Database Users

First Programs for a newbie

hiya
getting a t-mobile w'n'walk for £42 a month, phone for free. Good deal
So whats the first thing, apart from changing the today's screen should i do
whats the programs you think are essential?
just to let you know I'm more a web browser, texter sort of person
ta for all ya help and opinion much appreciated ;-)
ps: how do i get the smiley in the actual msg? and how do i record my phone, rom details at the bottom

That's a tough one, everyone is so individual in what they want, what they find irritating in the initial set up, what they like and how much they want to spend.
Personally the first thing I always want to know on my device is that all programs are closed down when I think they are, how much battery I have left, and how much storage room I have. So, my first install is usually a task manager with the above. Personally I use Spb Pocket Plus, which also gives me memory/power indicators, task manager, PIE additions, safe mode and program shortcuts. But, you can find free applications that do all these things. Ilauncher is another good one, but that's not free either.
My second install is something to show me, on my today screen very efficiently my diary, contacts, messages, birthdays, notes, tasks etc. Two good ones are Spb Diary and SBSH Pocket Breeze. These are not free, but to me they are essential.
After that, I would think most people would install a 'proper' diary program like Pocket Informant or Agenda Fusion, or recently Agendaone. These make using the diary easier and give you sometimes more options than on Outlook!
After that, it's up to you, most people have a book reader eg Mobipocket or Ereader, a input tool eg Calligrapher, Fitaly or Tengo.
Maybe a phone profile manager eg Phonealarm.
The choice is endless. Make sure that you use the x days of free trial with each application to make sure it works for you correctly on your device and it does what you want.
Most important have fun

thanks
thats a useful list
i have a program on my P910i called phone secure
if i lost it and someone try to put in another sim card it sends a msg to a designated number and locks the phone
does pocket pc have something like that

I have seen something like that, it's quite recent. Best thing is to look on the software sites eg Handango, PocketGear, Mobihand. I'm sure they have something like that.

I must concur with marrisa4755. Start with spb, and see how you like it. It'll give you a good clue as to what is out there, and it's my software of choice. Also, look for Resco Explorer as your file browser. It's apparently the best file browser.
By the way, have a look at the spb unithemes. very nice, and you get them free if you register!

Don't forget to check out my app reviews here at the General forum either - see http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=256

phone secure
hiya
found Phone Security 1.1.2.2 on PocketGear that does exactly what i need
thanks for all the advise

oohh just found this on
its called Eye on the Theif Pocket PC from Mobihand
http://www.mobihand.com/clove/product.asp?id=9966

Install everything you think you might need and everthing people tell you you can't live without...
... then after a month of problems, slowness, hangs and conflicts do a hard reset and install nothing!
IMHO

PSS ... no!
Phone Security System has a problem: First data connection works, but if you disconnect or you get a phone call you will not be able to connect again until re-boot.
So beware. Develooper did not fix this so far... I was using a registered version...
And it took me 3 days to find out. Erro message will be "APN cannot be found", where APN in my case is "web.vodafone.de". Have fun...

Developing new application, need help/suggestions

MAJOR EDIT: Started over, I need fresh ideas!
I'm bored, I got Basic4PPC andI want to make a little freeware app. Seeing how much people wanted another unit converter, I dropped the towel before entering the shower (pushing the metaphor to far...) and decided to consult the experts.
What would be THE best idea for a Pocket PC application? I was thinking about a small app to launch many applications from a single hardware button with some cool UI and all, but it's been down quite a couple of times.

I don't think that a unit converter can be sold easily... I mean: I don't need it, and if I would: there are so much freeware alternatives.
And about your goals:
- only one file... why?
- Try to make it modulair: easier to extend

sounds like a good idea, but why not have currency converter, in fact what would be a cool idea is if it can download a table of exchange rates on startup so that it gives you an accurate conversion figure.

Rhapsody said:
I don't think that a unit converter can be sold easily... I mean: I don't need it, and if I would: there are so much freeware alternatives.
And about your goals:
- only one file... why?
- Try to make it modulair: easier to extend
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, who would buy a unit converter... for instance I use google to convert for me on my phone. Easy and fast to use. I don't really know why I would need to convert a number fast.

