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What Can I Do With My Axim?
(Second Edition, last revised, March, 2006)
By: Gigi Hsueh (Gigi), Moderator
INTRODUCTION
PERSONAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (PIM) AND EMAIL
OFFICE SOLUTIONS
INTERNET AND ONLINE COMMUNICATION
MULTIMEDIA
LEISURE
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)
GENERAL POCKET PC RESOURCES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INTERNET AND ONLINE COMMUNICATION
Pocket Internet Explorer (PIE): When your Axim is connected to the Internet, you can surf the web using the built-in Pocket Internet Explorer (PIE). Unfortunately, PIE is a dramatically scaled-down version of the desktop version. Its limited features, combined with the small screen size of Pocket PC devices mean that mobile browsing is slow and often requires excessive scrolling to view an entire page. (Those with VGA displays may apply tweaks to maximize screen real estate. See VGA, below for more details.) In addition, many commonly used features of websites (e.g., Flash, chatrooms) may not be accessible. Some websites cannot even be accessed at all on PIE because they were designed to only be viewed on specific browser versions. (For a workaround to this problem, a registry tweak is possible using utilties such as Tweaks2K2 or RegKing).
There are several solutions to the difficulties associated with surfing the web on a pocket Internet browser. The simplest way would be to access sites that have mobile versions (see Figure 11 for a comparison between a regular vs. mobile version of Google.ca). See Links to Mobile-Optimized Sites for URLs to PDA-friendly sites. You can also try evmo, a free service that allows you to customize information you would like to receive in a PDA-friendly portal.
For sites that do not offer a mobile version, there are several alternatives. Within Pocket Internet Explorer, you can adjust the way a page loads by going into the View function. Here, it's possible to configure the browser to not load images and to change the layout of the pages for better viewing. There are also browser add-ons or replacements that help to improve the pocket browsing experience. For a more in-depth look at alternative browsers, take a look at Pocket PC Web browsers – the complete roundup and Menneissys's Browser Table.
 
Figure 11: Standard vs. PDA-optimized version of Google.ca
Links to Mobile-Optimized Sites
Mobile-Optimized Reference Sites
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Enhancing Pocket Internet Explorer: MultiIE and PIEPlus are two popular Pocket IE add-ons that add more functionality to the browser, such as full screen mode, hardware button mapping and multiple windows. Other useful Pocket IE enhancements include +StartPage, which customizes start page on PIE to include useful links, and ftxbrowser, webby and Spb Pocket Plus, which add features such as Save Image As and multiple windows/tabbed browsing.
 
Figure 12: MultiIE, PocketPIEPlus
Alternative Browsers: For those who cannot do without the desktop browsing experience on their Axim, they can consider alternative browsers such as Thunderhawk and NetFront. Thunderhawk is a subscription based service, whereas Netfront is an installed application. Both offer improvements to PIE by adding more features, but differ in that Thunderhawk uses a proxy to convert webpages whereas Netfront uses software. For a comparison of PIE and these two browsers, go to Geekzone. As of writing, mobile versions of Opera and Minimo are in development.
Figure 13: NetFront
Other Browsing Solutions: In addition to software solutions, there are also some online services that have been developed to reformat non mobile-optimized sites into ones that are more easily viewed on a mobile device. These services allow you to enter website addresses to be converted into a format that is more mobile-friendly. Skweezer, Webxcope and MobileLeap’s services are currently free. Unfortunately, the conversion process is often flawed; site functions may be disabled (e.g., login), formatting may be altered and load times may be lengthy.
Offline Browsing: For those who prefer being able to browse the Internet offline, you can set up your desktop PC to save Mobile Favorites for offline viewing. This feature, unfortunately, is only available on pre-WM5 devices. On the desired webpage, click on the icon that looks like a PDA on the Internet Explorer toolbar at the top of page. (If Mobile Favorites is not available, click on Tools - Create Mobile Favorite.) Choose OK to "This will send your page to your mobile device". At this point, you may also specify the synchronization schedule and the folder into which the favorite will be saved (click "Create In"). It is also possible to synchronize the page to a your choice of link depth by going into your desktop IE’s Favorites - Mobile Favorites, then right clicking the desired page, selecting Properties and then selecting the Download tab. Note: It is important to sync the Mobile Favorite with your desktop BEFORE syncing with your Axim via ActiveSync.
Other applications developed for offline viewing include World Off-Line, which works directly from the PPC, and WebCopier, HTTrack and Repligo, which save content off of your desktop PC to be then transferred to your Axim. The internet browser NetFront also has offline browsing feature called Auto-Cruise. AvantGo and Newsland are free subscription services that allow the user to download the Internet content from hundreds of channels through ActiveSync or wireless Internet for perusal at a later time.
Really Simple Syndication (RSS) Readers: RSS, or Really Simple Syndication (formerly called RDF Site Summary or Rich Site Summary), is a way in which web content is made available for distribution or syndication. All kinds of information is available through RSS, including news feeds, events listings, news stories, and headlines from websites and weblogs. RSS is distributed in the XML format, and in order to read RSS feeds, one needs to use a RSS reader. Some RRS readers to try include NewsBreak, Smartfeed, FeederReader, PocketRSS (integrates with PocketBreeze), Egress, pRSSreader, Mobile News, NewsMonger (Freeware), RSS Sync, Skweezer and Qusnetsoft NewsReader 3.3.
Figure 14: FeederReader
Podcasting: Podcasting is a term derived from the words "Ipod" and "broadcasting" and describes a technology used to distribute audio content to a user's audio player (not necessarily an Ipod). It uses the RSS protocol and allows a user to subscribe to a set of feeds and automatically download content for later listening. Podcasts can be downloaded to your desktop PC using a Podcast aggregator such as iPodder (see Podcasting News for other podcasting clients) and then synced to your PPC, or downloaded straight to your PPC using a Podcatching client such as FeederReader or Smartfeed. For details on using FeederReader on your Axim, take a look at How to Listen to Podcasts on a Handheld or Getting Podcasts onto your Smartphone (or Pocket PC) For those who would like to create their own podcasts, FeedBurner will help you record, host, publish and convert your audio programs into a podcast. For more info on creating your own podcasts, take a look at Create Podcasts Using Your PC or Start your own Podcast (for Mac). For those looking for a more an integrated solution, AudioBay promises to provide everything you need, from recording to distribution.
RSS Directories/Search engines:
Podcast Directories
Tech podcast Links
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Instant Messaging, VOIP and Other Communication Options:
- Instant Messaging (IM): When connected to the Internet, you can also use your Axim to send instant messages (IM). MSN Messenger comes preinstalled in your Axim, but you may need to download and install the security update from Microsoft's website if you have an older version of the Operating System. Users have also reported that MSN Messenger will fail to connect if you have incorrect date/time and regional settings. Other IM options for Pocket PC include ICQ and AIM. Yahoo Messenger for Pocket PC is no longer functional, but Yahoo Instant Messaging can be accessed through imov (formerly Jabber), Agile Messenger, Tipic or IM+, all of which allow access to multiple IM services (e.g.,AIM, MSN and ICQ) at the same time so that running separate IM programs is not necessary.
- Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP): Using wifi, you can use your Axim to speak with others through VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Skype is a very popular peer-to- peer VoIP application that allows you to talk to other computers that have Skype installed (free) or make calls to landlines and mobile phones (charged by the minute). Xten and SJPhone are SIP ( Session Initiation Protocol)-based VoIP solutions that can connect to FreeWorldDialup to make free calls to any software or hardware phone that follows the SIP standard.
- Other Options: Other communication applications available for Pocket PC include PocketCHAT or SmartIrc for IRC chat and Microsoft Portrait for IM, file transfers and videoconferencing. BuZZone and Microsoft Portrait provide communication options for Bluetooth. Those with cell phones will also find applications for that send SMS messages, such as easySMS, Simple SMS, SMS Manager, InstantSMS and pocket PhoneTools. See Mobile phone handler apps - the definitive roundup for a good review of SMS utilities.
 
