encounter sound

So my old site, which had my old list of recommended apps for the Treo, is gone.  What’s not gone is my love for my phone, and for all those who have since jumped the band on the wagon.  Wait…  The band, “Wagon”?  Exactly.

OK, first thing’s first:  The launcher I use to replace the default “Applications” app is called LauncherX.  I find it to be the best fit for me, although there are a few out there I haven’t tried, including one of the most popular ones.  I also use a second launcher app called “Hi-Launcher” for quick access to phone stuff.  I have it programmed that if I hit [Phone],[1],[1] for instance, to go to my Contacts, 1,2 to Call Log, etc.  Often I dial while driving, so I wanted an easy way to get to the things I needed with one hand and fast.  This does the trick.  Those are two of the most essential apps I have bought.  Some of the advantages of LauncherX over the default app are: You can categorize EASIER and with tabs instead of the dropdown menu.  You can also hide categories (since you can’t delete some of the apps that live in ROM that you will never ever use, and because there are some apps I call “Set-and-Forget” that you only need to access to change settings on, so they needn’t occupy space in your launcher.  There are loads of other benefits (including the “widgets” that make it easy to change the display name of an app, delete applications, move them to launch from the card, beam them, etc. by dragging the icon onto a “widget” icon on the bottom of the screen).  Anyway, there’s my shining endorsement of LauncherX and Hi-Launcher in tandem.

MAIN APPS 1:

“Contacts” = PhoneMagic overall just kicks the crap out of the default Address Book app.  Its search is smarter and faster, it remembers the last contacts you’ve looked up and displays them on top by default, it works great for one-hand use with the 5-way buttons, and pretty much just rocks.  It also integrates nice with DateBk5

“Datebook” = DateBk5 is the most amazing application I own.  And it should be, considering it’s got the highest pricetag I think.  It replaces both the “Calendar” and “Todo” built-ins, puts them on steroids, makes them infinitely more customizable and organized, and then punches them in the teeth.  It would take a book the size of the GIANT user’s manual to describe the benefits of the application, just let it be known that if you’re only going to buy one piece of software for the Treo, this should be it.  When I make a To-Do to call someone, I link it to their phone number, then it dials it for me when I’m ready.  I can look at my day a hundred different ways, filter it however I want, and since I’m a major list person, integrate perfectly with my to-dos.  I couldn’t do what I do without this application.  I can’t remember life without it…

“E-mail” = ChatterEmail+ is pretty much how I do all my e-mail now.  Basically, I have my main account forward to a Gmail account (for archival purposes AND for their amazing Spam filter), then I have Gmail forward it back to a Treo-fetch IMAP account on my server.  It’s a runaround for sure, but it ensures that I don’t get junk on my phone all day (since it “Swooshes” every time I get a new message) but that I’ll get everything when it’s sent, as long as I have data access.  If I don’t have time to answer it then, it becomes a “To-Do” in Datebk5.  I know, I’m a geek.

“IM” = VeriChat is a program I somehow got for free.  I’m not sure if it came with my phone, or with some other software, or what.  I know that I love it but am not sure I would have paid for instant messaging, since I pretty much never do it.  Well, never did it…  It connects to all the major networks (AIM, Yahoo, MSN, ICQ) and works really well.  I’d love to have text messaging tied into the same app, but who’s complaining?  If you IM, this is a good one to use.  Also has a cool “auto-reply” feature that I like to use since sometimes I don’t notice someone IMing me while the phone is charging or something.  It just says something to the extent of “it’s not you, it’s me.  really.”
“Phone” = the default Phone app

“Phonebook” = Directory Assistant is a freeware app that rocks.  Queries YP.com for business or local phone numbers and addresses.  Once you have them, you can dial straight from the app, add the whole listing to your contacts (no typing = happy), or copy the address to departure or arrival slots in the “directions” part of the app that sends you to mapquest via Blazer.  The only thing I wish was added to that list is “add to existing contact” but we’re splitting hairs on a free application.  This is one of the most oft-used programs I have on my Treo.

“Slap” = Slap  is like a Memopad on speed.  You jot down notes, then press an appropriate button and it throws it into the application.  For instance, if I’m talking to someone and they say “Let’s do lunch at 1 on Friday” I just type “friday 1pm lunch with Someone”, then hit the DateBk button and it automatically fills out a form to add an appointment this friday at 1 called “Lunch with Someone”.  You can do the same type of thing with phone numbers, addresses, a list of to-dos, e-mail, etc.  It also has little buttons to automatically add a date or time.  It’s awesome.

“Text SMS” = default text messaging software.  I’d love to see a replacement for this puppy.  I get spoiled by hitting “d” to delete messages in chatter.  I’d rather not have to touch the screen or monkey around finding the button with the 5-way just to delete a message.  Especially when the Cardinals lost.  I hate those messages.

“Web” = default Blazer app.  I tried Xiino, which some people swear by, but it sucked for me.  I also tried Opera Mobile with Java, and it also sucked for me.  Blazer’s not perfect, but it does the trick.  It also helps to serve pages up through Skweezer if they don’t have a mobile version.  It’s magic.
To be continued…