Software For PPC

[HobbesIsReal]

I have heard from PPC detractors that there is not a lot of Software for the PPC plus I have heard alot of new comers to the PPC platform not knowing where to go to get software..so I hope this helps. This thread is just a single source for Software resources for the PPC.

I would like to keep this thread to sharing software with descriptions and links to them, more than debate them. Please stay on topic.

This might be a good Sticky for this forum as the vast majority that come to this forum on TC are Pocket PC users....or looking at the possibility of becoming one.

I cannot take credit for all the work on this thread as I have simply compiled most of these links from other posts on other boards. I have my own list to add as well, but will do that in the next couple days. But I will update this first post only and bump it each time I add something to it.

THE THREE MUST HAVES....IMHO

There are Three Software Must Haves for the 660x (which please note this is much less than my Software Must Have list for my Treo). I must also be honest and say that these three recomendations have many tools, tricks, and utilities that I feel should have been already included in a MS OS, i.e. file drag and drop or option to have close button actually close a program:

Must Have: VOICE COMMAND: ABSOLUTELY A MUST!!!! Whether this should of already been standard on the phone could be debated, there is no doubt the $30 is more than worth it. There is no voice training. You do not have to assign a voice command for each contact or software program. The program reads the names and listens for you to say it. It is ready and accurate right out of the box.

Since I don't use Voice Memos, I assigned that button for the Voice Command. You just click the button say "Call <Name> on mobile" and it calls their cell phone. It is even smart enough to confirm if it is not sure. You can even say "Launch <Program Name>" and it will launch it for you....no nav through menus or folders to find it.

Must Have: SPB POCKET PLUS:
http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/prod.../index.html?en

This is both a start page enhancement along with several OS addons (think of them as Palm OS hack enhancements).

The Start Page. Ever since I installed this, I don't think I have gone into Programs or Settings to find a program yet. This makes every program on your entire handhald available, including system utilities like connections or ringtones, all on your start page. Or you can only have your most favorite and mosted used there. You can create up to 5 tabs to organize your programs.

Please see Bob's notes below on this program as they are noteworthy to be aware of before you install this program.

OS Enhancements.

• Close Button. You can actually have the program close with the close button. You also set it up to do stuff like minimize on tap and close on tap and hold on the close button.
• Pocket IE. This adds the following to Pocket Internet Explorer:
  • Open Link in a new Window (invalulable with the way I browse the net).
  • Full screen support.
  • Page save ability.
  • Picture save ability
  • Copy link to clipboard
• Taskbar Battery Indicator. Nice and really small along the top of the unit. It does not take up any screen real estate while letting you know how your battery is doing at a glance.
• File Explore. This adds the following to File Explorer (which if you Resco makes this a mute point):
  
  • Enable ZIP support
  • Enable Storage card format support
  • Add Properties to the context menu
  • Add folder up button.
• Program Manager. You can have a program manager, or least switch between running programs, added to the context menu.

Must Have: RESCO EXPLORER 2003. All I can say is that this really does give you just about every tool you have come to expect from a file explorer. Nicely laid out and very easy to use. Supports file drag and drop.

SOFTWARE LINK LIST

New Pocket PC Magazine Award Winning applications for 2004.....
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/awards/main.asp

-Where to buy software:
http://www.handango.com/
http://www.pocketgear.com/

-Award app list:
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/awards/nominees.asp
http://www.pocketpcaward.com/award2003ergebnis.html

-Where to find free softwares:
http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com
http://www.eitcenter.com/pocketpc/download.htm
more
http://www.mobigeeks.net/e/forum/sh...mp;threadid=458
FreewarePPC
http://www.freewareppc.com/index.html


-utilities:
My Converter Pro ($14.95): IMHO, the best multi-purpose tool: calculator, unit converter, currency converter, and coder for your Pocket PC
http://www.softatics.com/
Tengo ($19.95)
http://www.tengo.net/
Pocket Backup ($29.95)
http://www.spritesoftware.com/home.html
Remover
http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com/index.php?soft=688
more
http://www.mobigeeks.net/e/forum/sh...mp;threadid=509
signatures on your ActiveSync outgoing PPC mail http://www.syncdata.it/free_downloads.html
RegKing: http://www.doctorce.com/RegKing.htm#Current_Hacks
.mobile Contacts - it works great if you're after a one-handed UI for your phone book.

