "
- Subject contains "..."
- "From" begins with "..."
- "From" contains "..."
- "To" contains "..."
- Size is less than "..." (the required volume in kB)
- Size is greater than "..." (the required volume in kB)
- Age less than "..." (required age in days)
- Age greater than "..." (required age in days)
- Conv. less spam "..."
- Conv. Spam less "...."
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For the latter two conditions need the support of a mail server spam filter, Spam Assassin. All settings are in the menu item "Rules". In general, you can create a huge number of fairly complex environment, thereby sorting the mail as we see fit. Also want to separately consider the option "Hide message. This is a very handy feature for conducting private correspondence. Hide messages can be automatically or manually by the condition. If you selected multiple messages and hid them, then they will not be visible until we activate the display of hidden messages. Password protection of hidden messages is not provided.
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When you open the box we see the list of messages / headers that are downloaded from the server. Right for each letter indicated the total volume and volume of the part that is already loaded. The left side of each letter corresponds to an icon showing the status of the letter: Loaded in whole or in part, is dated to the removal, posted a response but also displayed the presence of attachments. Create your own folders is not supported.
Conveniently organized by sorting messages by date, subject and sender.
ProfiMail supports HTML formatting pages that you can view images in emails, as well as displaying a letter to the pervonchalnom form, with the original formatting. This is - one of the advantages ProfiMail before the standard Pocket Outlook.
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When you view the message on the bottom as icons appear most frequently used functions: "reply", "forward" and "delete". Ibid at will can enable or disable the preview pane message. You've got to say that any problems with the standard encoding KOI-8R / U and Win1251 were not observed, the text messages always displayed correctly. Another advantage of the postal service - excellent work realized with attachments. The program has its own means for viewing attachments, which can be opened by clicking on the icon in the lower left corner of the letter. In many ways, comfort is achieved thanks to the integrated file manager ProfiExplorer, which, incidentally, can be used separately. Feature-rich, he can not boast, but perfectly fulfills its main function - navigation through folders, and also has a rather attractive and intuitive interface.
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In general, if the attachments contain a graphic or text file, it can be viewed using built-in mailer. In addition, using ProfiExplorer Attachments can be saved to any folder in phone memory or expansion card.
However, the main negative ProfiMail - the inability to automatically save all attachments to the memory card that will obviously not for lovers of sharing large files. As for working with mail protocol IMAP, then realized it's pretty convenient. Appearance is the same as in the case of POP3 - the same icons and pictograms. The menu appeared expected options - "Delete" and "Hide", designed to update only the folders of interest to us. Maintain and create new folders.
Additional features and synchronization
Besides the basic functions ProfiMail has some additional features: - Contains the above-mentioned built-in explorer ProfiExplorer
- It works with standard address book
- Allows you to view text and image files
- Allows you to work with Zip files
- Has a built-in traffic counter
- Provides detailed and clear instructions (unfortunately only in German and English).
The program works well as via GPRS, so when you connect to your PC using Active Sync.
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Fly in the ointment will not in the current version of the mail synchronization with Microsoft Outlook. Another feature of the program, which someone may seem inconvenient, ProfiMail is the interaction with the mail server. As stated by the developer, ProfiMail displays the same messages that are stored on the server. And this is expressed in the fact that the program does not remove the setting of letters from the phone so that when this letter remained on the server. If we removed the letter in ProfiMail and updated the box, a letter will be deleted from the server. If we removed the letter on the server, then updating the box on the PDA, we find the absence of this message, and among loaded messages in ProfiMail. Also, if we carry the required letter in the file, the next update it will be removed from the server. In addition, there is another disadvantage. Rather unusually, the program behaves when we meet her collapse. For some unknown reason, the application does not appear in the list of running in any well-known manager, including a built-in Windows. This is not the best way affects the ease of access to the postal service when it is folded. Today its plug ProfiMail has therefore have to allocate a separate space for the client or the icon in the main menu, or used plugins for the desktop. Less is not critical, but, nevertheless, adds inconvenience. Complete edition of the program is available for $ 24.99. Price is certainly not the smallest, but for the money we get just two products - a great mail client and a good file manager.