Figure 15: Skype, Simple SMS
Going Online With Your Axim
There are several ways to go online with your Axim:
1. Connected to a PC: Provided your PC is connected to the Internet and your Axim is connected to your PC via ActiveSync (either docked in its cradle or connected using a USB sync cable), you can have online access on your Axim. On the Tools-->Options-->Rules page of your desktop ActiveSync, make sure "Pass Through" option is enabled for the Internet.
2. Modem: This device fits into the CompactFlash or Secure Digital slot of your device and allows you to use a wired dial-up connection. For occasional dial-up options, consider Budget Dialup Prepaid Internet (U.S. and Canada), NetZero (U.S. and Canada) and 295.ca (limited areas in Canada). Also check your own ISP to see if your plan includes any free dialup minutes.
Ambicom EZJack V.90 56K CompactFlash Modem Card
3. LAN adapters: This device fits into your CompactFlash slot of your device and allows you to connect to your wired network via cable. As of writing, Secure Digital LAN adapters are not available.
Socket 10/100 Ethernet CF Card
4. Wi-fi (Wireless Fidelity): If you have a wireless card for your Axim (some Axim models will require external cards), you can use it to detect wireless access points. Access points may include those found in your home network, work network, or in public hotspots. See Wifi, below for more information about this option.
5. Connected to a Cell phone: If your cell phone supports Infrared (IR) or Bluetooth (BT), your Axim can wirelessly connect with it to access the Internet. . Another way to connect your Axim to your cell phone is to use a direct cable. Gomadic and SupplyNet are companies that make cables for a number of different cell phones.
Gomadic cable connecting Motorola v60 cellular phone to Axim X50
Note about cell phone services: Cellular phone carriers offer both voice (e.g., GSM, CDMA, TDMA) and data (e.g., GPRS/EDGE, 1XRTT/EVDO) plans which differ in the way they transmit data. Voice transmission requires a continuous connection, meaning that you are billed by "talk time." Data transmission, on the other hand, does not require continuous connections because they use "packet switching". This means that messages are divided into packets to be transmitted individually and then later recompiled. Consequently, you are billed by the amount of data transferred instead. It is possible to connect to the Internet, check email, etc. using regular voice plans. However, such plans are not designed for data transfer; consequently, browsing and checking email will be a slow process. In addition, some carriers do not allow data transfer under voice plans.
For help on connecting your cell phone to your Axim via Bluetooth and GPRS, take a look at these tutorials:
Using your BT phone as a modem Mini-Guide
Accessing the Internet using a Bluetooth equipped Cellular Phone
Official GPRS Settings Thread
GPRS in the UK
4. Using a CompactFlash GSM/GPRS or 1xRTT card: If you have a SIM card from a GSM cell phone provider, you can insert it into a CompactFlash GMS/GPRS card (e.g., Convergentech, Enfora, Audiovox) to turn your Axim into a device with wireless phone capability. CDMA subscribers can use a CF 1xRTT card to provide their Axim with CDMA data service. Keep in mind, however, that this would not be a practical cell phone replacement because of battery limitations.
Enfora GSM/GPRS CompactFlash Card
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INTRODUCTION | PERSONAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT (PIM) AND EMAIL | OFFICE SOLUTIONS | INTERNET AND ONLINE COMMUNICATION | MULTIMEDIA | LEISURE | WIRELESS COMMUNICATION | GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) | GENERAL POCKET PC RESOURCES | ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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