Ver 2.0 of Total Commander PPC/ H/PC /MS SP out!

As far as the Registry Editor is concerned (I'll benchmark the FTP client later), I've written a quick review. Please see my roundup of other registry editors athttp://smartphonemag.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16508 , including how I test and evaluate registry editors:

It, unlike Resco Registry Editor (which also integrates a shortcut into Resco File Explorer, but has a totally different GUI with entirely different menus), has the same GUI as in the file mode. It accesses the registry as if it were just a file system - just a subdirectory under \\\registry\. This means the some menu options won't be usable when browsing the registry and there're no registry-specific pop-up menus (like 'Export key') either. This all means using the registry editor can be pretty strange at first - but doesn't mean you can't export/import/search/create new keys at all.

Some restrictions:

- can search but only for key names, not inside values. That is, the 'Containing text' field can't be edited:

An example of looking for keys containing 'Color':

- can export individual keys (or an entire registry branch) if you just copy the branch as on the following screenshot:

Then, it'll just create a file named after the key (here, HKCR) you export. It's a 100% registry-compatible file.

- it can also import registry files the opposite way (you just copy the registry file to the \\\registry):

It also has a not-very-advanced, but usable binary/hexa-capable DWORD editor:

Unfortunately, it doesn't remember the last position inside the registry tree.

Bottom line: strange at first compared to other registry editors, you'll soon like it: it supports (key-only) search and registry export/import functionality, to name the two most important aspects of a registry editor. For an entirely free registry editor, these alone are great (see my article on how other free registry editors fare in this respect).

A contender in the File Explorer genre! Goody!

I've thoroughly tested and benchmarked the FTP plug-in as well, comparing it to vxFtp 1.1.6[/url], which [url=http://www.firstloox.org/forums/showthread.php?p=18741]has always been the fastest FTP downloader (but not uploader!) application for the PPC - when downloading to memory cards, orders of magnitude faster than the built-in FTP module of Resco.

Download through USB from the FTP site located on the desktop the PDA is connected to:
Total Commander:
to main memory: 0.2 Mbytes/s
to an SD card: 0.042 Mbytes/s

vxFtp:
to main memory: 0.228 Mbytes/s
to an SD card: 0.123 Mbytes/s

Upload:
Total Commander:
from main memory: 0.250 Mbytes/s
from an SD card: 0.208 Mbytes/s

vxFtp:
from main memory: 0.092 Mbytes/s
from an SD card: 0.075 Mbytes/s

Incidentally, I've measured the throughput of Pocket Phojo V3.0 release 256 again (it was the fastest uploader app when I last tested an earlier build for my image viewer app roundup) and found out that it transferred files only at around 40 kbytes/s from memory cards. Strange, I'll have to re-test Phojo again.

As can be seen, Total Commander is pretty fast at downloading to the main memory and moderately fast at downloading to memory cards. At uploading, however, it's considerably faster than vxFtp, especially from uploading memory cards. In this, it's faster than Resco too, especially at downloading to mem. card. Great! This application is a real gem in this respect too - and, again, it's even better than Resco, speed-wise!

A side note: in my linked article, you can clearly see how slow the then-current version or vxFtp, 1.1.3, was at uploading from memory cards. Now, it's no longer the case: the now-current version released in May, 1.1.6, is much better at this.

I've also found a bug in TC: if you FTP through your ActiveSync (tested with USB) Internet pass-through, after starting an FTP session, AS becomes unable to connect to the device any more (the Internet pass-thorugh will live on, though). After recradling the device, however, it'll live again.

Bottom line: fortunately, none of my fears ('what if it's as slow as, say, Resco at downloading to a memory card?) become true. Much as the FTP download speed to memory cards isn't very good, in most cases (unless you're downloading really large files over a >500 kbps connection) it will be not an issue.

I am a BIG fan of Total Commander just as a File Manager (both for desktop but ESPECIALLY for the Pocket PC). As Exec Editor of Pocket PC magazine I can use pretty much any product I wish, but I always come back to Total Commander -- and I haven't tried the upgrade yet. One of my favorite features is the virtual 2 windows feature and the relative ease of moving or copying files.

Hal Goldstein, hal [at] pocketpcmag [dot] com
Publisher/Exec Editor
Pocket PC magazine