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Tips & Tricks to help you do more with your device!

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Changing e-mail settings: past e-mail, size limit, and more

Submitted Tuesday, May 6, 2008

When changing your e-mail settings in Messaging, remember that there are two places to do so: in the Options menu in ActiveSync or Windows Mobile Device Center on your desktop PC, and in the Options menu in Messaging on your device.

[Read more]

Setting the Sensitivity in Tasks and Calendar Appointments

Submitted Thursday, March 6, 2008
One of the built in features of Tasks and Calendar Appointments is the ability to set the Sensitivity level. In the New Task or Appointment screen, there are four Sensitivity levels to choose from:
  • Normal (default setting)
  • Personal – Use for content that contains personal (not business-related) information.
  • Private – Use for personal or business-related content that you don’t want others (who may have access to a PC you synchronize with) to see.
[Read more]

Using the “Today timeout” feature

Submitted Thursday, March 27, 2008
The Today timeout feature allows you to set the amount of time (1-12 hours) that you want your device to wait before it automatically returns to the Today screen if another program is open. Note that your device must be powered off and remain idle for the allotted time in order for the Today timeout to work.
[Read more]

Use the Internet Explorer Home Page

Submitted Friday, October 3, 2008

Microsoft made a customized Home Page for Internet Explorer on Windows Mobile devices that featured a search bar and a drop-down list for Favorites and History. Some of the newer devices come set up with a default carrier version of the Home Page which may not be as useful as Microsoft’s. If you want to set up your device to use Microsoft’s Home Page, do the following (for touch screen devices):

[Read more]

Using the “USB Charging” option in HP iPAQs

Submitted Thursday, March 27, 2008

Most HP iPAQs have a built-in feature called “USB Charging,” which enables the ability to charge your device from your PC’s USB port and allows you to set the rate of charge to “Slow” or “Fast.” To activate this feature, go to Start >Settings >System tab, tap on the Power icon, and select the tab labeled “USB Charging.” Check the box labeled “Use USB Charging” if you want your iPAQ to charge while it is connected to a desktop PC via a USB sync cable.

[Read more]

Three ways to make phone calls

Submitted Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Windows Mobile smartphones have a variety of ways that you can make phone calls. Here are the three primary ways:

[Read more]

Set clock to automatically change time zones

Submitted Monday, September 8, 2008

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Personalize your Home Page in Internet Explorer Mobile

Submitted Tuesday, September 9, 2008

In WM Standard and Professional, you have the option of changing your Home Page in Internet Explorer to either the default or one that you specify. In Internet Explorer, go Menu >Tools >Options >(WM Standard): Home Page. You can then pick from Default or Custom (WM Professional: Navigate to the page you want to set as your Home Page and then tap on Use Current in the Home Page menu).

Create new Office documents on Windows Mobile 6 smartphones

Submitted Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Windows Mobile 6 Standard Edition for smartphones includes the ability to edit Office (Word and Excel) documents, which was not available in previous versions of Windows Mobile for smartphones. However, the ability to create new documents is not built into WM 6 Standard. Here is an easy workaround for this:

[Read more]

Download and install ringtones on your device from your PC

Submitted Wednesday, January 2, 2008

There are thousands of inexpensive or free ringtones available on the Web, which you can download and install on your Windows Mobile device. After you have downloaded a ringtone to your desktop PC, follow these steps to install it on your device:

[Read more]

Three Talk key functions

Submitted Tuesday, October 7, 2008

The green Talk key has three different functions:

  • While the phone is ringing, press Talk to answer the call.
  • If you press Talk when there is no call in progress, the Call History screen will open where you can select a call to bring up the person’s contact information (if available).
  • During a call, you can press and hold Talk to switch to speakerphone mode if your phone has this capability.

Search e-mail by typing letters

Submitted Friday, October 3, 2008

On WM 6 Standard and Professional devices, you can search your e-mail in Messaging simply by typing letters on your keyboard (if you have one). Messaging will sort and display corresponding messages and highlight what you type in both the From and Subject lines.

Use shorthand in Transcriber

Submitted Monday, September 29, 2008

If you use the Transcriber option for entering text into your touch screen device, you can make the process easier by using the Shorthand feature so that any shorthand text that you write on the screen (e.g. “app”) will appear as the full (longhand) word typed out (“application”). Here’s how you do it:

[Read more]

Hiding or dismissing notifications

Submitted Tuesday, May 6, 2008

When receiving new e-mail and MMS messages or if you have a missed phone call on your Windows Mobile device, a “Notification” may appear in the lower left corner of the Today screen. Once you tap on the notification, you will have the option to either “Hide” or “Dismiss” it—tapping Hide will place it in the background, and it will remain on the bottom task bar; tapping Dismiss will permanently get rid of it.

[Read more]

Use the Zoom feature in Internet Explorer to improve readability

Submitted Tuesday, September 9, 2008

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Quickly deleting e-mails in Messaging

Submitted Tuesday, March 18, 2008

If you have accumulated a high number of e-mails in your Inbox and want to get rid of them quickly, here are a few tips to expedite the process:

[Read more]

Select, cut, copy, and paste text on WM Standard devices

Submitted Tuesday, September 9, 2008

You can select, cut, copy, and paste text on WM Standard devices while composing e-mails and text messages or while using Word or another word processing program. You can also copy read-only text in Internet Explorer and can select, cut, copy, and paste text from editable fields as well. To use these features, select Menu while in the program and then select Edit or Copy/Paste, which will open a menu containing the different functions.

Enter message recipients quickly with auto-complete feature

Submitted Tuesday, September 9, 2008

When composing a new text or e-mail message on WM Standard devices, you can quickly and easily enter a recipient from your Contacts in the “To:” field by typing the first few letters of the person’s name, which will open a drop-down menu below the field containing contacts that start with those letters. Simply scroll down and select the desired contact from the list.

