SmartPhone Platform help for a convert from Full PPC Platform

[CorysWorld]

I have been using a Full Featured PPC for years. My latest has been the Cingular 8125. I have just made the switch to the BlackJack on Cingular.
I am finding it difficult to personalize my device like the 8125 and I have a couple of questions and would really appreciate help.

How do I change what the home screen displays?(Can I get rid of the different lines such as Tasks, Calendar as I could in the Full PPC and/or rearrange them)
Can I also edit the applications on the top line?

I have always used a program like Spb Pocket Plus or Battery Pack to extend the capabilitys of my Windows Device. Does the SmartPhone platform have its own versions or similar programs? Any must haves?

Thanks in advance,

Cory

[Jerry Raia]

Welcome! Things are a bit different on Smartphones. It is not as simple on a Smartphone to customize the home screen. To add and remove plug ins you need to edit the xml file for that home screen. You may already have some pre-made screens on your device that suit you. There are some 3rd party apps that will help you do this if you don't want to get into editing the xml files.

Those apps on the top line are called MRU (Most Recently Used). You can change them but they will change as you execute other applications anyway. Spb Plus does not come in a Smartphone flavor but Battery Pack Pro does. You can use the home screens they give you to arrange home screen applications (the launcher) and eliminate the MRU plug-in.

There are a lot of applications out there to help you customize your phone. You will probably find a lot of software you had on the 8125 has a Smartphone counterpart. Hope this helps to get you started. :)

[Mike Temporale]

You might want to check out some of the home screens that kleinweder (http://smartphone.kleinweder.ch/downloads/index.php) has. IMHO, they're the best stuff on the net.

[Jerry Raia]

I'll second that!

[CorysWorld]

Thanks for the help. I appreciate it.

As I have been playing with this device I really like it. The smartphone platform is much more simple but still has all the things I need. It is also not a brick in my pocket.

Does anyone know is the MS Voice Command is compatible with smartphones? It is not clear on there site. Handango keeps coming up with the UK version.
--
Update: I found the Smartphone version here:
http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productId=199595
--

Thanks again,
Cory

[CorysWorld]

Hey,

One more question.

On my BlackJack SmartPhone the tasks app is not as full featured as my old PPC. When I ad task I cannot give it a date due or reminder. I find this a little odd since the calendar works the same as the PPC.
Is this the way it is with all smart phones? Is there a workaround to give it full task features?

Thanks

[Jerry Raia]

Unfortunately you really need a 3rd party application to get full functionality. Tasks are a small part of what I use personally so I'm not sure if you can do what you want with the built in applications. There are a few pretty good 3rd party solutions out there:

http://www.developerone.com/agendaone/index.htm

http://www.sbsh.net/products/papyrus/

http://www.birdsoft.biz/exagenda.htm

http://www.oxios.com/tasks/ Tasks only

[CorysWorld]

Thank you, This is very helpful and will save lost of time searching around:)

The plugins look promising. I just hope they will sync over the air as regular tasks do.

I cannot understand why MS would limit the tasks feature on the smartphone. It does not make sense to me. Again a lot they do does not make sense. Overall a great design, just wish it had a little more customization built in.

Thanks again

[Jerry Raia]

We have been wondering that very thing for years. :)

As to the over the air sync issue, these applications basically run on top of the databases already on the phone so yes, over the air syncing will be the same for you as it is now for any of them.