New Users FAQ Guide to Windows Mobile Devices

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Contents

Basic Windows Mobile FAQs

What version of Windows Mobile do I have?

Answer: Most newer phones now have at least Windows Mobile 6, with many running 6.1 and even newer phones running 6.5. A quick and easy way to figure out which you have is to look in your phone. For non-touchscreen users, simply click: Start > Settings > About. For touchscreen users click: Start > Settings > System (Tab) > About

  • Click here for a great visual/ pictorial for understanding the difference between the Windows Mobile versions.)

What is the difference between Smartphone vs Pocket PC?

Answer: According to this publication from Microsoft, there are three options of Windows Mobile 6 options, Standard, Professional and Classic.

  • Standard refers to non-touchscreen Windows Mobile phones whereas; this was a "Smartphone" in Windows Mobile 5
  • Professional refers to touchscreen; this was a Pocket PC Phone Edition in Windows Mobile 5
  • Classic refers to Windows Mobile PDAs that are actually not phones which were called Pocket PCs in Windows Mobile 5

Continuing from Microsoft, more than just touch vs nontouch, the difference extends to functionality. Windows Mobile 6 Professional supports scenarios that are dependent on touchscreen functionality. Both versions offer a genuine Office Mobile experience, while Professional powered devices offer Remote Desktop Mobile, to provide remote access capabilities to Microsoft Windows® personal computers and Microsoft server products. Note: Applications developed for one version may not operate on devices running the other. Classic powered devices will run the same applications as Professional.

One of the major differences between Standard and Professional in Windows Mobile 6.0 was that for Standard powered devices, Word Mobile includes basic editing and formatting options, including multiple fonts, while Excel Mobile features basic editing and formatting options like cut, copy, and paste. Office Mobile for Professional powered devices extends features to include new document creation and enhanced editing and formatting tools. In Word Mobile, this includes spell check, word count, and paragraph settings, and Excel Mobile adds the New Chart Wizard functionality, which allows you to create new charts on your Windows Mobile 6 Professional powered device. (Footnote again.) However, many devices are now using Windows Mobile 6.1 which upgrades Standard to the options found with Professional devices. Click here for a pocketnow.com comparison of Standard vs Professional and here for Windows Mobile 5 vs 6.

Speaking of Office, If I have Windows Mobile 6.0 , How do I make a New Word or Excel File?

Answer: Note: if you have Windows Mobile 6.0 and are wondering "How do I create a new document?" never fear -- there is an easy way to do so. Just take blank ".docx" or ".xlsx" files from your windows PC (or click here to download examples) and transfer them to your phone. Office Mobile will read these files, but is unable to save them, thus making them act like a template. If you have Windows Mobile 6.1 or higher, you are able to create new files the old fashion way just like on your computer.

How about between my Windows Mobile device and a Blackberry? Or an iPhone?

Answer: Obviously, there's a lot of press out there on Blackberries and, of course, on iPhones. While these these different types of "smart phones" do similar things, they are very different. In common: they all check your email, can receive pushed emails, run applications, manage your contacts, take pictures, etc. The things that we've come to expect on advanced phones. iPhones have a large applications store that serves as one central location for applications, whereas Windows Mobile phones and Blackberries draw their applications from a number of sources. Windows-based phones integrate with Exchange for pushed emails/calendering/contacts automatically (and iPhones support this as well), whereas Blackberries require additional software that your administrator at work may or may not have implemented. In short, these are different platforms with many similarities and many differences. In general, an application for iPhone won't run on a Blackberry or on a Windows phone; but many publishers have created versions of applications for all three platforms.

What about battery life- how frequently do I have to charge my phone?

Answer: While different phones have different battery lives, more often than not, if you leave your phone on all day as most people do, you'll find yourself charging your phone daily, regardless of what it says on the box for your battery life. If not, you'll be cutting it close on the next day. Our best advice is just get used to charging it at night when you go to bed!

What type of charger/USB cable does this use?

Answer: Most Windows Smartphones currently use a mini-USB plugin as both the interface to your computer as well as the plug for the charger. It has been announced that most vendors will be switching to micro-USB at some point in the future (some devices already have this). According to Wikipedia, "As of February 2009, most available devices and cables still use Mini plugs, but the newer Micro connectors are becoming more widely adopted. The thinner Micro connectors are intended to replace the Mini plugs in new devices including smartphones and Personal Digital Assistants." See Pic A to the right for an example.
Pic A: Both styles of USB plugs, curtesy of intomobile.com.
Pic A: Both styles of USB plugs, curtesy of intomobile.com.