Use the multi-select function in Messaging

Submitted Monday, September 8, 2008

In Messaging on WM Standard devices, there is a convenient new option that allows you to select multiple e-mails so that you can take further actions with them, such as replying, forwarding, or moving them to a different folder. In Messaging, go to Menu >Select Messages and choose All, All Below, or Several (select messages by scrolling up or down from current selection).

Use the Getting Started center

Submitted Monday, September 8, 2008

[Read more]

Set X button to close down programs completely

Submitted Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The X button in the upper right corner of a touch screen display does not really shut down the current program. For example, if you are working on a Word Mobile document and open Calendar to check an appointment, when you tap on Calendar’s X button Word Mobile pops back up and you no longer see Calendar. But Calendar is still running in the background, using some of your system RAM to do it.
[Read more]

Adjust the scrolling speed of the D-pad

Submitted Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The D-pad allows you to scroll through menus, lists, and data fields on your Windows Mobile device. You can fine tune the D-pad’s scrolling speed on touch screen devices by adjusting its “Repeat rate” and “Delay before first repeat.” Here’s how you do it:
  1. Go to the Start >Settings >Buttons >Up/Down Control tab.
  2. Adjust the slider on the “Delay before first repeat” field. If you hold the D-pad in the down or up position, it waits a brief period of time before scrolling.
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Use the “Hint” option to remember a password

Submitted Tuesday, March 25, 2008
If you want to set a password to access your touch screen device for added security but are afraid you might forget it, you can use the “Hint” option in the Password menu.
  1. Go to Start >Settings >Password (or Lock) and tap the Hint tab.
  2. Enter a hint for yourself in the data field. Remember that the hint that you enter may be visible by others, so be sure it is something that only you will know.
  3. After you have set the desired Hint (as well as a password and options in the Password tab), tap OK.
[Read more]

Sending an MMS video message

Submitted Friday, August 1, 2008

Amy Mayer from pdastreet.com describes how to send a video you record using your smartphone's camera as an MMS message. Click here for the article.

Select an ink color in Transcriber

Submitted Monday, December 3, 2007

Transcriber is found on all Windows Mobile touch screen devices. When activated, it allows you to use your stylus to write on the screen in print, cursive, or mixed styles, and have the writing translated into text. By default, your handwriting appears as blue “ink” on the screen. After it is translated into text, the ink disappears from the screen. You can change the ink color from the default Blue setting to a different color by following these steps:

[Read more]

How to reestablish an ActiveSync partnership

Submitted Thursday, September 6, 2007
If your Pocket PC has experienced a reset and loses its data, you can use your old ActiveSync partnership by creating a new one and using the same name as the previous one. Go to the Start >Settings >System tab >About >Device ID screen and type in the old name in the field.

Conserve battery power—turn off backlighting

Submitted Tuesday, December 11, 2007
On some touch screen devices, you can press and hold down the power on/off button to turn off the screen backlighting (hold the button down again to turn it back on). Turning it off will save you power, but it will also make the screen difficult to view in a poorly lit environment.
[Read more]

E-mail Word docs or other files from your desktop PC to your mobile device

Submitted Friday, August 24, 2007

Why do this? You might be having problems with ActiveSync/Mobile Device Center, or you might be in a hurry and want to avoid the bother of connecting your device to your PC, opening Explorer, and copying and pasting files. Whatever the reason, it’s quick and easy to open your PC’s e-mail program, attach a file to an e-mail, and send it to yourself. If you have a phone-enabled device, you can access your e-mail from your carrier’s network. Another option is to send the e-mail to your Hotmail or Gmail account.

[Read more]

Set the default settings for new Notes, Voice Notes

Submitted Wednesday, March 26, 2008

You can use the Input configuration utility in the Settings folder to change the default settings for Notes or Voice recordings. Go to Start >Settings >Input, select the Options tab, and do any of the following:

[Read more]

Using the Device Lock feature

Submitted Thursday, March 27, 2008

Windows Mobile 5 and 6 touch screen devices have a “Device Lock” feature that disables all input into the device. This feature is useful if you want to make sure that there will be no accidental button presses or other input into the device, perhaps while you’re carrying it in your pocket or a shoulder bag.

[Read more]

Display the clock in all programs

Submitted Tuesday, March 11, 2008
One of the most important and convenient features on Windows Mobile touch screen devices is the clock in the upper right corner of the screen. If you notice that the clock disappears from the top taskbar whenever you go from the Today screen to another application, this means that the “Display… in all programs” setting in the Clock & Alarms menu is not selected.
Go to Start >Settings >System tab >Clocks & Alarms.
[Read more]

Deleting all Outlook data quickly

Submitted Tuesday, March 18, 2008

For various reasons, you may need to delete all or large portions of your Outlook Mobile Contacts, Calendar, or Tasks entries. For example, you might want to delete a number of contacts at a company that went out of business. The ability to do this quickly is limited on Windows Mobile devices. Here is what you can do:

[Read more]

View Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 tips on YouTube

Submitted Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Microsoft has produced a series of narrated and animated tips on using Windows Mobile 6 Professional (for touch screen devices) and posted them on YouTube (youtube.com). The tips cover the use of Contacts, e-mail, Call History, and more. To view the tips, go to YouTube and do a search for “Windows Mobile tips.” The Microsoft tips (numbered 1-9) should be the first search results listed.

Answer incoming calls automatically

Submitted Tuesday, January 22, 2008

You can set a phone-enabled touch screen device to answer calls automatically without pressing the Talk key.

  1. Go to Start >Settings >Phone >More tab.
  2. Check the box labeled “Answer incoming calls without pressing Talk after [x] rings” (under Automatic Pickup).
  3. Once you have checked this box, you can select the number of rings you want the phone to wait (1-10) before answering in the drop-down menu.
  4. Tap OK to save the changes.

