You're like me. An 'enthusiast', a 'geek', a 'power user'. Scrolling through your App Manager is painful, due to the insane length of its list of apps.
All's well then.
A great while ago you cried in pain every time you used the integrated S60 task manager. Because you knew, since BC, what a long press on the Menu key does. And because what it did was simply not enough for you.
You were happy when alternatives to the, erm, let's just say...basic, task manager in S60 arrived. You immediately tested all of them. And then settled for Handy Taskman. A mighty app indeed. Probably the first you install on a new S60 device.
Till now.
JBak Taskman
It's what will make you forget Handy Taskman exists and wonder why you kept paying for it with each new phone you got.
JBak Taskman has all the functionality of Handy Taskman, in a more user-friendly design (more on that throughout the review). And it's freeware. And yes, it's Symbian Signed! (download link at the end of this post)
So here's the review/walkthrough in all its glory.
This is what shows up when you do a long press on the Menu key after you've installed JBak Taskman.
On the left pane are the running apps. The right pane is Quick Launch, an application launcher, very similar to that of Handy Taskman. However, in Handy Taskman that's not available right away, you have to click 'right' on the D-pad to be able to see it. JBak's solution handles screen real-estate in a much better manner in my opinion. Naturally, toggling between the panes is done via 'left' and 'right' keys on the D-pad respectively, but the fact that the App launcher is there for everyone to see in the initial app window is a big win design-wise in my book.
The upper part shows available space on the phone memory, the memory card and free RAM. This part can be turned on or off to your liking from the (incredibly extensive) settings.
If you wish to kill an app from within JBak Taskman, just press 'C' while it's highlighted. Now, again, depending on what you chose in the Settings, this will either kill the app immediately or ask for a confirmation.
You can launch the apps in the Quick Launch pane either by scrolling to them and clicking the center D-pad key, or, for the first 9 in the list, by just hitting the appropriate number on the keypad (just press '1' for the first one and so on). These are clearly marked to the left of the app's name, as you can see in the screenshots above. Yet another nice touch if you ask me.
The Menu
This is what 'happens' when you go into JBak Taskman's Menu. Now I won't go into details about the more advanced functionality, such as Program rules, Task info and so on. These are very welcome add-ons to the Taskman, however I find myself rarely using any. They are for the 'power users' among 'power users', so to speak. However, if you're interested, drop a line in the comments and I'll do a follow up post detailing everything.
Now back to the menu. Go to and Close app are obvious, since I pressed Menu while a running app was highlighted. Add to launch menu is exactly what it says, it lets you add stuff to the Quick Launch. If you click on it, this is what you'll see:
Another neat touch. If you select Application, the list of your installed apps will show up. You can set this list so that the most recent apps you used are shown first (how to do this is detailed in the "Settings" part of this review).
You can scroll through the list via the D-pad or just enter a few letters. Not necessarily the first letters of the app's name, as you can see from this example:
It searches through the whole names of apps and returns all that contain the letters you wrote. Just click on the app you want to be added and...it's added. Added as the last item in Quick Launch.
Another way to do this is make use of the App launcher list. This shows up whenever you press the '#' key while at JBak Taskman's initial screen. The list of apps is shown again, only this time you can launch any app by clicking the center D-pad key. To add it to the Quick Launch pane go to Menu->Add to launch menu.
If you'd like to move an app up or down in Quick Launch, here's how: highlight the respective app, then go to Menu->Quick Launch:
Then just select 'Move up' or 'Move down':
The Tools menu (Menu->Tools)
A lot of advanced functionality again, as you can see. You can view detailed information about Processes, Threads and Memory Chunks. There's also a very handy Reboot option which does exactly that (you have to confirm first, though). This has been seen in standalone apps but it doesn't hurt for it to be included in JBak Taskman, if you ask me.
The Settings Menu (Menu->Settings)
This actually consists of three separate menus. Undoubtedly the most important is the Program Settings. Here are the available options in this menu:
All's well then.
A great while ago you cried in pain every time you used the integrated S60 task manager. Because you knew, since BC, what a long press on the Menu key does. And because what it did was simply not enough for you.
You were happy when alternatives to the, erm, let's just say...basic, task manager in S60 arrived. You immediately tested all of them. And then settled for Handy Taskman. A mighty app indeed. Probably the first you install on a new S60 device.
Till now.
JBak Taskman
It's what will make you forget Handy Taskman exists and wonder why you kept paying for it with each new phone you got.
JBak Taskman has all the functionality of Handy Taskman, in a more user-friendly design (more on that throughout the review). And it's freeware. And yes, it's Symbian Signed! (download link at the end of this post)
So here's the review/walkthrough in all its glory.
This is what shows up when you do a long press on the Menu key after you've installed JBak Taskman.
On the left pane are the running apps. The right pane is Quick Launch, an application launcher, very similar to that of Handy Taskman. However, in Handy Taskman that's not available right away, you have to click 'right' on the D-pad to be able to see it. JBak's solution handles screen real-estate in a much better manner in my opinion. Naturally, toggling between the panes is done via 'left' and 'right' keys on the D-pad respectively, but the fact that the App launcher is there for everyone to see in the initial app window is a big win design-wise in my book.
The upper part shows available space on the phone memory, the memory card and free RAM. This part can be turned on or off to your liking from the (incredibly extensive) settings.
If you wish to kill an app from within JBak Taskman, just press 'C' while it's highlighted. Now, again, depending on what you chose in the Settings, this will either kill the app immediately or ask for a confirmation.