- Outlook Apps for PPC -
Informant is great and as far as I am personally concerned nearly flawless. I love the calendar layout and the flexibility to customize it. The contacts are good, but the list seems a little small to click as easily with your finger.
Pocket Informant 2005 for Calendar and Contacts http://www.pocketinformant.com/

Web IsMail is certainly more powerful than the default email app that comes on the PPC-6600. It does still have some memory card management issues, but more than livelable with the extra options it provides.
Pocket Informant 2005 for Calendar and Contacts http://www.pocketinformant.com/

WebIS Mail 2.11 Fully featured e-mail client for Pocket PC.
http://www.pocketinformant.com/produ...d=introduction

-Today plug-ins:
THE TWO BEST TODAY PLUGIN FOR ANY BUSINESS PERSON:
PocketBreeze
http://www.sbsh.net/products/pocketbreeze/
ContactBreeze
http://www.sbsh.net/products/contactbreeze/

Today Plus
http://www.dark-mojo.com/todayplus/index.php
TdLaunch
http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com/index.php?soft=176
more
http://www.mobigeeks.net/e/forum/sh...mp;threadid=543

<> GPS: <>
GPSpassion is the single best source for GPS information
Main Site: http://www.gpspassion.com/
Forum: http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=3
GPS Software Comparison Chart: http://www.gpspassion.com/en/software/Nav_Comp_e.htm
Good CS company to buy from:
http://www.semsons.com/gpsacsof.html
iGuidance: My personal favorite and the one I use
http://www.inavcorp.com/
TomTom
http://www.tomtom.com/products/categ...D=1&Language=4
Mapopolis
http://www.mapopolis.com/index.jsp

-comm:
IMOV
http://www.movsoftware.com/products/imov/imov.htm
npopw
http://www.wibble-wobble.com/wince/npopw/
more
http://www.mobigeeks.net/e/forum/sh...mp;threadid=642

-Graphic:
Pocket Artist ($49.95)
http://www.conduits.com/products/artist/
Resco Picture Viewer ($19.95)
http://www.resco-net.com/PicView.asp
UltraG
http://masataka.mailbbs.com/ug/en/
PDAmill viewer
http://www.pdamill.com/prod_vi.shtml
more:
http://www.mobigeeks.net/e/forum/sh...mp;threadid=855

-multimedia:
BetaPlayer - come consider the best media player for PPC:
http://betaplayer.corecodec.org/
Pocket Player2 ($19.95)
http://www.conduits.com/products/player/
pTV (free)
[color=#0000ff]http://www.pockettv.com/[%
2Fcolor]
PMVP
http://home.adelphia.net/~mdukette/index.htm
GSPlayer
http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA032810/gsp.htm
more
http://www.mobigeeks.net/e/forum/sh...mp;threadid=488
http://www.digisoftdirect.com/

-Change title barwisbar
http://www.pelmarinc.com/
wisbaradvance
http://www.lakeridgesoftware.com/wisbar/
icbar
http://www.ictinus.com/icbar/
vBar task switcher http://www.vieka.com/vbar.htm

-Change wait pinwheel.
http://www.masellis.com/wait/downloads.htm

-Total UI replacement
PPX
http://www.ppx3k.com/
Dashboard
http://www.snoopsoft.com/dashboard/index.html
-Theme generator (Microsoft's)
http://www.ppc4you.com/show.cgi?softid=127
Excellent phone skin chooser and various skins that are free http://sourceforge.net/project/show...ckage_id=102650

-Games:
GameBox Gems ($9.95)
http://www.pdamill.com/index.shtml
Snails ($9.95)
http://www.snailsgame.com/
PocketNester
http://sourceforge.net/projects/pnester/
Nethack
http://shurik.11net.com/nethack/nethack.html
more
http://www.mobigeeks.net/e/forum/sh...mp;threadid=495
Duke Nukem 3D is ported to PPC. http://www.pocketgamer.org/showthre...mp;pagenumber=7
Rubrick cube, mastermind and gemswap(bejeweled clone) http://www.valil.com/netcf/index.html

popular site info:
http://www.pocketgamer.org
http://www.pdarcade.com/
http://www.pocketmatrix.com/forums/

-Ebook:
Mobipocket Reader ($19.95)
http://www.mobipocket.com/
Palm Reader
http://www.palmdigitalmedia.com/
uBook
http://www.gowerpoint.com/
more
http://www.mobigeeks.net/e/forum/sh...mp;threadid=578

-more software listings/userlist:
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/for...pic.php?t=22031
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/for...pic.php?t=10402
http://www.ppcsg.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=21507
http://www.ppc-welt-community.info/...;threadid=32444

