As an archaeologist, I tend to view my Pocket PC as an archaeological "dig," rich with information just waiting to be discovered. Some of that information is lying on the surface and easy to access. But much of it is embedded in deeper layers of the deposit, and to make use of it I have to do a little too much digging. I'd just as soon be able to access those treasures right on the surface of the Pocket PC—from the Today screen. In my quest to accomplish this goal, I have unearthed some treasures I'd like to share with you, treasures that I shall collectively call "surface gems." (All software was tested on a Dell Axim 5 Pocket PC, which uses a 400 MHz PXA 250 processor.)
Surface Gems: Utilities and Plug-Ins That Add Features to the Today Screen
RhinoLaunch Program Launcher (www.rhinocode.com) is a Today screen plug-in for Pocket PC 2002 that replaces the standard date display and lets you add program shortcuts to the Today screen. Tap on the date to cycle through the different formats that RhinoLaunch uses to display date information. You can add program launch icons for individual applications or for "pages" (categories) of applications. Tap on the "gear" icon to the left of the date to launch the standard Today Screen settings page. Add a new shortcut by tapping on the plus icon to the left of the "gear" icon. The best feature is that RhinoLaunch is available for only $5.95 at Handango (www.handango.com).
RhinoLaunch enhances the date display and lets you add program shortcuts to the Today screen.
iStatus System Monitor, another Today screen plug-in, displays remaining battery life and free memory and adds a brightness control, an application shortcut bar, and a biorhythms calculator on the Today screen. The system information bar displays remaining battery time in hours and minutes or as a percentage, and shows available built-in, SD, and CF card storage. A volume control setting is available. Backlight brightness can be adjusted (iPAQs only). It is possible to change the color of text displayed in the biorhythms calculator. One tap will bring up the Today Screen settings page. The shortcut bar will handle up to 60 shortcuts. All running programs can be stopped from this application. It is a simple and useful product, especially if you are into tracking your biorhythms.
iStatus System Monitor displays battery life, memory, a brightness control, a shortcut bar, and a biorhythms calculator on the
Today screen.
This handy application saves time and allows effective Pocket PC use. It is available for the Pocket PC 2002 and costs only $3.95. This product is available on the PPCLink Website (www.ppclink.com).
MobiTools is a useful companion to iStatus System Monitor. A movable icon for this nifty little application is always displayed on top of any screen. Tap on it to access MobiTools' handy set of functions, which include the abilities to go to the Today Screen from anywhere, to stop all running programs or all but the current program, to switch or close tasks, to turn off the unit, to adjust XScale processor speed from 100 to 500 MHz, and to find and safely clean up junk files. Also included is a display of battery, memory, and storage cards status. The program works with Pocket PC 2000, Pocket PC 2002, and Phone Edition devices. Amazingly, you can have all this for a mere $3.95 from PPCLink (www.ppclink.com).
MobiTools
adds an always-available icon that lets you check battery, memory, and storage
card status; launch and close programs; and more.
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