Summary of the Bluetooth GPS Receiver Strengths and Limitations
TomTom
Has a classy brushed-silver-colored exterior with relief logo and includes many high-quality accessories.
Receiver charges fast.
Turning the receiver on and off requires more time.
Extra button-holding time protects the receiver from being “bumped on.”
Has security pairing encryption ability.
TeleType
Has a compact pager-style design with a loophole in the case for attaching a strap.
Includes custom quality accessories, such as charging cradle, case, and retaining magnet.
Has flexible and less expensive user-replaceable battery options.
Is especially useful to long-distance travelers by enabling faster locks through a reset button.
Has security pairing encryption ability.
HP iPAQ
Has a battery that lasts a couple of hours longer than the standard Bluetooth GPS receiver’s battery.
Receiver’s design is a little thicker and weighs a little more than average.
Does not require the extra effort of Bluetooth pairing.
LED indicators protrude to enhance viewing of the receiver at various angles.
Blends well with black dashboards.
CoPilot
Is lightweight, has a strap loophole, and blends well with black dashboards.
Lacks some convenient accessories, but is quite reasonably priced to compensate.
Has an extensive receiver range that extends much more than expected—over 200 feet!
Does not require the extra effort of Bluetooth pairing.
Has optional security pairing encryption ability.
Pharos
Is an attention-drawing, scintillating Bluetooth unit.
Cleverly transforms into a CompactFlash receiver and includes many quality accessories.
Has a user-replaceable lithium-ion battery which is easily accessible. (An extra battery kit is available.)
Can be easily “bumped on” with its protruding button, even while it resides in its case.
Has security pairing encryption ability.
* * *
Shawna Kelly is a Co-Manager and Editor for the Northern California Mobile Computing SIG (http://www.mobilecomputingsig.com), the largest mobile computing group in California. Shawna has a passion for mobility and GPS. She is a mobile consultant, as well as a Flash and multimedia producer at Artzest (http://www.artzest.com). Shawna is certified in multimedia and has a BA Degree in Creative Studies (fine & digital advanced studies) from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She can be reached at: [email protected]
Use Pocket PC Mind-Mapping Software to Organize Your Ideas and Be More!
by David Garrett
Before you read any further, take a second for a simple test.
Pretend that you’ve been asked for directions to your home. Sit at your desk (any table will do), take out a pen and paper, and write those directions down. When you’re done, check what you did. Did you write a list, with one street after the other? Did you draw a map, with neat, square corners? Or did you do both? Believe it or not, it matters more than you think.
If you wrote a list (“take Elm Street to Pine Avenue and turn right, then go two blocks…”), you tend to think in linear, logical terms, with close attention to detail. If you drew a map, you tend to think in visual, spatial terms, with a talent for seeing the big picture. If you did both, you have a blend of styles.
Most of the world’s planning software favors the linear model. For example, you can use Pocket Word and dozens of other programs to make lists of all kinds, from simple to baroque. But at best these programs let you re-order those lists as your ideas change. There’s little if any sense of the visual realm of your thoughts, and as we all know, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
Enter the mind map, a graphical way to brainstorm, take notes, and inject your plans with a little visual order. By their very nature, mind maps can dramatically improve your work in problem solving, presentations, decision making, and more. If you doubt it, consider the fact that Boeing, the world’s largest maker of aircraft, relies on a twenty-foot mind map of jet aircraft designs to enable a team of engineers to learn in weeks what often takes years. And they save $10 million in the process.
Exactly what are mind maps?
According to Dan Bradbary, a project manager and expert in corporate communication, “Mind maps are visual tools that let you use both sides of your brain. You can brainstorm a project by linking seemingly random thoughts to a central topic, then, while watching the picture grow, see how it all fits together.”
Unlike other capture and planning tools, you don’t have to think in a fixed order, line by line, with one thought after the other. According to Dan, “you can think the way your brain works: in little explosions of thought… You can jump from here to there, then drag and drop your thoughts to organize them into a picture.”
The result is a powerful way to commit everything to paper, from grocery lists to factory inventories. As a result, mind maps sometimes look like a piece of art, or the shadow of a magnificent spider stretched across the screen. If you’d like to learn more about them, visit the Buzan Centre’s Web site (http://www.mind-map.com).
(above) Mind map of a wireless communication project, displayed using the desktop PC version of MindManager 2002. Mind maps let you create simple or sophisticated project maps.
Mind-mapping software began on desktop PCs and has migrated relatively recently to handheld platforms. Two mind-mapping products dominate the Pocket PC market: MindManager Mobile Edition by MindJet, and Pocket MindMap by JKRB Software.
MindManager 2002 Mobile Edition—powerful companion to desktop PC version
MindManager’s desktop edition is the Cadillac of mind-mapping software. It has more features and a better interface than any of its competitors, and runs without a hitch. Its Mobile Edition lets you build and edit mind maps on any Pocket PC running Windows Mobile 2002 or greater, and sync them with the desktop PC version of the program.
