PDA Tips and Tricks

CMO COMPLIANCE| CMO Handheld Software| CMO Global

	Case Studies \| Books \| Links l Newsletter l PDA Tips and Tricks

PDA Tips & Tricks

Below is a list of PDA Tips & Tricks that will provide you with a heightened PDA experience:

	How to Conserve your PDA Battery
	How to call internationally from your PDA for FREE
	Customizing shortcuts on your PDA
	Storage on your PDA - How to manage the storage on your PDA more effectively
	PDA Tip – Accessing and Using SIM contacts on Windows Mobile

How to Conserve your PDA Battery

Maximum battery life is achieved on the Pocket PC through brief, intermittent use. For example, you don't use much power if all you do is occasionally check your Calendar schedule, look up a Contact, or jot down a brief note. Of course, a major strength of the Pocket PC over simple personal information managers is that it allows you to play graphics-intensive games, watch videos, and listen to movies. Those activities can drain your batteries quickly. Here are some things you can do about it:

	1	Always drop your Pocket PC into its sync/charging cradle when you sit down to work. This not only keeps your appointments and contacts current, it tops off the battery. When you're ready to go somewhere, you've got a fully-charged battery.

	2	Keep your device set to power off in as brief a period as you can tolerate. This time is specified in the Advanced tab of the Power set up utility (Start > Settings > System > Power). Make sure the box labeled "Turn off device if not used for" is checked, and set the time in the drop-down menu adjacent to it (options: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 minutes). We recommend setting it to 1 minute first, and adjusting it upward if you find that it shuts off too quickly for you.

	3	Press the power off button when you're finished. Even with auto power off set to 1 minute, you still waste a minute's worth of power.

	4	Activate the Windows Media Player screen toggle feature. This allows you to turn the screen off by pressing a hardware button, while you're listening to music. You can configure other hardware buttons to go to the next or previous song, or to adjust the volume, so you don't need the screen on to control the program. To do this on a Pocket PC running the Windows Mobile 2003 (or previous) operating system, open Windows Media Player, activate the Tools menu, and go to Settings > Buttons. To do this on a Pocket PC running Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition (or later) OS, open Media Player, activate the "Menu" menu, select Options, and go to the Button tab.

	5	Finally, if you spend a lot of time away from your desk, and find that you are running out of power, consider carrying a spare battery with you. They are available from your Pocket PC manufacturer.

How to call internationally from your PDA for FREE

Skype welcomes you to the way of the future. Skype is a Voip (Voice over internet protocol) solution that allows users to make free calls over the internet to anyone else who also has Skype. It's free and easy to download and use, and works with most computers. The basic computer-to-computer service allows users to speak, to send instant messages or to send files to one another from their computers via the Internet at no cost. Conferences of up to five users are supported. Skype also has paid services allowing users to call traditional telephone numbers (SkypeOut), receive calls from traditional phones (SkypeIn), and receive voicemail messages.
It is quick and free to download, so jump on the Skype bandwagon with the rest of the world
For more information visit Skype.com

Customizing shortcuts on your PDA

How to change the default program shortcuts on your PDA

You can display the applications you want on the Start menu by going to Start, Settings, Menus and checking the items you want and unchecking the ones you don't. You can do the same on the New menu, which appears on the bottom left of the desktop. Similarly, by tapping the Today icon in the Settings window, you can customize what appears on the Today screen, which by default shows unread messages, tasks, appointments, and date.

Storage on your PDA - How to manage the storage on your PDA more effectively

Given the size of most PDA’s, only limited storage space is available. However there are alternative storage methods that will help to free up your PDA and may even make it operate faster.

Many people use a Flash card storage method. Flash memory is non-volatile memory that is retained even when the power source is turned off or lost. If you have important information to keep, it is probably best to store it in Built-in Storage or on a storage card. These storage cards are easy to use and relatively cheap to purchase. There are 2 types of Flash cards that will suit PDA users

1. SD Card:
A secure digital card used for a variety of uses – digital cameras, Pocket PCs, some phones, and camcorders. SD cards come in a variety of capacities and speeds.

2. CF Card:
A Compact Flash card is a memory card that uses flash memory to store data. Many people have used CF cards for their digital cameras. Larger than the SD card, CF cards vary by type and speed. If your camera uses a CF card for storage, you may be able to transfer your images to your Pocket PC by taking out the CF card and putting it into the CF slot in your Pocket PC. Make sure they are compatible types. Type II is slightly thicker than Type I. A Type II will generally work with a Type I, but it won't work the other way around. In addition to storage, if your device has a CF slot, you can add compatible CF accessories, such as cameras, modems or wireless cards.

Putting storage cards in your device:

There are many ways and many places on a device to add a card. On Pocket PCs the SD card slot is usually on the top and can double as an SDIO slot. The CF slot, if you have it, is probably right next to it. New devices often come with plastic blanks that you need to remove first. Don't shove the card when it resists shoving. You probably have the wrong end up. It should slide in and you'll hear a click.

How to Move Data to a Storage Card on a Pocket PC

On your device:
1. Tap Programs > File Explorer.
2. Tap and hold on the document you want to move.
3. Tap Cut.
4. Select My Device to navigate to the complete list of folders.
5. Select either the Storage Card, CF Card, or Built-in Storage folder.
6. Tap and hold in the new folder.
7. Tap Paste.
You can also use ActiveSync on your desktop to move data.

PDA Tip – Accessing and Using SIM contacts on Windows Mobile

When you first get a PDA, you may find that you have all your contacts on your SIM and you’re unable to find them on your device and in Outlook. In Windows Mobile 5 or 6 you are able to access them, and copy them to your main contacts very simply.

In your “Contacts” screen, tap on Menu, then SIM Manager. This will load your all your SIM contacts. This will let you see all the information about your SIM contacts, including how full your SIM is and a list of your own phone numbers.

To save all your SIM contacts on the phone, you first need to select all of them by tapping “Menu”, and then selecting “Select All” from the list that appears. Once you have done that, tap and hold on your screen, then tap on “Save to Contacts”. This may take a while depending on how many contacts you have.

Once completed, you can delete the contacts from your SIM, and next time you sync with your PC – all those contacts will sync back to your Outlook contacts. This will ensure that your contacts are safe on your PC, and in case you lose or break your phone, you will easily be able to get them back.

All logos and trademarks on this site are the property of their respective owners. This site is best viewed with Internet Explorer 6 at 800x600 or better.

Terms and Conditions l Privacy Policy l Contact Us l Sitemap