Quick Pocket PC Tips and Tricks

Note: All tips are from Jim Christian unless otherwise noted.

Faster iPAQ, but BEWARE!

Jimmy Software is giving away a new utility, called JS Overclock, for the Compaq iPAQ only! It allows users to modify the CPU speed of the iPAQ from as low as 162 MHz to as fast as 236 MHz. Setting a speed less than 206MHz saves on battery life, while increasing speed drains battery life. A reset of the iPAQ applied after setting Overclock will reset speed to 206Mhz default speed. The program is free and can be downloaded at (www.jimmysoftware.com/Software/Overclock/). However, you should carefully note the warning associated with JS Overclock, which begins: "WARNING: There is a risk of losing data and even damage permanently the iPAQ. So, use it at YOUR own risk..."

-- Rich Hall

Conserve power while listening to music

Playing music on your Pocket PC drains battery life, so it's good to conserve it in other ways. One is to turn off your Pocket PC's screen while listening to MP3. Here's how you can set up a hotkey to toggle the screen on/off, while still listening to your music.

Open Windows Media Player and select "Options..." from the "Tools" menu. A button mapping screen shows up (see Screen 1).

1. Select "Screen Toggle" from the "Select Function" drop down menu.
2. Now, push the button on your Pocket PC that you would like to use.
3. I selected my first hardware button, but you can choose whatever button you wish.
4. Click "Ok" in the top right corner of the screen.

Screen 1: Windows Media Player's Options menu lets you set up a hotkey to toggle the screen on/off to conserve batteries while listening to music.

Now, when you're listening to music, press the hot key to turn off the screen and save power. (Note: Any buttons you map will not launch their normal application while Media Player is open. For example, if you set the Contacts hardware button to toggle screen, it will no longer open the Contacts window until Media Player is closed.)

­-- Richard Kettner, WiredGuy Weekly Editor (www.wiredguy.com)

Reduce MP3 file size

MP3s take up way too much storage space on your Pocket or Handheld PC. You can cut their file size in half by following these instructions on a desktop PC running the Windows OS.

1. Decode MP3 to WAV format. A number of programs let you do this. One such is MP3 Convert It from Digital Candle (www.digitalcandle.com)
2. On your desktop PC open the Sound Recorder utility (Start menu, Programs, Accessories, Entertainment)
3. In Sound Recorder, open decoded WAV files. (It may take a while)
4. Click "file-properties"
5. Click "convert now" (make sure it says all formats)
6. Scroll up to "MPEG-Layer 3"
7. In the bar immediately below it scroll down to "56kBit/s, 220500 Hz, Stereo"
8. Click "OK". It will take a while to convert
9. When it is done converting click "OK"
10. Save new file