This little wonder packs a slew of features into a small package, including the ability to sync maps with MindManager 2002 Enterprise or Business Edition for the desktop. (Editor’s note: At press time Mindjet had just released its latest version of its desktop software, MindManager X5.1, along with MindManager X5 Mobile for the Pocket PC.)
(above) MindManager 2002 Mobile Edition includes many of the features found in the desktop PC version of the program. However, the mind maps appear differently on the mobile edition, which can be confusing.
Some of the key features in the Pocket PC version of MindManager include the ability to insert text notes into each branch, or sub-topic, of a mind map, so you can flesh out ideas. You can also drag and drop branches to new locations on a map to order your thoughts after brainstorming. (It’s this very feature that lets you “think out of order” and then arrange your thoughts afterwards.)
But that’s only the beginning. A map can be searched for specific text—useful if you have a large map that you need to view on a small screen; say, for the initiation of a complex project. You can also beam a map to a colleague via your Pocket PC’s infrared port. You can insert symbols on a map from a large library of graphics, or choose different colors for branches in order to group similar thoughts together. Maps can also be displayed in list view (for those of you who crave a linear thought process), or as a hierarchy (think of an outline). Last, MindManager 2002 Mobile Edition is available in English or German. (The program’s genesis is worth noting. It began in the mind’s eye of Mike Jetter, a German national who was faced with life-threatening leukemia. Knowing he needed a project to focus his energy and fight the cancer, he began the code that would eventually become MindManager, now used by millions across the world. His story is detailed in “The Cancer Code,” available on the MindJet Web site (http://www.mindjet.com).)
MindManag
er 2002 Mobile Edition has some very minor drawbacks. First, the mind maps themselves appear differently on the Pocket PC screen. All sub-topics radiate up or down, and not out, from the center of the main topic itself. Second, directions for using the program are given in a mind map itself. This is a bit jarring, since a user unfamiliar with the software can easily wipe out part of the directions while trying to learn them.
In the end, the Mobile Edition is more of a useful complement to the powerful Business and Enterprise desktop PC editions. If your map is very large or needs extensive graphics, it’s simply faster to build the map on a desktop version and then transfer it to your Pocket PC for viewing and minor edits. Fortunately, the Mobile Edition’s hefty feature set and the attention to detail make it a useful, attractive addition to the mind-mapping family. It’s well worth the $49, just as the Business and Enterprise editions—needed to exploit the full functionality of mind maps—are worth their hefty price tags of $199 and $299, respectively. In the end, it’s an impressive piece of software that can save you time and kick-start your creativity.
MindManager 2002 Mobile Edition is available by download from the MindJet Web site (http://www.mindjet.com). A three-week trial version is also available free of charge.
Pocket MindMap— full-featured, stand-alone application
Pocket MindMap was a finalist for the Pocket PC 2002 awards in the Notes/Memo category and nominated again in 2003. (As an interesting side note, its creators, JKRB Software, based in Hanover, Germany, both use and praise MindManager for their own desktop mind maps.)
However, unlike MindManager 2002 Mobile Edition, Pocket MindMap was intended more as a full-fledged replacement for desktop software. Its mind maps branch out from all sides of the main topic and can be expanded or collapsed as need be. They look and feel more like real mind maps than MindManager’s mobile mind maps do. But owing to this, you’ll have to scroll the screen to see your entire map, whereas the version by MindJet allows you to see an entire map on a single screen.
(above) The mind maps built in Pocket MindMap have the look and feel of maps drawn with powerful desktop software, but sometimes require scrolling to be seen in their entirety.
Some of Pocket MindMaps other features are worth noting, including the ability to place several mind maps into one document. Its “Scribbles” feature lets you attach a note in your own handwriting to any branch on the map. Its outline view lets you see your maps in linear order. Its text export feature lets you save a map as a simple text document, and HTML export readies your maps for the Web.
Pocket MindMap comes with an extensive library of symbols and graphics you can add to your map. You can also highlight your text in any one of dozens of colors by double-clicking the text and choosing Font Family from the Format menu. Other formatting options include a choice of fonts (Bookdings, Courier New, Frutiger Linotype, and of course Tahoma) and sizes, as well as bold, italic, and strikeout options.
The program has one rather significant drawback. There’s no way to sync Pocket MindMap with a desktop version of any mind map software. While you can create stellar maps on the road, you’ll have to keep them on your Pocket PC unless you’d like to export them as text or HTML, and then work on them in another, linear format on the desktop. But the coders at JKRB have promised their full attention to the problem and intend to build an XML export module that syncs with popular desktop mind-mapping software.
Pocket MindMap is available for download from the Pocket MindMap Web site (http://www.pocketmindmap.com) as well as from Handango (http://www.handango.com) and PocketGear (http://www.pocketgear.com). Customers outside of Germany are advised to use the latter two methods. The software retails for $42, and a free trial version is available.
