Windows Mobile/PocketPC

[wibbble]

I'm going to go and pick-up (or at least order) a Windows Mobile phone this week. I've not used Windows Mobile/PocketPC before, so I've been searching around for what software's available and suchlike. I've been using a Sony-Ericsson P910i until now, and I've previously used PalmOS PDAs years ago - oh, and my day job is tech support for a major

Comments

[heldc]

As above, Magic Button is the WIN. From the POV of using a windows mobile PDA with non-windows OSes? Unless you're running a Mac, (cos there's activesync for mac) installing program will be a problem. I run linux at home, various flavors, and only use a windows box at work, and from linux, it is, as far as I've been able to tell, impossible to install programs distributed in exe, unless the exe is a self extracting archive. So I have to search out cabs to install progams, or install them from work. I actually broke down and found the windows install disc for my laptop and set my laptop up to dual boot just so I'd have access to a windows computer with activesync so I could install programs I couldn't get in cab form without having to wait until I was next at work.
I've got nothing to contribute from the pagan side of things, just thought I'd share that bit of the techy side of things. And, with the above inconvenience mentioned, I still prefer my axim x50v to a comparably specced palm I borrowed from a friend.

[heldc]

Oh, also, the tech toys forum at dslreports.com has lots of good suggestions for software, and if you search, there's even posts of 'what is the must have software for X PDA?' DSLR requires registration, but it's free, and an awesome techy resource.

[wibbble]

Actually, I am on Mac OS X. (I save Linux for servers.) And while there's no ActiveSync, there are third-party tools that integrate it into iSync (although only Missing Sync works with WM5). Even with those, AFAIK, exe installers are going to be a problem. Thankfully, I can abuse the work laptops the few times I'll need those - most things I've seen have cab files.

I'm actually going to be getting a T-Mobile MDA Vario II - a network branded version of the HTC TyTN. Should be interesting, especially since I'll be going from a £4/meg data connection to one that includes 3GB of transfer per month as part of the contract...

[heldc]

oooo, I JUST got a MDA. It's awesome. I love it more than I have words for. A site I've found VERY useful is www.surrealnetworks.com/mpx/ They've got a bunch of software in cab form, including magic button, and some common and useful reg hacks.

[wibbble]

Cool, thanks.

[catvincent]

I think having some kind of pocket computer is sensible for a twentyfirst century mage.
My PDA (Sony Clie running Palm) has several vital texts (Liber 777, The Equinox, Abramelin, Corpus Hermeticum and many others) in eBook or PDF form - and Wikipedia , plus about two hours of music that alters my consciousness for magical purposes in mp3 form. Also got moon/tide phase/astronomy apps, random number generator, tarot and I Ching throwers. Mostly it's there for quick written, vox and photo memos and for email/web access. Adding a smartphone to the mix soon (You get 3 gig a month? Nice - I'm hoping to get the new 3 setup which gives 1 gig for a fiver).

If you or any other technomages are actually making useful apps, please let us all know!

[tlttlotd]

Some, but not for portable units. Unless I can get a PDA that will actually do what I need one of these upgrades...

Most of my stuff is for laptops or servers.

[wibbble]

T-Mobile's 'Web-and-Walk Plus' - 3GB/month with the only limit on usage being no VOIP. (For that you have to spring for the much more expensive Web-and-Walk Pro, which has a 10GB/month transfer limit and no limits on usage.) It'll cost me £32.50/month, including a Flext package that'll cover my needs for calls and text messages.

Be wary about Three - firstly, they're utterly shite; secondly, their new package isn't available with just any handset - at the moment I think it's just the Nokia N73, which is a really good cameraphone (probably the best quality camera Nokia produce), but it's not a great PDA-like device; thirdly, watch out for restrictions - you probably won't be able to use VOIP, and they'll probably not let you use it as a modem for your computer either. Oh, and AFAIK Three don't have HSDPA (which will let you get speeds of up to 1-1.5Mbps) and the N73 definitely doesn't.