Assign pictures to your Contacts

Submitted Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Windows Mobile devices have the ability to assign a picture ID to your Contacts. Once you assign a picture to a contact, it will pop up on your screen when that contact calls you. After you have snapped a picture of the contact with your device (or saved one on it from another location), do the following:

Touch screen devices:

[Read more]

Create your own ringtone

Submitted Thursday, December 27, 2007
The surest way to have a unique ringtone on your smartphone is to create your own by recording one! The process is simple on Windows Mobile devices. Follow these steps.

Touch screen devices:

[Read more]

Create your own mobile blog

Submitted Friday, December 21, 2007

Suzanne Ross from Microsoft explains how you can create your own "moblog" using the built-in Outlook programs and Internet Explorer. Click here for the article.

Get rid of text message delivery notifications

Submitted Monday, December 3, 2007

Some Windows Mobile users have found that the delivery notification that appears after sending a text message can be annoying. To turn it off, do the following:

Phone-enabled touch screen devices
(This option may not be available on all models)

  1. Open Messaging and open a new text message.
  2. Select Menu >Message Options.
  3. Uncheck the box labeled “Request message delivery notifications.”

Non-touch screen smartphones

[Read more]

Select and dial phone numbers quickly with the D-pad

Submitted Tuesday, December 11, 2007

The Contacts manager built into all Windows Mobile devices lets you store more than one phone number for each contact (Work, Mobile, Home, Fax, etc.). When you tap on an item in the Contacts list, the various numbers are displayed on the screen with icons next to them. If your Windows Mobile device has phone capability, you can tap on the displayed number to place the call. Fortunately, there’s a quicker way to do this:

[Read more]

Access Clocks & Alarms directly from the Today screen

Submitted Wednesday, December 19, 2007

You can open the Clocks & Alarms Settings menu from the Today screen on touch screen devices by tapping on the date, which is located at the top of the screen directly under the Start menu. This lets you set an alarm, adjust date and time, or switch between Home and Visiting cities quickly without having to go through Start >Settings >Systems >Clock.

Access the “Quick List”

Submitted Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Non-touch screen smartphones have a built in menu known as the Quick List. As the name suggests, the Quick List provides quick access to a number of different functions, including “Power off,” “Flight mode,” “Device lock,” and the ability to change profiles (Silent, Vibrate, Outdoor, etc.).
[Read more]

Change your clock from digital to analog

Submitted Thursday, November 29, 2007

You can change the clock display on touch screen devices from the default digital style to analog view, which displays the hands of a clock. Simply tap and hold on the time display in the upper right corner of the screen and select Analog from the pop-up menu.

Configure touch screen devices to use GPS

Submitted Monday, December 3, 2007

Windows Mobile 5 and 6 touch screen devices have a GPS setup program called “GPS” (or “External GPS”) located in the System tab of Settings. This program allows you to set up and run more than one GPS application simultaneously. The GPS setup program has three tabs:

[Read more]

Use “Copy Contact” option to duplicate information

Submitted Tuesday, November 20, 2007

If you need to enter multiple new contacts into your device and they have much of the same information, such as several people from the same company, you can use the Copy Contact option instead of creating a new Contact for each person. Follow these steps:

[Read more]

Activate Internet Explorer “High Resolution” mode for better viewing

Submitted Tuesday, November 20, 2007

If your touch screen device has a VGA display and is running Windows Mobile 6 Professional, you can use High Resolution mode in Internet Explorer for a better viewing experience. This increases the amount of Web content you can see on your screen by compacting the text, graphics, and pictures while still maintaining (if not improving) clarity. To do this, open Internet Explorer Mobile and select Menu >View >Use High Resolution.

Hide those annoying Wi-Fi/modem connection “bubbles”

Submitted Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Werner Ruotsalainen explains how to turn these off in the Settings >Sounds & Notifications menu. Click here for the article.

Cingular 3125 tips

Submitted Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Here are some key shortcuts and tips for Cingular 3125 users:

[Read more]

Appointments timestamp sync problem

Submitted Tuesday, September 11, 2007

If you find that your Appointments are transferred onto your desktop PC with the wrong timestamps on them, make sure that both your device and your desktop PC are in the same time zone.

Use ActiveSync as a Recycle Bin for your device

Submitted Thursday, September 6, 2007
You are probably aware that if you delete a file on your Windows Mobile device, it's gone for good. Unlike a Windows desktop PC, there's no Recycle Bin you can go to to undelete the file. The tip here is, make sure you want the image file, word document, spreadsheet, etc., gone before you delete it.
Fortunately, there is a workaround using ActiveSync, which makes it possible to undelete a file.
[Read more]

Paste a number into the phone dialer

Submitted Friday, August 24, 2007

On touch screen devices, you can copy and paste a number (from a document, e-mail, or Web page) into the phone dialer. Note that the procedure may vary according to the device. On WM 6 Professional devices, you select Menu >Paste in the phone dialer, and the number will appear in the number field. On WM 5 devices like the Palm Treo, you tap and hold in the phone dialer field and then select Paste (after you have copied the number). On pre-WM 5 devices, select Edit >Paste. Once you have pasted the number into the dialer, hit the Call button to place the call.

WM 6 smartphones: Use left/right navigation button in Call History

Submitted Friday, August 24, 2007

In Windows Mobile 6 smartphones, you can use the left and right navigation button when in Call History to cycle through the different phone numbers of a contact. For the contact to appear in Call History, you must have called them or they must have called you. To open Call History, press the green Call button and highlight the contact you want to call (below the number field).

[Read more]

Problem accessing storage cards on iPAQ 2210

Submitted Thursday, August 16, 2007

When the battery level is under 10%, the device automatically disables the SD/CF cards (one of the very few models that does this). Recharge the battery and try again.

