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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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)
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

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.

Issue with pRSS reader

is any1 using pRSS reader with the wizard?
Installed it and ran perfectly at the beginning, then noticed that it started to freeze up my screen.
Are there any other free rss readers that have a a today plugin that cycles ur feeds?
p.s. i'm using the 2.17 rom

I'm experiencing the same problems too.

got the same problem with the Qtek9000 (Universal) as well

Hey, I was having the same problems. A few weeks ago Ilium software gave a huge discount on their products. I bought Newsbreak 1.2 for 3.33 dollars. And while I've been using pRSSreader for some time now, newsbreak is simply better imho. There aren't as much options as in pRSSreader, but everything just works great. Even importing huge opml files works way better. Every time I hard reset my device (or upgrade the rom) this is the first app I install. Give it a try, it wont disappoint you. (The todayscreen plugin is more simple than pRSS, but it is way more stable for your today screen)
bye bye

well,, i used to have problems when i enable update when activesync enabled, then I turn that off..
I also turned off the cycling mode on today screen plugin...

I also had the same problems, mainly that the sceen would not come out of standby and needed to be softreset a lot.
It would also never autoupdate unless i opened the main program, which was a pain as i wanted a constantly updated feed on my today screen.
I emailed the maker, but got no response.
I still use it as its the best RSS app i have tried, just a shame its no good for use on my today screen.

same prob., w/o circling works fine

I have been having the same problem; I switched to pocketRss which is a different product; http://www.happyjackroad.net/pocketpc/pocketRSS/pocketRSS.asp
It seems to work well. It updates when it is scheduled (unlike the new version of journal bar that I bought)
I have 2 questions for you guys:
1) Does newsbreak have a today screen plugin that displays headlines?
2) What does anyone use for stocks? specifically on the today screen.

jgiordano said:
....
I have 2 questions for you guys:
1) Does newsbreak have a today screen plugin that displays headlines?
2) What does anyone use for stocks? specifically on the today screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) yes, but shows only how many articles are new, prss "is better" (but doesnt seem working) whenn it rotates headlinees ...
2) fortunately (unfortunately) dont need stock info- i think journal bar does it - omega softwafe

Omega one is currently on the fritz, it doesn't update when its supposed too. The pocketrss that I mentions scroll through the headlines.

Pocket Breeze vs ILauncher

Hi
As a complete newbie, could someone please explain the difference between SBSH's Pocket Breeze and iLauncher. Both seem to do similar things to me!
Sorry if I'm being a bit dim on this
Rob F
P.S. Is it possible add my device to the forum profile device list so I can add it to my profile?

iLauncher is simply a utility for launching (starting or loading whichever term you prefer) from your today screen.
PocketBreeze actually enhances many of the functions of your PDA by giving robust today screen functionality, replacing the cheezy default plug-ins.
For example, while iLauncher can open the Messaging Application, PocketBreeze will show the contents of your inbox(es) and allow you access to the messages.
Also PocketBreeze supports loading other Today Screen Plug-in (such as iLauncher) into a tab so you can easily switch from on plug-in to another thus allowing more plug-ins than normal without scrolling.
They work great together.

Thanks for that explanation, Kyphur. It's all clear now!
I'll have a go at the trial versions for both.
Rob F

I am using both of them too, as well as pocket weather and pRSSreader.
My today screen now has none of the orginal crap MS stuff on it and looks great.
The downside is the memory usage (only about 8mb left with just those running) and i cant play AOE with them running.

dangerous_dom said:
I am using both of them too, as well as pocket weather and pRSSreader.
My today screen now has none of the orginal crap MS stuff on it and looks great.
The downside is the memory usage (only about 8mb left with just those running) and i cant play AOE with them running.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've got to have more than that eating up your memory.
I'm sitting between 16 & 22 Megs always (even when AS is active)..

Ordered My Cingular 8525 Today!

Yes it's true!Visited one of my local Cingular retailers today, and ordered my very own Cingular 8525! My first intent was to order the Treo 750(once the salesperson informed me it was on their order sheet, along with the much anticipated Treo 680). But after waiting approximately 4 hours for an email confirmation, my sales rep. went ahead and called(I'm assuming Cingular HQ) to verify my order. My sales rep. called me back to inform me that the Treo 750 will not be available until mid December, but that my Cingular 8525 will BE IN on Thursday of this week via UPS! As mentioned in my other post, this will be the first time that I will be using Windows Mobile, so I definitely look forward to learning about this OS and I will continue to scour through all of these threads on this awesome website. A few quick questions in closing for all of you TyTn owners out there. Please reply:
1. As this is going to be my primary phone, how is the voice quality on this phone. I will probably not be purchasing another BT headset for quite some time, as my money will be tied up in a 2gb micro sd card. All replies welcome
2. I know this is a redundant question, but can anyone advise of any must have apps for this phone. I have large hands, so I might be needing one of the newer, larger skins for the phone dialer app. But I also feel like the app. that displays the weekly forecast is nice. Sorry, but I can't remember who posted these, or what their respective names are.

