Heather said "This software will make it much easier for me to track workouts and strength training. I have been using a notebook and it has been difficult to see my progress over time. BioBody lets me graph body-weight and waist-size progress over time."
Pocket PC comes through again
Heather's challenge turned out to be a perfect application of the Pocket PC's talents, augmented by third-party software. Heather summed it up best when she said "After working with the Pocket PC fitness applications for a few weeks, I feel like I've really found a functional tool to use in my training and instruction. My time spent in class preparation will be dramatically reduced and I will definitely be able to approach it in a much more organized manner."
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Mike Hagen is an owner of Grinder Gear (www.grindergear.com), a company focused on PDA protection. Mike is an engineer, a professional outdoor photographer, an avid climber (rock and ice), and a mountain biker and hiker. Contact Mike at [email protected].
Ask Microsoft
Microsoft answers questions about the Windows Mobile Smartphone
In this issue, the editors of Pocket PC magazine ask Microsoft common questions they've received about the Smartphone and other topics. Email your questions to [email protected].
The Smartphone market is projected to be huge. What is Microsoft's role in it?
A The mobile device industry is growing up, and increasingly, software is what will really separate good mobile devices from great ones. With Windows Mobile software, Microsoft is confident that we're offering the richest experience on a mobile device with seamless synchronization to Outlook as well as vivid color screens, sleek form factors, and superior multimedia, wireless, and messaging experiences.
Together with handset makers, mobile operators, application developers, and the mobile industry as a whole, our challenge is to make the customer's experience valuable—from phones and PDAs to PCs. Our role is to develop great software that will enable customers to access the things they want such as messaging, multimedia, entertainment, and voice via a range of devices, and to deliver a flexible, robust development platform that will equip the Windows Mobile developer community to continue to build exciting and innovative applications and services.
How much does a Smartphone cost? Where can I get one? What kind of service contract is required? Do I need a data plan?
Smartphones and Pocket PCs with Integrated Phone support specific wireless networks (CDMA, GSM, etc.) and are priced and sold by mobile operators. Two of the top three handset makers have developed Windows Mobile-based Smartphones and over 15 wireless service providers worldwide are shipping Windows Mobile-based devices. In the U.S. these include Sprint, Verizon Wireless, AT&T Wireless, and T-Mobile. These service providers determine the price of the Smartphone as well as the type of service required for the device.
Microsoft and device manufacturers designed Smartphones to be great phones first, incorporating a small, stylish design that supports one-handed operation, long battery life, easy-to-use features, and more. However, Smartphones also let you access e-mail, IM or SMA, the Internet, and more. In order to extend the mobile phone experience beyond voice and text and take full advantage of the power of the software, customers should sign up for a data plan.
Should Pocket PC users think of replacing their devices with Windows Mobile-based Smartphones? Will there be many users who will want both devices? If so, please describe the kinds of users that would want or require both devices?
Windows Mobile-based Smartphones are designed for those whose primary communication is done with voice, but who still need to access their e-mail, contact information, and other data. Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs are for users who focus more on data and less on voice communications. Microsoft is betting that there is a place for the data-rich PDA user as well as a bright place for converged devices like the Windows Mobile-based Smartphones. There may be some who need both devices. At the end of the day, the choice is up to consumers.
Pocket PC magazine readers occasionally ask about theWindows Mobile for Smartphone SDK. What is it? Why is it important? What does it mean to the developer, to the end-user?
The Windows Mobile for Smartphone Software Developer's Kit (SDK) provides developers worldwide with the tools and resources they need to quickly develop, test, and deploy innovative wireless applications for the Windows Mobile-based Smartphone. With an empowered developer community and a robust, flexible platform, end-users can look forward to an ever-increasing number of exciting applications and services for their Windows Mobile-based Smartphones. An SDK is also available for developing software for the Pocket PC. Both can be downloaded from Microsoft's Developer Network (msdn.microsoft.com).
There seems to be a lot of new information out there about Pocket PCs and Smartphones. In addition to Pocket PC magazine, how can our readers stay better informed about what's new with these Windows Mobile-based devices?
Microsoft's new Windows Mobile Web site (www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/) is designed to help customers learn about new ways to interact with their Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs and Smartphones. In addition, based on customer feedback, we've launched 3 targeted Windows Mobile newsletters for consumers, business customers, and developers. We encourage customers and enthusiasts to subscribe to any Windows Mobile newsletter by registering on the Windows Mobile Web site (www. microsoft.com/windowsmobile/information/newsletter/wm_newsletter.asp). Available newsletters include Windows Mobile News, which provides news, tips, tricks, cool downloads, and special offers for Pocket PC and Smartphone-related products.
Windows Mobile News—Developer Edition collects the latest development tools, technical articles, documentation, special offers, and development resources in one place.
Windows Mobile News—Business Edition includes business success stories, special discounts on device hardware and software, as well as the latest information from the Windows Mobile community to help business leaders keep their businesses at the forefront of the mobile world.
