How Will You Use Your Pocket PC This Weekend?

[Jon Westfall]

Pocket PCs generally are bought and used for work-related tasks. After all, many of us have made the point to bosses, supervisors, and spouses that we <i>Need</i> a PPC for our job so that we can be more productive/successful/overworked etc... But with the weekend upon us, I thought it might be fun to see how we use these mobile computers in our off time (Assuming you get weekends off ;) ). <br /><br />Personally, this weekend I think my PPC will get a fair share of use. I'm heading home after a week visiting the future in-laws, and with my fiancé driving, I'll have ample time to play Arkaball, DopeWars, and even Solitaire. Saturday I'm teaching a class, and I'll probably use it to get my email fix since I won't have too much time during breaks. If I have time on Sunday, I may fire up <a href="www.audible.com">Audible</a> and finish an audiobook I've been listening to, or maybe I'll begin preparing for spring by installing <a href="http://strandberg.org/gpxview/">GpxView</a> or <a href="http://gpxsonar.homeip.net/default.aspx">GpxSonar</a> for the geocaching I'm hoping to get a chance to do this year! I also have a few apps that I've been meaning to try out from posts here at PPCT, so I'll likely load them up and play with them. Who knows, perhaps my first Handango purchase in a few months will be approaching soon :)<br /><br />So what will you be using your PPC for this weekend? Feel free to include links so we can all play with some new apps, and any tips you have on using your Pocket PC as a leisure (rather than business) tool.

[surur]

I tend to use it to read a very popular website about pocketpc's (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/) ;)

Surur

[gcaley]

When not using it for work, I spend the odd bit of time browsing all the latest gadget websites. PocketRSS is excellent for keeping up with all the latest feeds.

http://www.happyjackroad.com/AtomicDB/pocketpc/pocketRSS/pocketRSS.asp

For a bit if light entertainment the latest game I'm playing is the excellent Arvale (www.arvale.com).

[Paragon]

Internet browsing
email
reading
music
Audible
GPS
cellphone
Myst
and probably a few other things as well. ;)

Dave

[foebea]

Finish up The Apprentice Adept Series (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/series/-/59/ref=pd_sr_ec_ser_b/102-7954727-4752147) by Piers Anthony on ubook (http://www.gowerpoint.com/), watch a few episodes of Stargate (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009X75H/qid=1110586813/sr=8-8/ref=pd_ka_1/102-7954727-4752147?v=glance&amp;s=dvd&amp;n=507846) and maybe a movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349903/) on BetaPlayer (http://betaplayer.corecodec.org/)(free), after easily converting them to the proper format using PocketDivxEncoder (http://divx.ppccool.com/)(free). I will spend some time finally getting to the end of Myst (http://www.meanhamstersoftware.com/prod_pocketpc.html) and if I get over this terrible cold before sunday night, I may convince myself to actually get out of the house and press some random buttons on TomTom (http://www.tomtom.com/?Language=4) and see where I end up. If I do go on a trip I may listen to Dean Koontz's Frankenstein (http://www.audible.com) in the background, with TomTom up front.

Seems like I have more free time when I am at work some days :mrgreen:

[Pat Logsdon]

Mostly I'll be reading eBooks. I'll also use it to make sure I don't forget about my haircut appointment on Saturday, I'll check traffic before leaving on a long drive on Sunday, I'll use FlexWallet2 for credit card info when I order some photographic equipment online (and Mastersoft Money to make sure my balance can handle it), I'll check my gmail, chat via MSN Messenger with my friend in Korea, and use Sprite Backup before I upgrade my ROM. Oh, and I'll probably finish watching Amelie via BetaPlayer, too. :mrgreen: 8)

[mara6]

I have to go to a business trip with my dad, so I will bring my Dell Axim X30 and play some games, listen to music, and watch Dodgeball (which I'm converting right now) on the plane. In DC I'll use the built in WiFi to surf the web and check my email from the free WiFi spots!

The only bad thing is my X30 sucks up battery, so I'll have to have an outlet close by most of the time.

[foebea]

One quick note, I do not use my pocket pc for work at all. I do not sync calender or email anything like that. This is strickly personal.

