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Next up is the Start Menu, which should always
contain one's most used applications. Excluding the programs to
which you have set your hot buttons may or may not suit your usage
patterns. On my iPAQ, I opted to immediately keep the built-in
applications most relevant to me, which include Inbox for my email,
Pocket Internet Explorer for Avantgo
(decent wireless coverage in the suburbs/boonies? Not yet), and
Microsoft Money for a mobile record of my finances. I also have
what is currently Pocket Office, which includes Pocket Excel and
Pocket Word. I'm waiting for a decent PowerPoint solution - my
Start Menu is waiting for a decent PowerPoint solution... I've
included the version Windows Media Player I'm currently using,
as well as Nyditot's
Virtual Display (which for me at least, replaced Jimmy's Landscape
utility with much more functionality) and Photogenics,
the current state-of-the-art graphics software for the Pocket
PC. Ilium Software's eWallet
tops off the list, which protects my credit card and savings account
numbers, software registration information, and personal numbers
and forms with a password-protected, 56 bit encryption scheme.
DeveloperOne has kindly sent me a version of their competing product,
called Codewallet,
which features 128 bit password-protected encryption. Look for
the upcoming deVBuzz review.
The latest method of launching applications
I've been fiddling around with that requires no extra software
or components is the placement of specific folders i.e. Utilities,
Multimedia, etc. in the Start Menu, in addition to the Programs
folder. While I've yet to come up with folders that most succinctly
represent all of the applications I have on my Pocket PC, I would
recommend having no more than having twelve shortcuts in each
folder, so that they're all visible in one screen. To work with
the Pocket PC's Start Menu, navigate to My Device/ Windows/ Start
Menu. Under Edit, select New Folder and enter a folder name. Then,
find the shortcut files in either the Start Menu, or the Programs
and Games folders, and cut and paste them into your new, custom
folders.
What I find works the best is the combination
of convenience and simplicity that my non-scrolling Start Menu
affords me. I know many a Pocket PC user that prefers having the
majority, if not all of their applications in the Start Menu,
which I've found to be slower launching some of my software and
clumsy on the Pocket PC's screen. I also know many a Pocket PC
user that uses either a 3rd Party application launcher or Q-Start
variation. Found one that you like or that you think deVBuzz should
take a look at? Drop
me a line.
With the finale to our aforementioned journey
through space, time, and the Settings control of the Pocket PC
and a good look at the Start Menu a la 'Rapier', thus endeth the
latest part of Paqqin' Heat. Coming up on the third and final
part (for the time-being) of Paqqin' Heat: the software that makes
my Paqqy tick, and also some that I've been having a bit of fun
with.
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