This is the first installment of resident tipster and Contributing Editor Jim Christian's 100-tip blow out! Check out the Sep/Oct 99 issue for another 50 (or more) tips on getting the most out of your PC Companion.
1. Edit PowerPoint Files on H/PC
The Pocket version of PowerPoint that comes on all H/PCs or H/PC Pros doesn't allow one to edit PowerPoint (.ppt) files. But Pocket PowerPoint Editor does (see Screen 1). Checkout the software on this web site: www.geocities.com/SiliconVal ley/Code/4543/index.html. It lets you create your own Pocket PowerPoint presentations, or edit existing ones on the H/PC. A demo version is also available at www.cemonster.com.
Westek's (www.westek.com) PowerPoint Companion allows you to convert Pocket Word documents into Pocket PowerPoint presentations. It even installs title page and bullet page templates to speed up the creation process. You can also choose the font and background colors with this program during the conversion.
Screen 1: The Pocket PowerPoint Editor lets you create and edit PowerPoint presentations on your H/PC.
2. Put date and time in your system tray
Checking the time is no problem on a PC Companion. It's displayed all the time in the system tray. But you have to open Calendar for the date. I check the date often, and want it fast. One of my favorite utilities is TrayDate. It displays Date and Time in the System Tray. Tap it to bring up a 3-month calendar. My advice is to put it in your Start Up folder so it automatically gets loaded when you have to reboot. Get it free at www.developer one.com/TrayDate/home.htm or www. cemonster.com.
3. Quick fix for synchronization problems
Sometimes I'll connect my H/PC to my desktop PC (cable or IrDA) and it won't synchronize. The quick fix I've found for this is to open Mobile Devices on my desktop and deselect "Enable mobile devices" in File/Communications menu. Then enable it again. I've gotten into the habit of deselecting the "Enable mobile devices" after each synch. The next time I open Mobile Devices, a dialogue box pops up automatically and I check the box.
4. Partner your PC Companion with work and home PC
Windows CE 2.0 and above devices can "partner" with two desktops. This means you can set up data synchronization with your work and home desktop PCs, or any two PCs. You cannot, however, synchronize e-mail with more than one. You can connect your PC Companion to as many desktop PCs as you want, and log on as a "Guest." This lets you copy files back and forth and install software onto the PC Companion. A Guest cannot synchronize Contacts and Calendar data.
5. $100 of FREE stuff for your H/PC
Thinking about buying a new H/PC before July 31, 1999? If so, get a free Kingston 8M CompactFlash card, Microsoft Expedia Streets and Trips 2000 from Microsoft. Visit the Microsoft site below for a form to send them:
www.microsoft.com/windowsce/products/hpc/q1hpcpromo.asp
6. Help for Portuguese users/developers!
Do you speak Portuguese and have a PC Companion? This Portuguese-language mailing list has been created to help Portuguese users and developers of the Windows CE operating system. For more information, log on to:
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