What's on my Axim? In addition to Word, Excel, Mail, Internet Explorer and all the other included "stock" apps:
Lakeridge Software WisBar Advance 2 - task manager and UI tweaker. Great little app.
Sprite Software Sprite Backup Plus - Without a doubt the most useful and valuable piece of software on my PDA. Fast, simple, reliable - I have it set to automatically back up to my laptop on the first sync of the day. Also includes Space Detective to help you track down the space hogs. It's saved my data on several occasions. BUY THIS APP.
Phatware Calligrapher - Very similar to the included Microsoft Transcriber handwriting recognition software, but more accurate and has more features.
Word Logic Keyboard - stylus entry text with predictive logic. Again, very useful and accurate - as you're hunting and pecking, it's watching and learning. After you've entered two or three letters, word logic offers a list of probable words - very often the word you're typing is in the list one click will choose and enter the word automatically and enter a space afterwards so you can move on to the next word. Once you get used to which words it knows (especially common ones like it, at, to, the, in, of, etc.) you can get your text entry speed and accuracy up to a pretty good clip. One similar company held a contest - the winners were in the 70 wpm category...!
DSRTech Journal Pro - For personal journaling and keeping a record of my work activities. Another frequent use app.
Laridian Daily Reader - For daily Scripture reading. I'm planning to add a John MacArthur daily devotional book to the library this coming year.
Laridian Pocket Bible - a very portable Bible. I have several translations and a concordance as well as sermon notes and Hebrew and Greek dictionaries - all in my shirt pocket. I often use the backlight to read in bed.
Tiny Stocks Stock Manager - Just what it sounds like. Packs a lot of punch for a small, inexpensive app.
Agile Messenger - free IM client for AIM, MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, ICQ and XMPP. Too bad I can't uninstall the stock PocketPC MSN Messenger client. Agile is much cooler - not only can it connect to multiple services at once but it allows me to send voice messages. Much cooler than tapping out text with a stylus.
Ilium Software ListPro - keeps track of my grocery list, Christmas list, prayer list, gas purchases, mileage and other assorted lists.
Ilium Software eWallet - I work in IT and have hundreds of passwords, web addresses, serial numbers, etc. to keep track of. eWallet does the job nicely.
Trancreative Nice Start - puts a pretty face on the otherwise bland Pocket PC password screen.
SBSH Pocket Breeze - Pocket Breeze is a Today screen supercharger - better than the stock MS apps but not as industrial strength as Agenda Fusion or Pocket Informant (although it interfaces nicely with both if you use either of them)
Microsoft Pocket Money 2006 - handy for keeping better track of incidental spending. I typically use it for entering ATM and supermarket transactions real-time and it automatically updates my main Money file when I next sync my PDA. More convenient than relying on my memory or collecting a pocketful of receipts.
Maximillian Wimmer Yacht - A freeware/shareware Yahtzee clone.
Valentin Iliescu Chess - An excellent freeware Chess game.
Escape Factory Bounce Symphony - You have to experience this game to believe it. Charming and instantly addictive.
Bubblets - It now comes stock with PPC 2003 - they call it jawbreaker. Another simple but addictive game.
Gilbert Goodmate - I'm not a huge RPG fan, but thought I'd try this one out. Well done.
Microsoft Remote Display Control - Lets you view and manipulate your PPC from a connected Windows PC.
Citrix client - Remote server/network access in a pinch, although trying to do admin chores on a 2" X 3" screen can be like trying to eat steak through a straw...!
Weather To Go - another freeware Today screen add-on. Shows the weather forecast for the next few days. Tap one of the big, read-at-a-glance weather icons and get a more detailed forecast. Now if they'd only be a little more accurate once in a while... :-)
Microsoft Voice Commander - surprisingly accurate voice recognition software that allows you to call up contact or calendar information, start programs and more - by voice command. I use it primarily for its' excellent media player interface while I'm driving - "play New York New York" and it finds and plays the song for me. You can also specify genre, artist, album or everything - or have your PPC recite a list of possible tunes - all without taking your eyes off the road. Coupled with a large capacity SD card (I use 2 GB at the time of this writing) and you've got an intelligent MP3 player.
And of course there's always songlists, lyrics, lyric "cheat sheets" (use a large font and the proper scroll speed and a Pocket PC becomes a personal teleprompter... :-). It's a handheld voice recorder for quick notes or song ideas on the go, a flashlight, an alarm clock, a timer, a multi-remote for my home theater system...
Hardware - the Axim has built-in WiFi and Bluetooth as well as a user accessible battery, so there's not much you really have to add. I use a 512 MB secure digital card for data backup and a 2 GB card for music (you'll want to leave as much "main memory" free as possible to get the best performance.) I keep a set of headphones nearby for listening to audiobooks and audio files ripped from my CD collection. A leather belt clip case from EB Cases completes the ensemble. I have a larger one for my old iPaq 3835 - EB makes nice stuff.
Wishlist - Audible audiobooks. I'm planning to subscribe soon. I have a 45 minute commute (each way, in good weather) to work every day and spend a lot of time listening - music on my Axim and/or DJ, the Bible on CD and audiobooks. Audible has a $19.95/month plan that includes two audiobooks. Some of them cost $40 or more so the monthly subscription seems like a good deal, especially since you can cancel at anytime. (disclaimer: I don't get anything for talking up Audible.)
What unique use have you found for your Pocket PC? I'd be interested to hear. Email me or leave a note in my guestbook...!
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