Get album art to appear in Windows Media Player

Submitted Friday, August 24, 2007

Media Player Mobile is designed to display album cover art when a song from the album is being played. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always do it—a bug that can greatly annoy music enthusiasts. One way to ensure that they will display is to manually create folders for each album and include the album image in the folder. Follow these steps:

[Read more]

Pre-WM 5 Pocket PCs: Customize the New menu

Submitted Friday, August 24, 2007
You can open a new (empty) document in Word Mobile by tapping on the New button in the lower left corner of the screen. The New button is also found on Excel Mobile, Notes, Contacts, and other applications. The key here is that you have to be in the desired application to open a new document associated with that application.
In addition to the New button, pre-Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PCs have a New menu which is activated by tapping on the small up-arrow icon next to the New button.
[Read more]

Motorola Q tips

Submitted Friday, August 24, 2007

Here are some keyboard shortcuts and tips for Motorola Q users.

[Read more]

Copy your Internet Explorer Favorites list from your PC to your device

Submitted Friday, August 24, 2007
If you want your Windows Mobile device to have the same Favorites list as the one found in Internet Explorer on your PC, all you have to do is copy them from your PC to your device via ActiveSync.
  1. Connect your device to your PC, open the ActiveSync window on the PC, and click on the Explore icon.
  2. In Explore, navigate to the “C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Favorites” folder on your PC.
  3. Select and copy the sites that you want to appear as Favorites on your device.
  4. In Explore, navigate to the
[Read more]

Using the Lock feature on non-touch screen smartphones

Submitted Friday, August 24, 2007

Using the Lock feature on your smartphone will disable the function of the keys. This can be especially useful if you have your device tucked into a pocket or bag where the keys can be accidentally pressed. Here is how it works:

[Read more]

Be notified of incoming e-mail on your Pocket PC

Submitted Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Werner Ruotsalainen explains how to get your Pocket PC (Phone Editions work the best) to notify you only when there is new incoming mail being received by going into Messaging settings and Sounds & Notifications. Click here for the article.

How to send money using PayPal on your Windows Mobile device

Submitted Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Dan Hanttula explains how to send a payment on your device using PayPal via e-mail or text message. Simply set up an account with PayPal and send your payment. Read the full how-to.

Click here for the article.

Create an enhanced Task on a non-touch screen smartphone

Submitted Monday, July 23, 2007

This application has been enhanced to include many of the capabilities found on the Pocket PC version of the program. Users can now edit a Task’s notes and properties, create recurrence patterns for the task, and enable task actions from the list view.

[Read more]

Specify the view Calendar opens in

Submitted Monday, July 23, 2007

Calendar Week view displays an appointment summary: A summary of an appointment selected in Week view is displayed at the bottom of the screen on both touch screen and non-touch screen devices.

  1. Open Calendar and go to the Menu >Tools >Options screen.
  2. Select the desired view (Agenda, Day, Week, Month, and Year) from the drop-down menu labeled “Start in.”

[Read more]

Change the text size on a Web page

Submitted Monday, July 23, 2007

The WM 6 version of IE Mobile also has the ability to change the size of the text displayed on a Web page. In addition, internal changes to Internet Explorer Mobile enable faster Web page and file downloading, better image rendering, and better support for Web pages designed for more recent versions of Web browsers.

[Read more]

Use SmartSearch to find and play a song in Media Player

Submitted Monday, July 23, 2007
  1. Open Media Player, select Menu >Library, and open the desired media folder. For example, select My Music and then All Music to display a list of all the songs in your library.
  2. Start keying in the name of the song you want and you will jump to it in the list.
  3. Finally, hit the Play soft key to play the song.

The SmartSearch feature lets you find and play songs quickly.

Encrypt your storage card

Submitted Monday, July 23, 2007

Storage card encryption lets you protect files saved to a storage card on your device. Once encrypted, the card can only be accessed from the encrypting device or via ActiveSync Explorer when the encrypting device is connected to a desktop PC.

[Read more]

Search e-mail on your Exchange Server account

Submitted Monday, July 23, 2007

The Exchange e-mail search feature allows the user to search their Exchange Server 2007 mailbox and download the results of the search for viewing.

  1. Open Messaging and select Menu >Tools >Search Server.
  2. Enter a name or topic you are looking for and select Search.

Find a contact in your Exchange Server global address book

Submitted Monday, July 23, 2007

The Online Global Address Book Lookup (GAL) feature lets the user search for contacts in their enterprise Exchange Server 2007 online address book.

  1. Open a New e-mail message and place the cursor in the To: field.
  2. Select Menu >Add Recipient.
  3. Select Company Directory >Search.
  4. Enter the name of the contact and select Search again. Your device connects with and searches the corporate GAL and returns the contact info to your device.

Set an e-mail follow-up flag

Submitted Monday, July 23, 2007

Messaging now supports the ability to set a follow-up flag to e-mail messages. The mobile user’s e-mail account must be hosted by an Exchange Server 2007.

  1. Open the desired e-mail.
  2. Select Menu >Follow up >Set Flag. (You can also set Complete Flag and Clear Flag.)

The Messaging application on WM 6 devices now allows you to attach follow-up flags to important e-mails.

Set “out of office” status

Submitted Monday, July 23, 2007

The Out of Office Assistant feature allows users with an Exchange Server 2007 mailbox to set “out of office” status from their mobile device.

  1. Open Messaging or Calendar.
  2. Select Menu >Tools >Out of Office.

Set up an e-mail account from ActiveSync

Submitted Monday, July 23, 2007

This simple enhancement allows users of Exchange Server 2007 e-mail servers to access the ActiveSync e-mail setup through the Messaging application in WM 6 touch screen and non-touch screen devices.

  1. Open Messaging and select “New E-mail Account.”
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions. (You may need to contact your e-mail service provider for some of the information requested.)