Output
Program ProfiMail perfect lovers a simple and intuitive interface. Wins over high-speed performance of the postal service, as well as the opportunity to comfortably manipulate the program with one hand, without using the stylus, a very thought-out interface and integration with the standard phone book. Perfectly realized here and search for contacts and work with letters and attachments. In this case, ProfiMail perfectly copes with its main responsibilities - work with e-mail via POP3 and IMAP4. Among the shortcomings, as in Outlook Mobile, the client does not have enough options to automatically save all attachments.
Strengths: - Simple and intuitive interface
- Good localization
- Support for flexible setup mail rules
- Ability to work with a standard address book
- Built-in tools for viewing graphic files and text files
- Support for HTML formatting
- Integrated file manager
- The ability to hide messages manually or automatically
- Supports Zip archives
- Built-in traffic counter
- There is detailed and clear instructions
- Support for QVGA and VGA resolution
- High speed operation
- Automatic and manual updates.
Disadvantages: - Lack of synchronization with Microsoft Outlook
- The disappearance of program managers from all tasks after collapse
- Lack of support for Direct Push
- Lack of options for removing messages from the client to save them on the server
- Storage-mail only device
- Lack of opportunities to work with SMS / MMS
- Inability to integrate into the system (can be done by the client by default).
Ratings: - Interface: 5
- Functionality: 4
- User support: 5
- Reliability: 4
- Total: 4,5
FlexMail
FlexMail (former WebIS Mail) is deservedly considered by many experienced users the best postmen for Windows Mobile devices. The program combines the beneficial user-friendly interface and functionality comparable with popular desktop clients.
Interface
FlexMail the default does not support the Russian language, but thanks to the efforts of Artyom Timofeev (Timas), for which a special thank you to him, to light a decent crack, including for the latest version of FlexMail 2007 3.1. In this review we will consider this version. The first nice feature of the program Consists in the fact that you have a right to choose one of three types of registration of mailboxes:
- One window (the type, as in the standard Outlook Mobile)
- Tabbed (tree structure)
- AngryPlastic (kind of reminiscent of design Microsoft Outlook).
You can enable or disable display of column headings (subject, from someone who, received, sent and size), it is possible to display the preview pane. Supported and sorting of letters. Another highlight of the program is the opportunity to choose one of two ways to display the menu. By default, the lower pane of the program, you'll see shortcuts to frequently used functions:
- Create a new message
- Settings menu (in the form of icons)
- Type
- Menu for sending and receiving (as an icon)
- Control menu letter (as an icon)
- Removal.
Such a map can get quick access to applications using the stylus. If we want to run the program without resorting to the stylus, you can activate in the View menu option "Menu soft keys". Then in the bottom of the screen will disappear all the icons shortcuts, and there will be two soft keys that are mapped to hardware buttons PDA.
In the settings menu of the program also provides many opportunities for easy work with the program.
In particular, the following options: - Show icon in system tray
- Close the program "Close" button
- Switching the orientation of the screen when the program starts
- Add new item "Message" in the system menu "New"
- Add option "Send by e-mail» in the Windows Explorer context menu
- Notification Settings
- Preferences viewing
- Encoding Settings
- Settings to delete messages
- Font settings of the program.
And that's just basic functions. In addition, once we note that the program can be fully integrated into the system, that is to serve the default mail client, as well as handle the SMS-message. In short, FlexMail interface is well thought out and allows the user to customize the look of the program to your liking.
Settings
Account settings are carried out under "Service" step. Nice detail: after entering the address of a mailbox domain name is automatically inserted in the address server incoming and outgoing mail. The next step required to enter your login, and once the program immediately gives us options to choose from, based on the data that were listed earlier.