If you are a convert from a Blackberry to a Windows Mobile Device, you'll notice that this mini-USB connection is the same as many Blackberry devices. There are many discussions on the web about using a Blackberry charger to charge other devices (like here, for example) and it appears that this should be safe. Of course, you can always charge from your laptop as well if you manage to forget your charger but somehow remember your USB cable while traveling!

Furthermore, adapters to connect mini-to-micro and vice-versa are widely available and quite inexpensive -- so save those chargers for your next phone as well!

How can I sync my contacts and calendar?

Answer: This depends on what you are syncing with! If you are syncing with Outlook via a USB connection, use ActiveSync if using XP or WMDC (Windows Mobile Device Center) if on Vista (and also will be used with Windows Mobile 7 to synchronize any data to and from Outlook on your PC and your phone

If you are syncing with Outlook via a push connection with Exchange: you will need to confer with your IT department to get the specifics of how to configure your Direct-Push connection, however once it is configured, your contacts and calendar will synchronize just like your email.

Other web-based services (such as Yahoo Go! or Gmail) will also synchronize your contacts and calendar with your Windows Mobile device flawlessly. See here for Yahoo! or here for GMail for all the specific details.

Applications FAQs

How do you install an application?

Answer: This is up there with being one of the most important questions a Windows Mobile user can ask. Almost every day pocketnow.com shows you new pieces of software for your device. In doing so, you find links to CAB files.

  • What is a CAB file? It is like an executable (or .EXE), but for your phone. You load a CAB onto your phone, run it, and the program gets installed. Often, this sounds easier than it is!
  • Click here for a video that will show you one method of installing a CAB file by transferring the file from your computer to your phone, then running the CAB on your phone. Of course, you could just download the CAB file right from your device instead of going through your computer as demonstrated.
  • Note, another way to install programs is to download the .EXE (if available). You will see this option when using pocketnow.com's software store, for example. This will launch ActiveSync or WMDC and automatically start the installation once you plug in your device. This method also installs some files onto your computer so that if you factory reset your device, or uninstall a program, you can go to the Add/Remove programs section of ActiveSync or WMDC and quickly install the app again.

To free up space, don't forget to delete the CAB once you've installed the program. Although, it is a good idea to keep a folder somewhere either on your SD card or you computer with all your CABs if you have to reinstall the programs later on.)

Where do I get more applications?

Answer: There are a ton of Windows Mobile Applications out there. A good place to begin looking for new applications for your device is right here in the wiki. Of course, you can peruse the Software section of pocketnow.com or look at the reviews of the different applications available over at pocketnow.com. Or head to the store!

However, most, if not all, of the free applications come from the forums over at XDA. To find more applications (and pretty much everything under the sun for your device), click here and simply search for your device.

What are some must have applications?

Answer: For each device, we are beginning a "Must Haves" section in the wiki. Two ways to access this. Option A: locate your device and find the "Must Have" section at the top of the device; Option B: click here for all the "Must Haves" for all the devices.

Email FAQs

Is Windows Mobile compatible with my email?

Answer: The easiest answer to this one is "YES!". But, there are many different ways of accessing your email.

What is Push or IMAP or SMTP Mean???

  • Push email: A means by which email that is received by your mail server is pushed straight to your phone without you triggering it to check your email. See this article for more explanation.
  • IMAP and POP3: IMAP and POP3 are different methods by which your phone can CHECK its email (as opposed to the email being PUSHED to your phone).
  • SMTP: Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is a way to send email from one point to another.

What can Outlook with Exchange do for my email?

Answer: Outlook (via an Exchange server, like you would generally have at work) is capable of PUSHING email to your phone via Microsoft's Direct Push Technology. You will have to talk to an IT person to know exactly what credentials you need to give your phone, but once you have configured it, your phone just automatically received email updates in real-time. Want to know more about Exchange and email? Read this thorough pocketnow.com review. Also, click here for more tips on using Outlook!

In addition, there are many options for having your email (along with your calendar and contacts) pushed to your device. Check out this thread for great options on Push Email clients.

What about Outlook with Exchange?

Answer: Outlook without Exchange is just an email client, just like your phone can be, and needs to use a method like IMAP or POP3 to check your email. If you have already configured Outlook to check email from a remote server (such as Yahoo or Gmail) then you will use a similar method on your phone.

Can I use Yahoo/ Gmail/ Hotmail, etc?

Answer: Quick answer is yes! However, Yahoo / Gmail / Hotmail all have multiple ways in which you can check your email with your phone. One way to do this is to configure your phone's POP3/IMAP, SMTP appropriately to check these accounts. See:

Furthermore, Yahoo, Gmail, and Hotmail also have stand-alone applications that can allow you to check/send email, search email, etc in a manner more consistent with their website (i.e. threaded conversations in gmail). This applicaitons are available here:

Lastly, you can always just visit the your email provider's webpage!

