SpaceTime updated to version 1.5

July 20, 2004 | | format - Other (ar.) | viewed - 21x
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SpaceTime updated to version 1.5

>New stuff in SpaceTime

What is new in this version? Well, these are:

Supports VGA devices such as the Toshiba e805
Redesigned start menu for easier and faster access to different programs
Now using PocketHAL for increased graphing speed
New graphing interface that can display all types of 2D and 3D graphs at the same time
The resolution can now be adjusted for Function 3D graphs
The variable window for Parametric 2D, Polar 2D, Parametric 3D, Spherical 3D, and Cylindrical 3D graphs can now be set for each individual graph
The Scientific and RPN Calculator can now show exact values

It is impressive what all the Two Stunads will do for their consumers.

Two flavors for different tastes

Also introduced with the latest version of SpaceTime are two different versions: Standard and Basic. What is the difference, you ask. Well, in my previous version, I reviewed the standard version of SpaceTime. Hence, all the features I mentioned are in the standard version of SpaceTime. The basic version is a slimmed down, and hence a 5 $ cheaper version for those who won't need the advanced features. The features that are not in the basic version of SpaceTime are:

Graph 3D equations in function, parametric, spherical, and cylindrical modes
Statistics with scatter plots, histograms, box, and probability plots
Regression Analysis
TVM-Solver
List and Matrix Editor

If that list includes something that you need then you should buy the standard version of SpaceTime.

New design, new speeds

The first thing that struck me with the new version of SpaceTime is the speed. SpaceTime loading time is close to nothing, as the previous version took some time to start up. I could almost go as far as to say that it almost instantly opens up.

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The new design is also rafflingly different. The program menu is completely gone and instead the programs and settings are available by tapping on the buttons on the top of the screen.

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Which the current chosen modes are, have to be checked by tapping yourself into the modes settings window. This might be a minor irritation to some, but I don't find it too irritating as this way we get more efficient at calculating the answers when switching between sub-programs.

[IMAGE=2728]

Also reformed is the graphing application. You can now have different types of 2D or 3D graphs in the same plot window. Also, switching between different graph's formulas is done by tapping on buttons instead of the awkward scroll bar that I could tap on the "right" way. Above is the new way of creating a 2D graph: you can select in which type of formula you want to use and then enter the variables. Previously, you were limited to first selecting the formula type and then entering the variables. This was limiting in the way that the other 2D/3D graphs of different types did not show up in the same plot window.

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The same also applies now to 3D graphs. However, plotting a 2D graph in with a 3D graph doesn't succeed (without modifying the equation for the 3D space) in SpaceTime. By using PocketHAL, Two Stunads have managed to do something that I thought was impossible: cutting down the graphing time for both 2D and 3D graphs! Fact is, this is unbelievably fast on my 206 megahertz Pocket PC that I can (almost) not believe my eyes. A new feature is also that you can adjust the resolution of 3D graphs which might be needed on more powerful and bigger resolution Pocket PCs.

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Good news to all matrices and list users! They are now located under the same sub-program which significantly simplifies the time it takes to create them both. Furthermore a wise move by Two Stunads, is that they share the same editor which is just handy for me.

[IMAGE=2731] [IMAGE=2736] [IMAGE=2733] Otherwise, the other sub-programs don't seem have changed much cosmetically. The formula solving sub-program is pretty much the same together with the rest of the programs.

What the future might bring

Reading the SpaceTime forums is interesting since you can get to know what is planned for the future releases of SpaceTime. Apparently, this version (and previous versions) don't seem to work well in Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, yet. Keeping in mind the previous release waves of patches and fixes from Two Stunads, I can safely say that it will not be long before SpaceTime will work on WM2003SE.

We can also expect pretty print, the displaying of mathematical formulas as if they were correctly (hand)written, by version 2.0 according to one of the Stunads. This is a welcome feature that just makes SpaceTime the more valuable investment for the future.