I chose a unit converter for ease of use, but since the project is a day old or so, it's the right time to tell me what to make!

N1c0_ds said:
I chose a unit converter for ease of use, but since the project is a day old or so, it's the right time to tell me what to make!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I think if you want to make something which you want to sell, you have to come up with the ideas yourself
I think you start at the wrong side. First think about what you want to make (what are you missing at the moment on your phone?), then try to create it and when it's finished you can always decide what to do with it. (shareware or freeware).
The thing is that most of the things are already available freeware.

I don't quite correspond to the typical PDA user. I'm 15 years-old, part time worker...
I can get ideas myself, but I can't really know what the average user wants. The best thing I can of right now would be a hardware button launcher.
When you'd press the button you'd be presented a big touch keyboard from which you could filter the available apps. It would launch the app then close itself. Good or no good?

Timesheet application?
Well, since you asked... This is the only app I used on my old palm device that I have not been able to replace on my PPC. It is a simple timesheet program that allows the user to record time spent on definable projects.
I have tried several of the commercial programs out there and they are all too complex or geared more for billable time and invoice generation. I just need something simple. The PALM program was freeware and can be seen here.
If you are interested in giving this a try I will be glad to give some more details on the desired functionality. The PALM program was not 100% of what I needed, just the best fit from what I could find.

Interesting. I actually made something similar in one of my Palm apps (which was never finished because I switched to WM).
I'll have a look at that. I'll try it as a filler, waiting for a great project.
P.S.: your themes are awesome!

That would be wonderful! The biggest things I would need are below:
Multiple projects with name and number (13 digit)
Ability to delete project from available list but keep past history
Day and Week summary view reports
Easy selection / clock in / clock out on main screen
Those are the main things. There are lots of ways to do this and I have ideas, but part of the fun of coding is UI design and code structuring. If you decide to take this one please let me know. I will be very happy to test for you.

Woah, calm down, I'm only about to complete the table. It looks like the screenshots for Timesheet right now (without final total, project selection and "today" button).

what about an app that can install automatically and in silent mode a big list of cabs. we should just have to select the destination : phone storage or sdcard. it would make reinstalls easier after rom updates .....
perhaps it already exist, i don't know ...

PROGRESS!!!
The thing is now useable! It saves date, in time, out time and calculates the difference between the two. When you exit it save your current data to load it when you launch.
Looks like this:
Date In Out Time
08/08/2008 17:15 17:20 00:05
And it adds one row for each in/out.
Sample coming soon.

kaiser47 said:
what about an app that can install automatically and in silent mode a big list of cabs. we should just have to select the destination : phone storage or sdcard. it would make reinstalls easier after rom updates .....
perhaps it already exist, i don't know ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting idea, but I doubt people would pay for it.

CAB File!
Here's the working version. It yet has to show total time, money owed and all, but that's a good start!
Does anyone know a better CAB making app? This one sucks.

N1c0_ds said:
Interesting idea, but I doubt people would pay for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
basically exists as user customisation... a new thing where cabs from storage card can be installed if u basically make an xml file with links to all the needed cabs

N1c0_ds said:
Here's the working version. It yet has to show total time, money owed and all, but that's a good start!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am impressed. Then again, I don't have a WM dev environment. It is running fine so far on my P4300 WM6. Thanks for taking this on! There is nothing out there right now that is simple and clean.

I'm about to cancel all that crap right now. After a hard day of work, it was all made useless because Basic4PPC can't freakin' handle tables as it should. Thus instead of getting the standard plain white tables with grey headers, I get some ugly dark gray filling where there is no data. Then thing get even uglier when scrolling is needed. That kind of crap is enough to make me quit.
Unless you guys can get me something actually worth its price, forget about my app, I'm too pissed off to continue and all the files went straight to the bin.

Custom HTChome TABS?