What about other webmail or email providers?

Answer: For mail services other than those listed above you will have to do some investigating on your own. Questions to ask:

  • Does my email provider provide POP3/IMAP/SMTP access? If so, configure your phone's service that way.
  • otherwise, if there is web access to your email, you can always pull up the browser on your phone and check your email that way.

Internet FAQs

What web browser is the best?

Answer: This is very much the age-old question. Luckily, there are options out there for browsers, however, it can be almost too much sometimes. But start here for reviews and information on how to obtain Skyfire, Opera Mini, Opera Mobile 9.5, Iris and NetFront.

Picture and Video FAQs

Can I take pictures with my phone?

Answer: With very few exceptions, yes you can take pictures with your phone. How to activate the camera will differ by phone, but most phones have a specific button that is configured to launch the camera application by default. Your manual will have details. After taking pictures with your phone you may wonder "what can I do with these pictures?". There are many options -- you can:

  • Set it as your background image (by navigating to your "My Pictures" folder via your File Explorer, opening up the image, and selecting "Set as Background" or "Use as Homescreen"
  • Email it to friends (by attaching it via your email application, whether that is the native email application on your phone, or one provided by Yahoo, Google, or Hotmail, or others)
  • MMS it to friends (by composing an MMS message and clicking on the "Image" icon and attaching)
  • Upload it to Facebook using these directions or this application.
  • Extract it from your phone onto your computer and do whatever you want with it by using ActiveSync/ WMDC to explore your phone, and Navigate to "My Pictures" and copy it to your computer's desktop.

Can I take video with my phone?

Most modern phones have both still-shot camera capability as well as video capability. You can email, MMS, and extract it to your home computer, just like you would a photo. In fact, you can use your phone as a portable webcam using this software for example.

Ringtone FAQs

How do I select a ring tone?

Luckily, adding a specific ring tone for a single contact is fairly straight forward. Simply navigate into your contact, click on "Edit" and scroll down until you reach "Custom Ring Tone" and select what ring tone you want for that contact. To set a specific ring tone for a new text message simply head to Settings > Sounds and change the option for "New Text Message" (also works for email, voice message, etc.)

How do I make my own ring tone?

There are a bunch of different tactics in making your own ring tone. The trick is getting it to be the correct length- too short and it will repeat too much, too long and you miss the fun of having a customized ring tone. To take a favorite song and shorten it up, a great free program to do this is Audacity. However, if you are into making a ring tone straight on your phone, you can install the HTC MP3 Trimmer program (click here to download; (as discussed here and in this review.) Note: if you customize a ringtone for a text message, it will play the whole thing and won't stop once you read the text. So make sure it is on the shorter side.

Now that you have your proper ringtone you can either copy it to your "My Ringtones" folder on your phone or simply create a "My Rintones" folder on your SD card and your phone will read it just fine.

See here for more ringtone leads!

Texting FAQs

What's SMS? What's MMS?

Answer: SMS stands for Short Message Servie and is simply plain text, no pics, vids, etc. Most carriers limit a single SMS text to 160 characters. MMS stands for Multimedia Messaging Service and is simply a text that includes pictures, videos, voice messaging with or without plain text. Before sending out a bunch of pics, etc. make sure you understand what your plan includes as they can get pretty expensive if you don't have unlimited plan.

Can everybody receive my texts?

Answer: Realistically, texts work flawlessly between carriers. However, make sure to understand what plan you have before you start texting everyone you know!

What is threaded texting? Do I have to keep it?

Answer: Threaded texting acts as a way to have your texts appear on your device as more of a conversation style, rather than just independent messages (click here for picture examples.) Click here for a pocketnow.com description of how to turn it OFF or here for a quick reference to the registry.

Protecting your Phone FAQs

Do I have to worry about viruses?

There really isn't much to worry about viruses, however, as seen here Flexilis Mobile Security is looking at ways to protect your phone.

How to prevent scratches, etc.

The best action here is prevention- simply get your shiny new phone in a protective casing (as seen here in the pocketnow.com store!). Also, to keep your screen clean, check out this review on screen cleaners that will make your screen shine like no other! Or watch this very in-depth video.

How do I back up my phone?

Occasionally, you may find that you need to do a hard reset which will wipe out your entire phone. One way to prevent losing everything is simply backing up your contacts, calendar and emails using activesync or WMDC. Also, there are programs that allow you to back up everything- including the registry and test messages. Here is a basic list to get you going on finding the right back-up tool for you!