Two excellent programs fit different needs
So which piece of software should you buy? If you need the full power of a desktop mind mapper to chart the thoughts in your brain, but want the convenience of companion software to take those thoughts on the road, tweaking them here and there, go with MindJet’s sleek interface and efficient mobile edition. On the other hand, if you’d like a full feature set on your Pocket PC and never plan to sync your maps with your desktop, try Pocket MindMap. Either way, you’re assured of an excellent piece of software.
* * *
David Garrett is a freelance writer and Pocket PC enthusiast who lives and writes in LA. You can reach him at [email protected].
Games Roundup
—short reviews from Games Editor, Allen Gall
Better Graphics
The games reviewed in this issue tend to have excellent graphics. Anthelion, for example, has 3D enemy spacecraft and detailed, colorful explosions. Quigley’s Quest has nice lighting effects and speedy performance. Z-Raid has 16-bit graphics with a full color palette complete with shading.
Toshiba recently introduced the e800, capable of displaying higher-resolution VGA graphics (480x640 pixels). As more VGA-capable Pocket PCs are introduced, it’ll be interesting to see what game developers are able to come up with.
Anthelion (A-)
In Anthelion, you’re a member of the Bedouin, a gang of space-pirate cockpit jockeys caught between the Federation and a race of bug-like aliens called the Locusts. Although the missions are engaging and varied, the game’s plot is weak and the subplots a little silly. Jack, the pirate captain, speaks in this awful “Argghh, matey!” dialect that gets irritating quickly.
(above) A lot of people said it couldn’t be done, but Anthelion is a decent space shooter for your Pocket PC.
Anthelion lets you fly five ships, and most of the 16 missions allow you some choice of which ship you’ll fly. You can also choose weapons, including missiles and torpedoes. Controls are effective and highly customizable, which should allow the game to be suitable to a number of different play styles and devices. The enemy ships are rendered in terrific 3D graphics and the game includes nice lighting effects in the explosions and engine trails. Overall, Anthelion is a lot of fun and bodes well for the future of Pocket PC gaming.
For more information on this game, visit the PDAmill Web site (http://www.pdamill.com/prod_an.shtml). Anthelion supports Pocket PC 2002 and Windows Mobile 2003 devices. A demo is available, and the full version can be purchased for $19.95.
Crazy Kart (A-)
Crazy Kart is a clone of the Nintendo console game Mario Kart. In this genre you race go-karts around surreal racetracks while collecting points and power-ups. The game looks good and runs fast. Although you can’t configure the buttons or the d-pad, you can have the karts accelerate without having to push any buttons, which makes the game easier.
(above) Crazy Kart is in the tradition of console-based racing games like Mario Kart and is almost as much fun.
Play modes include quick race, championship, and time trial. You can race on the moon, at the beach, or in all sorts of other interesting locales, all of which look good. The power-ups and jumps make the courses challenging, even after you’ve been around them a few times. In addition, several add-on courses are available to registered users for free. The game screen is laid out pretty well, with icons showing your current rank, your speed, and your position on the course. Although it doesn’t take very long to finish all the tracks, it’s fun while it lasts.
For more information on this game, visit the INT13 Web site (http://www.int13.net/crazy.htm). Crazy Kart supports all Pocket PCs. A demo is available, and the full version can be purchased for $15.
Quigley’s Quest (A-)
Quigley’s Quest is one of the best platform scrollers around. Your quest is to find the five fabled golden chalices. In the process, you explore the 17 levels of Quagmire Island, collecting rings, gems, and power-up potions to help you on your way. Although most of the levels don’t have much variety, they have some interesting graphical and lighting effects. Most levels can be solved in a few minutes, although you can spend a much longer time collecting more goodies and a higher score if you like.
(above) Quigley’s
Quest is a simple platform scroller that looks great and is plenty of fun.
For more information on this game, visit the Bayside Studios Web site (http://www.baysidestudios.com/BayGames_Quigley.cfm). Quigley’s Quest supports Pocket PC 2002 and Windows Mobile 2003 devices. A demo is available, and the full version can be purchased for $12.99.
Warlords II (A-)
Warlords II is a turn-based strategy game in the same genre as Empire and Risk, but far more evolved. The game is really about taking over enemy or neutral towns faster and more aggressively than your opponents. Up to eight human or computer-based opponents duke it out over complex terrains with a variety of armies. Warlords II has lots of gameplay-enhancing features, including “stackable” commands that can take place over several turns, diplomacy, hidden maps, bonuses, and much more. Ports of games that were originally written for a desktop PC tend to be a little clunky and rough around the edges, but Warlords II is clean, speedy, and doesn’t exhibit any major glitches. My only complaint with this type of game is that the missions can take hours. If you want to dive into this enjoyable but time-consuming game, make sure you have plenty of time on your hands, some eye drops, and a fully charged battery.
Pocket PC magazine, Apr/May 2004 Page 9