BROWSING, MAIL AND IM
• For me, there is no better mobile browser for Windows phones than the Opera Mobile. It’s fast, smooth, works well with touchscreens, boasts tabs, and offers competent in-line text search capabilities. Don’t forget to download this one.
* For Flash website compatibility, I strongly recommend the even faster Skyfire browser. It pre-optimizes pages for the phone and makes browsing breezier.
• And then, of course, all of us know how handy Google Apps can be on your mobile. Not just for Gmail and Search, it is also the best for quick access to the other useful apps in the Google basket, including Docs, Photos, Reader, Maps, Latitude, et al.
• For social networking tools, I would suggest the all-in-one Cellspin. This one-stop mobile app lets you blog, put up photos, audio, and video—on Blogger, Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Picasa, YouTube, Live Journal, MySpace and many more.
• If you like to twitter on the trot, get Fring and Nimbuzz. These instant messaging (IM) tools give you single-window access to Skype, MSN Messenger, GTalk, ICQ, SIP, Twitter, Yahoo and AIM.
GETTING THINGS DONE
• Task Plus refines the standard task list into something more compartmentalized and manageable. In addition, it lets you separate your personal agenda from official tasks and even includes birthdays and appointments in its single-window display.
• If you’re a scatterbrained soul and constantly need to jot things down, there’s nothing like good ol’ pen and paper. Second best? Evernote. This “remember everything” utility not only allows you to key in text, capture photos and record voice notes but also beams these searchable entries to a Web account automatically. So even if you lose your phone, you will still be able to access all your scraps of information on the Net. Seriously, once you get the hang of this, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it.
SYNCING AND BACKUP
• Try the Web-based Dashwire service to back up your WinMo phone to the Web.
Dashwire gives you a repository in the cloud of not just contacts, text messages, photos, and videos, but also your ringtones, bookmarks, speed dials, and call logs. Again, reachable on the Internet anytime.
• If you don’t like the Web option, check out DotFred PIM Backup. This saves your contacts, appointments, speed dial lists, tasks, SMS messages, call logs, etc., to a memory card. You can use a binary backup process for a faster, more reliable backup which can’t be viewed or altered, or a text-based option which is slower, but lets you view and edit the file whenever you want.
DON’T MISS THESE EITHER
• MobiWee 1.1: A nifty tool that allows you remote access to your phone in case you lose it and want to delete data. Also lets you wirelessly back up SMS messages and contacts (and edit them), or browse your files from any PC.