Software Alternatives & Startups

OwnTracks VS ShellNewHandler

Compare OwnTracks VS ShellNewHandler and see what are their differences

OwnTracks

Cross-platform location sharing

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
ShellNewHandler

SourceForge.net: ShellNewHandler details page

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, OwnTracks seems to be a lot more popular than ShellNewHandler. While we know about 39 links to OwnTracks, we've tracked only 2 mentions of ShellNewHandler.

social mentions
39 vs 2
Mobile OS popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

OwnTracks
ShellNewHandler
Website owntracks.org sourceforge.net
Pricing
Open source
—
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

OwnTracks 5 features
ShellNewHandler 0 features
  • Open Source
    OwnTracks is open-source, allowing users to review and modify the code for customization and security audits.
  • Privacy-centric
    OwnTracks allows users to host their own server, giving them control over their location data and who can access it.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    The app is available across multiple platforms, including iOS and Android, making it accessible for a wide range of users.
  • Integration Capabilities
    OwnTracks offers integration with various applications and services such as Home Assistant and Node-RED.
  • Cost-effective
    The core application is free to use, which can be beneficial for individuals or organizations looking for a budget-friendly solution.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complex Setup for Beginners
    Users need to set up their own server for complete control, which can be complex and challenging for non-technical individuals.
  • Limited Technical Support
    As an open-source project, support primarily comes from the community, which might not be as immediate or comprehensive as commercial options.
  • User Interface
    The app's user interface may not be as polished or intuitive as commercial counterparts, which could impact user experience.
  • Battery Consumption
    Continuous GPS tracking can lead to higher battery usage on mobile devices, which might be a concern for users.
  • Manual Updates
    Unlike commercial solutions, users might need to manually update or modify the system as new features or security enhancements are released.

No features have been listed yet.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

OwnTracks
ShellNewHandler

Overall verdict

  • Yes, OwnTracks is a good option for those who prioritize privacy and wish to have control over their location data. Its open-source nature and compatibility with various platforms make it a flexible and powerful tool for personal location tracking.

Why this product is good

  • OwnTracks is a reliable open-source application that allows users to track their own locations and share it securely. It's popular due to its emphasis on privacy, as all location data is stored on private servers or chosen brokers, rather than on third-party servers. Users appreciate its extensive configurations, integration with other services like Home Assistant, and the ability to control data sharing.

Recommended for

    OwnTracks is recommended for privacy-conscious individuals, tech-savvy users who want to self-host their data, and those who are integrated with smart home or automation systems. It’s also suitable for groups or families who wish to keep track of each other's locations securely and privately.

Overall verdict

  • ShellNewHandler is a niche, lightweight utility hosted on SourceForge designed to give users more control over the Windows 'New' context menu (the ShellNew menu). It can be considered good for its specific narrow use case, but it is an older, minimally maintained tool that may not suit all users, especially those on modern Windows versions.

Why this product is good

  • Provides direct control over customizing the Windows right-click 'New' menu, allowing users to add or remove file type entries
  • Lightweight and free, without bundled bloatware typical of some other free utilities
  • Simple and focused in scope, making it easy to understand for its specific purpose
  • Open distribution via SourceForge allows transparency and no-cost access

Recommended for

  • Power users who want to declutter or customize the Windows New context menu
  • IT administrators managing standardized desktop environments across multiple machines
  • Users comfortable with older utility-style tools and Windows registry-related tweaks
  • Not recommended for casual users seeking modern, actively supported software with regular updates

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

OwnTracks 1 video + Add
ShellNewHandler 0 videos + Add

How To Get Started with MQTT and Owntracks

No ShellNewHandler videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
OwnTracks
ShellNewHandler
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using OwnTracks and ShellNewHandler. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

OwnTracks 39 mentions
ShellNewHandler 2 mentions
  • No reasonable expectation of privacy in one's Google location data
    I've personally heard of https://owntracks.org/ though I haven't been able to try it myself. Seems like a location history and see where other members of your instance are. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Any alternatives to Life360/FindMy?
    The only private alternatives are going to be self hosted and will require some technical skill. See owntracks for details. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Trying to make a pair of compasses that always point to each other
    On your side, you need some way to be tracked. Easy solution is an app on your phone, I like OwnTracks as a privacy-respecting option. Source: over 3 years ago

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  • I recently got libreoffice, but now the new option in right click looks like a mess. Can someone help me get rid of them please?
    Use Shell New Handler. Run the portable app and simply untick the items you don't want to appear in your new context menu. Source: about 4 years ago
  • This menu should be easy to add/remove programs to... Who is really creating Access Databases from this menu often enough to keep it here? (Not me!) Is there an easy way to edit this?
    I've always used ShellNewHandler for this. It's a really simple portable utility that allows you to remove most of the items from that menu. Tested it out on Windows 11 and it's still compatible. Source: over 5 years ago

Alternatives to OwnTracks and ShellNewHandler

When comparing OwnTracks and ShellNewHandler, you can also consider the following products.