I really enjoy the portability of flash drives, and I get the most bang for the buck on these by carrying not just music, or data files,  but my computing life!

• Server Simulators: As a growing web designer, I find I need to constantly flex my brain, and that means more or less constantly working on a web site, domain, or server. Unfortunately, that isn’t always possible. My work (like many, I’d bet) has a hideous firewall, behind which I am unable to access most administrative tools that are server-side. So I found MoWeS Portable ( MoWeS Portable, from CH Software). This is a true wonder! With this loaded on my flash drive (it takes on average about 100MB if you add extras, and why wouldn’t you? I’ll warn you, the installation can be a bit hinkey, but once done, it works just like a real server, only it’s running on your flash drive!  WOS also offers to sell you flash drives, but I’ve no idea whether they are good deals or not. My recommendation is to look for the fastest, rather than the largest flash drive. This will greatly improve your portable application performance. I personally loaded my portables to a micro HDD USB device, and although it’s not as hardy as flash, it doesn’t suffer flash’s shorter lifespan problems or speed issues. Of course, being a HDD, it died pretty quickly, so I bought a regular flash drive with the highest available write speed, for good measure. Go to WOS CH Software website, and it will custom-build you an installation package that includes any or all of the following:
  • Apache Server
  • MySQL Database Support
  • PHP support
  • Nearly a dozen other server-side installations, including content management systems like Joomla/Mambo, Wiki installations, Bulletin Boards, and more!
• PortableApps.com: The coders at PortableApps.com are committing acts of genius. They take open source and free software, convert them to flash-friendly (no registry writes needed to operate) software that can be easily installed to your flash drive, making it a portable workstation! Everything from Open Office to portable antivirus and anti-malware kits can turn your little thumb drive into a professional computer debugging kit and “anywhere” workstation. Imagine not carrying your laptop with you on vacation! Just find yourself an internet cafe, plug in the flash drive, and viola, your browser, complete with your favorites, your saved passwords, your office programs configured the way you like them. And when you pull the plug, nothing personal is left behind (oh, sure, browsing history is accessible, but who cares? Use an encrypted browser like xB Browser, and it won’t matter). Most of the freeware described on this page can be had in portable format, either from PortableApps.com or from other websites (see Links for more sources).
• Toolkits: I recommend trying an Italian kit called winPenPack (English/Italian switch in upper right corner of page) that provides everything but the web server in a monstrous installation of over 150 different applications. Download it along with the English language pack, and you can run a super-kit without having to do setup yourself, if you like. This is a really big download, and unpacked can take up a GB of memory, so this is not for you “week-ender” flash owners with only 512MB! I recommend using drives with at least 2GB and preferrably 4GB, just to save room for your work, a few tv episodes, and a little music to listen to while working.This is really worth it, though! Alternately, you can “DIY” by getting yourself a little program called PStart (short for Portable Start), and put it on your flash drive. Then add all your other apps to its menu, and create an autorun.ini file to run the program at startup, and what do you get? A personalized operations menu running in the system tray of whatever computer you plug the drive into, that’s what!

The real charm of portable software is being able to use familiar programs that retain your setting preferences even in unfamiliar settings. I hope you find this at least as interesting as I do, and I look forward to reading your responses to my findings.

logo used without permission ...ain't I a stinker?

• It must be extremely light on RAM and ROM, at least when compared to other applications of its kind. This is especially important for programs that replace existing WinMo applications (and they must do the job a LOT better to be considered a true replacement).
• I prefer that it be a multi-tasker. Things that only do one thing must do it EXTREMELY well to be considered.
• It’s got to add something to the usefulness of the device. I’ve played some really fine games on my WinMobile device, but that’s a subject for its own page. Games are not considered part of usefulness in this article.

