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Five FREE Must-Have Apps [Part 1]
The best things in life are free. In this thread I shall attempt to bring to light such apps that will no leave no mark on our wallets but will leave a positive mark on us. This post is by no means an exhaustive list of all the awesome free apps and so I salute any and all developers and companies that make such apps available. As long as I own a PPC and am trying different apps I shall try and write future reviews.
The following is a list of the 5 of my most favorite apps. Like any review I shall try to remain objective in my analysis and comparison, but I am only human and may fall short in some way or form. So without any further ado... 1. Microsoft Live Search w/ Voice Recognition Why would I need this? ----------------------------------------------- *For virtually instant Voice searching while on the go (text box search available too) *For local movie times and theaters *For traffic information (major metropolitans only) *For maps and directions *For local gas prices (sorted by lowest price) *GPS guided navigation (requires external hardware) Also look at... ----------------------------------------------- +++Mobile Google Maps This is the only MS application I can safely say I prefer over Google's counterpart, Mobile Google Maps. I can honestly say it's the most practical application for searching almost anything, movie reviews/times, traffic and even gas prices! I challenged my friend who has an iphone to a dual. We were looking for a Steak n Shake in the area and wanted to see who can pull up closest one the quickest. Mind you, I was the one driving. After using the voice recognition feature I retrieved the information in less than 30 seconds. I looked over to find him pulling up Google search in his browser and pecking away at his keyboard. What can be improved? ----------------------------------------------- -More GPS navigation friendly like TomTom or iGuidance (POI warner, automatically BT on, etc) -Ability to save, import and export locations -A Desktop Map Loader for those who do not have a data plan ****************************Rating: 8/10****************************** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Quick Menu (freeware from China) Since day one I have been looking for an all-in-one task manager. I tried almost everything out there including but not limited too: Wisbar Lite, Dinar Soft's Handyswitcher, SPB Pocket Plus, iLauncher, SmallMenu Plus, vbar, tman, MagicButton, AE Button Plus and I must say I haven't come across one that does it all and does it well like Quick Menu. Why would I need this? ----------------------------------------------- * Fully customizable cascading menus (including I.E. favorites, recent programs, favorite apps, etc) * Menu items to hibernate (Free ram) and soft-reset, Bluetooth discovery, Screen Rotation and soft-keyboard selection * Ability to switch and close different apps using Start Menu (as opposed to separate menu) * Ability to fully replace standard Start Menu * Ability to make ok button close apps (exception list available) - good for RAM management! * Ability to automatically close Activesync upon being removed from cradle * Ability to create shortcuts for common commands (compare to SPB Pocket Plus) * Battery meter on start bar which can be customized accordingly * FAST! and small memory footprint What could be improved? ----------------------------------------------- * No option for non-cascading menus * No program icons on start bar (like Wisbar Lite and WKtask) Also look at... ----------------------------------------------- +++++WKtask +++Pbar +++vbar +++tman ****************************Rating: 9/10****************************** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Video Flash Bundle - for the ability to view many video sites on your PPC Youtube nation. That is what we are becoming. From vlogs to views, entertainment, animation, comedy and music we crave on demand video to quench our undying thirsts. This is what Video Flash Bundle is for. It allows us to take these videos with us wherever we are. Look out iphone, anything you can do...we can do better, and in this case it applies so perfectly. I compared video quality to a friend who has an iphone and the quality on my 6700 was far superior. Not only that, but I also have the option to watch Google video and so much more. Why would I need this? ----------------------------------------------- * Virtually instant access to hundreds of thousands of videos * Hours and hours of high quality media at your fingertips * Ability to save videos on storage memory in .flv * Includes TCPMP (The Core Pocket Media Player), the perfect solution for watching many different kinds of video, audio and images What could be improved? ----------------------------------------------- * More compatible and convenient option for searching and viewing on mobile * Ability to easily seek within video * Easy access to reading/leaving comments Also look at... ----------------------------------------------- ++++HTC StreamingMedia (for use with m.youtube.com) ****************************Rating: 8/10****************************** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The other two apps will come soon: MyMobiler and Ftouchflo. In the time being I'm gonna try to figure out how to link text in this post. Coming soon: Top 5 Not-Free Apps, 5 apps you would never would have imagined existed and more |
reserved for the two other apps....
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don't you have to pay for windows live search?
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links might be helpful, though its just a suggestion.
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It is free |
I must say vTap is must have.