Use SmartFilter to display the messages you want

Submitted Monday, July 23, 2007

The SmartFilter feature allows a user to display only those messages that relate to the filtering criteria entry. This lets the user display the information he or she is interested in. Note that WM 6 does not support synchronization of Contacts subfolders. However, you can use the SmartFilter feature to filter contacts by category. Note also that SmartFilter is available in other applications.

[Read more]

T-Mobile Dash tips & tricks

Submitted Wednesday, August 8, 2007
  • Toggle Wi-Fi on and off: If you are in a public Wi-Fi hotspot, simply select Wi-Fi >Wi-Fi on the Dash’s Home screen to turn the radio on. When you leave, select it again to turn Wi-Fi off.
  • Quickly access push e-mail: The Dash features push e-mail capability, which can be used if you have an Exchange Server set up. Push e-mail allows mail to be sent directly to your device so you won’t have to repeatedly check for new messages, which adds convenience and saves battery life.
[Read more]

How to use Excel Mobile on non-touch screen WM 6 smartphones

Submitted Monday, July 16, 2007
Excel Mobile on non-touch screen WM 6 smartphones (Smartphone Standards) has many but not all of the features found on the touch screen version of Excel. Its main function is to edit and view Excel Mobile documents.

How to use Word Mobile on non-touch screen WM 6 smartphones

Submitted Monday, July 16, 2007
Word Mobile on non-touch screen Windows Mobile 6 smartphones (Smartphone Standards) is a stripped-down version of the one found on touch screen devices (with fewer text formatting tools and options). Its main function is to edit and view Word Mobile documents.

Conserve memory by deleting large files using Search

Submitted Friday, May 25, 2007
If you find that you are running low on memory on your Pocket PC, a good way to get some back is to search for and delete unneeded files, especially large ones. You can use the built-in Search (or Find) tool to do this quickly and easily.
[Read more]

Office 2007 documents can't be viewed on Windows Mobile 5 devices... yet

Submitted Monday, July 16, 2007

Due to major Office 2007 (XML) file format changes, devices running Windows Mobile 5 and earlier will not be able to directly read Office 2007 Excel, Word, and PowerPoint file on their device. Office 2007 users will need to resort to workarounds for viewing files on Windows Mobile devices, such as saving them in pre-2007 formats such as RTF or CSV. Microsoft announced that they will at some point issue an update for Windows Mobile 5 devices which will allow users to read the documents.

[Read more]

Palm Treo 700w/wx and 750 tips & tricks

Submitted Wednesday, August 8, 2007
  • Minimize the currently open application and return to the Today screen by holding down the green Call button.
  • Open the Task Manager to close any open application by holding down the OK button (or pressing the Option + OK).
  • Open the Search window by pressing Option + Left Shift button.
  • Open Calendar by pressing Option + Start menu button.
  • To open a program-specific menu in any program, press and ho
[Read more]

Password protect your Excel files

Submitted Tuesday, May 22, 2007

To password protect an Excel file in a Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition device, open that file, go to Tools >Password and enter the password that you want to set up. After you save and close the file, you will be required to enter the password again before you can open the file. If you synchronize the file to your desktop PC, the password will be lost.

Following up on Contacts in Outlook Mobile

Submitted Tuesday, May 22, 2007
If you're used to using the Follow Up feature in Outlook Contacts on the desktop (Actions >Follow Up), you may find it frustrating that Outlook Mobile has no parallel feature.
[Read more]

How to add a number from Call History to your Contacts

Submitted Friday, May 25, 2007
Anytime you receive a call from a number that is not in your Contacts, you can add that number to a new or already existing Contact from the Call History list.

Start a program automatically after a soft reset

Submitted Friday, May 25, 2007
If you want a program to start automatically on your Windows Mobile device after you do a soft reset, all you have to do is paste the program shortcut into your “StartUp” folder.
Open File Explorer (or File Manager) and navigate to the program that you want. Copy the program and navigate to the StartUp folder (under My Device\Windows). Paste the program in StartUp. The next time you soft reset your device, the program will automatically launch.

Setting the default phone number for a Contact

Submitted Friday, May 18, 2007

(Note: This option is only available in pre-WM5 Pocket PCs.) The built-in Contacts applications displays the work phone number of a contact as the default phone number on the main screen when you are viewing the list of all the contacts. If you want, you can change the default phone number that is displayed with the contact name on the main screen. To change it, tap on the single alphabet letter that appears next to the phone number of the contact in the Contacts list.

[Read more]

How to add birthdays and anniversaries to Contacts and have Calendar remind you about them

Submitted Friday, May 18, 2007
You can enter birthdays or anniversaries for selected Contacts on your device in the Edit menu.

Switch views quickly with the hardware button in Calendar

Submitted Wednesday, May 9, 2007

To quickly cycle through the day, week, month, and year views in Calendar on your touch screen device, press the Calendar hardware button repeatedly. (If your device does not have a button assigned to Calendar, assign one from the Start >Settings >Buttons utility.) Pressing the Contacts hardware button in the same fashion will cycle through any categories that have been set up.

Tips for taking good pictures

Submitted Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Even though the built-in cameras on touch screen and non-touch screen smartphones aren’t of the same quality as most standalone cameras, you can still take pictures that are worth saving if you keep in mind a few simple pointers:
  • Make use of the entire frame. Most people have the tendency to only focus on the center of the view.
[Read more]

Don’t send password protected documents

Submitted Thursday, May 17, 2007

You can password protect Word and Excel documents you create on a desktop PC. Unfortunately, Word and Excel Mobile on touch screen devices and non-touch screen smartphones cannot open them, even if you have the password. If you want to e-mail a document to an associate, remove the password protection on your PC first, and then send it.

Calendar appointment symbols in Month and Day views

Submitted Tuesday, May 8, 2007
The icons used in Calendar’s Month and Day views provide information about the appointment. Here’s what they mean and how to make them appear.

