My primary device is an HTC Wizard/QTek 9100 (well, that’s more the T-Mobile MDA styling – mine is more of the square styling). I’m currently running an internal build of Crossbow on it, but since I have to flash it so frequently in order to test out the new changes that we’re making, I’ve had to really trim down the number of apps I install/configure to the bare essentials….I figured that I’d share this out in case people are interested. Note: I’m specifically leaving off games here as people have significantly varied interests for games (unless it’s CardFu of course).
Freeware
- SmartSKey – multitask the softkey buttons, plus some other great stuff (like letting the volume slider do page scrolling!)
- OmapClock – overclock the Omap processor
- Skype – Definitely needs to run overclocked on the Wizard
- VirtualEarth Mobile – It’s nice to be able to quickly find places and their contact info based on locality
- NoteM – wonderful voice note recorder that records directly to MP3
- TCPMP – can play directories of music…WiMP can’t do that. DivX supported as well
- CalcNote – nice little calculator that can site on top of other apps
- .NET Compact Framework v2.0 – I code most of my personal apps in .NET, so this is a must
- Agile Messenger – Let’s me use AIM and MSN Messenger at the same time in one UI
- Office Communicator Mobile – now I can appear to be working 24/7
- WM5Storage – Wonderful tiny app that lets you use your Windows Mobile device as a mass-storage device. If this doesn’t work for you, there’s a commercial program similar to this by Softick.
Commercial
- Mapopolis – voice prompts and directions. More than Pocket Streets allows
- PocketRSS – there are still a couple one-hand usability issues with this, but it’s one of the cleanest, professional looking RSS readers that I’ve found. An annoying bug though with scrolling in an item prevents it from having completely one-handed operation.
- PhatNotes (standard) – I’m a HUGE notes user (over 400 notes), and the only way for them to be useful is to keep them in a fast, searchable database like PhatNotes does…AND it sync’s with Outlook…perfect.
- RepliGo – The flowed view feature is HUGE for a small device. Makes reading docs much easier
- WisBar Advance – It’s hard for me to use a PPC that doesn’t have this installed. Between the EXTREMELY important cascading start menu, and the other small customizations it does to the shell…
- Spb PocketPlus – With the other apps that I have (SmartSKey and WisBar Advance) doing much of what this provides, I mainly use this for the multiple instances of IE and extra IE options
- eWallet Pro – My wallet has gotten much thinner ever since I started storing my less-used cards in here.
- Resco File Explorer – Power users really need something more powerful than the built-in one.
- Resco Photo Viewer – Nicer UI and more features than built-in browser
There are more apps that I used to additionally use on PPC only device (my trusty ‘ol iPaq 3955), but until I find an easier way to batch install and set preferences for all of my apps automatically, they remain only on my older device as it takes too much time to reconfigure my dogfood device on each flash.
- Flip It! – flipbook creator
- Pocket Artist – for my doodling needs
- AIM – to chat with my non MSN friends
- Sprite Pocket Backup – was great when I wasn’t flashing the OS itself so frequently
- Conversions In Hand – Nice, simple conversions calculator.
- MobiPocket – I was a huge Microsoft Reader user until I got too frustrated with the fonts remaining too large on books I was creating myself.
- Pocket Guitar Ref – nice reference tool when writing songs
I’ll talk about how I semi-rapidly configure my device in a separate post another time.