When I am at work I use it to read ebooks with ubook, play chess (Kasparov Chessmate, Pocket Fritz), shoot a couple games of pool in Virtual Pool by Celeris, mess around with an ever shifting array of Astraware games, maybe a bit of Yatzee. In slow parts of the day I get a good amount of use out of BetaPlayer and PocketMusic (pocketmind).

Lately I have been known to make stick figures suffer horribly thanks to Phatpads animation studio. Most recently I have been playing Myst alot at work.

If you can't tell by the above, I like my job. :D

[ikesler]

i have been using my ppc6601 for three weeks all alone..... no other device or computer at alll. and i am loving it....
this weekend will be more calls, email, web, ewallet, pi, msn, and pocket workout.
finally will be back to sync up on monday.... it also will be reminding when to head to set each day! lovin the device.

[Kevin Remhof]

I guess I'm in the minority here. My Pocket PC will most likely sit on top of the refrigerator waiting for Monday morning. Then, I'll give it a quick check to see what meetings I have and it will head back to work with me.

I think I'm in a Pocket PC rut...

[Pat Logsdon]

I guess I'm in the minority here. My Pocket PC will most likely sit on top of the refrigerator waiting for Monday morning. Then, I'll give it a quick check to see what meetings I have and it will head back to work with me.

I think I'm in a Pocket PC rut...
Quick, someone get this man a new game to review! ;)
Do you generally store your electronics on top of appliances? :D

[yawanag]

I use my PPC as much on the weekend as I do throughout the week, i.e. reading, playing games, taking photos, talking on the phone.

Unfortunately, this weekend. I will be tracking the days when it will be returned since it is in for repair :evil:

[ctmagnus]

Most of the above, except the fridge thing, the upgrade thing and the repair thing as well as GPS and phone usage as I don't have a BT GPS or a phone edition device.

[szamot]

naturally, like all my other powers, my PPC can only be used for good - :devilboy:

[Anjuan Simmons]

Let's see listen to a few chapters of Joshua (I ripped my NIV Audio Bible to mp3 format and store the files on my SD card), do some more in depth study using Pocket Bible from Laridian if necessary, listen to whatever new podcasts Thunderbird has for me, read Avant Go articles, and (Sunday night) synchronize with my company's Exchange Server to update my Inbox, Calendar, and Contacts.

[welmoed]

I'm heading to NYC for a little sightseeing, and will make extensive use of Tuby NYC ( http://www.visualit.co.uk/palm_tubenycpro.htm ) to help me find my way around.

--Welmoed

[powder2000]

Imagine that, I just convinced work to get me a new vga axim, for work only of course :D . thats ok, I'm worth it! At home I'll be surfing the web, loading some new apps and did I mention surfing the web. I also just downloaded 'diarist' to update my blog, works excellent. I will also use a little 'arcpad' using real vga and my bt gps (that I also convinced work to get for me). I had my brother get Arcpad with his college student discount rather than spend the $500 list price. I may also use 'mortplayer' to listen to some tunes I have ripped in the open 'ogg vorbis' format.

[Kevin Remhof]

I guess I'm in the minority here. My Pocket PC will most likely sit on top of the refrigerator waiting for Monday morning. Then, I'll give it a quick check to see what meetings I have and it will head back to work with me.

I think I'm in a Pocket PC rut...
Quick, someone get this man a new game to review! ;)
Do you generally store your electronics on top of appliances? :D

ROFL! Actually, I'm wrapping up a game review right now: Plant Tycoon. I beat the game so I'm currently gameless. Then again, I haven't really conquered Bejeweled 2 yet. Maybe I will have to "undock" my iPaq from the fridge.

[SteveHoward999]

Reading:- I have all of Terry Pratchet's Discworld series converted to MS Reader format. I'm on book 10 "Moving Pictures" right now. Only another 16 to go ...

Reading:- Catching up with news etc with AvantGo

Reading:- surfing and email ... can't be bothered firing up the laptop.

Games:- I seem to be hooked on on Jawbreaker and Virtual Pool.

Games:- I use it to keep score when my wife and I play scrabble etc

Games:- I found a great PPC scrabble game that is multi-player and links machines via iR http://www.handmark.com. They have some other board games I am interested in too ...

Radio:- Listening to Radio 1 on Real Player using Radio Feeds To Go http://www.radiofeeds.co.uk/pda/ ... oh how I have missed Radio 1 since I moved to the USA!

saving the best 'till last ...


