What are the Coolest Apps and Services?

I asked our bloggers to answer this week: "what are the coolest apps and services for your Windows Mobile device?" You've already seen Mike, Nate and Ben's post. Hopefully, we'll see more responses.

Actually, I have the same question to you -- what is (are) your favorite/coolest app(s) or service(s) for your phone or Pocket PC? You can interpret "cool" any way you want. We may well publish your thoughts in the magazine, which is a great way to thank the developers.

What about me? I am going to tell you the coolest apps for me this past month.

If you happen to have followed my magazine column over the years, you will know that my wife is from Uruguay, and we often escape Iowa winters for three weeks down South America way. (Search www.PocketPCmag.com on "Uruguay", where I discuss various Spanish language products.)

I am not especially gifted in picking up language, but each trip I spend an hour or two a day studying Spanish. This year, I made two discoveries which helped a lot.

Learning Spanish Like Crazy

I have tried a number of audio Spanish programs over the years and have found my favorite. The 30 minute Learning Spanish Like Crazy lessons
are well-designed and each teaches specific vocabulary and principles of grammar. Bonuses include slang, proverbs, tame and off-color insults plus video vocabulary lessons.

If nothing else, the course is the most computer friendly program I’ve found. After ordering the course at the developer’s Web site (www.LearningSpanishLikeCrazy.com), I downloaded a large zipped file with 30 MB of MP3 audio lessons. (Lessons can be downloaded in smaller chunks). After unzipping, I copied some of the lessons to my storage card, which I inserted into my Windows Mobile phone. I used Windows Media Player Mobile to listen to audio as well as view bonus video lessons.

How cool is it to run on the beach or be out of the way at my in-laws and use my Bluetooth headphones to learn Spanish!

LingvoSoft Suite

Every year LingvoSoft improves its language tools and integrates them better. The dictionary is easy to use, fast, and always handy. The flash cards are a great and fun learning tool for whenever I have a few minutes of dead time. Reading and listening to phrases over and over is truly one of the best ways to learn a language. Very cool!

What do you find cool? It can be an all time favorite or your latest discovery.