Calendar Month view symbols
These square and triangular symbols appear in Calendar’s Month view by default and give you information about the appointments on a specific day.

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How to search for contacts by phone number

Submitted Wednesday, May 9, 2007
You can use the Search feature on a Pocket PC (or Find in pre-WM5 devices) to search for Contacts by phone number if you are on the road and are missing calls.

Change the default area code in Contacts

Submitted Wednesday, May 9, 2007
When you’re entering information for a new Contact on your Pocket PC, you will probably notice that whenever you tap on a phone number field, the area code 425 always appears.
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Samsung BlackJack tips & tricks

Submitted Wednesday, August 8, 2007
  • To save battery life by up to 40%, you can switch from 3G to GPRS/EDGE service. First, dial *#1546792*#. In the following menu, choose “Network & Call Settings.” then “Network Mode.” Now, highlight “GSM” and then select “Done.” You can also change the settings so that the phone will always check for the GSM service before switching to 3G if GSM is not available.
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How to assign a ringtone to a Contact

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
To easily identify who is calling you, assign different ringtones to each Contact in the Edit menu.

How to install and use Voice Command

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
Install Microsoft Voice Command on your touch screen device and speak into the microphone to command it to look up Contacts, make phone calls, and more.

"Rip" music from your CDs

Submitted Wednesday, December 13, 2006
All touch screen devices and non-touch screen smartphones come with Windows Media Player Mobile built in. This lets you play music files recorded in MP3 and Windows Media Audio (WMA) formats, and view video recorded in WMV format.
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Free database program using Excel Mobile

Submitted Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Excel Mobile is one of the most powerful and overlooked applications on the Pocket PC. You can use Excel Mobile to create simple, searchable, and "sortable" databases quickly and easily. It's especially good at handling information with a numeric component. For example, it's quite easy to create a digital checkbook to track your personal or business expenses. You can sync, view, and edit them with the desktop PC version of Excel.

Excel is a powerful built-in calculator

Submitted Wednesday, December 13, 2006
In addition to the simple calculator built into Windows Mobile devices, all Pocket PCs and Smartphone Professionals have Microsoft’s Excel spreadsheet program built into them. Excel has powerful capabilities, allowing you to create formulas and functions, calculate values of data entered into a range of cells, and more.
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Can't sync with more than two PCs using ActiveSync

Submitted Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Because most people have a computer at the office and at home, ActiveSync lets you sync with two PCs. ActiveSync must be installed on both PCs. Simply connect to one of the PCs, establish a partnership, and sync your Outlook data. Then do the same with the second PC.
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Where to get the latest version of ActiveSync (for Windows XP PCs)

Submitted Wednesday, December 13, 2006
From time to time, Microsoft will update ActiveSync and make it available for download on their Web site (microsoft.com/windowsmobile/activesync/default.mspx).
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How to listen to music and watch videos

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
Microsoft Windows Media Player Mobile is software that lets you play music and videos on your Windows Mobile device.

How to send a Web link via e-mail

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
E-mail a Web link to a friend using Internet Explorer Mobile by going to Menu >Tools >Send Link via E-mail (or “Send Link…”).

How to make viewing Web pages easier

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
The smaller screens on touch screen devices and non-touch screen smartphones can make Web browsing a bit difficult. Use the Menu >View options to adjust the screen text size and to choose whether you want pictures to load or not.

How to use the History list to go to sites you've visited before

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
The History list in Internet Explorer Mobile keeps track of the sites you’ve visited in the past. To go back to a site, tap it in the History list.

How to keep Internet Explorer secure

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
You can delete and disallow cookies and adjust your security settings in Internet Explorer Mobile from the Menu >Tools >Options >Security page (non-touch screen smartphones: Menu >Tools >Options).

How to use PowerPoint Mobile

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
PowerPoint Mobile is built into WM 5 and WM 6 touch screen devices and most WM 6 Standard smartphones. It lets you open and view slideshow presentations saved in PowerPoint (.ppt) format. However, you cannot create or edit presentations.

How to set up e-mail through an Internet e-mail server

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
To send and receive e-mail through an Internet server, you must have an account with an Internet e-mail server and set it up in Messaging under Menu >Tools >New Account. (WM 6: Select the New E-mail Account button under “Select an Account.”) To connect an Internet e-mail server account, you must provide Messaging with information about those servers, such as account type, host or server name, domain name, and other information. You can get this information from your Internet service provider.

How to create and work with Tasks

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
Use the Tasks application to create, delete, edit, and organize your to-do list; change the display options, and set reminders.

How to record and play back a Voice Note

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
You can create and play back an audio recording on your device using the Voice Recording feature. To record one on a touch screen device, select Start >Programs >Notes and tap on the button with a red circle (or press and hold down the button assigned to this function). On non-touch screen devices, select Start >Voice Notes >Record. To play it back, open the Notes (or Voice Notes) application and select the recording from the list.

How to use Word Mobile on touch screen devices

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
You can create and edit documents and templates in Word Mobile and save them as .DOC, .RTF, .TXT, and .DOT files. You can also edit Word documents and templates created on your PC on your touch screen device by copying the files to the device via ActiveSync or Windows Mobile Device Center.

How to add, organize, delete, and view Favorites in Internet Explorer Mobile

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
The Favorites feature of Internet Explorer Mobile allows you to save links to the Web sites you want to visit on a regular basis. Open IE and browse to the desired site. Tap and hold anywhere on the touch screen and then select Favorites >Add/Delete; (Non-touch screen smartphones: Select Menu >Add Favorite.) You can organize them into folders, delete them, and more.

How to copy text from a Web page

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
In Internet Explorer, go to the page you want to copy text from. Select the text with your stylus, tap and hold on the text, and then use the Copy and Paste function to move it to a Word document or another word processing program.