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At the final stage of creating an account mailer prompts you to select any folder on your device memory or memory card to store outgoing and incoming mail, that for many users is crucial when choosing a mail program. It is also worth noting that move mail database and can be later manually. For this we must find and move into the folder you want the mail database file. Usually it is stored in the folder where the program is installed and has a name like this - {4C945A00-C672-01C2-8CEA-8BD9E0DAD5}. Vol Once the mail database is moved, you need to edit Settings.ini in the program folder. Key search string - file name with the transfer base. In this line, you simply change the file path, for example, StorageDBFileName = \ Program Files \ WebIS \ Mail \ Data \ {4C945A00-C672-01C2-8CEA-8BD9E0DAD5}. Vol. In the advanced settings you can activate a secure connection using SSL or TSL, adjust work through SOCKS-server enable automatic checking mail at startup and the client at specified intervals, as well as limit the amount of load-mail by date or volume of posts. There you can choose to receive headlines or emails completely. Under "Delete" option available "Leave a copy on the server, configure automatic deletion of mail after a specified number of days, and mode settings to delete messages on the server and mail client.
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It is possible to create a signature for each mailbox.Despite the fact that a lot of settings, work with them without difficulty, well-structured sections, names of logical and understandable.
Your Mail
When you first start FlexMail proposes to establish itself as the default client. If you prefer, you can also activate the option to install the program as a standard SMS client. In the main window when you first start the program displays the three standard accounts:
- Local Folders (Local Folders)
- Active Sync (PC synchronized with the e-mail)
- SMS.
Unfortunately, once we assign FlexMail client default settings of the built-in customer FlexMail does not carry, we have to start all over again. Separately, I want to note the peculiarity of postal service with the Cyrillic alphabet. To properly display Cyrillic characters need to put Win 1251 as the default encoding before will be made first boot-mail. If you do not, then there may be difficulties in further work with Cyrillic. When testing was not exposed to the default encoding, the program could not automatically recognize the Cyrillic alphabet, and even after deleting the account and create a new with the same name and same data folder, and re-downloading your mail, Cyrillic is still displayed incorrectly. The problem was solved by creating a new mail folders.
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However, multiple mailboxes, organized conveniently, you can update the contents of each box separately from selected mailboxes or all mailboxes at once. Superbly supported by HTML-formatting, writing on the PDA looks almost as well as on the desktop.
Displays HTML messages must be activated via the menu. Working with attachments is also quite simple and convenient. Attachments are located in a separate tab letter. Built-in tools for viewing graphics and text files FlexMail has no files will be opened by the respective applications. It is possible to maintain attachment, either individually or all at once.
The new version of FlexMail an opportunity to create filters for incoming mail. So, you can create separate filters for each mailbox.
Letters are sorted in the following fields: - Subject
- Sender
- Message Body
- Date
- Priority
- Status
- Recipient
- Copy
- Recipient or a copy
- Ages of posts
- Size.
The following conditions are met: - Move to "..."
- Copy to "..."
- Send
- Mark as read
- Remove.
List of possible actions is not very large, however, covers the basic needs of users. Working with the mail through the POP3 protocol does not cause difficulties. When you create a box the user selects, as will be sorted letters from the boxes. The default option provides copies of all mail in local folders of the program (Local Folders), therefore, have the opportunity to "collect" all mail from multiple mailboxes in a single local folder. It is also possible to separate databases for each storage box. The option of copying mail from one box to another, supported the creation of their own folders, and also, curiously, sending mail attachment.There is also a useful option "transformation" of the text messages in a task or meeting. Again affects the qualitative integration of FlexMail into the system. Working with FlexMail is more reminiscent of the work with a desktop client Outlook Express and places The Bat!. The program supports the protocol IMAP4. I must say that in previous versions of postal service encountered difficulties when synchronizing, if the folders on the server have names written in Cyrillic. In the tested version is no problem when you synchronize folders Russian was not observed.
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In the settings menu folder IMAP server has the ability to customize rules for each folder separately, to establish rules for downloading messages and remove them from the server. In general, the fans work with IMAP mail should stay happy.
Additional features and synchronization
One of the main differences FlexMail from other mail clients - the ability to integrate into the system and the ability to synchronize with your desktop PC.