It's my wife's birthday Sunday, and I bought her a Toshiba E830. I was
forced to buy one for me too. Much of Sunday will be spent configuring these new machines and 'testing' them :-)


I am starting to wonder if I should get out more, or maybe buy a tv ... :-)

[jcsickz]

browse the web
make calls
watch streaming tv
record tv
stream music
thats about it

[Silver5]

I'm probably not going to do much at with my PPC this weekend. I really like the 6315, but I am giving the Treo 650 a shot and am REALLY enjoying the keyboard, the overall size, ooohhh the screen (!)...I have a Treo 600 which I have all but stopped using because I like the 6315 so much, but the Treo 650 may just have it beaten.

As for what I'd normally do with my PPC...well, I'd talk on it, surf the net a little, and maybe add/delete a few things from the calendar. That's about it.

[IpaqMan2]

record tv


Jcsickz,
Do you watch recorded TV shows on your pocket pc? If so, what process do you go through to record the tv show and then send it your Pocket PC? I would love to be able to do this if I can.

Thanks

[IpaqMan2]

I'm probably not going to do much at with my PPC this weekend. I really like the 6315, but I am giving the Treo 650 a shot and am REALLY enjoying the keyboard, the overall size, ooohhh the screen (!)...I have a Treo 600 which I have all but stopped using because I like the 6315 so much, but the Treo 650 may just have it beaten.

As for what I'd normally do with my PPC...well, I'd talk on it, surf the net a little, and maybe add/delete a few things from the calendar. That's about it.

I've mess with the Treo 650 at work and it does have a nice screen, though I wish it were 320x480, though I have been more than happy with my iPaq 4355 (it also has a keyboard).

As for me... I'll be using my pocket pc this weekend for the same reasons why I first originally bought a visor so many years ago. I will be go over my ToDo list this weekend, making some weekly and monthly goals, scheduling appiontments (personal and business), using my contacts to contact people, using eWallet, keeping daily logs &amp; and using it as my personal journal, doing some ebook reading, as well as keeping up to date with my finances though Pocket Quicken and occasionaly playing a few games to pass time.

What I will also do on my pocket PC which I couldn't do on my visor is Watch a couple of movies which I set up for my weekends and watch them while I am away from home, use the WiFi at a few different locations to hit a few websites and check my email.

[dma1965]

As a network administrator I use my Pocket PC more than any other device for my job, bar none. Since it is also my phone I ALWAYS have it with me, and I use a network monitoring program to send me an SMS whenever a node goes down on my network. Since I am also the worst person in the world when it comes to road directions, I use Mapopolis and a bluetooth GPS to get around for weekend ventures, and I just surf the net whenever the wife takes me to an obligatory social visit with one of our friends, and things start to get a little boring (I know it may be rude, but you have no idea how long she is capable of carrying on a conversation, which I have no part in). I also use VNC and Terminal Services to perform network maintenance and fixes when I get trouble calls from one of our stores (we have 36 retail locations), and always amaze people with how fast I can fix a problem, even thought they know I am nowhere near the office. My SX66 is capable of about 95% of what I need a computer for, and I find myself using my laptop less and less every day.

[KTamas]

Hmm, I'm currently stick with the Mac Mini i got for testing :) Too bad that i have to bring it back on wednesday :(
Anyway, on my PPC i think i'll play Arvale and continue reading Star Trek: TNG as an E-book.

[KTamas]

As a network administrator I use my Pocket PC more than any other device for my job, bar none. Since it is also my phone I ALWAYS have it with me, and I use a network monitoring program to send me an SMS whenever a node goes down on my network. Since I am also the worst person in the world when it comes to road directions, I use Mapopolis and a bluetooth GPS to get around for weekend ventures, and I just surf the net whenever the wife takes me to an obligatory social visit with one of our friends, and things start to get a little boring (I know it may be rude, but you have no idea how long she is capable of carrying on a conversation, which I have no part in). I also use VNC and Terminal Services to perform network maintenance and fixes when I get trouble calls from one of our stores (we have 36 retail locations), and always amaze people with how fast I can fix a problem, even thought they know I am nowhere near the office. My SX66 is capable of about 95% of what I need a computer for, and I find myself using my laptop less and less every day.
LOL@your sig :)

[OneAngryDwarf]

I think "use" is a pretty strong word... I have a good relationship w/ my iPaq and treat her well... I really don't believe anybody is getting "used". As for what we'll be doing this weekend... I think its gonna be a Blockbuster night. We've been wanting to watch The Notebook, so I think my iPaq and I will be curling up on the couch for a romantic evening together.

