How To

One e-mail standard that Windows Mobile has been missing since day one is IMAP idle--an advanced form of the IMAP standard.  The idle version is essentially push e-mail and it's very popular (Gmail officially supports it) as it is quick and is pretty good with battery life.

Fixup over at XDA has taken the open-source IMAP Pusher Service and made a handy WinMo client--one that also supports multiple IMAP Idle accounts.  He points out some interesting drawbacks in using Exchange Gmail too:

1. Almost all mail servers now support IMAP idle, including Gmail, while AS only works with MS's proprietary Exchange server.
2. Gmail's AS push is still not reliable enough to be practically usable. It does not let you use your own domain as reply email address. When you delete a gmail message in AS, it goes into Achieve instead of Trash.
3. AS does not support multiple accounts. You can use both AS and xImapPusher at the same time on the same phone.

To setup, have your IMAP account setup already in Outlook; set it to check once daily.  Install the xImapPusher .cab to your device (soft-reset for good measure), run the 'Accounts Config' followed by running 'xImap Pusher' application.  You should then see your data-arrows activate and begin pushing your email.  You also need to have .NET CF 3.5 installed.

Downside is there is no scheduler, so you'll have to remember to turn it off (run 'xImap Pusher' again) if you don't want it checking.  Still, we've been using it for a few hours now it seems pretty solid and simple to us, so give it a shot.

A few days ago we reported that a new version of Microsoft's My Phone was available.  Unfortunately, for some,  it also introduced a new bug: the inability to sync your SMS messages (something Tiger Woods would be happy about).

Luckily, a registry fix has been found:

• Go o HKLM\Software\Microsoft\My Phone
• Change the registry value “DisableSMSDataType” from “1″ to “0″

Seems easy enough and we're sure someone can .cab this up if you don't feel like touching your registry (though see our guide on the how-to for a quick primer).

By the way, sound off in comments if you experienced this bug. On our custom ROM, we never saw this and this "fix" wasn't pre-installed.

[MobileTechWorld via TamsWMS]

In the later "Leo" builds of HTC Sense (version 2.5) found on the HTC HD2, there are some neat advanced ringer functionality available under the Settings tab.

One of those is called "Be Polite" and in essence uses the built in accelerometer to detect when you are moving the phone to answer it.  In turn, since you are already on the way to answer or ignore the call, the device can significantly lower the ringer for you--hence the "Be Polite" part.

(By the way, Microsoft? You may want to start doing those sorts of things too--they are after all what makes smartphones "smart".)

Anywho, many of us don't like using Sense 2.5 because it was not build for the Touch Pro 2/Diamond 2, therefore does not do landscape and lags on our wee processors. However, Apristel has found that a lot of the Sense 2.1 builds in fact have "Be Polite" built in, but not activated. Installing his cab will un-hide this feature for you to use.

Now the catch: On some ROMs this works and on others it does nothing. So your mileage may vary.  Good luck!

So you like your current setup on your Windows phone but are looking to add that extra oomph to give it just a little extra speed and fluidity? Well, look no further as I’ll share some of my favorite tweaks to help get your phone running as zippy as the processor can handle.

Most of these tweaks will not even require us to alter directly the registry. Instead, we will rely on various third party programs to do that for us. This will allow a method to record our changes as well as a quick way to “undo” anything you find unsatisfactory.

Oh and none of this involves over-clocking the processor—I’m just not a fan of that technique.

Regardless of your ROM build (custom or official), OS type, or device make, so long as you are running a Windows professional OS, you will be able to apply these changes. For the sake of audience reach, we will be using a Sprint Touch Pro 2 running a custom WM6.5.1 ROM.

 Read on for the only guide you’ll need as I reveal all I know on this topic.

Bored of your regular old system font for Windows Mobile 6.5 and TouchFLO 3D? We've covered changing system fonts before, but it turns out that WM6.5 changes it up a bit and the old ways don't work so well.

Fret not as MajorSarcasm has stepped up and cab'd up various system fonts that will also alter the fonts for TouchFlo 3D.  Just download the .cab for which font you like, disable TF3D (if using), install, restart device and re-enable TouchFlo.

Don't care for how it looks? Simply uninstall the cab and restart your phone again. Choices include Eras, Century Gothic, Jott, Helvetica (great film by the way), Droid, Lucida Handwriting, Comic Sans and 13 others.

We have to admit, these new fonts breathe new life into our phone (we're partial to Kabel, pictured) and there seems little risk, so give it a shot.

