Boost Your Smartphone IQ

Microsoft Internet Explorer is one of the most popular Smartphone applications. However, because the numeric keypad is designed for one-handed navigation and optimized for phone-first experiences, keying in a list of your favorite Web sites is a challenging task. Fortunately, Microsoft designed a shortcut that minimizes time (and finger blisters) by allowing you to move your favorite Web site shortcuts directly from your desktop PC to your Smartphone or any Windows Mobile device. Here's how you do it:

1. With your Windows Mobile device connected to your PC via ActiveSync, choose Explore from the ActiveSync menu bar on your PC.
2. Double-click on My Smartphone > Storage > Windows > Favorites. You'll now see the current items that appear in the Internet Explorer Favorites list on your Smartphone.
3. Open Windows File Explorer on your PC and navigate to your Favorites folder. This is typically located at C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Favorites.
4. While holding down the Ctrl key on your keyboard, click on all the favorites that you want to copy to your phone.
5. Drag these items into the Favorites folder you opened in step two.
6. Release the mouse and, voila!—your favorites will now appear when you launch Internet Explorer on your Windows Mobile Smartphone.

Import the Web Favorites list from your desktop PC to your Smartphone or Pocket PC.

Gimme some “skins!”

You can change the look and feel of your Smartphone's Home page from the Start > Settings > Home Screen menu. Specifically, you can change the home screen layout, color scheme, background image, and the time out settings. In addition to the default home screen layouts that come with the device, you can download additional “skins” from online sources (skins are also referred to as “themes”). One of the best sources for these skins is the Smartphone Themes Web site (http://www.smartphonethemes.com). Additional skins are available on a number of Smartphone enthusiasts Web sites. Go to Microsoft's Smartphone links Web page (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/communities/smartphone/links.mspx) and click on the “Smartphone Enthusiasts” link for a list of these sites.

You can download and install customized skins (a.k.a., “Themes”) on your Windows Mobile Smartphone

Once you've downloaded your skin, follow these step-by-step instructions to install it on your Smartphone:

1. With your device connected to your PC and ActiveSync running, choose Explore from the ActiveSync menu bar on your PC.
2. Double-click on My Smartphone > Storage > Application Data > Home.
3. Open another Explorer window on your desktop PC and go to the folder into which you downloaded the skin.
4. Drag the skin files from that folder to the Home directory on your Smartphone.
5. On your Smartphone, open the Start menu and go to Settings>Home Screen.
6. Scroll through the Home screen layout option until you find the name of the skin you've just copied to the device; then select Done.
7. Go to the Background Image option and select the image that was downloaded with the skin files.
8. Select Done and press the Home key.
9. Enjoy the new look and feel of your Windows Mobile-based Smartphone!