Java with Opera Mini. |
To get the Windows Live Search Beta with Voice Recognition you must go to the following link thru Pocket Internet Explorer (on your phone)
http://m.live.com/download/download....t=wls&mid=1011 I gave it a quick try and it worked supprisingly well. It recognized "Mexican Resturant" and "Auto Parts" on the first try. [pt] |
Windows Live Search is also very useful for adding contacts. I located a Pizza joint near a friends house (small toen as well, I was impressed it even recognized the place), and Windows Live found the ph# we decided we were not quite ready to order, so I noticed there was a 'save as contact' option, and sure enough it saved the address, and ph# right in my contact list seamlessly. I was very impressed with that!!!!
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Must throw in that I highly prefer Live Search over Google Maps anyday just because it's got the movies, restaurants, etc all in one spot. Very intuitive and voice recognition was nice.
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This turned me to try Windows Live... I am liking the gas prices deal (even though I already know where they are in my town.. I can always use it in different cities)
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I seem to like google maps a little better, although no voice commands. I like how you can go to your contacts, click on a contact, and then click "find on google maps", providing you have that contacts address stored in your contact info. As far as i know, windows live doesnt seem to have that.
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How would I find Gas prices and movie times on Google maps?
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you listed the programs, now where are the links please? :)
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Live Search (and some other MS stuff) http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/software/default.mspx Quick Menu http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-quickmenu-v2-7.html Flash Video Bundle http://pdaphonehome.com/forums/ppc-6...be-access.html *it is a zip file at the end of the first post I have not installed any except for Live Search and all normal caveats apply. Consume And Enjoy Ks. |
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Even though it's not a program, PPCGeeks (#1) would be on top list of favorite 5...imagine Mogul life without it?
Live Search (#2), as stated, simply the best road app available! The "threaded SMS" (#3) app for WM6 is a must have if you do any texting .... myMobiler (#4) for SURE if you are any kind of customizer (as I am sure we all are?)... Trying QuickMenu now, still undecided between PHM regedit and Total Commander for # 5 (and possibly quick menu after review) |
I am trying QuickMenu and it seems to have stomped my dotFred Task Manager, the icon for dotFredTask Manager is missing from the upper right corner anyway.
I have turned off the battery icon that Q puts up but the dotFred Task Manager icon is still not there. Anyone have both running? |
quick menu is worth it just to close out programs with 1 click. love it.
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Quick Menu is a must have! I install in every PPC or Touch I sell, it really curbs the very common complaints most Smartphone newbies have with Pocket PC's.
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Slick v0.37 by Lonely Cat
I also recommend Slick 0.37 by Lonely Cat games.com. It's a PPC IM app. It's just like using yahoo messanger on your PC but on your phone. If you have an account with yahoo, ICQ, Aim, MSN, GTalk, or Jabber, it's a must have. And it's free.
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So far I'm liking both Live Search and Google Maps, but Live doesn't seem to recognize much of anything north of the 49th. It doesn't even recognize a major city like Vancouver, whereas Google Maps has no problems finding my address in the outer 'burbs.
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Quick Menu does have a lot of options I wasn't expecting, such as "close AS on startup" which is my all time favorite.:mrgreen: Ehh but still I return to use the eye-candy shareware that is WA2/Black Vista skin. |
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do you know how i can use the the voice recognition with live search. i didnt see this option |
Speaking of free apps I'm looking for a free app that I used to have for my Treo 700wx. It was an app that only allowed you to put a soft reset item in your start menu list. It was only something like 5 kb in size. I searched the forums and never found what I was looking for, but I know I got it from a link here early last year. Does anyone know what I'm looking for or where I might find it? TIA.
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i jus tested the slick IM app and it is the best IM app ive evr seen! i love to IM and this jus makes it so much bettr! thanx for the suggestion!
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Re: Five FREE Must-Have Apps [Part 1]
I really like Quick Menu but does anyone see the following problem - when I open up my messaging and click on a new email, my email minimizes and I'm taken to the home screen, if I click the email hard button my email will pop up with the message that I clicked open. Does anyone know how to stop this I've played with just about every setting of quick menu and still no luck - by the way it happens about 80% of the time. Pretty petty but still annoys the heck out of me.
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Re: Five FREE Must-Have Apps [Part 1]
When you open Live Search, the bottom left hand option (soft key) is "speak." Press that, it starts to "listen", then it "thinks", then it shows what it thinks you said.
Check it out. |
Re: Five FREE Must-Have Apps [Part 1]
what does you tube mean when they say SWF ARGs not found and how do I get it......I have a mogul by htc the ppc 6800
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