[acollet]

My PPC will get a good use this weekend as it does pretty much every weekend... My wife thinks my PPC is surgically attached to me since its basically with me more than she is :) So.. what will my faithful companion be doing this weekend ?

Checking TV Schedules for my favorite program with PocketTVBrowser

Finishing reading Pilgrims Progress with eReader (DIE MS Reader DIE and your cursed Activation process... DIIIIEEEE!!!!) :devilboy:

Using PocketBible for dialy devotions and Following along at Church

Playing my FAVORITE PPC Game, Cubis

Catching up on RSS posts w/ egress (AvantGo is soooo Palm)

Navigating around town with Mapopolis

And finally... Giving people the evil eye when they ask "is that a Palm?" :evil:

[Latch]

record tv


Jcsickz,
Do you watch recorded TV shows on your pocket pc? If so, what process do you go through to record the tv show and then send it your Pocket PC? I would love to be able to do this if I can.

Thanks

I used to be a big Avantgo user, still use it on occasion, but since I got my Dell Axim x50 I find my self watching more and more television on it.

I have an old 600mhtz PC with a $40 TV Wonder Card, that I have set to record 320x240, 30fps (689 kps) stereo WMV files. The TV Guide software with the Wonder Card is hassle free to set record times, It also can be set-up to record a specific timeframe on any day pattern you want.

I transfer the files to a 1 Gig SD card. A half hour of television at the above setting works out to about 150 megs. I play back the files in Pocket Window Media Player. It's become habit for me to store a weeks worth of Daily Shows on my PPC and then catch-up on them two at a time on the occasional solo lunch hour.

[IpaqMan2]

I used to be a big Avantgo user, still use it on occasion, but since I got my Dell Axim x50 I find my self watching more and more television on it.

I have an old 600mhtz PC with a $40 TV Wonder Card, that I have set to record 320x240, 30fps (689 kps) stereo WMV files. The TV Guide software with the Wonder Card is hassle free to set record times, It also can be set-up to record a specific timeframe on any day pattern you want.

I transfer the files to a 1 Gig SD card. A half hour of television at the above setting works out to about 150 megs. I play back the files in Pocket Window Media Player. It's become habit for me to store a weeks worth of Daily Shows on my PPC and then catch-up on them two at a time on the occasional solo lunch hour.

Latch..
I like your idea.. I found a decent video card on ebay that will allow me to do as described above..
Thanks

[foebea]

Once you have tv shows recorded in wmv format, you may want to consider using 2 free programs to make viewing more enjoyable.

PocketDivxEncoder can be used to convert them to divx (avi) all at once, as a batch. Some capture programs can encode directly to divx, but if yours doesnt and you would like to use betaplayer, this is a great option to have.

BetaPlayer is arguably the best program for watching tv. The main reason it is recommended for this use is the ability to easily move forward and backward with hotkeys.

You can set a button or direction on the dpad to move forward 30, 60 seconds, whatever you want, and another button to go back. some stations have 5 minutes of commercials, that gets very annoying in windows media player, trying to move the timeslider around accuratly to skip the commercials.

I have it set up to go forward 1 minute, back 10 seconds, so i can easily skip commercials, and if i overshoot it is just as easy to backtrack.

Just my 50th of a dollar. :)

[Radwags]

I will be using my PPC to read ebooks and GPS this week end. :lol:

[CTSLICK]

A couple of email checks, maybe a game.

Most importantly I will use it to stay on track with the kids hockey schedule (2 boys, 3 teams...go figure). 7 events this weekend (3 practices, 4 games). Oh yeah...and a birthday party. I am thinking of scheduling naps at this point...for me.