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When connecting to a PC that you selected in ActiveSync folders are synchronized with the account folder «Active Sync», in general, the synchronization process is similar onomu using Outlook Mobile. No problems with synchronization was observed. With regard to the integration of FlexMail, in earlier versions of some devices had problems with "otvyazkoy" standard features of the program. In the tested version of the client on the fly is built into the OS and is also easy, just after taking the necessary checkboxes, and returned to its original position. Self-Today-Plugin does not, but if you select FlexMail the default mail client, a standard icon "Inbox" on the panel acquires Today logo FlexMail, and when pressed causes the appropriate program. If you prefer, you can make the client icon in the system tray. Here it should be noted FlexMail automatically sync with Address Book Outlook Mobile. When sending messages, you can choose a destination entered in a standard note-book. Also, when you receive a message from a new destination, the program offers us introduce it to your contact list (this option can be disabled). Well, finally, one more unquestionable advantage of the program is support for Direct Push, which we have already told nedodnokratno. Full version available for $ 19.95. For such a functional and beautifully decorated customer, this price seems quite reasonable.
Output
FlexMail - an excellent choice for users who do not have the functionality of Outlook Mobile, but there is a need to synchronize e-mail from a desktop computer. In terms of features the program is not inferior mail clients for the PC has a friendly and, more importantly, personally configurable user interface: it is possible to customize the display of windows and notifications as you want. Really liked the organization of work on the protocol IMAP4. Rare client with the ability to customize rules for processing each folder on the server. Finally, developers have implemented support for filters - the function that most fans were waiting for the old WebIS Mail. Fly in the ointment in a large vat of honey called FlexMail will be some "confusion" of the program (this mailer was the most voracious in terms of system resources of all tested programs) and the periodic disappearance of the Cyrillic alphabet in the settings of the client. Nevertheless, the program can recommend fans of combined solutions for email and SMS, which in combination are the owners of productive communicators.
Strengths: - Well-thought-out user-friendly interface
- Support for filters for incoming mail
- Support for HTML formatting
- Integration into the system, including the ability to work with a standard address book
- Support for QVGA and VGA resolution and square screens
- The ability to synchronize with Microsoft Outlook
- Option is the closure of the cross "
- Support for Direct Push
- Flexible configuration of removing messages from the server
- Keeping databases in any directory specified by the user
- Working with SMS messages (for communicators)
- Advanced IMAP synchronization
- Ability to configure automatic updates for each mail box
- Configurable notifications.
Disadvantages: - Does not always automatically displays Cyrillic
- On some devices have problems when you install FlexMail client by default
- No automatic updates.
Ratings: - Interface: 5
- Features: 5
- User support: 5
- Reliability: 4
- Total: 5
Overall Results
The two parts of our workshop we looked at the most popular email clients, each of whom will definitely find yourself users. Thus, the standard Outlook Mobile, primarily to attract users who are important to quickly and easily synchronize data with your desktop computer: to come to your home or office, connect your device to your favorite PC, and everything else will make ActiveSync. The second party review, free nPOP, captivates small size and speed. Despite the rather poor capabilities, the program copes well with its main task - to work with e-mail by using POP3. As a result nPOP can recommend owners of low-power communicators with a small amount of RAM. Such as fast and far more functional free Qmail interested advanced users who will be too lazy to delve into the endless options mailer to optimize its performance. As a reward for the efforts of the owner of the device gain confidence to work with IMAP, RSS feeds and NNTP, HTML-mapping content and flexible custom rules and filters. In addition to all - and Qmail, and nPOP are free and often updated. As far as considered in this part of the review of programs, ProfiMail suitable for beginners, for which first place is easy to setup, good location, decent functionality, automatic updates and the stability of the program as a whole. Fans of the colorful and user-friendly interface combined with a good functional filling can recommend FlexMail, with its ability to integrate into the OS to work with SMS messages, the ability to synchronize with Microsoft Outlook. In any event, we hope to determine which software will help you more accurately, our comparative table is contained below.
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| Overall comparative table features e-mail programs Outlook Mobile, nPOP, Qmail, ProfiMail and FlexMail |
All programs were tested on the device Voxtel W420, Windows Mobile 5.0 AKU 2.2.0, Soft Revision: TF-WM5-Paladin-B-Voxtel_Ver_02.02_R0608182131 (10.117) Authors translation:
