Pocket Stars Picked by Handango Staff

[Andy Sjostrom]

<a href="http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productId=22483">http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productId=22483</a><br /><br />I just received Handango's "Staff Picks" e-mail and decided to check it out a bit more thorough this time. Most popular Pocket PC applications seem to be generic in nature, meaning they address a broad scope such as a database application, a Personal Information Management (PIM) tool, or maybe a game. Up there with these generic types of applications I found <a href="http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?productId=22483">Pocket Stars</a> from <a href="http://www.nomadelectronics.com/">Nomad Electronics</a>. Pocket Stars is an astronomy tool and a "high accuracy star chart, ephemeris, and Celestial Navigation calculator for the Pocket PC". A few months ago we bought a <a href="http://www.bichonfrise.org">dog</a>. Since then I must admit that I have begun watching the stars with interest. Walking the dog at night presents a good opportunity to do just that. It has even happened that I have looked up certain stars after having seen something that I didn't recognize from yesterday's walk. Now I am considering buying Pocket Stars to make things easier and more interesting. Check it out yourself!<br /><br />I really would like to end with a quote from a buyer's review (from Handango): "The sky took on new meaning for me with the names of the many stars that I had wondered about over the years. Plus, I was able to readily identify contellations that I have never been able to properly identify or recognize over the years even with a larger planisphere. Then there are the planets. The screen clearly shows which planets are rising, setting and overhead at any given time. The program also allows you to find out which planets were visible on a particular day. A great way to find what you were looking some one evening several days, weeks or months earlier. This is truly a "Pocket Planisphere". I showed it to a friend and he became so excited he promptly purchased an iPAQ just so he could purchase a copy of the program!"

[Skitals]

Maybe I'm thinking of something else but hasnt this software been out for around 2 years? My dad is an astonomy major and we have an observatory in the back yard, yet he shows no interest in this software or the ppc when I showed it to him online :roll:

[jasoncli]

Perfect software, but there is not search feature anywhere that I can find. Anybody else having this problem?

[JohnnyFlash]

Maybe I'm thinking of something else but hasnt this software been out for around 2 years? My dad is an astonomy major and we have an observatory in the back yard, yet he shows no interest in this software or the ppc when I showed it to him online :roll:

Maybe you are thinking of my Pocket Universe application, which I've been working on updating for years (or so it seems). It was the first Pocket PC (in fact, Handheld PC) astronomy application.

[MacPPC]

Perfect software, but there is not search feature anywhere that I can find. Anybody else having this problem?

Go to the sextant page (tap on the globe to get there) and you'll find a drop-down menu with the most common star names. Choose one and it will be selected in the star chart.

[wiljs]

try this software out...

http://www.alfcen.com/pocket/taiyokei.htm

it is free and I find it fun and easy to use --I have all the add-ins and use the program frequently...he updates it frequently too

:)

[Pony99CA]

If you want another free program, try Leo's Void (http://personales.jet.es/leobueno/void.htm).

Steve

[Gyro]

I use TheSky by Software Bisque. Although it is a little expensive it has a huge data base (252K stars) and as able to control my telescope through a serial port.

It also has a huge feature set making it an ideal planetarium program.

http://www.bisque.com

Gyro

[Kevin Remhof]

Be sure to keep your eyes open. My review of PocketStars should be posted here (Pocket PC Thoughts) shortly. This makes a nice intro to my review.

[volwrath]

Im still waiting on the PU updates!