Many of you have read my previous review of Handscape, so you're familiar with MobiMate and their Application Launcher. You'll also know that I find it VERY important to have an App Launcher that is capable of expanding the functionality of the built-in launcher, or else I may as well save RAM and stick with the fast, user-friendly, stripped down default launcher. What do I look for?

Things like the ability to toggle the backup bit in every application so that you can customize your Hotsync to backup ANY application that YOU choose. Quick links to Flash Pro, displayable features of the built-in Datebook, Addressbook, ToDo list and MemoPad are all pluses for third party App Launchers. There are some very nice, feature-packed App Launchers available for the Palm. Some include color support, tabbed categories, and a wealth of other features, but Handscape remains my favorite. Hopefully you'll understand my attachment to this EXTREMELY flexible and powerful App Launcher and at the very least, treat yourself to a test drive.

Handscape Pro is an expanded and enhanced version of Handscape, the terrific freeware App Launcher by MobiMate. What sets them apart is Pros "File Manager" which gives users a "Windows Explorer" like interface in which to manage every file, doc, hack and app installed on your Palm individually. I'll get more into detail on the File Manager later, but let me recap the highlights of Handscape for those unfamiliar with it.

Handscape Pro is basically Handscape (freeware) with expanded features and the File Manager built on. Install Handscape as you would any other application. When you first tap the Handscape Pro icon, it will take a second or two to "set up" and then will ask if you'd like to set Handscape Pro as your default launcher. Doing so will set your Palm so that Handscape opens when you tap the App. silk button instead of the default launcher. Whatever you choose, you can easily change your mind later. I think you'll like Handscape so much, that you might as well set it as your default launcher right from the start. If you decide you want to go back to the Palm App Launcher, you can either use the Exit to Palm OS command in the File menu. To return the App button to the default launcher permanently, access the Preferences through the Options menu.

As I mentioned, Handscape Pro brings a nice tabbed interface to your Launcher. The Tabs can be customized to suit you individually by tapping the "..." tab and Applications can be dragged and dropped onto the tab of choice for filing. While you can have as many Tabs as you'd like, Handscape keeps the desktop uncluttered by only showing the top row. All other tabs can be accessed by tapping the "+" tab. To drag an App to a tab not shown, drag to the "+" to open all the tabs, and then drop on the appropriate tab. Couldn't be simpler.

In Handscape, each Application is also given its own individual menu. Hold your stylus on the icon to reveal the menu which includes common commands like, Beam, Delete, Move To, Rename, Properties, and Note to name a few. All these features combine to make Handscape one of the most functional Launchers I've ever worked with. I couldn't possible go into EVERY feature and detail built into Handscape Pro, but the documentation that comes with the application is EXTREMELY thorough. There is an HTML version on the website, or you can download a Word document that is equally as thorough. Definately one of the better manuals I've worked with.

The last feature I'll discuss with Handscape before I get into the enhanced "Pro" features is MobiMate's incorporation of "views" to add to the funtionality. The "views" include vBattery to display your battery power, vAniclock and vDigiclock which are different versions of your clock, vDatebook, vAddressbook, vMemo and vTodo, which place windows that "float" on the desktop and display information from the respective builtin app. My personal favorites are vFileProperties and vFlashPro. With vFileProperties, icons can be dragged onto the "i" and all necessary information can be viewed about that app. This is also where you can toggle the "backup bit" to ensure that your applications are backed up at Hotsync. I have found this to be a VERY worthwhile substitution to Backup Buddy NG or similar desktop add-ons. There is no need for such an application with vFileProperties, a free view in Handscape. If you have vFlashPro installed, the menu accessed by holding the stylus on an Apps icon will have "Flash Swap" added to the bottom. This is a quick link to Flash Pro and eliminates the need to open Flash Pro manually. But keep in mind that for this view to work, you'll also need to have Flash Pro installed on your Palm. Also, vFlashPro displays a small dot next to applications that reside in Flash ROM. Disappointingly, the current version of Handscape Pro does NOT support Handspring 8MB Flash Modules. For the time being, you'll have to exit Handscape Pro to access File Mover, or anything stored on the Flash Module. I am told that future releases of Handscape WILL support the Flash Modules. Hopefully, a view will also be incorporated as a quick link to File Mover, similar to vFlashPro I also found vToolbar to be a nice, easy way to perform such tasks as Soft Reset, Power Off, Power Off and Lock, quick link to Preferences and quick link to Security. Since I access Prefs and Security all the time, vToolbar has been one of my most used views.