[Eowyn]

Using the PDA this weekend to:
- check what time the training course starts
- setting an alarm so I wake up on saturday morning in time for class
- taking notes directly into Conduits Pocket Slides
- Telling a friend a phone number
- creating an animation with flip-it while waiting for a friend to get off the phone and organise a bbq
- playing jawbreaker
- playing solitaire
- Reading "The curious incident of the dog in the night" with ereader
- Recording my weight on the scales at the gym (*sigh*)
- Listening to music at the gym
- writing summary notes from the other course that i am doing
- making a note of what I have to do on Tuesday
- comparing my pay with my timesheet.
- keeping my food diary.

[flatlander_48]

Staying home this weekend and keeping a low profile. However, last weekend I used the Stopwatch and Lap Counting feature in Spb Time to time the laps at the inagural Taipei Cycle Show Elimination Race. It was 36 bicyclists for 35 laps of a 1km course.

[buckyg]

I will be using / have been using my PPC for a lot of various stuff this weekend: A little bit of gaming, ebook reading, listening to music, take a look at next week's schedule, updating ewallet info, maybe a bit of web surfing. Oh yeah, I'm also making sure my wife's PPC is up to date, backed up and charged.

[Hrun]

Reading:- I have all of Terry Pratchet's Discworld series converted to MS Reader format. I'm on book 10 "Moving Pictures" right now. Only another 16 to go ...


Wow, can these be obtained/bought anywhere, as I would love the whole series electronically

Giles

[SteveHoward999]

Wow, can these be obtained/bought anywhere, as I would love the whole series electronically

Giles


I sent you a private response.

[Jon Westfall]

I think "use" is a pretty strong word... I have a good relationship w/ my iPaq and treat her well... I really don't believe anybody is getting "used". As for what we'll be doing this weekend... I think its gonna be a Blockbuster night. We've been wanting to watch The Notebook, so I think my iPaq and I will be curling up on the couch for a romantic evening together.

:rofl: This isn't what I expected from my post title, but nonetheless its hilarious... :)

[PatrickD]

The wife and I are staying at a bed &amp; breakfast this weekend. While she reads a traditional paper book, I am reading PPCT and posting this reply while listening to music. I love free WiFi!

[squiggs1982]

Reading:- I have all of Terry Pratchet's Discworld series converted to MS Reader format. I'm on book 10 "Moving Pictures" right now. Only another 16 to go ...


Wow, can these be obtained/bought anywhere, as I would love the whole series electronically

Giles

Likewise! Had a look on ebooks.com, but to no avail. Where did you pick up suck a fantastic find, Steve? 8O

[Dalantech]

I've been working on a set of mobile friendly templates for my web site, so I was surfing to my development board with my iPaq to see how the new templates looked after I made changes to them.

I listened to several Shout Cast stations, and Coast to Coast AM via my home WiFi network. The only thing I can't do is go to a site like Ebaum's World and watch video streams -any ideas on how to make it work (I think I'm gonna have to look for an alternate browser...).

I also did a lot of gaming -I can't wait to see what the Pocket PC platform can do after the next release of Windows Mobile -Direct X for mobile devices is gonna kick @$$! :)

[SteveHoward999]

Likewise! Had a look on ebooks.com, but to no avail. Where did you pick up suck a fantastic find, Steve? 8O


Private message sent.

[Hrun]

Likewise! Had a look on ebooks.com, but to no avail. Where did you pick up suck a fantastic find, Steve? 8O


Private message sent.

:D

[Jason Lee]

well, the weekend is over but i can tell you what i did with my pocket pc this weekend.
Siemens sx66:
Starting friday night i text messaged my fiance to tell her i was on my way home and to see where she was. After dinner i checked movie show times while she was driving. While setting in the theater i checked my email real quick, was waiting for a support service response, and then we played an IR game of battle ship.

Saturday morning i checked the weather forcast and found that it was going to be 80 degrees! So i went out to wash my car and get ready for a carshow. While at the carshow i used my SD camera to take pictures. I also looked up a ODBII trouble code from a friends car on google and found a fix for it! Later i checked my email and had recieved notification that my student loan bill was ready. So i clicked on the link, logged into the site and payed my bill. Then of course recorded it in spb finance.
Later that night i used pocket IE to look up some information on thotbott while playing world of warcraft so i would not have to alt/tab out while i was in an unsafe area. ;)
Sunday i was out shopping and found something really cool so i took a picture and ftped it to my webserver and then posted to my blog about it using pocketblogger. Later i used my bluetooth headset and voice command to call my friends and organize a dinner get to gather.

I checked my email and also read pocket pc thoughts and several other web sites over the weekend.

The only thing i used my pc for was to play world of warcraft. :D

Oh and i am in a boring web developer meeting posting this from my pocket pc using the wireless in the building and my bluetooth keyboard and mouse!

[Mark R Penn]

Here's some:

- Finding the places my kids insist I take them (TomTom)
- Keeping track of the jobs my wife gives me (PI and PIToday)
- Timing the dinner (PI alarm notes) ;)
- Jotting down the things I need from the DIY store, and anything else I'd have stuck on paper pre-PPC (Phatpad)
- Music (Sorry, but humble old WMP9)
- E-mail over wifi (WebIS Mail)
- Some browsing over wifi
- Showing the inlaws some photo's (Resco Picture Viewer)
- Grabbing pictures off my kid's camera phones. Mine's not sophisticated enough to bother! (Bluetooth)
- Texting the kids to see when they want picking up (Monkey Messenger)

I think I use it more diversly at weekends than I do during the week!

[jamesj53000]

I have a weekend job where I collect data in movie theaters. I open up my Pocketinformant, create a task with the correct memo field template, and fill in the information as it comes. At home I sync, and from Outlook, I cut/paste the information to a website.

I used to use a paper system. Now, my little 2215 and Pocketinformant have cut my contracting time down by 80%. Leaves me more time for :drinking:

[Len M.]

I'll be using our Dell Axim X50v to record a concert using our PDAudio high resolution audio recorder system. I'll also be recording to an HP iPAQ h5155, using it as a backup to the Dell.

[midtoad]

I'm heading home after a week visiting the future in-laws, and with my fiancé driving...

Your significant other is a man? Or did you mean to say 'fiancée' ?

[jcmoffitt]

I use my Pocket PC to synchronize between my Outlook 2003 and my Ipaq. I also use it for Diet Organizer to keep count of calories and I also keep up with my RSS feeds via Advantgo. From time to time I play solataire. I have a laptop that I use all the time so I am sort of spoiled with it vs using the Ipaq. I guess if I did not have a laptop I would use the Ipaq much more.

[ctmagnus]

Something I'll be doing differently with it this weekend is keeping track of points rather than calories. I've been keeping track of everything I eat for the last two and a half months with neglegible (if any) weight loss yet I've been under my daily caloric intake almost every day, at least according to Personal Health &amp; Diet Manager (www.twopeaks.com). So I started looking at the points listing for the foods I've been eating and I've been way over in that regard!

But otherwise, the same as the rest of the week.

[TopDog]

Last weekend I was in a cabin up in the mountains skiing. During daytime, my Pocket PC served as an Mp3 player. Nothing is better than storming down the mountains listening to music 8)

http://www.sleddogs.no/pictures/17_thumb.jpg

I used my Pocket PC in the evenings to download fresh weather reports for the next day, checking mail, keeping in touch with my non-skiing friends with MSN and IRC.

In the morning I got up a little bit earlier than the others, so I sat by the fire playing Snail (never get tired of that game) and Tower Mogul.T

[twmiller]

Well, all I have is my antique ipaq h3700 (with optional storage card), but alas – no wifi. Its still running strong, with no issues.

A normal weekend…

- mp3 while studying (80 songs, last count. I use Mort player or WinamPAQ)
- Avantgo, to keep up on events
- Reading (good old Microsoft reader)
- Games (to many to mention)
- Calendar (PI and Pocket Breeze)
- Tasks (PI and Pocket Breeze)
- Tracking calories
- Weather forecast (pocket weather)

[Steve Jordan]

I keep my PPC with me all weekend. Whenever I have a few unoccupied minutes I'll read an ebook or peruse my photos or emovies. I also take notes on my next novel or other project, or just on things I encounter over the weekend. And if I run into friends (or make new ones), I find myself taking down contact info and appointments, etc.

Most of all, my PPC is my memory, wherever I go. I keep a list of books and albums I want to look for, whenever I'm at the store. If I need a phone number to call someone, it's in there. If I'm buying PC hardware, I check my PC's specs in my notes. Same with my car and motorcycle. Basically, leaving my PPC behind is like leaving half my brain on the desk when I go out.