-more forum to ask for softwares:
brighthand
http://discussion.brighthand.com/
jenneth.info
http://www.jenneth.info/forum/
pocketpcpassion.
http://www.pocketpcpassion.com/forum/
PDACorps
http://www.pdacorps.com/default.asp
www.yorch.net (miscellaneous stuff...has a link to an SMS export program though)
www.lakeridgesoftware.com (the wisbar advance official website/community forum, in case you're a fellow user)
www.netwasp.com (for fellow flashtheme users)
www.freewareppc.com (like pocketpcfreeware, but IMO easier to navigate)
www.ppcsg.com (a singaporean community forum that's got top notch freeware links)
and of course.. www.howardforums.com
Here is another great site. http://www.freewareppc.com/

Emulator list

http://www.pdarcade.com/modules.php...e&artid=102
http://www.emulation9.com/wince.html
http://www.pocketgamer.org/games/emulators/index.shtml
http://www.mobigeeks.net/e/forum/sh...d=1932#post1932

recommended emulators:
GNUboyCE http://gnuboyce.cjb.net/
PocketNester : NES http://jetech.org/
PocketSNES Bleeding Edge : SNES http://paqpark.nuclearfallout.net/p.../pocketsnes.php
PocketColeco : Colecovision http://pocketvcs.emuunlim.com/coleco/coleco.html
PocketVCS : Atari 2600 http://pocketvcs.emuunlim.com/
CEGG : Game Gear/Master System http://www.geocities.com/bonelyfish/cegg.html
PocketGenesis : Genesis (MegaDrive)http://www.pocketemulator.com/genesis.html
MameCE : Multi Arcade http://www.mameworld.net/mamece3/
PocketSCUMM : Lucas Art Game Interpreter http://arisme.free.fr/PocketScumm/
Emu48 : HP48 http://web.jet.es/leobueno/emu48.htm
VTI Pocket Emulator v2.4 http://ticalcemulator.calcnews.net/

[g.711]

This list is killer!
Why do I learn more about the :P:P:C here that I do on HoFo?

[HobbesIsReal]

Originally Posted by g.711

Why do I learn more about the :P:P:C here that I do on HoFo?

I agree....start promoting this Forum in the others as another great resource!

[noob]

Any software update yet for the beep of death? It was supposed to out in November.

[GWB]

Is there a forum like TreoCentral dedicated to the various permutations of the PDA2K? I have a feeling you are gonna wear out your welcome here, and I'd like to have some kind of place like this if I end up with the SX-66 instead of the TREO 650...

[suskind]

Originally Posted by GWB

Is there a forum like TreoCentral dedicated to the various permutations of the PDA2K? I have a feeling you are gonna wear out your welcome here, and I'd like to have some kind of place like this if I end up with the SX-66 instead of the TREO 650...

in order of information hardness

www.xda-developers.com (only post here if you know what you are doing, otherwise go to lower rated forum)

www.clubimate.com
PDAphonehome.com
www.howardforums.com

ppcw.net
pocketpcthoughts.com
brighthand.com


---
there is no all in one PPC site, since PPC isn't exactly organized by brand and started out with far more sites than treos.

[HobbesIsReal]

I hope I don't get kicked....I actually send a lot of people over to this site on other PDA sites to help out their Treo 600/650 users!

There is also:

PDA Phone Home.com
( http://pdaphonehome.com/forums/forum...hp?forumid=168 )
Microsoft Mobile
( http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobi...ewsgroups.mspx )
Sprint Users
( http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=31 )

[khyricat]

Does anyone know anything about peacemaker software.. for my uses PPC makes more sense except one- my hubby has a treo and wants to be able to beam data back and forth.. I love PalmOS and was really going to stick with it except there isn't a phone that meets my needs and is palm based.. I don't/can't use thumbpads and love graffitti/handwriting recog programs... so am looking at going with a 6601... one of the must haves to my getting this is peacemaker or an equivelant to beam data back and forth so wondered if there were opinions on it.

Thanks.. and I'm so glad you guys are talking about this stuff here because it really answers my questions more from my knowledge point (palm and Treo based more then PPC and 6601) and gives me a better comparison on users who have used both to read about....

Amie

[g.711]

bump

[rduckwor]

Be careful what you load with SPB Pocket Plus. I found a nice mp3 player that worked well and had great features (Pocket Music - it even made the crappy included head phones sound good.), It had a "Today" screen plug in that allowed you to control the software from the Today screen. Pocket Plus didn't like it at all. First, the "X"/close button ceased to function. Soft reset would leave a "black" device which would only respond to a hard reset. As we know, I'm now an expert on restoring my data on this device and got to practice that several times last night.

