Let’s face it, right out of the box, Windows PocketPC phones don’t seem quite as sexy as the iPhone.  That said, these devices pack a lot of power and flexibility so with a few of the right programs installed, PocketPC phones can become pretty fun to use.  I have the AT&T Tilt and following are some killer applications that I have installed:

• Spb Mobile Shell: This UI shell makes everything easily available at your fingertips and gives the look and feel of the phone an overhaul.  A great application with a terrible name. 
• Resco Keyboard Pro: The default GUI keyboard on the PocketPC phone is designed for a sylus.  This keyboard application swaps that out with a nice touch keyboard complete with “gesture” (flick) support. 

Once you’ve installed the above applications, it will be like  having a whole new phone.  Now lets move on to some bells and whistles:

• ShoZu:  This application does a few different things, but I like it for it’s photo-sharing abilities.  Snap a photo and instantly send it to Flickr, Facebook, email or several other destinations of your choosing.
• Spb Insight or NewsGator Go:  No mobile device is complete without an RSS reader.  I prefer the look and feel of Spb Insight, but I like that NewsGator Go stays in sync with my NewsGator / Feeddemon subscriptions. Spb Insight also puts news flashes on your today screen.
• Windows Live Search (the downloadable mobile version):  This is a great application for general search, directions, traffic, movie times, and gas prices.  It even does GPS locating to help you pinpoint places near you.
• Office Mobile, OneNote Mobile, and communicator are obvious helpful tools for the mobile office worker.
• ComVu Pocket Caster: Webcast from your pocket with this PocketPC video/audio encoder.  Turn it on and be instantly webcasting to the web.  Similar to QIK but supports more phones.
• Finally, check out PocketSolutions for screen protectors.  They are pretty good quality and you can get three packs, cut to size, for under $5.  This is a much better deal than what you will find at the cellular store. 

So there you have it.  Hopefully using these applications will renew your love for your PocketPC phone.  Admittedly, the missing piece is still a web browser that lets you comfortably navigate the non-mobile web.  However, that is coming very soon in Windows Mobile 6.1 so relief is just around the corner.  Do you have other favorite mobile applications?  Put them in the comments.

Categories: Technology