Good for ya ... check out the HoFo Cingular PDA sub-forums for more apps and info ..

Don't forget to install my PTT patch so you can reclaim your PTT button for other uses! As an added benefit, the installation will downgrade your security settings so you won't have those pesky "Unsigned CAB" dialogs popping up everytime you want to install one of the myriads of (very cool list btw) apps listed above....
edit.. voice quality is excellent on my TyTN. It's got a good speakerphone too.

Welcome !!!!

Thank you so much for not only taking the time to reply, but also for supplying me with such an extensive list of tools/apps.

Link
I thought that I would save some people some time.
Links for mikechannon suggestions (good information...thanks)
Wisbar Advance
Wisbar Advance Desktop allows several desktop pages
Clauncher - freeware good task manager and allows shortcuts to desktop
Hitchiker freeware allows seeking out and logging into wifi sites not required but handy
Coolcamera freeware to try use TytN as webcamera
Hfit4cat (need login) tweaker freeware tweaks a few registry items
Phonealarm fancy up desktop heavy on processor though
Skype for WM5 brilliant free and works perfectly VOIP
Synchrotime freeware synchronise with time web server
Total Commander freeware easy file browser/mover/copier including your local intranet
Touch Notes freeware handy thing for short handwritten notes
GB-Soft Tweak freeware some more tweaks
Tweaks2k2 freeware another good set of tweaks
Virtual Earth Mobile freeware like google earth better in some ways
Magic Button freeware task manager - see open applications on task bar and close them fully.
s-k-tools not free wide range of tools tweaks hacks and good for cleaning out system -duplicates, notifications etc
etc

tco said:
I thought that I would save some people some time.
Links for mikechannon suggestions (good information...thanks)
Wisbar Advance
Wisbar Advance Desktop allows several desktop pages
Clauncher - freeware good task manager and allows shortcuts to desktop
Hitchiker freeware allows seeking out and logging into wifi sites not required but handy
Coolcamera freeware to try use TytN as webcamera
Hfit4cat (need login) tweaker freeware tweaks a few registry items
Phonealarm fancy up desktop heavy on processor though
Skype for WM5 brilliant free and works perfectly VOIP
Synchrotime freeware sychronise with time web server
Total Commander freeware easy file browser/mover/copier including your local intranet
Touch Notes freeware handy thing for short handwritten notes
GB-Soft Tweak freeware some more tweaks
Tweaks2k2 freeware another good set of tweaks
Virtual Earth Mobile freeware like google earth better in some ways
etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow! You guys are awesome! Thanks so much! And yes, in case you're wondering my Cingular 8525 came in today! This machine is awesome! The online photos/pics just don't do it any justice! I've been playing with it for the last 4 hours, and unfortunately I have to put it down and get at least a few hours sleep before night shift tonight. Hopefully it will be very quiet so that I might be able to reaquaint myself with this awesome phone/tool/machine.

Congratulations balld and I hope you enjoy your new machine in good health.
By the way could you post the first three digits of your serial number i.e. HTXXX and whether you have the screen allignment issue. I am thinking of buying the Heremes too but just want to be sure after what serial numbers the issue is resolved.
Congratulations once again

srmz said:
Congratulations balld and I hope you enjoy your new machine in good health.
By the way could you post the first three digits of your serial number i.e. HTXXX and whether you have the screen allignment issue. I am thinking of buying the Heremes too but just want to be sure after what serial numbers the issue is resolved.
Congratulations once again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ooops! Sure thing, here are the specs:
S/N HT644Fxxxxxx
ROM 1.34.502.1
DATE 09/21/06
RADIO 1.16.00.00
After one day of use, I am loving this phone, more and more. BTW, I am not experiencing any type of alignment problems, or anything else for that matter right now. Please keep in mind that I have yet to load any other types of roms/software on my device.

Looks like end-Oct stock ... fairly new .. I seriously doubt that you are going to see any SA issues ..

gravejoker said:
Looks like end-Oct stock ... fairly new .. I seriously doubt that you are going to see any SA issues ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am going to buy my 8525 later this morning...i'll let you guys know how that goes for me Upgrading from my wonderfully sluggish 8125.

gravejoker said:
Looks like end-Oct stock ... fairly new .. I seriously doubt that you are going to see any SA issues ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I think you're right. I certainly hope I don't have any SA issues.

DeniaL
I hope you are as pleasantly surprised as I am. This, by far has got to be my best phone! Not only in terms of call quality, but overall usefulness, form factor, abilities, etc. I just love it!

balld said:
DeniaL
I hope you are as pleasantly surprised as I am. This, by far has got to be my best phone! Not only in terms of call quality, but overall usefulness, form factor, abilities, etc. I just love it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UGH! I WANT IT NOW! I Have to go pick up some money from a friend before I can go to Cingular to buy this. I've been waiting for this beast for months. It's funny because everyone is waiting for the PS3 but I just want my 8525!!!