For those who want to use Windows Marketplace for Mobile now and have an older device (Windows Mobile 6.0/6.1) or Windows Mobile 6.5 with the store not already on the in ROM, drellisdee over at PPC Geeks has managed to pull out the .CAB for the rest of us:

I made it from 23053 skymarket. Its for WWE only and only for devices that have a bootlauncher (IE no apache.) Let me know if it doesn't work on stock roms as its not signed as I'm not sure if signature is required but it will run on cooked roms with full kernel trust enabled.

Luckily my cooked WM6.5 ROM for the Snap did not have the store built in and so far it seems to be running just fine, as can be seen above. Basically the .CAB installs the link, which then hops to the store via your browser to download the latest store software.

So how's it working for you? Take the poll and let us know in comments! And remember that we're not officially expecting the Marketplace for older devices until next month.  Grab the file here at PPC Geeks.

Not one of the many who use Microsoft Exchange on your Windows Mobile phone? Totally understandable as it either costs hosting fees or requires you to work for a company with an Exchange server.

But if you're not using it, why can't you just delete "Outlook Email" from the email client, eh?  That sucker is just an empty void that you skip over to get to your real email accounts and alas, WM won't let you just delete it. Curses!

Have no fear, as it's all in the registry baby!  Diigibio at XDA documents how this is done, repeated below. Just use your favorite registry editor (or read our how-to) and navigate to this area:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Inbox\Svc\Activesync

Simply back up your device or that registry value and delete the \Activesync folder, followed by a soft reset.  Bam, no more "Outlook Email" folder to skip over.

Thanks, Scientific!

Update: Yeah, people are having, um, varying results with this one. Use at your own risk. And be sure to back up your phone first.

Did you know that there is a way to get rid of the AT&T “bloatware” without having to install a custom ROM? It’s been making the rounds on several internet forums but I first discovered how to remove the “bloat” over at Xda Developers. You essentially prevent the Fuze from loading all the AT&T branded and trial software during the initial start-up or just after a hard reset.

The process is rather simple, though it does start with a hard-reset. After you align the screen and skip the tutorials you are prompted to tap “OK” to install customized applications. Immediately after you hit “OK” you perform a soft reset by just pressing the reset button. When the Fuze reboots, the installation of Xpressmail, Ms. Pacman, AT&T Mall, etc. are bypassed leaving with a little more memory and a lot less bloat.

Now, some of that 'bloat' is actually stuff you want. You will have to go into the Windows folder on your device and install TouchFlo3D (file name PTManilaReg .cab), Microsoft's Security File (file name MSFTSecurity.cab), Opera (file name WM6PPCHTCOpera9_WWE.cab), as well as any of the other programs that AT&T provides that you may like such as Sprite Backup (each application can be found in the Windows main directory as well). I may be imagining things but the Fuze seems a little more responsive with the “bloat” removed. The nice thing about this method is that all you have to do to correct it is perform a hard reset and let the customization go through.

So if you missed our popular Part I (Glossy Black Bars) of this week's two-parter, make sure to take a looksy as it's pretty sweet.

Today's tip is another great one if you don't have Resco Explorer. Heck, in fact it's not bad even if do have that app as this can perform some unique tricks.

We present: File Explorer Extension (2.03)

What's it you ungrammatically ask?

It's a freeware app by bnm7bnm which adds a ton of super cool features to your default File Explorer, which is quite lacking.

Read on to catch the features of this cool app and where to get it!

Specifically, File Explorer Extension will add these features:

• Resizable header for easy sorting by file name, date of last modification or size

• Tree view of folders; you can now jump easily from a location to any other on your device in one step

• Show extension option for those who ask themselves the same question I do: “What type of file is this?

• Icon view that enables the display of files as icons similar to your desktop computer

• Real time image preview; now you don’t have to open several files in order to send the one you desire

• Open with Program allows you easily select an application to open the specific file you select (useful in case you don’t have the correct file associations or when you want Album app to open your images instead of Windows default picture viewer.

• File property context menu for easy renaming and attribute changing

• Open all executables with Parameters in case you need a special parameter when launching an application

• Sending shortcut to Programs for instant shortcut creation of executables placed directly in Programs folder in Start Menu.:

At just 41kb, this tiny little guy adds a ton of functionality. My favorite (seen in the pic above) is the "thumbnail" preview of your pics as you scroll through them, just like on the desktop.

Jump to XDA to give it a shot or download the .cab in our software forums here.

Enjoy!