Windows Mobile Louisville

I’ve had a Pocket PC since 2001 and have come to rely on the PDA functions such as the calendar and task options more than almost anything. The only exception is my contacts. The biggest flaw with Microsoft’s Calendar application is the un-finger friendly way of entering information. We’ve all become used to have the stylus in our hands when adding or changing an appointment. Since other new devices have arrived on the market, fingers have been used and it works nicely. Even with HTC’s Touch Flow calendar, it’s not perfect. However… that may have just changed.

Time management is very important in today’s busy world. We all have important schedules to keep in both our business and personal lives. I’ve heard all too often that some people don’t have time to keep a good calendar updated. With all the handheld devices out there, it should be an easy thing to accomplish. The main problem was it’s difficult to type and enter that information on these small devices. Most of the time I would just enter everything into Outlook and let the sync take place. It was much easier.

I was asked to check out Inesoft’s Calendar application for the Windows Mobile devices. My business relies on my calendar appointments and I can’t live without it. From the moment I installed the application, I was very impressed. I’ve used several other calendars and PIM Managers over the years and always reverted back to the old standard. Why did I revert back? I found them too overwhelming or complicated to use on a daily basis. Too many features can boggle the mind. However I think this one is here to stay! (more…)

Resco has been quite active with updates to several of their applications, and version 2.0 of Resco Radio is the most recent.

Speaking for myself, I find that I listen to streaming music a lot on my device, particularly when I am at work or in my car.  There are certainly many options for listening to streaming radio out there, and I use several of those options, depending on my needs.  How does Resco Radio 2.0 shape up? Read on and I’ll tell you!  I’ve even put together a quick-and-dirty video as well.  More after the break… (more…)

Ahh, the lure of SPB products!   When I got my new HTC Touch Pro2 at the beginning of the month, I vowed that I would stick with the default TouchFLO 3D on the device for a while, giving it a chance and running it through it’s paces (typically, I have been a Mobile Shell affectionado).   I was doing fine until I received an email from SPB this weekend, with a review copy of version 3.5 of Mobile Shell.   In all honesty, I have been quite pleased with the improvements to TF3D, so I wasn’t feeling compelled to install Shell or any other UI at the moment.  HTC made some improvements in areas I felt were lacking before, so the UI is pretty darned good. 

But simply knowing that SPB has been in the woodshed hammering out enhancements to Mobile Shell had me very tempted.  I mean, who doesn’t get excited when SPB releases something?!   Needless to say, I installed version 3.5 of Mobile Shell and began playing.  Here are my findings… (more…)

I received my Touch Pro2 on the Friday before Labor Day weekend, which was perfect timing.  It allowed me the entire weekend to get acquainted with the device, install apps and prepare this “first impressions” review.

On Friday, I just played around with the new device in it’s native state - I didn’t install or change anything.  I wanted to check out the changes to TouchFLO3D and other enhancements before I began installing things.

I ordered a car mount, a case and a spare battery in advance of getting the TP2.  The mount and case arrived earlier in the week - I’m still waiting on the battery.  The HAiCOM car mount is just like the one I have for my original Touch Pro (all that’s different is the clip) and it works great. Cost me $12.95, which is a really decent price.  I got the case from Expansys for a whopping $4.49, and while it’s not the fanciest case, at least I have one - Sprint didn’t include a case in the box (more on that later).  The device fits snugly in the case, and it has a magnetic closure (more on that later too).

Read on after the break! (more…)

Spb Software House has released a significant update to Mobile Shell.  Version 3 offers different modes for work and for play, along with integration of picture contacts with Facebook, account-sensitive email indicators, widgets, responsive kinetic scrolling and other enhancements.  If you have used Shell before, you will almost not recognize version 3, it’s that different!

If you have read any of my commentary before (such as this one), you know that I am all about Mobile Shell, so to say that I was excited to check out version 3 is an understatement!  So, at long last, a review copy arrived last week, and I was most pleased.
Here are my initial thoughts, after having played with the app/interface for about a week:

Professional and Lifestyle desktops

Mobile Shell 3 gives you the ability to have two different modes (for what was previously known as the Now screen). You can switch between work (Professional) and play (Lifestyle) desktops.  The Professional desktop contains everything you would need in a work scenario, and is not customizable (other than perhaps background color), but the Lifestyle desktop is highly customizable.  The possibilities are endless for the Lifestyle mode - you can add all sorts of widgets (shortcuts, contacts, indicators) to your heart’s content, and you can change the background image (which can be of desktop resolution!).  The Lifestyle desktop is actually three times as wide as the Professional one, allowing you to scroll left or right and add even more content (more on that shortly). 

Below are my Professional and Lifestyle desktops.  You can switch from one to the other with an upward or downward flick of the finger:

I’ve been having fun configuring the Lifestyle mode, as you can see.  I actually made a contact for each of my pets, and added their contact widgets along with my wife’s contact widget - making it a family affair!  The only other widget I added to the “main” page of the Lifestyle mode was the notification indicator.  I like this concept - it’s nice to switch to a non-cluttered look during “off-time”, so I can enjoy seeing the family when I turn on my device.  I can always see other pertinent info with a tap or a flick if I need… (more…)

I had the Touch Diamond for about 4 months and never did get around to buying a car mount, but since recently switching to the Touch Pro, I decided to shop for one.  I had enough of my device siting upside-down in the cup holder (and a variety of other unsuccessful methods) to keep it secure while charging!  Plus, if I use my GPS application, I need the device to sit upright and in an easily visible location.  I didn’t want to spend a lot, but I also wanted something that would hold my device secure. 

Enter the HAiCOM Custom Car Mount.   I located it at BuyGPSNow, and was pleased to find the cost very reasonable - $12.95 for the Touch Pro/HTC Fuze model.   And shipping was very reasonable as well - I paid $15.45 total.   I ordered on Thursday and received it on Monday - not bad for standard shipping!

Read on after the break for more detail. (more…)

A while back, I did a commentary on TouchFLO 3D vs. Spb’s Mobile Shell, so a similar article from Gear Diary was quick to catch my eye!

Doug, Lauren and Sue did a three-person review of TF3D, and they did a great job - I always enjoy multi-person reviews!

Check it out here.

I was a regular user of Spb Mobile Shell on my previous Windows Mobile devices (Mogul and 6600), but when I upgraded to a Sprint Touch Diamond, it had the built-in TouchFLO 3D user interface, so I stopped using Shell.  That was two months ago. 

Over the course of that two months, I’ve spent a lot of time working with and customizing TF3D to my liking, and despite all my efforts, I felt that it was still lacking.  I’ll give an “A” for eye-candy, but I need more than that - I want substance - functionality that provides the information I need, when and where I need it.  That is why I decided to turn off TF3D, install Mobile Shell and see if I would be happier.  Know what? I am!  Read on… (more…)

There has been quite a buzz about Spb Mobile Shell 2.0, so I was delighted to receive my advance review copy so I could begin playing with the app and prepare a review.  This review has a couple of ”firsts”:  it is the first review posted on our new site, AND it is our first combined written and video review! So, without further delay, I will post the video portion here at the beginning, then follow up with an extensive written review. Both are intended to compliment one another, so, enjoy!

(more…)