What's Online
New Offerings from PocketPCmag.com and pocketpcthoughts.com
Plus a Selection of Smartphone Sites
By Jim Karpen
On the Web, as in life, everyone wants to be number one. Currently, as rated by Google rankings, that distinction for Pocket PC-related sites goes to PocketPCmag.com. We worked hard to get there, but we're not resting on our laurels. We've just finished a complete redesign of our site with the goal of putting more content on the home page and making the rest of our content easier to access from the home page.
We now highlight the latest "New Products" in the Encyclopedia of Software and Accessories and the "Top 5 Articles" from our magazine, and include a "Forums" section that lists the latest postings to our increasingly active online discussion groups. We've also enhanced the menu structure of the site, making it easier to get at the content you need.
Convenience for our subscribers
We've also made it easier for print and electronic edition subscribers to change their street address or e-mail address. Just click on the "Customer Service" link near the top right-hand corner of the home page (or go directly to www.PocketPCmag.com/_service/). The Customer Service page also has an "Ask a question" link, which lets you request additional information about any subscription or product that we offer.
We're also working on our shopping cart to make it easier for you to subscribe to the edition of our magazine that you prefer, and to order with fewer clicks.
We have more changes coming, including possibly offering premium services to our subscribers.
Pocket PC Thoughts offers new services
Pocket PC Thoughts (www.pocketpcthoughts.com) is also among the most popular Pocket PC sites, currently ranked third in Google, behind Microsoft's site. They did a major overhaul of the site in late 2002, and most recently they've been focused on offering useful new subscription services.
While their basic content is still free, you can en
hance the utility of the site by subscribing for as little as $2 per month (www. pocketpcthoughts.com/subscribe.php). The site's twin strengths have been news and community, and the subscriber services make these more available. As a subscriber you can receive the daily news postings in your e-mail as nicely formatted messages just minutes after they're posted to the Web site.
In addition, being a subscriber gives you a version of the site, including the forums, that's adapted for the small screen of your device.
Subscribers can also customize every facet of the Pocket PC Thoughts home page to meet their individual needs and tastes.
Finally, subscribers receive a range of freebies and substantial product discounts from major developers. Given the enthusiastic response to this new service, it's clear that people find it valuable.
Pocket PC Passion also forges ahead
Pocket PC Passion (http://pocketpcpassion.com), currently ranked fourth by Google, is yet another top site to emerge recently with a new look and feel. Dale Coffing's site has long been packed with content. But it was unwieldy, with a skyscraper front page and no convenient way of accessing archived material.
Dale now has a database-driven site that serves up content in a speedy and well organized fashion. His old content in the old format is still available in a separate archive. If you access the site via your Pocket PC, you'll see a version suited to the small screen.
Like other popular sites, the formula is news postings with the opportunity for reader comment. There's a real sense of community and very active forums—with some 16,600 members.
Overall, it's really satisfying to see these major Pocket PC Web sites continuing to move ahead and do an ever better job of meeting the needs of Pocket PC users.
Check out our "Best Sites" Web page
There are so many Pocket PC enthusiasts who give so generously of themselves by creating useful Web sites that it pains me to highlight some and not the others.
You'll find many of these worthy sites listed on our Best Sites Web page (www.PocketPCmag.com/_top/bestsites.asp), a directory of some of the best Windows Mobile-related Web sites. Here you can find Web sites with news and reviews, sites that have tons of downloads (including freeware), sources of eBooks, videos, and other multimedia, links to forums where you can ask your questions, shopping sites, and more.
Also, a number of these same sites are included in our Mobile Best Sites, which are sites optimized for the small screen of your device.
New Smartphone sites
In particular you may want to check out the News/Reviews section of our Best Sites page. This section includes sites that offer daily news updates and sites that have a fairly good collection of reviews.
More subcategories have been added to this section, including Web sites related to the Smartphone.
Microsoft's Smartphone Web page, located on their Windows Mobile site (www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/products/smartphone/ default.mspx) has a great demo in Flash that gives you a sense of what the Smartphone can do. They also have a useful HTML-based tour of the software. And be sure to check out their Smartphone links page (www. microsoft.com/windowsmobile/resources/communities/smartphone/links.mspx).
MoDaCo Smartphone (http://smartphone.MoDaCo.com) is likely the largest Smartphone community on the Internet. The site has very active forums with well over 10,000 registered users at the time of this writing. The home page offers news updates, but the main focus is the forums, which offer news, help and advice, articles with tips and tricks, a customization forum, a catalog of software, and more. You can also access the site via your PDA or Smartphone (http://mobile.MoDaCo.com).
Smartphone Thoughts (http://smartphonethoughts.com) is a spinoff of Pocket PC Thoughts. Like the original, it's a Weblog-style site, with lots of news items posted every day—and a lot of discussion generated by each news item.
