Great Resource: Pocket PC Magazine

[Bob Russell]

One of my favorite resources for Pocket PC information is Pocket PC Magazine. I usually forget to check the web site, but now I have a print subscription that I look forward to each month.

First and foremost, if you are looking for a particular type of software, you can't really beat the best software awards. Currently, 2004 is the most recent, but I think they are in the process of judging for 2005 now also. There are smartphone and developer categories, but my favorite is the 2004 Best Software Award nominations list. It's an invaluable look at the best titles in each category. No one will agree with all the choices on any list, and I've yet to find a list that's both comprehensive and usable, but for my money this is the best source of info you'll find in one place. I just hope that they keep it free (you can get more detailed info with a two year subscription), and keep reeling in the subscriptions from that and the other web info. It worked on me.

Some of my other favorite information from PPC Magazine is from authors Jim Karpen ("What's Online") and Rich Hall ("Tips and Tricks" editor). They really don't seem to be as well known as some of the other bloggers in the mobile device world, but believe me they will become more well known if they keep up the great work. You can find some of their recent info on the web site, but here's a few highlights of tips and web sites from my last print edition to whet your appetite...

• Soft Resets -- Use them frequently to keep your PPC running smoothly. It clears out temp files and memory that doesn't get freed up. (I do it automatically each night with Sprite Backup.)
• Birthdays and Anniversaries -- If you add them to a contact item in the designated fields, they will become a repeating appointment after you sync with the desktop.
• ActiveSync Freezes Up -- Solve with soft reset, or delete the partnership and create a new one, or try a free PC program. ReSync (www.cewindows.net/applications/resync.htm) is supposed to close and re-open ActiveSync to solve the problem without any resets.
• CMU Studies PDAs as remote controls -- A study on how handheld devices can be better remote controls. Not just for TVs, but for offices, meeting rooms, classrooms, etc. Sounds interesting. I think they must be talking to Microsoft because I also heard someone on the Mobile Devices team saying that was the future... walking into a conference room and automatically connecting wirelessly to the presentation projector, the speakers, the lighting, etc and controlling it all with your Pocket PC.
• Get a single file from an ActiveSync Backup -- Use the desktop program "ActiveSync Backup File Restorer", which is supposed to be available for free at www.pocketgear.com. See www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/tipsandtricks/ for more info.
• Some sites where you can buy accessories online or get prices... www.mobileplanet.com, www.yourmobiledesk.com, http://shopper.cnet.com, www.pricegrabber.com, http://dealram.com for flash memory cards, www.freescreenprotectors.com, www.freecases.com, www.expansys.com
• MS has free tutorials for Win Mobile 2003SE -- www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/downloads/tutorials.mspx might be a good place to point your family member after you give him your next hand-me-down!
• Some mobile site portal/directories... www.wacklepedia.com/pdahotspots/pda_hotspots.htm, www.pdamobileweb.com
• Some streaming media sites... www.pocketpcmedia.com and www.radioshowlinks.com
• Mobile access to gmail... http://gmail.wiggster.com
• Free Google interface... www.twopeaks.com/site/products/GoogHelper
• Free news content... www.performancequest.com (works in conjunction with MobiPocket), www.newsinmotion.com sends RSS feeds to you as email, http://transpoman.com/ppcrss, and http://transpoman.com/ppccv for local city news.

I find that this post has become way too long. But, really, that's exactly my point... even just a very tiny bit of the good stuff from a single issue goes on and on.

Don't miss out on all the good stuff, and go to the site yourself to discover much, much more. I'm not real sure why they haven't received more publicity as a great info source, but hopefully this post helps make a few more people aware. And don't forget to buy the print version also for a treat each month! Or at least check out their RSS feed, or the mobile edition at www.pocketpcmag.com/mobile. (Don't know how much content is in the feed, but I know many of us are big RSS fans. Personally, I'm kind of waiting for the debut of the new Sunrise reader to use much RSS myself.)

And to answer the question you surely are asking in your head by now... No, I don't have any ties or financial interest in the magazine! But they do a great job and deserve the publicity.

[Alexander Turcic]

I am subscribed to the feed, and I agree PPC Mag has a lot of useful content. Jim once had my former site, turcic.com, on his watch list:

http://www.pocketpcmag.com/newsl_JKW...ide.asp?id=132

If iSilo interests you, check out Turcic.com, which has a huge list of mobile channels, a list that's customized for iSilo. The site contains helpful information on how it all works as well as a forum that focuses on mobile content.

That was back in 2003.