Everything you need to get the most out of your Windows Mobile device is conveniently available online. The gamut includes experts to answer your questions; reviews of hardware, software, and accessories; how-to articles and tips, eBooks, movies, other downloadable content, and much more.
This article describes some of the top sites in a number of categories, first for Pocket PC and then for Smartphone. Of course, this list is limited and there are other sites worthy of your attention. You can find a much more extensive listing on our Best Sites page (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/bestsites.asp).
Pocket PC Sites
General information
Maybe you just want a sense of what's out there or what these devices can do. Here are a couple of general information sites that are good starting points for your investigation of Windows Mobile devices:
Microsoft's Windows Mobile site (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile) has a useful Buyer's Guide to help you get an overview of this family of devices and what each can do. It includes a directory of links to manufacturers. The "Help and How To" section is a great starting point for new users.
Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine online (http://www.pocketpcmag.com) contains archives of Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine articles, including reviews of most of the devices and the major third-party applications. It has a searchable Encyclopedia of Software and Accessories (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/_enc/encyclopedia.asp) and a Buyer's Guide (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/bg04/ppcs.asp) that lets you compare models feature by feature.
News sites
The News/Reviews section of our Best Sites page offers links to a number of the most active Windows Mobile news sites. In addition, there are subcategories for news sites related to Smartphone, Pocket PC Phone Edition, games, medical sites, and GPS. There are also listings of sites with RSS feeds and podcasts related to Windows Mobile devices.
Pocket PC Thoughts (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com) posts news updates and analysis throughout the day. It includes active discussions of each item posted, giving a broad perspective.
Brighthand (http://www.brighthand.com/ppc) has a very useful combination of news and features in the Pocket PC section of the site — and a reputation for solid reportage.
Commercial downloads
Most owners of mobile devices are eager to add functionality and have a little fun with their Pocket PC. Check out these sites for a wide variety of commercial software, shareware, and some freeware.
Handango (http://www.handango.com) claims to offer the world's largest selection of software for your Pocket PC. The site includes freeware, shareware, and commercial software.
PocketGear (http://www.pocketgear.com) has a large selection of software as well as daily Pocket PC news updates. It offers a list of the 10 most popular freeware programs.
Freeware downloads
Many great applications are available for free. Here are a couple of excellent Web sites with large collections of Pocket PC freeware.
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