Tweaks2K2 Updated!

[Brad Adrian]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pc-counselor.com/downloads.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.pc-counselor.com/downloads.htm</a><br /><br /></div>I have always admired folks who know enough about editing their Pocket PC registries to fine-tune the way their devices behave. On the other hand, I learned at an early age that <a href="http://www.geocities.com/murphylawsite/">Murphy's Law</a> was written with me specifically in mind, so I usually refrain from registry editing. That is why I am SOOOO glad that programs like Tweaks2K2 are around. I am also SOOOO happy to announce that <a href="http://www.pc-counselor.com/downloads.htm">Tweaks2K2 </a> has been updated, making it fully Windows Mobile 2003 SE Compatible.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/tweaks.gif" /><br /><br />"This new version has been rewritten and redesigned in Visual Studio .NET to insure compatibility with current and future Microsoft Operating Systems. In this release, Tweaks2K2 includes a new trick specifically designed to be used with Windows Mobile 2003 SE: The activation of ClearType in landscape mode. And, 3 more registry hacks have been added to the collection."<br /><br />This version actually includes over 70 registry hacks, so we can't list them all here. But suffice it to say, this is a VERY complete collection. [Note that this version of Tweaks2K2 requires installation of .NET Compact Framework for Pocket PC 2000 and Pocket PC 2002 devices.]<br /><br />The regular price for Tweaks2K2 is $12.99, but the <a href="http://www.pc-counselor.com/downloads.htm">developer's Web site</a> is currently offering a 20% discount, making the price <b>only $10.20</b>. A demo download is also available.<br /><br />Happy hacking!

[buckyg]

I love this program, it's a must-have for me. The developer is very responsive to questions, too.

Using a couple of the included tweaks, I have solved my alarm problem. (Your Mileage May Vary on that)

[ctitanic]

Thanks guys! :twisted: :devilboy: :D

[OSUKid7]

Very off-topic, but what program puts both the date and time on the Start bar? (didn't want to call that the taskbar...cause...well...is it? lol)

[mf24]

> Very off-topic, but what program puts both the date and time on the Start bar?

Tweaks 2K2 .NET (See, you weren't off-topic at all!)

[ctitanic]

Very off-topic, but what program puts both the date and time on the Start bar? (didn't want to call that the taskbar...cause...well...is it? lol)

Well for sure Tweaks2K2 does it :D

I found that another program, I don´t know which, change that registry to get the Time and Date in the "start bar".

This trick can be done by changing this registry key

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shell]
"TBOpt"

TBOpt can be 0, 1, 2 or 3

Well, out there is a program that change it to 15 hex (21 dec). That´s an invalid value.

I also found that out there is another program that change the default value of this key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\GDI\SYSFNT\Ht to FFFFFFF5 when the default value is FFFFFFF4....

These programs were causing errors in Tweaks2K2 v2.0.0 so I had create a workaround in my program to avoid these problems.

[OSUKid7]

:oops: I think I understand why people buy these types of prgorams now! I barely understood all of that reg editing in the last post. :lol: Thanks for the help.

[Brad Adrian]

:oops: I think I understand why people buy these types of prgorams now! I barely understood all of that reg editing in the last post. :lol: Thanks for the help.
Exactly my point. Using registry tools like this are never completely risk-free, but it's a heck of a lot less risky than my editing the registry completely. Which brings up another good point...

Always, always, ALWAYS make a backup of your registry!

[Pony99CA]

Very off-topic, but what program puts both the date and time on the Start bar? (didn't want to call that the taskbar...cause...well...is it? lol)
Actually, one of the first posts (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=147) I made here dealt with that hack. :-D Jason posted the hack and I investigated it quite a bit.

Steve

[ctitanic]

Very off-topic, but what program puts both the date and time on the Start bar? (didn't want to call that the taskbar...cause...well...is it? lol)
Actually, one of the first posts (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=147) I made here dealt with that hack. :-D Jason posted the hack and I investigated it quite a bit.

Steve

Well, somebody is using now 15 hex (21 dec) on that value with the same result. Time/Date in the Start Bar.

[Jonathon Watkins]

"He hacked our registry so we wouldn't have to".

"Greater love has no man than this, that a man produces a registry hacking program so his friends don't have to edit it manually themselves".

:wink:

Nice job there Ctitanic.

[sponge]

Interesting observation, these types of reg hack programs on the PC are usually seen as incredibly shady (spyware or not), but on the PocketPC, it's quite popular. I suppose it's due to the more close-knit PocketPC community than anything.

[OSUKid7]

Interesting observation, these types of reg hack programs on the PC are usually seen as incredibly shady (spyware or not), but on the PocketPC, it's quite popular. I suppose it's due to the more close-knit PocketPC community than anything.
Good point. Also, the review system. I mean, if this were spyware, we'd find out pretty fast and the developer would never sell anything else.

[ctitanic]

Interesting observation, these types of reg hack programs on the PC are usually seen as incredibly shady (spyware or not), but on the PocketPC, it's quite popular. I suppose it's due to the more close-knit PocketPC community than anything.
Good point. Also, the review system. I mean, if this were spyware, we'd find out pretty fast and the developer would never sell anything else.

you are right. I don't have anything to hide. I even publish the hacks I use in my program ;)

[Brad Adrian]

...these types of reg hack programs on the PC are usually seen as incredibly shady...
Yeah, I've kind of noticed that, too. I wonder why that is?

[Janak Parekh]

Interesting observation, these types of reg hack programs on the PC are usually seen as incredibly shady (spyware or not), but on the PocketPC, it's quite popular. I suppose it's due to the more close-knit PocketPC community than anything.
That's part of it. The other reason is because the desktop already exposes much, much more functionality via standard UIs. On the Pocket PC, due to the simpler/smaller UI, there's a lot of important functionality that's simply not exposed, and you have to use a program like Tweaks2k2 or RegKing (or a registry editor) to get at it -- in other words, it has a greater air of need/legitimacy.

Simple example: you couldn't enable system-wide ClearType on Pocket PC 2002 without a registry edit/hack program. There's no such need for a program to do that on the desktop.

--janak

[ctitanic]

Well, the Desktop has more registry hacks than our devices and I have been thinking about to create a version of Tweaks2K2 for desktops a lot of times but... there are more dificulties with this kind of programs. The main one is that almost everybody has a computer even when that person does not know how to use it. And that ignorance is what kills this kind of programs. People always think about the registry like the DARK SIDE of the computer an untouchable world, very dangerous. In our community the picture is a lot different. No everybody has a Pocket PC. In general, people with pocket pcs are more technically educated so they understand a little more what is behind the registry and many of them even dare to edit and change the registry without the help of programs like mine.

A registry tweaker in a PC could be use it as an spyware, yes, in a Pocket PC in the way it's designed would be very difficult to create such kind of spyware with the ability to send data unnoticed.

[Sven Johannsen]

In general, people with pocket pcs are more technically educated so they understand a little more what is behind the registry and many of them even dare to edit and change the registry without the help of programs like mine.

I'm not really sure that I'd agree with that entirely. I think there is a greater chasm between savvy and general PPC users. I think the vast majority of PPC users, pretty much use what came out of the box, maybe adding a program or two, but aren't even aware that this sort of thing is possible. They bought it for what it does and are happy that it does it. The savvy ones are all here, BTW.

On the PC side everybody seems to be a closet hacker, or has one in the next cube or next door.

[Brad Adrian]

...or has one in the next cube or next door.
I think this is a more valid point than saying that most PC users are closet hackers. I can easily point to a dozen friends or family members who don't have the slightest idea about how to tweak their PC, but they ALL have somebody like me around to do it for them.