QuickMenu

Site Link

Lets you navigate your programs and settings menus just like a windows desktop machine. No more closing 6 folders after you’ve run your program. Menus are highly configurable, and can include or ignore currently open programs. Latest version has exclusion rules for always-on programs. Also has built in battery/memory indicators, and can make X button close programs or minimize, at your preference (with opposite action happening on long-tap of X button). Also has built in hibernate feature to recover RAM loss issues. Does so many things, and looks so clean and professional, I can’t resist. This is my #1 WinMo App!

Total Commander CE

Site Link

Vastly superior to the default file explorer in every WinMo version I have ever used. Manage & explore files and folders, create shortcuts, has built-in registry editor, built in FTP manager, built-in LAN manager, built-in ASCII editor. All around superior tool.

Mortplayer

Site Link

For those who use their mobile as a music player. Kills the screen and sets buttons to act like just a media player to save power while listening, has great skinning capabilities, and is very feature rich. It even has a timeout feature to play as you go to sleep and then “put itself to bed.” Also is compatible with most BT Stereo headset playback controls, which not many audio players can claim. Plays mp3 and ogg formats only, but skins, controls, and “player” modes are worth this limitation. This is a one-trick pony, but oh, what a trick!

iContact

Site Link

Replaces the default contacts manager, and does so with class. I was a long-time fan of PocketCM contact manager, but it just became too bloated and slow to continue recommending it. Although iContact does not manage SMS threading like PocketCM does, I found that I don’t really miss it that much. Skinnable, to a certain degree, but it’s main benefit is that it already looks 100 times better than the Windows default contact manager, and is finger friendly, unlike the default.

ClearTemp

Site Link
One of the few single use items on this list, but only because it performs a critical function that I haven’t seen done half as well by any multi-tasker (including SKTools). Cleans out your mobile’s temp files, strips dead links, clears unused registry entries, and generally makes your mobile a more hospitable environment for your files. Does it quickly and safely.

TCPMP

Site Link

The Core Pocket Media Player does for Windows Mobile what Windows Media Player did for PCs, but never could do for mobile devices. Simply a superior tool. Plays nearly any media format, and has easy to use controls and playlist management. Not my first choice for using my WinMo phone as an MP3 player, though, as was previously noted. Much better for video playback, and even other audio formats.

Schap’s Advanced Configuration Tool

Site Link

This amazing tool helps you modify a LOT of registry settings that would otherwise represent a tedious manual task. Saves me a TON of time on customizing after I flash a new OS to my phone, and lets me adjust things as needed. Just remember to close any open work before using this, as the last step is always a reboot.

Google Maps for Mobile

Site Link
Puts navigation tools on your mobile. Even those without GPS can use it, and it will use radio triangulation to guess your current location! Those with GPS have better accuracy, but the same full features. Needs no other explanation, really. Simply the “go-to” program for finding things on the go. Now has additional search capabilities for finding nearby businesses, etc. just like Live Search…which renders Live Search useless to me, yet again.

Opera Mini Browser

Site Link

The Pocket IE browser is, well, lame. It’s about as good as any other WAP browser, which isn’t saying much. If you want an iPhone-like web experience with your WinMo phone, try this browser. Yes, it’s by far the largest app I’ve ever recommended, but the heavy download comes with the functionality of a full browser. The only thing that would make this app perfect would be the ability to switch between full screen (default) and seeing my taskbar, so I could watch the clock and/or battery strength while surfing, and pull up notifications. Very smart surfing, considering the screen size.

UPX4PPC

Site Link

File sizes of applications and their libraries getting you down? Well, bring them down, in file size, I mean. This little application will make all of your uncompressed .exe files and .dll files much smaller (sometimes as much as 40% smaller!), leaving you with more memory space to add more applications!

MyMobiler

Site Link

Technically, this is a PC application, but it’s made for use with your mobile. Does the one thing ActiveSync should have done, but never did, lets you see and operate your mobile from your PC monitor! Allows for typing, touch actions, and can even be used to drag-n-drop files. Must-have for anyone who works from their mobile a lot while synchronized with a PC.

Although the website is focused primarily on the eLearning community, even if you’re not in curriculum development, you’ll probably find something useful there.

http://www.thriftytrainer.com