How to delete temporary Internet files, Cookies, and History

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
If you frequently use Internet Explorer, your temporary Internet files, Cookies, and History can build up quickly. Be sure to empty these folders from time to time to free up storage space on your device.

How to create, edit, and manage Contacts

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
Use Contacts to store and quickly access phone numbers, e-mail addresses, home addresses, and other information relating to a contact. You can even add a picture or assign a ringtone to a Contact.

How to create, delete, find, and move documents and folders in Office Mobile

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
You can create, delete, rename, and move Mobile Office documents and file folders.

How to enable e-mail attachments

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
Change the default settings in ActiveSync’s Tools >Options screen to synchronize e-mail attachments to your device. On touch screen devices, you can redirect attachments to be saved on storage cards under the Storage tab in Messaging’s Menu >Tools >Options screen.

How to have your national holidays show up in Calendar

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
In the desktop PC’s Outlook, use Tools >Options >Calendar Options >Add Holidays to add national holidays and/or religious holidays; then sync with your Windows Mobile device.

How to troubleshoot ActiveSync problems

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
ActiveSync sometimes misbehaves; in such cases, reset/reboot all devices and hardware connections, and try again. If that doesn’t work, ActiveSync troubleshooting guides are available on Microsoft’s Windows Mobile Web site (see below) and on pocketpcfaq.com.

How to set up and use Outlook Mobile categories

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
Use the Categories feature to group related Contacts, Tasks, and appointments. You can then use these categories to quickly find the information you are looking for. You can also create your own categories to group information in ways that make sense to you.

How to establish a Guest partnership in ActiveSync

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
When you connect a Windows Mobile device to a PC, ActiveSync prompts you to set up a “sync relationship.” If you decline to do this by clicking on the Cancel button, a “Guest” partnership is established. This lets you install programs from the PC to the device and copy files between the two. However, you cannot synchronize Outlook data.

How to convert Word documents to .LIT files and view them with Microsoft Reader

Submitted Thursday, April 12, 2007

You can view, but not edit a Word document by saving it as an eBook and opening it in Microsoft Reader for Pocket PC. Download the “Word 2002/2000 Add-in” (microsoft.com/downloads) and install it on your desktop PC. (If your touch screen device does not have MS Reader, you can also download it from this link.) Open the desired document in Word and then on the Microsoft Reader icon in the tool bar. After entering your desired save options for the document, click OK. In ActiveSync, copy the file to the My Documents folder on your device so that it will be listed in the Library view of Microsoft Reader.

Using MSN on your device

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
Pocket MSN lets you access MSN on Windows Mobile devices. The application resizes MSN Web pages specifically for Smartphones and Pocket PCs, and reduces the number of graphics. The result is that the Web pages load quicker and are easier to read.
While mobile versions of the MSN Web pages are available online (Mobile.msn.com), Pocket MSN goes much further.
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Add sites to your Mobile Favorites list from your PC

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
When you install ActiveSync on your desktop PC, it installs a plug-in called Mobile Favorites in the desktop PC version of Internet Explorer (version 5.0 or greater). This appears in the toolbar as an icon that looks like a small handheld device with a gold star covering part of it. While you’re browsing, if you come across a site that you want to place in your Mobile Favorites list, simply click on this icon.
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Reduce size of video and music files

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
Although some movie files can be up to 700 MB, the size of video and music files can be greatly reduced by reformatting them using Windows Media Encoder (microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx), a free desktop PC application from Microsoft.
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Press Ctrl-Z to cancel last action

Submitted Friday, December 8, 2006
You can enter keyboard shortcuts using the built-in soft keyboard. One of the most useful shortcuts is Ctrl-Z, which cancels the last change made to a document (first tap Ctrl, then tap Z).
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How to create outlines in Word

Submitted Monday, April 2, 2007

Outlines come in handy when you are sketching out the structure of a report or article, creating a list of the things you have to do for a project, or for a variety of other activities. Word Mobile found on Windows Mobile 5 and 6 touch screen devices allows you to create outlines in a document.

How to create and use templates in Word

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
If you find yourself entering the same information in Word again and again, you might save time by creating a template. • To create a new Word template on a touch screen device, open a new document and enter the text and formatting you want to appear in the template. Then select Menu >File >Save Document As. Finally, give the template a name and select “Document Template” from the drop down list associated with “Type.” • To open a template (including one of the 5 built-in templates), open Word in list view, tap on the folder icon at the top of the list, and select the Templates folder from the drop-down menu.

Using Terminal Services

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
The Terminal Services program is built into Pocket PCs only. It allows users to remotely access PCs or Windows Mobile devices on a network. To establish a remote connection, the PC you are connecting to must be running Remote Desktop or Terminal Services. Also, your Pocket PC must be able to connect to the PC via the Internet, ActiveSync, Infrared, or Wi-Fi connectivity.
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How to use text messaging

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
Text messaging allows you to send quick text messages to your family, friends, and co-workers whenever you have a data connection. To use text messaging, you must have a plan with your service operator. Most plans include a charge for text messaging, which may also apply to receiving text messages. Check with your service operator for details on charges.

Make Internet Explorer Mobile work with more sites

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
You’re having fun surfing the Web with your Windows Mobile device, but you find that you can’t access some of the sites that you’re used to visiting on your desktop PC. Why not? Most likely, these sites are checking for the browser version and are turning you away if you have a version of Internet Explorer that is earlier then 4.0.
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How to create a recurring Calendar appointment

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
You can set up a recurring Calendar appointment using the “Occurs” field in the New Appointment screen.

How to create, send, and receive e-mail messages

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
To create new e-mail messages, go to Start >Messaging, select an account, and select New (or Menu >New). Fill in the Subject and Message fields and select Send. To check for new messages and send out ones you have composed, go to Menu >Send/Receive.