Hey guys, gotta question/idea here I want you genious devs to ponder on if you don't mind. Since a ton of people on here use the HTC Home plug on there phones, and with all of the new apps that you guys have given us, such as A_C's S2 programs, and TCPMP, and all of the new contact apps like iContact and things, is it possible to create new tabs for the HTC home plug to go with these?
I know that probably the first response I'm going to get is to try some other program to get the ability to launch these from my home screen, but I like the over all feel of the HTC Home plug. It's so much simpler than using multiple apps to achieve the look , and the weather app and home section are awesome.
I just think it would be pretty cool/convenient if it were possible to make the music tab bring up S2P, and the contact tab launch iContact or something, and to be able to change the profile tab to S2V or any combination of programs. Pretty much the ability to add a tab, name it yourself , and choose the program it launches. Just like the app launcher with the plug, just for the tabs.
It seems like it would be simple for one of the geni's on here (I'd have no chance at it). HHCcustomizer gives the ability to add and remove tabs, so all thats missing is the ability to change the program it launches pretty much.
I have no clue if its possible, or how hard it would be. I've just seen a ton of other programs give the ability to choose the program launched and thought it may be possible here. I know some REG Editing may do it, but myself, with probably many others would be lost here. But this was just an idea. Would anyone else be interested in this?

Feature requests - give them to me!

Hey,
I am parsing a list of feature requests for the next update on touch innovation
Basically post whatever you want to see on there to make your browsing experience easier!
Thanks
(see sig for link)

not sure if you have this already
but how about a mobile version of the site where you can
easily download the cab files to the phone
-=edit=-
Sorry you have already something similar
Keep up the good work

Yeah I do,
It will automatically re-direct you if your on your phone! But this feature is to be improved. I am also recoding the website's html to make it more cross-browser compatible!
Another feature soon to come will be "Add applications LIVE to the website" where you can add a program, choose the category and it will add it, with of course lots of security such as only cabs and zips allowed, and it will warn you when you download a "User-submitted" application, that it is liable for virus's. But each and everyone will be checked by our admin team.
Any more ideas?
Thanks

Specific descriptions of what the programs are and do. The "copy and paste" of the author's descriptions aren't always descriptive enough to figure out what the programs really do or if they're worth a try.
The names themselves are good clues, but it's limiting.
I would also suggest taking out the narrative and simply write what the programs are. For example:
HTC Home Customizer:
"Do you have a HTC phone, that has the htc today plugin? No? Ah well doesn't matter because this programs automatically downloads and installs it for you, not only that.. but it lets you customize it to the tiniest detail.
Enjoy!"
Why not just say that it "The program customizes and if needed, installs the HTC Today plugin."
One sentence that says the same thing.
Or...
iContact - Burt Edition:
"Truburt has done it again. Yet more features, including:
- Improved scroll speed
- Improved search feature
- Lots of small improvements
- Lots of bug fixes.
Enjoy!"
This should be in the features section and a description of the program (it's differences to the others) should be there.
You get the idea. There's a lot of good stuff there, but I might just be the only one that have a hard time figuring out what the new programs do. It'll be obvious to a regular user, but to someone new, it'll be hard to figure out the difference between the three... four... five? iContact programs.
On that note, I suggest removing the old versions of Burt's iContact.
And maybe put the Main Features right under the Information section.

Can someone develop this? - Finger friendly EZTask application

Firstly, I am not sure if this is the correct place to post this request, if not, please move this to another section.
I use the standard WM Task program a lot. I keep track of what I want to buy, eg. my weekly groceries as well as things to do. I know I can use ThumbCal to do this but they are all 'date' related.
All I want is just a simple Task program which works like the standard Windows Mobile version but the standard one is not finger friendly. I hate using the stylus when I am pushing my shopping cart.
I do not hv experience in PPC programming, can anyone help to develop something like this? I am sure it will be useful for others who is in the same situation like I do.
The characteristic of the program works similarly like iContact. It has kenetic scroll, can easily add a new task, a huge button to press on when it is completed (light-greyish wording when done). The screen is just a simple example of what I have in mind.
Thanks.

Have you tried any of these??
http://classic.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=16939&associateid=9
http://classic.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=15206&associateid=9
http://classic.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=6075&associateid=9
http://classic.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=2040&associateid=9
They are all freeware as well.
BTW gogle is your friend. I did a quick search and came up with TONS of related freeware that does this already.

Wow... thanks! Honestly, I tried googling before but I can't find anything. Will check out what you've suggested.
Look thru quickly, only the first one is finger friendly but the rest needed stylus-access. Will test out then.