What if I get my phone wet?

We've all been there-- doing too many things and all of a sudden your phone is under water (whether it is in a lake, or worse, a toilet!.) What to do?!?! Adapted from this great article from wikihow.com:

  1. Get it out of the water as soon as possible. The plastic covers on cell phones are fairly tight, but water can enter the phone in a short period of time, perhaps only 20 seconds or less. So grab your phone quickly! If you can't get to it in time, your best bet is to remove the battery while it is still under water. Water helps dissipate heat from shorts that can damage the phone, so most damage occurs when the inside of the phone is merely wet and there is a power source.
  2. Don't Panic. Your phone will probably not be too damaged if you right away take it out of the water. While it's in the water, immediately take it out.
  3. Remove the battery. This is one of the most important steps. Don't take time to think about it; electricity and water do not mix. Cutting power to your phone is a crucial first step in saving it. Many circuits inside the phone will survive immersion in water provided they are not attached to a power source when wet.
  4. If you have a GSM carrier, remove your SIM card. Some or all of your valuable contacts (along with other data) could be stored on your SIM. To some people this could be more worth saving than the phone itself. SIM cards survive water damage well, but some of the following steps are unnecessary i.e. don't heat it. Just pat it dry and leave it aside until you need to connect your phone to your cellular network. (This step does not apply to CDMA carriers such as Verizon, Alltel, US Cellular, Sprint, etc.)
  5. Dry your phone. Obviously you need to remove as much of the water as soon as possible, so you can save it from getting into the phone. Shake it out without dropping it, then use a towel or paper towel (ideally trying not to clog the wet paper in the gaps and grooves of the phone) to gently remove as much of the remaining water as possible. Dry the excess moisture by hand.
  6. Remove any covers and external connectors to open up as many gaps, slots, and crevices in the phone as possible.
  7. Use a vacuum cleaner if possible. Do not use a hair dryer (even on a "cold" mode) to dry out the phone, as this may force moisture further into the small components, deep inside the phone. If moisture is driven deeper inside, corrosion and oxidation may result when minerals from liquids are deposited on the circuitry. Using a hairdryer might be a temporary fix, but this will eventually cause component failure inside the phone. Instead, remove all residual moisture by drawing it away with a vacuum cleaner held over the affected areas for up to 20 minutes in each accessible area. This is the fastest method and can completely dry out your phone and get it working in thirty minutes. Be careful not to hold the vacuum too close to the phone, as a vacuum can create static electricity, which is even worse.
  8. Use a substance with a high affinity for water to help draw out moisture. Leave the phone in a bowl or bag of uncooked rice overnight. The rice would absorb any remaining moisture. If available, it is preferable to use desiccant instead. Desiccant will absorb moisture better than rice. It may be found under a brand name such as the "BHEESTIE Bag™" "DRY-ALL" "Damp Rid" or "Dry Right".
  9. Let the phone sit on absorbent towels, napkin, or other paper. Remember that the goal is to evacuate all the moisture and humidity, not to trap it or add even more. Check the absorbent material every hour for 4 to 6 hours. If moisture is evident, repeat the vacuuming step and desiccant steps.
  10. Test your phone. After you have waited a day or so, make sure everything is clean and dry looking and re-attach the battery to the phone and see if it works. If your phone does not work, try plugging it into its charger without the battery, if this works, you need a new battery. If not, try taking your cell phone to an authorized dealer. Sometimes they can fix it. Don't try to hide the fact that it has been wet. There are internal indicators that prove moisture.
  11. Take the phone apart If your phone doesn't turn on at all. Try taking it apart. First, make sure that you have ALL the right parts and know exactly where they go. Be sure to put everything back in its proper place once finished. As you're disassembling it, pat each individual part dry with a small towel and use the vacuum cleaner once more on the crevices. If this doesn't work go to the professionals.

Registry FAQs

What is the registry?

The registry is really a database which stores settings and options for Microsoft Windows operating systems.

How do I edit the registry? Why do I want to edit the registry?

The wiki has a very basic "How To" section on editing the registry and is sufficient, though basic. However, a very thorough guide can be found here. Editing the registry allows you to add very specific changes to your phone. Whether it is turning word completion off or customizing your calendar's working hours and days you will need to edit the registry!

Advanced FAQs

I just got my phone, and I have a pretty good idea what's going on, what are some must-dos for me?

There are some must-haves for the average Windows Mobile user and also for individual phones. Before diving into the wiki further, take a second to read through the Must Haves section which includes some "must have" applications, registry edits and tips and tricks for all Windows Mobile users as well as for specific devices.

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