02-05-2009, 01:33 PM
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Executive Editor, Android Thoughts
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,233
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One Line Wisdom: Windows Mobile Edition
In the past we've asked you to share your best tips with the community, and in the same vein comes my newest talking point, the elusive yet useful joys of a small nugget of wisdom. Your mission, dear community, is to share one short line of wisdom that you might give to new users of Windows Mobile devices, old vets, and recent converts from "dumbphones". Feel free to expound on your one-liner, but the one-liner should be able to stand on it's own. Here's mine: When it comes to software, less is more My line refers to the temptation some users get to trick out their phones with every conceivable application under the sun. And trust me - I was no exception to this when I started out with Windows Mobile. I had (still have actually) registration codes for easily the top 30 applications for Windows Mobile. I tried everything, bought most of it, and today use almost none of it. Aside from 3-5 applications I install, my device remains stock. Why? Well it isn't that the software isn't well written, it's simply that I know what I use and try to avoid the clutter of unused doodads. When you find the software that really works for you, you don't need to spend hours tinkering with everything else. Your smartphone just works, smartly, for you. Now it's your turn - share your line of wisdom and explanation (Perhaps it's When it comes to software, use everything!")!
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Dr. Jon Westfall, MCSE, MS-MVP
Executive Editor - Android Thoughts
News Editor - Windows Phone Thoughts
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02-05-2009, 04:51 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 301
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KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid
Much like Jon, I was constantly putting software on my phone that looked cool and did stuff that I thought I needed. I would only try things that had trial versions. Turns out that I didn't need those apps at all, they just cluttered the phone and the slowed it down.
I eventually bought just the following:
Agenda One (the Windows PIM sucks) - use it daily
Fizz Weather - don't use it much now, there are better/cheaper options
SPB Wallet - couldn't live without it 
Pocket Quicken - sync daily with my desktop account
Garmin Mobile XT - need another GPS like a hole in the head, but it is really cool
~Rob
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iPhone 3GS, iPad, 27" i3 iMac, AppleTV, AirPort Extreme
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02-05-2009, 04:52 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 367
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Yeah - I'm with you on this one. I probably have as many registered apps as you do, and find that I really only use 5 or 6.
One of the reasons I've become more selective is because my Wing is so memory constrained, so I have to be pretty selective about what I put on it. But in the process, I've discovered that I only use a handful of apps on a regular basis, so I've trimmed down what's on my device to those apps and find that I really don't miss the others.
My top apps are PocketInformant, Pocket Bible, Resco Explorer, EReader, MemMaid and TextMaker 2006.
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XBox 360 S, 16GB iPhone 4S, iPod Classic 160 GB, Dell Inspiron Mini 1018; Macs: Mac Mini 2.4 GHz 6 GB RAM; Macbook 2.0 GHz 3 GB RAM; MacBook Air 11", 24" Cinema Display
Last edited by crimsonsky; 02-05-2009 at 04:55 PM..
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02-05-2009, 04:54 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 237
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First thing to do when you get a new device: install a screen protector.
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02-05-2009, 05:20 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 12
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One Liner (not quite)
Don't get frustrated! Windows Mobile is not Windows! So, there is a learning curve. Learn to customize Windows Mobile to meet your needs. There are sites out there that will walk you through it and just getting all the apps available that you really use from the "Start" list rather than having to tunnel through multiple layers makes a huge difference. Having easy access to your key apps available from "Start" or from shortcuts (fn+f for files, fn+i for Internet, fn+c for calendar, etc. is great but requires some customization because AT&T wants you to have easy access to all their garbage that you don't want anyway. Some of this requires remapping shortcuts but its worth the effort.
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02-05-2009, 06:26 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3
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Backup, backup, backup!
Backup, backup, backup!
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02-05-2009, 06:32 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 73
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Get a good backup application and use it regularly.
I agree with Jon and the others about software in general. I own way more than I currently use, but one thing I will never be without is backup software. Since SK Tools added backup to the long list of things it will do I use that (better one app that does many things than lots of single apps), but there are several good options. ActiveSync has become unreliable at best so I never count on that to save my contacts, tasks, and appointments. If you've ever had your device crash without a recent backup, as I did a few years ago, you'll never make that mistake again.
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02-05-2009, 06:43 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 3
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I guess this is a 2 liner.
Don't be a fool. A 2 year contract is not cool.
Don't allow yourself to be locked up into a 2 year contract however enticing it may seem. Once you get your hands on a new handheld a newer one may well be on its way. It is better if you buy in cash than to be stuck in a gadget that you would want to replace but couldn't.
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02-05-2009, 06:45 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 367
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Quote:
Originally Posted by psyjohn
Get a good backup application and use it regularly.
I agree with Jon and the others about software in general. I own way more than I currently use, but one thing I will never be without is backup software. Since SK Tools added backup to the long list of things it will do I use that (better one app that does many things than lots of single apps), but there are several good options. ActiveSync has become unreliable at best so I never count on that to save my contacts, tasks, and appointments. If you've ever had your device crash without a recent backup, as I did a few years ago, you'll never make that mistake again.
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I've been using backup software on my WM devices since day one (about 5 or 6 years). I didn't even include it in my list of software because I consider it so essential that I wouldn't dream of having a device without it. My current backup solution is Sprite Backup 6.x and it works fantastically on my Wing.
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XBox 360 S, 16GB iPhone 4S, iPod Classic 160 GB, Dell Inspiron Mini 1018; Macs: Mac Mini 2.4 GHz 6 GB RAM; Macbook 2.0 GHz 3 GB RAM; MacBook Air 11", 24" Cinema Display
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02-05-2009, 06:45 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,060
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Of course, my guiding motto has always been:
W?BIC!
"Why? Because I Can!"
I realize that's a little bit antithetical to others posted here about simplicity, but the inner geek in me still has to TRY to do things with my Windows Mobile device just because I can.
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Linear Mode