Feedreader

I'm looking for a good feed reader application that supports wvga and allows me to view pictures (webcomics) and flash content (if possible, optional) inside the flash player. The RSS reader that is installed shows only text. Anyone who can point me in the right direction?

try spb online or spb insight

Newsbreak, pRSSReader, Egress - all these can download pictures as well, none support flash I think

I use google reader iphone version on iris browser. works like a charm though it doesn't support flash.
maybe combining reader + opera + flashlite should work...

I use BeyondPod for my feeds and podcasts. Don't know if it can do flash though.

Thanks for the all the replies people. Here's some results:
SPB Insight: First of all, it's paid, I prefer not to pay for such a trivial app. Second, it didn't look the way I like my feedreader to look.
Newsbreak: Won't install on X1, keeps returning an "installation unsuccesful" message.
Egress: Won't install on X1, keeps returning an "installation unsuccesful" message.
pRSSReader: Looks like everything I want, but refuses to show pictures - it's the same as the stock RSS reader.
Google Reader: I've never in my life seen such an unintuitive and annoying feed reader. Also, it's online, I want to be able to use it offline as well.
Beyondpod: Review coming soon, can't DL it from opera mobile, the website doesn't correctly load and I don't have access to a PC atm.

does anyone of the mentioned apps have the ability to show feeds on the Today screen?

dogans said:
does anyone of the mentioned apps have the ability to show feeds on the Today screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Spb Insight can do that.
Click to view example: http://www.xhs.dk/~canto/ScreenCap_0014.bmp

CantoX1i said:
Spb Insight can do that.
Click to view example: http://www.xhs.dk/~canto/ScreenCap_0014.bmp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! My Today screen is now complete

Angelusz said:
Thanks for the all the replies people. Here's some results:
SPB Insight: First of all, it's paid, I prefer not to pay for such a trivial app. Second, it didn't look the way I like my feedreader to look.
Newsbreak: Won't install on X1, keeps returning an "installation unsuccesful" message.
Egress: Won't install on X1, keeps returning an "installation unsuccesful" message.
pRSSReader: Looks like everything I want, but refuses to show pictures - it's the same as the stock RSS reader.
Google Reader: I've never in my life seen such an unintuitive and annoying feed reader. Also, it's online, I want to be able to use it offline as well.
Beyondpod: Review coming soon, can't DL it from opera mobile, the website doesn't correctly load and I don't have access to a PC atm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Newsbreak does indeed work on the x1... was recommended to me by a friend and I have been using it all day... nice little app and does what it says on the tin (plus a bit more).... would recommend this one... would also like to try egress too as have heard its pretty good... btw Newsbreak utilises the whole screen... and it has a today screen plugin which is pretty good... and handy...

Does anyone know how often SPB Insight updates/download the feeds?
Or do I have to do it manually?

I use this app:
http://www.mediafire.com/?ooijamaxocg
It's Java but has a load of channels to choose from.

dogans said:
Does anyone know how often SPB Insight updates/download the feeds?
Or do I have to do it manually?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After reading on SPB forums, I found out that it doesn't auto-update.
Does anyone know of another app with both a today screen plug-in and auto-updates?

RSS Hub will work with Flash (as long as FlashLight 3.1 is installed). Look hard enough and you can find a cab for that around here.

How about pRSS Reader??

dogans said:
After reading on SPB forums, I found out that it doesn't auto-update.
Does anyone know of another app with both a today screen plug-in and auto-updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Newsbreak... you can set it to update when you are connected to pc, connected (wireless for eg) and a couple of others as well as never... and it shows on today...

pRSS Reader also shows on Today, just checked.

Thanks guys. Ive just tried 3 different RSS readers and heres what I thought:
* SPB Insight: Looks good, especially with thumbnails on the Today-screen.
- Doesn't have auto-update
* Newsbreak: Works great and has auto-update.
- Doesn't appeal me visually / No thumbnails on today-screen.
* pRSS reader: Works great, has auto-update and shows more info than Newsbreak on the today screen.
- No thumbnails either.
So it came down to either have thumbnails or auto-update, and I went with pRSS reader

dogans said:
Thanks guys. Ive just tried 3 different RSS readers and heres what I thought:
* SPB Insight: Looks good, especially with thumbnails on the Today-screen.
- Doesn't have auto-update
* Newsbreak: Works great and has auto-update.
- Doesn't appeal me visually / No thumbnails on today-screen.
* pRSS reader: Works great, has auto-update and shows more info than Newsbreak on the today screen.
- No thumbnails either.
So it came down to either have thumbnails or auto-update, and I went with pRSS reader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you add feeds? Manually write URL??

doministry said:
How do you add feeds? Manually write URL??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Go to the website you want the feed from, and look at their RSS address (hold the mouse over their RSS-icon).
For example http://icanhascheezburger.com/ has http://feeds.feedburner.com/icanhascheezburger