Experts Online

Here are short summaries of just a few of the great posts published daily on the Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine blogs. We encourage you to read the complete post, post your own comments, and ask questions of the authors. Below each post we've placed the date of the post and the name of the person who wrote it. To find and read the complete post, go to the blog home page (pocketpcmag.com/blogs) and use the navigation calendar in the right hand column to browse to the date in question.

YouTube IEM plug-in fixed!

As reported a while ago, YouTube has changed the layout of their pages. As a result of these changes, a plug-in that allowed you to use TCPMP to play YouTube videos no longer works. The author of the plug-in (FlashVideoBundle) recently released version 1.2 of the software, which fixes this problem. You can read his post about this, which includes a link to the plug-in (bottom of the page) and installation instructions here (discussion.treocentral.com/showpost.php?p=1319431&postcount=1).

How to install .CAB files from your desktop

You can install .CAB files to your device from your desktop with CABviaActiveSync.

CAB files are mini-installation files that must be copied to a Windows Mobile device and then activated to install a program. However, a free program called CABviaActiveSync (freewareppc.com) can be used to install a .CAB file on your device from your desktop PC, just like you do with a regular .EXE installer file.

The greatest Windows Mobile game that never was

Unfortunately, the promising-looking action game, Pyromania, may never be released.

Pyromania, a 3D action game with an "unusual" adventure plot, is set in a post-nuclear-war underground world. The game requires you to gain skills and ally yourself with different characters. A demo version of the program is available (handheld.softpedia.com). Unfortunately, you may never get to play the full version of the game. The word on the street is that the developer has dropped the project.

Want to get rid of the rubber covers of the HTC Vox?

The HTC Vox is a great Smartphone with a very annoying problem: Over time, the rubber cover on the USB slot expands and becomes impossible to use for its original purpose. When this happens, you may want to remove it completely. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to do this. Remove the battery cover and pull the large plug upwards and out.

Ask the Experts: How do you handle mobile security?

Windows Mobile is not a tremendously secure platform to begin with, but when you load a lot of third-party software on your device, you ratchet up the risk. In addition, it's relatively easy for one of these small devices to slip out of your pocket or get left behind somewhere, accidentally. You can minimize the risk by password protecting your device, using data encryption, limiting the data you carry on the device, and using common sense computer security procedures.

Sunnysoft Contacts review

Sunnysoft Contacts adds features to the built-in Contacts program. In this example, typing the 5 (jkl) on the number pad starts filtering contacts matching the letter J or the number 5. As you continue typing, it further refines the results.