[Note: Tom's review looks at Microsoft's Pocket PC Web site located
at www.pocketpc.com, not to be
confused with our own Pocket PC magazine Web site located at www.pocketpcmag.com.]
On April 19 Microsoft and its industry partners formally launched the Pocket PC in New York’s Grand Central Station. While I was watching the event on my desktop PC via streaming video, I was browsing through PocketPC.Com, a Web site launched the same day by Microsoft.
PocketPC.Com bills itself as “..the most comprehensive, most
enthusiastic Pocket PC site that the Web has to offer…” According to
Managing Editor Steve Seroshek, PocketPC.Com will provide informative
articles written by the leading Pocket PC enthusiasts, including reviews
of new hardware and software, informative step-by-step articles, exclusive
columns about products and features, tips, news, and more.
PocketPC.Com has lined up some great writers for the site, including
Chris De Herrera, Jason Dunn, Craig Peacock, Frank McPherson, Todd
Ogasawara, Chris Meunch, Arne Hess, Stefano Valenzi and Andreas Sjöström.
Based on this list talent, we should be seeing some great content on this
site. In fact, there is already plenty of good stuff there.
The online articles will include commentary, columns, step-by-step
guides, tips and highlights or news about Pocket PC. There are also links
to Pocket PC sites arranged in categories such as internet, music and
video, ebooks and audio, software, publications, hardware, downloads and
community, and developers sections. I have cruised this site from front to
back, and must compliment PocketPC.Com for putting a top-notch information
site together for Pocket PC users.
Up and running with lots of content
Commentary, reviews, step-by-step articles and tips are continually being added to the site. Some of the articles that are now available in these categories include:
Commentary: Using XTNDConnect Server to synchronize with Back
Office; POP3 and IMAP4 e-mail protocols and how to use them; 24 Satellites
in My Pocket – GPS on the Pocket PC; Pocket Internet Explorer and
Security; Pocket Cash with Your Pocket PC.
Reviews: Speed Dialing with PhoneTone; The ActiveSky Media
Player puts video in your hand; a look at the Pretec 56 Kb CompactModem;
the XTNDAccess IrDA PC Adapter adds an infrared port to your desktop PC;
Peacemaker lets you transfer contacts to a Palm or Psion; and Fire Drill,
a hot new game.
Step-by-step guides: Setting Up Microsoft Money; Ethernet: The
ultimate in high-speed synchronization; Set up AvantGo on Your Pocket PC;
Move useful online information to other applications; Synchronizing via
Infrared; Using a Free ISP with your Pocket PC.
Tips: Configuring LDAP in Inbox; Using the Entry Bar to speed up
Task entry; Protect your valuables; Moving large attachments to a
CompactFlash Card; Change the look and feel of your Pocket Excel
spreadsheets.
The Communities section is a Web-based newsgroup that works
better than any I have seen before. It’s manned by some of the authors
who write for PocketPC.Com, and by Derek Brown from Microsoft. The
Developers section has articles of interest to programmers and developers,
including Choosing the Right Programming Language.
It seems that Microsoft is committed to the handheld space, and it
shows with the improvements in Pocket PC and with the effort they are
putting into PocketPC.Com. I give this site a top 10 rating and a "must
bookmark" designation.
Until next time, I’ll see you OnLine!
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