Must have apps

[apmiller]

I am looking for people's thoughts on must have apps. I have owned 4 ppcs but always used the included software (actually I use pocket informant) and I want to "personalize" my handheld more. If anyone repsonds could you include the name of the app as well as the reason why you suggest it and a quick blurb on what it is? Thanks in advance!

[JD Silver]

I would put Resco Explorer 2003 on the top of the list. It is what the file explorer should've been on a Pocket PC. It also includes an excellent Registry Editor, compression SW, and FTP client.

For a Personal Info Manager replacement, I would use either Pocket Informant or Agenda Fusion. They are far better than Outlook, and i would even buy a version for my desktop if they existed.

The first Today Screen enhancement I would buy is Spd Pocket Plus. It combines power, backlight, memory monitoring with easy access to all apps using icons on the Today screen. As well, it provides a Task Manager and real true blue application close button. In addition, there are also some nice enhancements to Pocket Internet Explorer, File Explorer, and repeating alarms.

If you want to use your Pocket PC to surf the web, Thunderhawk 2 is a must have application. Well, actually, it is a service, costing about $5 a month. It provides landscape protrayal of web pages, automatically reformatted at their server to fit your screen. It must be at least 10 times faster than PocketIE.

Have fun shopping!

JD

[Jeff Rutledge]

You may want to try here (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=33696), here (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=34277)or here (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=34031).

[Menneisyys]

You should have mentioned the type of your device because QVGA-optimized services/apps not necessarily work OK on a VGA machine and/or there may be better alternatives.

As for FTP, use either vxFtp or CedeFTP instead of Resco's FTP add-on module. Resco is an order of magnitude slower when writing to memory cards instead of main memory.

Browsers: it all depends on if you have a VGA device or not. With a VGA device, I'd use Spb Pocket Plus 2.1's PIE plug-in because it's by far the most speed/memory (I've thoroughly measured their memory consumption)/screen estate-efficient solution compared to both MultiIE / PIEPlus. Netfront 3.1, especially with the two VGA hacks ("forced" VGA hack + the DLL name hack}, is also avery good alternative.

However, if you have QVGA, definitely give Thunderhawk a shot.

I'd also recommend Spb Imageer 1.2 as a generic pic viewer app - it's prolly the best as of now.

[TheOrange]

I'd check out Calendar+ by mohairsofa (http://mohairsofa.com/Default.aspx/document/6). Is a nice little calendar plug-in that they reviewed on PPCT a few months back. It's way handy and priced just right :wink:

[applejosh]

In no particular order

PocketBreeze and ContactBreeze (www.sbsh.net)
Great today screen plugins that are IMHO the best way I've found for displaying calendar, tasks, and contacts on the today screen. Skinnable, too.

WeatherPanel (www.marsware.net) or PocketWeather (www.sbsh.net)
Because I never watch the news and would like to know when to expect torrential rain or heavy snow.

PocketPlus (http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/?en)
Just an all around good tool. Today screen plugin for launching frequently used apps. Also contains battery and memory meters.

PocketInformant (www.pocketinformant.com)
Because I came from the Palm side (with DateBk5), and I needed something a little more than the standard Outlook apps

TextMaker/PlanMaker (www.softmaker.de)
Because Pocket Word and Pocket Excel aren't the greatest.

WisBar Advance 2 (www.lakeridgesoftware.com)
I like my device to look "pretty."

Bejeweled (www.astraware.com)
I have to have something to do while waiting for servers to reboot or waiting for a client to get off the phone.

Repligo (www.cerience.com)
Wonderful cross-platform (mostly) viewer. Mainly I use it for converting/viewing PDF's since Adobe's reader (PPC version) is bloated and doesn't reflow text as nicely.

HanDBase (www.ddhsoftware.com)
I have a few databases, mainly for personal use. (Track pups' vet visits, mileage, etc.) I'm not a programmer, and this was pretty easy to use (plus I got a discount when cross-grading from Palm).

cabinstl (http://www.geocities.com/s_k_s_k_s_kru/util.html)
For installing cab files on the PPC to something other than the default RAM directory.

Pocket Mechanic (search PocketGear)
All around tool. I use it to clear out temp files, bad registry entries, etc. Memmaid is also a very nice tool along these lines.

PocketMusic (www.pocketmind.com)
For listening to music. I also have Pocket Player (www.conduits.com), but I've been gravitating towards PocketMusic lately.

I have others, but these are probably the ones I use most.

Cheers!

[okkervil]

calligrapher http://www.phatware.com/calligrapher/
awesome handwriting recognition program. couldn't live without it

betaplayer http://betaplayer.corecodec.org/
best movie player, period. plays just about everything



if i were you, i'd pick up the dec 2004/jan 2005 issue of PocketPC magazine. the current issue has a huge list of the best apps and games for pocket pc's.
www.pocketpcmag.com

[Kati Compton]

Moved to the Software forum...

[Kowalski]

beta player for avi
gsfinder+ as file manager
pocket informant as pim
calc98 as sci. calculator
wmp as mp3 player
tAgenda as today plugin
wisbar advanced
batmem time

are my favotite applications i cant live withouth