Third-party apps for the PocketPC · Dec 1, 06:03 PM
Out of the box, the handheld devices that run the Windows Mobile OS are like having a toolbox that has a Phillips screwdriver, a regular screwdriver, and a pair of pliers. You can get a few things done with those, but to really be useful you’ve got to add a few things.
Microsoft doesn’t really do “useability” very well. I don’t know that they ever have. This may be, in part, to the perception that they are a monopoly and shouldn’t add more than the bare minimum to an OS or they’ll get sued by smaller software companies for unfair business practices (i.e. the Browser Wars). But mostly I think that Microsoft just doesn’t get it when it comes to how the average joe wants to use their gadgets. Take a look at the Zune and compare it to the iPod—some cool features, but not something the average guy is gonna use (or need?). My point here is that I have never been satisfied with the software and utilities that have been included with each of the PocketPCs I have purchased over the last 8 years. There are a bevy of third-party developers that do “get it” though and I’m going to list the ones that I have found made my handheld device more useful, if not more enjoyable1.
Productivity
I’ll start off with the main reason I have a handheld device: Calendar, Contacts, & Notes. Microsoft Outlook just doesn’t do it for me. What do I use instead? Pocket Informant
This application wraps up Outlook into a much more useful (and eye-catching) package. It’s made by the people at Web Information Solutions. It has my calendar, my contacts, my notes, and my tasks all under one “shell” and makes it very easy to search through all of these. Probably the main reason I have it though is that I really like their “at-a-glance” screens; whether its the monthly calendar, the contact info or the tasks, it all looks so much cleaner than the Outlook version.
Usability
Most everything else I have for my device has to do with the “look-and-feel” of it all: how accessible and usable everything is. And there’s one company who does that well (in my opinion): SPB Software. The bulk of their software deals with the Today Screen (the Desktop, if you will). This is the screen that gives me, at a glance, all of the reasons I have a handheld in the first place.
- PocketPlus – This is their main “wrapper” for the today screen
- Diary – This puts everything from Pocket Informant on the today screen: Appointments, contacts, notes, & tasks.
- Insight – A News aggregator/reader
- Weather – An aggregator of weather info for anyplace in the world. Again, prominently displayed on my today screen.
- Time – Various clocks, timers, and stopwatches. Great for when I’m cooking and need to time various dishes. Also shows me time for anyplace I want in the world2.
- eWallet – This one’s made by iliumsoft and I use it to store the myriad of usernames and passwords that I employ on the internet and my computers.
SPB also makes some decent games that I play from time to time as well.
The chicken and the egg
This category of applications fall under miscellaneous utilities that I have because I have a handheld device. In other words, these are applications that I purchased because I own a PocketPC and not because I would have bought a PocketPC so that I could have these apps. Got it? These are applications that make the device more usable not more useful.
- File Explorer – Microsoft really missed the boat on their file explorer. I use one made by Resco
- Battery indicator
- Backup – a quick and easy way to backup my data to a memory card. Made by SPB again.
- Memory manager – again Microsoft did an awful job of managing the use of the devices built-in memory. The main reason: The OS doesn’t really ever shut-down applications, it just moves them to the background. I use a combination of tools from SPB (PocketPlus, mentioned above) and Dinarsoft (Memaid).
Entertainment
My last category would be the apps that make my device more fun. Games, Movies, Books, and Music.
- eReader – This is something that Microsoft puts out, and I don’t own it because it’s a great application, but because there is a lot of content for it. The application itself is so-so. It’s also free.
- yanCEyware – This is another reader that I use because of the content I can get for it (mostly stuff for church). This one’s also free, but I donated to this guy’s paypal account because I use it so much.
- PocketMusic – a freeware mp3 player that you have to pay for if you want to listen to anything with DRM3.
- TCPMP – Stands for “The Core Pocket Media Player”. A freeware, opensource project that plays every movie format there is. Way better than Windows Media Player and much more versatile. I get the feeling that these guys may have angered the RIAA, because they’re kind of hard to find, but a google for TCPMP will get you there (hint: look for Picard).
- Games – I have several, but not all of them are currently loaded up. Besides the standard Solitaire, I have bubbles, yahtzee, Age of Empires, Xonix, Arknoid (breakout), and Arvale I & II. I’m in search of a good Soduko game still.
There you have it. Everything I employ on my handheld device to make it worth having.
1 These don’t come without price though, and I make most of my purchases at handango.com.
2 I’m not much of a traveler these days, but I do have relatives scattered around the United States and other countries.
3 Digital Rights Management – anything from iTunes, Rhapsody, or other online Music Stores is protected by DRM.
— Steve Harward
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Handheld Devices: Productive? or just a vice? That's my girl