One Of The Most Novel Uses Of A Pocket PC I've Seen

[Brad Adrian]

<a href="http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&amp;platformId=2&amp;productType=2&amp;catalog=0&amp;amp;sectionId=0&amp;productId=40416">http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&amp;platformId=2&amp;productType=2&amp;catalog=0&amp;amp;sectionId=0&amp;productId=40416</a><br /><br />If there's anything that I hate when I'm trying to sleep, it's the incessant buzzing of a mosquito flying around my head. It really drives me nuts. I'm serious; I seldom use the word "hate" when describing my feelings, but I truly HATE mosquitos. There were even some moments on a recent camping trip that I was tempted to pick up my bedside Pocket PC and use it to try to squash an especially persistent bug.<br /><br />If only I'd had Mosquito Prevent from Kaisoft!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/mosqprevent.gif" /><br /><br />The idea is that this application plays a high-pitched sound loop that supposedly keeps mosquitos away. A simple solution to an aggrevating problem.<br /><br />Now, I'm not saying that this is the best-written piece of software I've ever seen; the English translation of the instructions, for instance, is pretty awkward. But, it does illustrate just one more very innovative way that we are all learning to use our Pocket PCs. I mean, two years ago, we all pretty much thought our devices were good for PIM stuff, listening to music, and a few other things like tracking expenses. Now, we're using them to monitor and administer entire networks from remote locations, host forums, perform financial transactions, and, yes, repel bugs! I just LOVE the amount of innovation we've all been a part of since the launch of the Pocket PC.<br /><br />I almost hesitate to ask this, but what do you think is the greatest innovative leap that's been made with the Pocket PC? Phone integration? Web services delivery? Pest control? Others?

[kagayaki1]

Probably the greatest would be the GUI that came in PPC2000. Simply established CE 3.0 as a major player, finally. But, I think you're probably talking about applications, and such. For that, I'll have to think some more........

[Marc Zimmermann]

If only I'd had Mosquito Prevent from Kaisoft!
Sounds a little bit like one of Vincent Collura's innovative products... ;-)

[T-Will]

I think the most innovative leap has been the advent of reflective color sidelit/frontlit screens and their use as flashlights. :wink:

[Corn Bread]

Does the software actually work? If it does, I'll buy it ASAP. I LOATHE mosquitos.

[Certified Optimist]

Great idea!

But... will it be able to keep going for 8 hours or won't my Pocket PC run out of batteries before that... It does say something about being able to switch off the display.

We need a fieldtest! Any voulenteers who want to go camping in the name of science?

[JMountford]

While a PPC with Mosquito Repeller is innovative it still would be very ineffective for me. I can honestly say that if I am going camping my wife would throw a fit if I took my iPaq with us. I would certainly think most other family men would be in the same situation. "But Honey it can repel mosquitoes." "So can a can of Off. Just leave it!" :agrue:

I am curious though about not only battery life, but also whether the speaker on most PPCs will actually provide good enough sound quality to be effective.

[JMountford]

I truly believe that the most innovative thing about the Pocket PC IS the Pocket PC it's self. The PPC offers near Desktop performance in the palm of your hand. You can use GPS in the mountains, network monitoring software at dinner, drawing and photo-editing software in the park, movies in the car, presentation software in a crunch for the board room, games in the toilet, remote controller on the couch, and so SO much more.

The things we can do with our Pocket PCs are limited only by our imagination.

[Jonathon Watkins]

This may be innovative - but is this program actually useful? I have great difficulty believing that this will work. I seem to remember similar quack products being released in the past – the main problem being that mosquitoes can’t hear. :wink: The battery life problem had occurred to me as well.

How about asking about the most usefull programs?

[kagayaki1]

Isn't a can of Off larger than most PPCs? I know it's not at much fun! When was the last time you used Off for more than just bug repellant?

[JMountford]

Off makes a good football in a clench and when doubled with a lighter maes a campfire childs play. Off also works to repel large animals when used as mace. Also in the wilderness a handfull of off makes for a bracing aftershave.

[Janak Parekh]

But... will it be able to keep going for 8 hours or won't my Pocket PC run out of batteries before that... It does say something about being able to switch off the display.
I bet you'd need a battery extender or somesuch to last the night away. Fortunately, apart from driving the audio amp, this doesn't stress the CPU or display, so the battery drain shouldn't be terrible. But add me to the list of people saying "how the heck does this work", and I'd also like to know how high the PPC can go and if it's irritating to me...

--bdj

[Jonathon Watkins]

Also in the wilderness a handfull of off makes for a bracing aftershave.
And you are hoping to attract the female of which species? :wink:

[Inventor]

> Sounds a little bit like one of Vincent Collura's innovative products...

I have a few pest control programs on my site:

http://www.cebeans.com/buglightp.htm
http://www.cebeans.com/mouseawayp.htm
http://www.cebeans.com/mousescarerp.htm
http://www.cebeans.com/mousealertp.htm
http://www.cebeans.com/mousecounterp.htm

[T-Will]

LOL! Those are definately some innovative programs.

[puithove]

As far as whether or not it works (there have been many other sonic pest control things out there), who knows. But try this:

[instructions removed by moderator...]

...and enjoy!

[Jason Dunn]

You're telling people how to hack his app? That's not very cool. :?

[MaximumPDA]

That's hardly a hack. I always poke around my software files to find neat sounds or graphics. Its fun to make changes and see how programs work.

If this is a pay program and you use the wave file, you should pay for it of course or quit using it after the demo period.

Just my thoughts,

Bill

[denivan]

So what's more annoying, mosquitos or this crappy wave file ? :pukeface:

[puithove]

No, I don't promote stealing stuff from developers. I'm just poking fun at this "piece of software".

While I appreciate the spirit of innovation, I just don't see the need for a seperate application to do this and was merely demonstrating a point.

[Jason Dunn]

While I appreciate the spirit of innovation, I just don't see the need for a seperate application to do this and was merely demonstrating a point.

I don't buy every application I see, and I demonstrate my point by not buying it. :D I know you didn't mean any harm, but I respect the work people put into something, even if I might not think it's the greatest thing in the world...

[Brad Adrian]

This may be innovative - but is this program actually useful?

Like I've said before, we need a new emoticon for designating complete sarcasm! :silly: I was being tongue-in-cheek about this application and was only using it as an example of how strange we've become from spending so much time with these little devices.

[denivan]

actually, it's a good thing this app was 'cracked'. I mean come on, it's a simple eVB gui that plays some wav file that he found off the web. He even uses mediaplayer for blanking the screen, he can't code that himself. So if you have to load up mediaplayer to toggle the screen, why not just play the file in mediaplayer? This is just ripping people off and I personally classify this as a scam.

[ctmagnus]

Now, we're using them to monitor and administer entire networks from remote locations, host forums, perform financial transactions, and, yes, repel bugs!

Shouldn't that be administer the hosting of forums?

[ctmagnus]

Off... when doubled with a lighter maes a campfire childs play.

:rotfl: