Database Users

Software recommended for purchase?

Does anyone have any software which they've purchased for their Universal that they'd recommend? If so, why?

Pocket informant. Its the only PIM worth having, and it turns the useless PIM functionality built into PPCs into something that runs my life. Wouldn't be without it

If had had to narrow it down to one app, it'd have to be PocketBreeze by SBSH.net
Integrates with the aforementioned PocketInformant, but even if you haven't got PI, then PocketBreeze transforms your today screen into a far more usable beast. It's about a million times better than SPB's rip-off clone, and has far more functionality and configuration options. Plus it's regularly updated for bug-fixes and extra functions - and that is something that a lot of other software houses could learn from.
Oh, and the SBSH support forums are outstanding.

For me it's Resco File Explorer, SPB Pocket Plus and SPB Weather tweaked to pick information from BBC and not weather.com

If you use Lotus Notes, CommonTime's mNotes is pretty cool =) But then I would say that, since I work for CommonTime.

Pocketbreeze everytime.

Iliumsoft Listpro. By FAR the most handy app for personal management of lists.
http://www.iliumsoft.com/site/lp/listpro.htm
Very customisable

Microsoft Voice Command
Pocket Informant
SPB Pocket Plus
SPB Diary
SK Tools
Soti Pocket Controller
Sprite Backup
Aol Messenger
PpcWebCam
Some freeware/Shareware
Cambridge VxUtils
Total Commander
PH Registry Editor
TCPMP Media Player
GSPlayer Media Player
Insignia Solutions Jeode Runtime
Agile Messenger (need better wm5 support tho)

Rick GM said:
For me it's Resco File Explorer, SPB Pocket Plus and SPB Weather tweaked to pick information from BBC and not weather.com
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can you explain that tweak better please ?
link, pros of the bbc service, etc :wink:

Killer App
I agree with many of the recomendations above and mention was made of SKTools (eagle 1), which I have yet to try, but the killer application for me is SKscheMa which can automate all sorts of daily tasks including turning on and off WiFi, BT and GSM at specific or regular times.
It has a powerful scripting language which has allowed me to create a macro to insert my meeting text, title, place, date and time, who attended etc. It can simulate taps and tap and hold as well. Support is very fast and efficient.
I have even used it to turn on the Bluetooth at regular intervals until we get a fix for that bug.
Strongly advise you check this one out.
www.s-k-tools.com (link corrected)
Don't be put off by the simple web site - this product "rocks".

This product os brilliant - sync email calendar with your pc wirelessly (GPRS/3G/WIFI) push email too so you don't have to sync manually...
http://www.intellisync.com/pages/Products/Express/Benefits/
Free trial - only snag is your pc (or at least a pc theat you can access your mail from) needs to be always on. WOrks with outlook/lotus notes etc
And I don't work for them!
Common time is also good for Notes but I couldn't work out how to sync wirelessly.

cdally said:
Common time is also good for Notes but I couldn't work out how to sync wirelessly.
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You know you get free support with your 30 day free trial, right? ;-) Give them a call and they can get it all up & running for you. Something to do with locations and preferred order, if memory serves. But then it should run when cradled, when in WiFi range (if you have WiFi) and over GPRS if you have your firewall opened properly. Of course GPRS may be an issue if you're on a corporate network - there was talk about a solution to get round that about 18 months ago, but I think the company's sales focus has shifted towards corporates (Notes is used a LOT by corporates in the US) so features for individual users are on the back burner for now.

I did try to get in touch with them but they didn't seem very interested - I did actually buy it as it was the best option for cradle based syncing - Do you know of anyone specific I can talk to?

Pocketzenphone for me is the most important. Easily change between phone profiles e.g. Loud / meeting /flight etc.
Can be set to do this at specific times e.g. Go to silent at 23:30 and back to normal at 8:00. Also integrates with outlook - e.g can put it into meeting mode when your calender shows meetings or for me puts the device into flight mode when I have flights marked in the calender.
cheers

Haven't purchased yet, but will do so shortly: a backup app. My choice is SPB Backup, but Sprite or Sunnysoft's should do just fine. The reason for buying one should be fairly obvious

cdally said:
I did try to get in touch with them but they didn't seem very interested - I did actually buy it as it was the best option for cradle based syncing - Do you know of anyone specific I can talk to?
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Your best bet is probably to pick up the phone when you're at your PC/PDA. I think the support number is on the site under Information/Contact details. Scroll down to after the list of links at the top.
If you called them before and can remember the name of who you spoke to, I'll go upstairs & give them a clip round the earhole In general we get a good response about our support!

Ravenmaster
The default weather source is weather.com which I have found to be pretty useless. However, if you go to here;
www.pdagold.com/themes/details.asp?t=12007
you can pick up forecasts for Spb Weather from the BBC. Follow the Readme.txt and it's pretty straight forward. The forecast is so much more accurate than weather.com (in my opinion)

Rick GM said:
Ravenmaster
The default weather source is weather.com which I have found to be pretty useless. However, if you go to here;
www.pdagold.com/themes/details.asp?t=12007
you can pick up forecasts for Spb Weather from the BBC. Follow the Readme.txt and it's pretty straight forward. The forecast is so much more accurate than weather.com (in my opinion)
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Click to collapse
Does SPB Weather also shows NOWs weather? I installed it and didn't see that option, and not that many other options at all.
I purchased and used Weather Panel on my previous PDA2K and that program proved to be super accurate.. actually it showed the weather condition in my city relevant to the minute... e.g. Changed to 'FOG' icon and FOG began.. Changed to Raining now.. and rain just started an hour before..
I didn't see these features in SPB weather.. maybe i missed them though...

Sounds like you've found a way to CONTROL the weather - [/quote]Changed to 'FOG' icon and FOG began..
!!
Anyway - all SPB does is pick up a forecast from wherever you tell it to. In my case I just use the BBC's site.
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I've bought Voice Command and photo contacts pro, both I really like.
Freeware that surpasses all others to me is:
Qmail3, ugly as sin but so much better than the built in email client.
Will Check over an activesync connection, very useful at work, and one button handles multiple account checking. Glorious!
Does RSS and NNTP as well.
http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com/en/index.php?soft=1344
Lots of info on it here.
http://discussion.brighthand.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38956
Will buy Opera when that goes commercial.

Need your advice: Which is the best Today Plugin?

I Heard some things about spbplus, ilauncher and others. Now you as experinced users please advise me about which one I must install.
Thank you

I would go with:
Pocket Breeze & iLauncher
They are from SBSH and my favorite Today Plugins. Spb Tools are great too - but slow down the Wizard much more compared to the SBSH Tools.

DREAMBOXER said:
I would go with:
Pocket Breeze & iLauncher
They are from SBSH and my favorite Today Plugins. Spb Tools are great too - but slow down the Wizard much more compared to the SBSH Tools.
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Click to collapse
Bingo !
Fully agree on this, specially the support at sbsh is fantastic
Cheers
hrb

I installed SBSH PocketBreeze & iLauncher yesterday & think they're great, definitely recommend them

Don't forget Resco Explorer today plug-in, i couldn't live without it.

Another nice thing with PocketBreeze is that it uses the D-Pad; I'm into the no-stylus mode. Also it allows tabs-- I run PocketWeather (very nice), Backup, and ContactBreeze. Although ContactBreeze is merely "OK" in my book.
Separately, I run LVM time, which gives a narrow Date/Time strip on today and also puts the time in the taskbar, screening out the battery. It's free!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=45084

I have the Rescoe Explorer today plugin. How does it compare to PocketBreeze? Is one better or faster than the other, or should they be used together?

I am a big fan of SPB PocketPlus. Its not free but imo its the best one around. Its got a battery indicator, the requisit today screen tweaks like icons, indicators and tons more.

Pocket Weather
Is SBSH Pocket Weather transferable between devices i.e. if I pay $10 now & install on my Wizard will I be able to transfer it to a Prophet later?

Rather broad question...
*muttergrumble* dupe reply

Rather broad question...
It's a rather broad question, isn't it? What is the best Today Plugin for what? Launching applications? Showing the weather? Showing your agenda? Controlling a media player?

I am using WisBar Desktop, You can make as much as You want windows
with shortcuts of programs like desktop version.

mattucd said:
I have the Rescoe Explorer today plugin. How does it compare to PocketBreeze? Is one better or faster than the other, or should they be used together?
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They do totally different things, so can be used together.

I use spb pocket plus and pocket breeze. Pocket breeze is a must have,IMO

Better Calendar Display

I love being able to access my calendar on my phone. However, it seems like I just get small chunks at a time with the built in calendar app. When I zoom out to see my whole week for example, I only see blue lines. I don't see exactly what the appointment is.
I know that is in no small way due to the limited size of the screen but I am looking for a more effective way to display my calendar.
I am currently trying pocket informant and it gets me closer to what I want. However, it has a couple screwy issues such as the bottom arrow of the scroll bar not being displayed etc.
So, what do you guys use? Or, are you happy with the built in calendar app?
Is there another forum that would be better for me to post this question? It's not directly related to the 8525 after all.

I'm using Pocket Breeze and very satisfied with it.

i use today agenda, its a killer app with many different customizations.. Dr. P got me hooked on this app!
http://tiews.info/index.php?show=software/todayagenda

I use SPB Diary, perfect today plugin that completely replaces the agenda. It's also the only today plugin I use or need.

I use SBSH.net PocketBreeze. I beta tested SPB Diary 2.0 and even tried the final version but wanted more control over customizing so I stuck by PocketBreeze. Still SPB Diary is also a fine product. You can't go wrong with either IMO. If you want to see your appointments in Calendar though I think you have to use one of those Power PIM apps [Agenda Fusion, etc etc] personally I find them overkill for my needs I stay with the default PIM and PocketBreeze.

I like pocketbreeze for the today screen display of the calendar. It's just when I go into the calendar app itself that I'm thinking there should be something better.
I'll check out your ideas. Anyone else?

I like the FREE Calendar+
http://www.mohairsofa.com/Default.aspx/document/10
Not a replacement for the MS Calendar, but rather a Today plugin.
I think it looks very similar to "View as Agenda" on blackberry.

also try out pocket informant alot of PB users also use that app.

Another vote for TodayAgenda. Excellent app. Free, small and highly configurable.

I've been using Pocket Breeze and Pocket Informant together since I had my old Orange M2000 and it works very well for me.

Today Shortcuts (iLauncher type tools)?

Guys,
Do we have a CAB file for either iLauncher (http://www.sbsh.net/products/ilauncher/index.php?page=summary) full version or something similar that will allow us to create our own shortcuts on the today screen?
Control your Pocket PC using the all new iLauncher, packing together the most important set of utilities to better manage your Pocket PC!
iLauncher is an all-in-one application that brings the most powerful utilities that are missing from the Pocket PC operating system to your Pocket PC device in one package. These include: A tab-based launcher Today screen plugin with various information widgets such as battery and memory meters, speed dial shortcuts, screen capture utility and more; A task manager context menu that allows you to track and control the current active applications; A true 'X' button functionality that really shuts-down running applications as opposed to simply minimizing them; A safe-mode protection utility that makes sure your device will always initialize correctly and much more!
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Click to collapse
Hawk

yes, wisbar advance desktop
its amazing, and does exactly what you want, also has the option to add meters such as battery or ram and other great stuff, including today plugins, except calendar. Can also be made to look like an iphone [like mine]. It has unlimited possibilities and you can do whatever you want with it. And the best bit, only 10 usd (5gbp) amazing i know! screenshots of mine if you really need them!
http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/products.php?prod=WisBar+Advance+Desktop
rory
x

oh yeah, its a great plugin. Well worth the money.
Don't warez.

never seen this before, looks almost identical to spb pocket plus today screen

pff pocketage or WAD(or both)

Recomended
Use Claunch, very similar to iLaunch, only free. Sorry no link, just have to google it.

I have used Claunch for several months om WM5 and it was perfect, but after upgrading to WM6 i'm having some troubles with it. it for sure will not work together with HTC taskmanager 2. it would be very nice if they came up with a stable WM6 version

It is stable for me, now that I use WA3, it sometimes would not appear on my today screen without a refresh before I moved up to WA3, never liked the htc taskmanager much, there are so many taskmanagers, wisbar is the king in my book.

Task Calendar app?

Hi all, does anyone know of a app (freeware preferably) that allows you to add tasks to your calendar (and you can check them off as you complete them). I've seen many checklists, but none where the task is shown on a calender. (think google calender, but with remember the milk added in). I'm really new to this stuff, so any help is much appreciated!

brucewayneisbatman said:
Hi all, does anyone know of a app (freeware preferably) that allows you to add tasks to your calendar (and you can check them off as you complete them). I've seen many checklists, but none where the task is shown on a calender. (think google calender, but with remember the milk added in). I'm really new to this stuff, so any help is much appreciated!
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You can do this with PocketInformant - see pocketinformant.com .
- Tim

it ain't freeware, but SBP Diary is the best program for this that I've ever come across... it is an absolute must-have for anyone who uses their device as a planner, IMHO.
Tabbed today screen plugin, one of the tabs (calendar tab) will show the appointments of each day for the next n days, and all tasks for that day, w/out a due-date, and/or that haven't come up due yet, etc.
it's very useful.. also has an email tab, a task tab (which just shows all tasks by category, etc), etc.
wonderful program. highly recommend. (no, I don't work for nor am affiliated with any pocketpc development companies =])

Thanks for information everyone. I like Pocket Informant so far, but everything feels very crammed.
I'm going to try SBP diary soon (if there is a demo that is)