CoolSmartPhone.com (www.coolsmartphone.com) is rich in content, offering a wide range of articles, reviews, how-tos, and FAQs, as well as downloads. You can even submit photos to the site's "Photo Blog."
Smartphone.net (www.smartphone.net) is an attractively designed site that offers a wide selection of software for the Smartphone, as well as news updates. Categories include Business, Databases, Education, Reference, Entertainment, Games, Medical, Personal Productivity, Utilities, and Travel.
SmartGamer (www.smartgamer.org) offers the latest news, reviews, and discussion on games for the Smartphone.
OrangeSmartPhone.Com (www.orangesp.co.uk), dedicated to the Orange SPV and Smartphones, offers news, downloads, a collection of useful links, and even movie trailers and videos.
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Jim Karpen, Ph.D., is a college professor and Internet devotee. He has been interested in the revolutionary consequences of computer technology ever since writing his Ph.D. dissertation in 1984. It was a study of the "digitized word" and anticipated some of the changes that are taking place today. He has been writing regularly about the Internet since 1994. His Web site, www.jimkarpen.com, contains selected Internet columns written monthly for the Iowa Source magazine and weekly for ten newspapers in eastern Iowa. Contact Jim at [email protected].
Quick Tips & Tricks
Edited by Rich Hall
View all files on your Pocket PC
The File Explorer on your Pocket PC can be made to display hidden files just like Windows Explorer on your desktop PC. Follow these steps:
Open the File Explorer application on your Pocket PC and go to a folder you are interested in viewing.
Tap and hold on an empty spot at the bottom of the file list in that folder. This will pop up the menu shown in Screen 1.
Select the option in the menu which says, "View All Files".
Screen 1 (above): Tap and hold on an empty space in File Explorer to view all files.
Nitin Gupta
Free software in downloadable Pocket PC CAB files
Holger Schmidt has a Web site called FreeCab (http://people.freenet.de/FreeCabs/index.html) which consists of download links to .cab files for popular Pocket PC freeware. The site is formatted to display on the smaller Pocket Internet Explorer screen. The idea, as he says, is to make these programs available to the mobile Pocket PC user who may have access to the Internet but not to a desktop PC
A cabinet (.cab) file is a compressed file that holds all of the items necessary for installing and configuring a program on a specific Pocket PC. The Web site lets you download the .cab file for a particular program directly to your Pocket PC (Screen 2). Once it's downloaded, you find the .cab file using File Explorer, and tap on it. It automatically installs the program on your Pocket PC, bypassing the typical desktop-to-Pocket PC-via-ActiveSync installation process. (Some of the download links are to .exe files which can be installed directly, and some are to .zip files which will need to be unzipped with an unzipping utility to access the .cab files.)
Screen 2 (above): The FreeCab Web site gives Pocket PC Web browsers access to downloadable freeware .cab files.
Matt Arant
Use Run dialog box to open document or program
If you know the name of a document or program on your Pocket PC, but have forgotten which folder or menu it's in, you can find it quickly using the Pocket PC's Run option. Simply hold down the action button in the center of the navigation pad and then tap and hold on the time or clock icon in the upper right corner of the display. That activates a dropdown menu with two options: Run and Clock. Clock is a shortcut to the Clock applet (which you would normally access at Start > Settings > System > Clock). Run opens a dialog box (Screen 3) which offers to open any program, folder, or document you have on your system. You don't need to know the folder or sub-folder the file is in—just the exact name of the file (file extension not needed).
Screen 3 (above): The Run prompt on the Pocket PC lets you open a document, folder, or program by name.
If you have problems with this on your Dell Axim X5 Pocket PC, you have to download and install the latest ROM update from Dell'
s Web site. The procedure should work after that.
Bob Katayama
Getting Visual Basic applications to work on Pocket PC 2003
Applications which were developed using embedded Visual Basic may not run properly on the new Windows Mobile 2003 operating system for Pocket PCs. To get them to run properly you will need to install the eMbedded Visual Basic Runtime for Pocket PC 2003. You can download this runtime from the Microsoft's Web site: www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/resources/downloads/developer/
evb.mspx.
Nitin Gupta
Free utility fixes database problems with Pocket PC 2003
The internal format of databases changed with Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC and Smartphone. This causes some third-party applications originally written for the Pocket PC 2002 OS to hang or display an error message when they attempt to access their data. The affected applications are those that install databases along with the program itself. This is fairly common. If you have an application that worked on Pocket PC or Smartphone 2002 and does not work correctly on Windows Mobile or Smartphone 2003, download and install the free Database Conversion Wizard from Microsoft's Mobile Devices Web site (below). This wizard searches for any databases on your Windows Mobile 2003 device, archives them to your desktop PC, and converts them to the new format. This allows the applications to work correctly with no changes required to the program itself. www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/resources/downloads/pocketpc/ databasewizard.mspx.
Pocket PC magazine, January 2004 Page 20