Go beyond ringtones

Personalize your Windows Mobile-based device

By Nancy Won

After years of refusing to be tied down by a cell phone, graphic designer Leo Jenkinson finally caved and joined the rest of the world in mobile matrimony. But rather than just dip a toe into the wireless waters by picking up a plain old flip phone, Jenkinson jumped in with both feet and bought a smart phone.

“I didn’t think I needed a cell phone,” Jenkinson says. “But now that I’ve got this, there’s no going back!”

He’s not alone. Many people — from stressed-out students and busy moms to high-rolling stockbrokers and creative professionals — have taken the plunge. They depend on their Windows Mobile-based devices — smartphones or Pocket PCs — to help stay organized, connected and in control of their lives.

Jenkinson’s smartphone makes short work of daily tasks such as organizing his calendar and looking up contacts. But learning how to personalize the one in his pocket is next on his to-do list.

Personalization, however, is more than setting ringtones and backgrounds. It is exploring your device’s capabilities and customizing them to suit your needs. A few simple tweaks are all it takes to change your relationship with your device.

Ready, set, go!

According to Frank McPherson, author of How to Do Everything with Windows Mobile (McGraw-Hill Osborne Media, 2006), there’s no better place to start than at the Start. “Edit the Start Menu so that your most-used programs, which aren’t already assigned to hardware buttons, are there for quick access,” he says.

Select Start > Settings > Menus, and tap the check box next to the program you want on the Start Menu. This fix will save you time and plenty of clicking, scrolling and tapping.

Today’s special

Next you’ll want to edit the Today screen. “Display only the items you want to see,” says McPherson. “I removed Tasks because I don’t need to see the number of tasks due.”

Select Start > Settings > Today. Then tap Items and clear the check box next to the items you don’t want on the Today screen.

You can also customize your Today screen with your favourite photo using the Pictures application. First copy the JPEG to your device and then, after you’ve displayed your image in full screen, select Tools and tap Set as Today Wallpaper.

If you have a Windows Mobile-based device, you can also configure Today screen plug-ins. Some plug-ins allow you to see your entire daily schedule. Others show you the weather, keep track of stock prices and display recent newsfeed items. Certified Software Catalog is the place to browse for plug-ins you never knew you needed.

At the touch of a button

One of McPherson’s favourite tricks is to shut down an application rather than minimize it by tapping the close button. You can do this by installing SPB Pocket Plus software.

This application also comes with a Today screen plug-in that makes customizing a snap, adds icons for your favourite programs and includes tabbed browsing for Internet Explorer. Best of all, if you have a touch screen, it comes with a scrolling feature for many programs, including Internet Explorer Mobile and Contacts.

Sights and sounds

Last — but certainly not least — you can add pizzazz with ring tones, backgrounds and themes. Custom ring tones can be downloaded from your mobile phone network or a computer.

You can even create your own ring tones with inexpensive music looping and sampling programs such as Sony’s Acid Music Studio.

McPherson suggests changing the Sounds and Notifications so that screen taps and hardware buttons don’t make sounds. This way, you can type a quick note or e-mail at the office, in bed, on the bus or under the table at a restaurant without alerting everyone within a 10-mile radius of your mobile dependency. Tap Start > Settings > Sounds and Notifications, and clear the check box next to Screen Taps and Hardware Buttons.

You can also customize the sound that plays for different notifications by selecting the Notifications tab, selecting an event and then choosing a sound from the list.

With all these options its easy to make your device your own.