How to add a picture to Contact information

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
Users of WM 5 and 6 devices can add a picture to an individual contact from the Pictures field in the New or Edit screens in Contacts. Select “Picture” from the Edit menu, select the picture you want to correspond with the contact, and select OK (or Done on non-touch screen smartphones).
 
 
The ability to add photos to your contacts is built into WM 5 and 6 devices and can be added to pre-WM 5 Pocket PCs.

How to use Excel Mobile on touch screen devices

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
Excel Mobile is built into Pocket PCs and Windows Mobile 6 Classic and Professionals. It does not include all the features found on the full desktop PC version of Excel, but retains the core elements.

How to switch between typed and handwritten text in Notes

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
The Notes application on touch screen devices lets you enter typed or handwritten text (and drawings) in a document. To switch between the two, open Notes, tap on Menu, and select (or deselect) Draw. When Draw is selected (indicated by a check mark), you can write on the screen and create maps or drawings. When it is unselected, you can use the soft keyboard or Transcriber to enter characters. Note that you can mix text and drawings on a single document.

How to enter short notes

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
The Pocket PC's Notes application lets you create short, free-form text or handwritten memos, which can contain drawings and sound recordings.

How to use ActiveSync to reinstall software

Submitted Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Once you have installed software on your device, you can use ActiveSync’s Tools >Add/Remove Programs screen to reinstall it at any time. Click on the check box next to the desired program(s) and click OK.

How to create, delete, and edit an appointment in Calendar

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
To create a new Calendar appointment, select Menu >New Appointment; to delete one, select Menu >Delete. To edit an existing appointment, tap on or select it, and select Edit (or Menu >Edit). (On touch screen devices you can tap and hold on an appointment and select these options from the pop-up Edit menu.) Don’t forget to set a lead time for your appointment in the Reminder field in the Edit menu.
 
Calendar.jpg 
Calendar’s new appointment screen on a Pocket PC (left) and a non-touch screen smartphone (right).

How to stop the ActiveSync window from popping up

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
Open ActiveSync and go to File >Connection Settings to disable the ActiveSync window.

How to assign Media Player functions to the navigation pad

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
Make your Windows Mobile device function more like an iPod; assign Media Player functions to the navigation pad by going to the main playback screen and selecting Menu >Options >Buttons. Highlight the desired function, select Assign (or Menu >Assign), and press the button you want to perform the function.

How to save Web images on pre-WM 5 Pocket PCs and non-touch screen smartphones

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
Viewed Web images are automatically saved in one of the sub-folders found in the \Windows\Profiles\Guest\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5 folder. Use File Explorer or File Manager to find them. Then copy them elsewhere and rename them as necessary.

How to use Pictures & Videos

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
Pictures & Videos lets you view, edit, delete, and beam digital images, as well as play slide shows. (Note: On pre-WM 5 Pocket PCs, this program is called “Pictures.”)

How to save Web images on WM 5 and 6 touch screen devices

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
On Windows Mobile 5 and 6 touch screen devices you can save images displayed in Internet Explorer Mobile by tapping and holding an image and selecting “Save Image” from the pop-up menu. If a thumbnail of the image is displayed on the Web page, tap on or select the image to see if you can get it to display larger and then save it.

How to use the Find/Search feature

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
If you are having trouble finding information on your Windows Mobile device, use the Search feature (called “Find” on some non-touch screen smartphones and pre-WM 5 Pocket PCs).

How to use the built-in Help feature

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
If you don’t know how to do something on your touch screen device, select Start >Help, and the resulting screen will automatically display information relating to the program you are in. This also works on some, but not all non-touch screen smartphones, and the way help information is displayed may vary.

How to delete application icons manually

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
Use File Explorer (Smartphones: File Manager) to delete icons and other stray files that remain after uninstall process.

How to use File Explorer or File Manager to find folders and files

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
Use File Explorer on your Pocket PC (Smartphones: File Manager) to find files and folders, navigate among the folders and sub-folders, view files, and run programs.

How to copy or move multiple files

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
You can File Explorer or File Manager to select more than one file and then use cut-and-paste or copy-and-paste to move them to another folder. On touch screen devices, drag the stylus over multiple folders to select them and then tap and hold to bring up the cut/copy/paste menu. On some non-touch screen smartphones, hold down the shift key to highlight multiple files and use Menu >Edit to cut/copy/paste. On others, use Menu >Selection and Menu >File.

How to use File Explorer to create folders and move files

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
You can use File Explorer (or File Manager on some devices) to create and delete file folders and move them to new locations.

How to create program launch icons

Submitted Thursday, December 7, 2006
Use File Explorer (Smartphones: File Manager) to create and copy application launch shortcuts to the Windows/Start Menu/Programs or folder.

How to open programs and place calls with Speed Dial

Submitted Tuesday, February 27, 2007

You can use Speed Dial on most phone-enabled devices to place a call quickly. On non-touch screen smartphones, you can also use it to open programs.

How to delete a partnership in ActiveSync

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
If your ActiveSync partnership isn’t working correctly, you should delete the existing partnership and reestablish it. To delete a partnership, first disconnect your device from your computer. Then, open ActiveSync on your PC and click on File >Delete Partnership (or Delete Mobile Device).

How to schedule a meeting using Calendar

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
Meetings are Calendar appointments that include other people. When you create a meeting, an e-mail containing the meeting request is sent to the people that you select in the Appointment dialog box. Note that WM 6 non-touch screen smartphones have this ability, but WM 5 smartphones do not.

Use Contacts to organize miscellaneous info

Submitted Friday, February 23, 2007
You can store almost any simple information in Contacts, including credit card numbers, PIN numbers, instructions, lists, product information, and more. For example, you can store information about automobiles in Contacts. Put the name of the auto in the Name field (e.g., Toyota RAV4) and everything else in the Notes field (VIN, insurance numbers, auto registration number, etc.).
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