I am going to wander a little off-topic and briefly discuss three desktop PC software utilities that save me an incredible amount of time. I would love to see one of these ported to the Windows Mobile platform.
Fast Desktop search
Lookout (http://www.lookoutsoft.com), recently acquired by Microsoft, is a terrific free desktop search tool. Lookout works from within Outlook, which is where I spend most of my time. Installation is short and painless.
I use Lookout by typing a word or short phrase into the Lookout Outlook search box. In seconds I get a list of any of my current and archived e-mails, contacts, appointments, and Office documents that contain my search query. Lookout has proven a life-saver for me, especially in finding past e-mail correspondence (leading me to a four-year-old message in one case). Google now has a beta version of a similar program (http://desktop.google.com/), but I like Lookout better. For one thing, I can access it easier since it is integrated with Outlook. Also, it is easier to refine a search in Lookout. Finally, unlike Google, Lookout searches Contacts and Calendar.
Do Repetitive Tasks Quickly
ActiveWords (http://www.activewords.com) is the second utility on my must-have list and another enormous time saver. Over and over again in my daily work, I type in the same words, visit the same sites, launch the same programs, check out the same folders, and send e-mail to the same people. ActiveWords lets me set up text-based shortcuts that I can access from any application to automate those repetitive tasks.
So, for example, if I type in "pm" followed by two spaces, the words "Pocket PC magazine" get entered automatically. If I type in "docs" followed by two spaces, Windows Explorer opens to the My Documents folder. If I type in "excel" and the two spaces, the Excel spreadsheet program opens. Finally, if I type in "xppc", Internet Explorer opens to PocketPCmag.com. I even found a script at the ActiveWords Web site so that "look" followed by two spaces pops up the Lookout search box within any application. Over time, my dictionary of ActiveWords shortcuts has grown, and the time savings really add up. ActiveWords has many more useful features for both individuals and companies.
Windows Mobile Programs Needed
I would love to have ActiveWords on my Windows Mobile Pocket PC or Smartphone, where input is such a challenge. Soft keyboard programs like Fitaly (http://www.fitaly.com) and Resco Keyboard Pro (http://www.resco.net) let you create shortcuts that enter longer phrases of text. However, you can't launch programs or open Web pages, and you have to be using the soft keyboard program for it to work. I would like to be able to handwrite or type in a couple letters using any input method on my Pocket PC to generate "Pocket PC magazine" or open the Pocket PC magazine Web site. In fact I would like to be able to create the shortcuts using my desktop PC version of ActiveWords, and synchronize them with my Pocket PC and Smartphone.
While writing this column, I used Lookout to find past e-mail correspondence with ActiveWords founder Buzz Bruggeman (http://buzz@activewords.com) in order to talk with him about the possibility of porting ActiveWords to the Windows Mobile platform. He would very much like to. However, his company is small with limited resources. Buzz asked me to invite any experienced Windows Mobile programmer or company, or someone from Microsoft or an OEM, to contact him directly. Buzz would be most willing to partner. (As an incentive, if the application gets written and works well for Windows Mobile, we will provide one free full page ad in Pocket PC magazine.)
Search Google From Any Program
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