Three useful notes:
1. Pocket Plus does slow this device significantly. Its liveable, but its there.
2. Idle hands truly are the devil's workshop. If you're going to play, make certain you have adequate back-ups and know how to restore.
3. Active sync b/u-restore don't feed the bulldog. It routinely fails to restore system files that are in use whenever the device is turned on. Use a secondary system to be sure you can get back to a useable state. I use the Xbackup and b/u to the SD card in the device. Also, backup your contacts to the internal flash memory. Not perfect, but it will allow me to survive a hard reset on the road.

Bob Duckworth

[Felipe]

Originally Posted by GWB

Is there a forum like TreoCentral dedicated to the various permutations of the PDA2K? I have a feeling you are gonna wear out your welcome here, and I'd like to have some kind of place like this if I end up with the SX-66 instead of the TREO 650...

you wont get kicked from treocentral, just stay on your side and all will be fine.

[HobbesIsReal]

Here is an IM with some good questions that might help some others out:

Originally Posted by Swap

When software is listed as "for Smartphone" can it be used on the 660x? Is it the same as ppc software?


Why does it seem that almost everything I load I get the prompt that "this software might not run properly, it's for a dif. version of windows mobile." ?

One last question... promise. . A lot of software requires you to use explorer and transfer files to the divice (rather than acitve sync.) They never tell you WHERE to transfer them to... what folder? what destination?

Very confusing... I notice that there are two program folders, one in Windows (it's empty) and one in the main directory...

Thanks Hobbes...
t

Good questions....

SMARTPHONE: Yes this is a different OS. But just about all programs have a PPC version or some I have found will work on both.

NOT RUN PROPERLY MESSAGE: This usually because it was written for Windows Mobile 2003. We are using 2003 2nd edition Phone Edition. There usually is never a problem, but there are few that will not run properly on 2nd OS.

I also a similiar message sometimes saying it may not display properly on my device. Again this simply means that it was probably written for 2003, which did not support different relosultion modes and landscape as the 2nd edition does. I have not heard of any challenges with this aspect at all.

USING EXPLORER TO INSTALL: Very interesting I have never seen or hear of this. Every program I have installed it always uses ActiveSync (and when I found I was going to return my phone I installed every program under the sun I could get my hands on to see if any of them would screw up my phone or would be safe to install on my new phone when I get it).

I would post this question over on PDAphoneHome and see if anyone else could answer this one for you. The only thing I can think of off the top of my head is file association problem on your desktop....but since they are usually exe files I am not sure how to fix that.

TWO PROGRAM FOLDERS: The only one I have seen used on my phone is the one NOT under Windows directory.

I hope this helps.

[HobbesIsReal]

Originally Posted by rduckwor

Three useful notes:
1. Pocket Plus does slow this device significantly. Its liveable, but its there.

Only time I noticed any real serious delay was when I loaded my Today with folders and icons with Pocket Plus. When reduced to the key ones I used a lot, it made a big difference in the lag time.

[rduckwor]

Originally Posted by HobbesIsReal

Only time I noticed any real serious delay was when I loaded my Today with folders and icons with Pocket Plus. When reduced to the key ones I used a lot, it made a big difference in the lag time.

I did the same thing and its acceptable. Very useful program to have.

Bob Duckworth

[Swap]

Originally Posted by HobbesIsReal

USING EXPLORER TO INSTALL: Very interesting I have never seen or hear of this. Every program I have installed it always uses ActiveSync (and when I found I was going to return my phone I installed every program under the sun I could get my hands on to see if any of them would screw up my phone or would be safe to install on my new phone when I get it).

Here's an example. Resco Keyboard. There is the setup file (installed via activsync,) then a seperate Cab file (zip) they tell you to use explorer to place on your device..

I half expect to have to hard reset at some point, so I'm being a little brave with my app installations.

[worldwearyeyes]

Wow, what a helpful list! Thanks Hobbes.

[outz]

yeah, SPB POCKET PLUS eats a TON of resources and all in all makes the pda2k run slugish.

[cec]

Great thread. I think you missed one I would put in the must have category and it is free. BetaPlayer - the best media player for PPC:

BetaPlayer

[Swap]

I wonder if there's a way to turn it into Pocket-plus lite? I don't need a lot of the stuff it contains (icons for one..)... maybe there's a way to edit it?

[Insertion]

Originally Posted by Swap

I wonder if there's a way to turn it into Pocket-plus lite? I don't need a lot of the stuff it contains (icons for one..)... maybe there's a way to edit it?

What exactly do you want? There are plenty of programs out there. Maybe say what you'd like and I can help you out.