You can launch the apps in the Quick Launch pane either by scrolling to them and clicking the center D-pad key, or, for the first 9 in the list, by just hitting the appropriate number on the keypad (just press '1' for the first one and so on). These are clearly marked to the left of the app's name, as you can see in the screenshots above. Yet another nice touch if you ask me.
The Menu
This is what 'happens' when you go into JBak Taskman's Menu. Now I won't go into details about the more advanced functionality, such as Program rules, Task info and so on. These are very welcome add-ons to the Taskman, however I find myself rarely using any. They are for the 'power users' among 'power users', so to speak. However, if you're interested, drop a line in the comments and I'll do a follow up post detailing everything.
Now back to the menu. Go to and Close app are obvious, since I pressed Menu while a running app was highlighted. Add to launch menu is exactly what it says, it lets you add stuff to the Quick Launch. If you click on it, this is what you'll see:
Another neat touch. If you select Application, the list of your installed apps will show up. You can set this list so that the most recent apps you used are shown first (how to do this is detailed in the "Settings" part of this review).
You can scroll through the list via the D-pad or just enter a few letters. Not necessarily the first letters of the app's name, as you can see from this example:
It searches through the whole names of apps and returns all that contain the letters you wrote. Just click on the app you want to be added and...it's added. Added as the last item in Quick Launch.
Another way to do this is make use of the App launcher list. This shows up whenever you press the '#' key while at JBak Taskman's initial screen. The list of apps is shown again, only this time you can launch any app by clicking the center D-pad key. To add it to the Quick Launch pane go to Menu->Add to launch menu.
If you'd like to move an app up or down in Quick Launch, here's how: highlight the respective app, then go to Menu->Quick Launch:
Then just select 'Move up' or 'Move down':
The Tools menu (Menu->Tools)
A lot of advanced functionality again, as you can see. You can view detailed information about Processes, Threads and Memory Chunks. There's also a very handy Reboot option which does exactly that (you have to confirm first, though). This has been seen in standalone apps but it doesn't hurt for it to be included in JBak Taskman, if you ask me.
The Settings Menu (Menu->Settings)
This actually consists of three separate menus. Undoubtedly the most important is the Program Settings. Here are the available options in this menu:
I'll explain some of the less obvious options.
Remember pos. in phone menu simulates a feature found in many recent Samsung phones (which has seen a rather equal amount of praise and loath). When you enter the phone's menu, if this is checked, the last item you have used is highlighted. Normally the highlight is always in the center of the menu grid (corresponding to '5' on the keypad). But suppose last time you used your phone's menu you were in Music->Music Store. With this feature on in JBak Taskman, the next time you press the Menu key on your phone you'll be taken directly there, or wherever you last were.
I personally have this set to "On", as I only go through so many menu folders. It might not appeal to everyone, but I still think it's good to have.
Info panel practically does what the Memory on top does, yet in a bit more detailed manner, however it occupies a lot of screen real-estate. Try this and Memory on top, one of them you'll surely leave "on".
Show menu/desktop/UID/hidden apps refers to whether or not to show these in the 'Running apps' pane. Here again it's a matter of personal choice, but unless you're a developer, I'd leave hidden apps off.
Compact menu refers to the Quick Launch pane and what it does is make more space for the app's name by showing a smaller icon. Recommended.
Close without confirmation I've described at some point above. With this enabled, when you press the 'C' key when a running app is highlighted, that app is immediately killed. The same applies to Delete without confirmation, only that is meant for the Quick Launch pane.
Apps launch settings alter the way the installed applications list shows up and behaves (the one you can go to by pressing '#').
Menu Key Settings
This menu handles the way the Menu (a.k.a. Yin Yang) key behaves on your S60 phone. This alters the key's behavior in JBak Taskman as well as in the whole OS (while JBak Taskman is running in the background, naturally).
Conclusion
DOWNLOAD NOW
Remember pos. in phone menu simulates a feature found in many recent Samsung phones (which has seen a rather equal amount of praise and loath). When you enter the phone's menu, if this is checked, the last item you have used is highlighted. Normally the highlight is always in the center of the menu grid (corresponding to '5' on the keypad). But suppose last time you used your phone's menu you were in Music->Music Store. With this feature on in JBak Taskman, the next time you press the Menu key on your phone you'll be taken directly there, or wherever you last were.
I personally have this set to "On", as I only go through so many menu folders. It might not appeal to everyone, but I still think it's good to have.
Info panel practically does what the Memory on top does, yet in a bit more detailed manner, however it occupies a lot of screen real-estate. Try this and Memory on top, one of them you'll surely leave "on".
Show menu/desktop/UID/hidden apps refers to whether or not to show these in the 'Running apps' pane. Here again it's a matter of personal choice, but unless you're a developer, I'd leave hidden apps off.
Compact menu refers to the Quick Launch pane and what it does is make more space for the app's name by showing a smaller icon. Recommended.
Close without confirmation I've described at some point above. With this enabled, when you press the 'C' key when a running app is highlighted, that app is immediately killed. The same applies to Delete without confirmation, only that is meant for the Quick Launch pane.
Apps launch settings alter the way the installed applications list shows up and behaves (the one you can go to by pressing '#').
Menu Key Settings
This menu handles the way the Menu (a.k.a. Yin Yang) key behaves on your S60 phone. This alters the key's behavior in JBak Taskman as well as in the whole OS (while JBak Taskman is running in the background, naturally).
Conclusion
DOWNLOAD NOW