The beauty of these "views" is that you can install only the ones you like and customize Handscape to fit your individual needs. Once installed, the views can be moved wherever you like, resized, hidden, etc. Each view has its own menu that is accessed by holding the stylus on it. You can customize each view through this menu. One quick note: When you first install a view, it is placed in the Tab marked vUnfiled. To make it visible in all the tabs, simply hold the stylus on the view, tap Move to, and select "Show in All Folders". Have fun customizing your views, they really add power and flexibility to Handscape.

When you first install Handscape Pro, you'll be asked if you want it to operate in Simple or Advanced mode. Simple mode is very much the same as Handscape without the File Manager. To FULLY take advantage of Handscape Pro, select advanced mode. Again, you can change your mind later and go back to Simple mode, but I have a feeling no one will return after getting a taste of the File Manager.

Two words describe File Manager...Windows Explorer. Never on your Palm will you find a cleaner, more straightforward manager for EVERY file you have installed. Doc files and hacks are listed individually a la Explorer. There is no need to open Hackmaster to delete, move, or rename a hack. The left window is your Folder View, the right your File View. On the top right, you'll notice three buttons. This is your File View selector. The first button will display your files as icons. The next displays files with small icons and their name. Finally, the third displays file names and their size. The standard battery and time/date display also grace the top of the File Manager.

From this point on, we'll use MobiMates description of the two main screens. The initial Screen with the Tabbed categories is your "Active Desktop" and now we are working in File Manager. To access File Manager, simply tap the hand icon in the Upper Left hand corner. Once in File Manager, tapping the Heart icon in the customizable toolbar at the bottom can access Active Desktop. Those with vToolbar should be aware that the Toolbar at the bottom of File Manager is NOT the same as vToolbar. From the Options menu, you can customize the Toolbar in File Manager by tapping Preferences and selecting the Toolbar tab. On the Active Desktop, vToolbar is customized through its menu by holding the stylus on the toolbar and selecting Preferences. It really is easier than it sounds and you will figure things out very quickly. But don't hesitate to refer to the manual, which provides nice screenshots with in each section.

You don't realize how important it is to have access to Hacks and Docs without having to first open Hackmaster or a Doc Viewer. Holding the stylus on a given file will open its individual memo, allowing Properties to be altered, such as backup status, beam, delete, etc. The ability to adjust and customize each file, app, doc, and hack individually is extremely beneficial to me. The File Manager provides all the same features available on your Active Desktop in an interface that facilitates some more advanced file handling.

Let's talk about the Trash Can. In both Active Desktop and File Manager, you'll notice the Trash Can in the lower right corner of the screen. What's nice about the Trash Can in Handscape Pro is that it is more like another folder and doesn't completely discard applications or files until you "Empty Trash". This is done by holding the stylus on the Trash Can and tapping "Empty Trash". This feature allows you to "recycle" any app or file that you send to the Trash Can, should you decide to keep it. Within the Preferences Menu (Menu-Options-Preferences), under the Files tab, you can check the "Delete Command sends files to Trash" box to ensure that even the delete command allows you to restore a removed app or file. This safeguard can be irreplaceable to anyone who adds and deletes files from their Palm regularly. With all the applications and files that I add to my Palm, I spend the bulk of my time in the File Manager to keep things organized.

The button bar at the bottom of File Manager contains many of the same buttons that vToolbar has, but includes the Heart button which will switch you back to Active Desktop. It is the Toolbar in File Manager that is configured in Preferences. vToolbar has its own set of Preferences and configuration possibilities.

Remember, that from either Active Desktop or File Manager, you can jump to the Palm OS through Menu-File-Exit to Palm OS. This will take you to the default Palm App Launcher. Menu-Palm offers an Info screen, which I prefer to the Palms default info screen, as well as backlight, soft reset, etc. Finally, Menu-Options brings you to the Preferences, ability to switch user mode, AND the place to enter your Registration Code.

It would be impossible for me to touch on all the features and functions in Handscape Pro without taking up considerably more of your time. Similarly, I don't want to write a Manual for Handscape Pro, and there is definitely no need. Those of you who have tried Handscape and or read my review, will remember my gripe with the speed. MobiMate has told me that they have made changes to increase speed by 10-30%. I have noticed a TREMENDOUS increase in the speed of Handscape Pro. I don't know how much of that is MobiMate and how much is due to the performance of my Visor, but I can tell you that Handscape Pro is just as fast as Launch 'Em on my Handspring Visor. And that's with all the views and all my applications installed.

There was considerable thought put into the pricing of Handscape Pro. Realistically, MobiMate could charge much more considering the functionality and programming of such an application. However, to stay competitive with other launchers, Handscape Pro is offered at a competitive $14.95, very generous considering all the views are free. Current registered users of Handscape can "upgrade" to Pro for an even better $9.95. For the time being, Handscape will continue as freeware, but may be offered as shareware for a nominal charge in the future.