GPS TIP OF DAY

Monday - January 15, 2007
Pocket PC Tip: Where are the new tips?

The new tips are located at: 2007 tips. This tip page is way too long and will not be updated. The RSS link on this page is available but will not be updated. Please subscribe to the RSS feed on the new page.

Friday - December 22, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: How about some handy utilites?

A really nice set of utilities are available for free (donations accepted) from PHM (Philippe Majerus) including a registry editor and more power items. Check the web site www.phm.lu and tap on the Pocket PC device.

Tuesday - December 19, 2006
WayPoint Tip: How can I arrange my maps by state?

The Map Loader always places the loaded maps into a folder called maps. You can move the maps that the Map Loader loaded into any arrangement of folders that you wish. The following discussion shows how to do this using a card reader on a PC but is generally applicable to other techniques.

1. Mount your memory card in a card reader and use My Computer to traverse to the Maps folder on the card.
2. If you do not see the maps use the tools > folder options > View to select "show hidden files and folders". The maps should appear.
3. Tap the search icon on the folder view (not the one on the start menu).
4. Select More advanced options and ensure that the search can find hidden files.
5. To search for California maps enter CANGM (or CANGC for version 1) into the file name field. For other states replace CA with the two letter designation for your state. An then tap search.
6. The maps you want will appear on the search screen. Use the edit menu to select all and then cut them.
7. Tap the Folders entry to leave the search screen and make a new folder with any name you wish.
8. Paste the files into the new folder.
9. Repeat as necessary to arrange your maps as you see fit.

Thursday - December 14, 2006
WayPoint Tip: How can I manage my WayPoint maps to improve performance?

The easiest way to manage the WayPoint maps is to keep maps in separate folders. The Map Loader always loads maps into a folder named Maps but the WayPoint navigation software can work with folders with any names you want.

One simple management idea for you SD card is to let the Map Loader load one region on the card and then use the File Explorer application to rename the Maps folder to a more meaningful region name. The Maps folder will no longer see the region but the WayPoint navigation program will still be able to use it. (Use the WayPoint "choose maps" command to manage the folders.) If you load another region the Map Loader will recreate the Maps folder. To cause the Map Loader to see a folder you have renamed simply rename it back to Maps.

Note that some file duplication may result since some files are in multiple regions. These extra files can be erased if you wish to save space but the WayPoint application is smart enough to ignore duplicate files.

Tuesday - December 12, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: Microsoft announces Windows Live (Traffic) Map beta.

Microsoft has announced a Traffic server beta with maps for Pocket PC devices. It is intended for Mobile phones but runs fine on the WayPoint unit. It can be downloaded from Windows Live for mobile beta. Download the one for Windows Mobile phone. It requires an Internet connection to work so you could use it via a Bluetooth cell phone, with your ActiveSync connection, or any other way you can get an Internet connection. Currently the beta vesion shows speed data but not incident data. Watch for beta updates. For more data on Windows Live visit their web site. Type in your city and tap the Maps entry then search for the map with traffic data on your PC. I would expect that eventually the PDA version would show the incident information.

Tuesday - December 5, 2006
GPS Tip: A software GPS has been developed.

A GPS has been designed that is totally done in software. The only hardware is a Low noise antenna/amplifier that down converts the frequency of the signal to about 3.78 MHz (can be any frequency from 2MHz to 26 MHz) and then digitizes it. The digital data can then be transfered to a computer via USB, for example, where it is decoded by software that computes the full GPS solution. Manufacturing costs for the hardware component is under $4. For more information see the Maxim-IC press release. The software was done by Philips and consists of about 600K of ANSI C code which can be ported to any standard processor.

Monday - November 20, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: Can I attach more than one PDA to one PC?

Yes you can, but only one can be using ActiveSync at a time. Removing one unit or turning it off will permit another unit to connect. Note that all units will have their own file system space if you sync files but will share the data in Outlook. They will each have their own backup area.

If you want separate outlook space you can create two accounts on your PC and then log into the correct account before syncing. You will need to manage the devices to ensure that they do not sync with the wrong account.

Thursday - November 16, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: What if I didn't do a backup?

A Backup saves data from two kinds of failures. You could corrupt / erase a file or you could lose all data do to a battery failure or hard reset. In the first case the data is lost if there is no back up but in the second case some of the data can be re-installed even without a backup.

Data that is stored in permanent storage is not lost. This is true, for example, for all your WayPoint navigation data. If you set up a My Documents folder in permanent storage you can store critical data on the card.

ActiveSync syncs all of your PIM data (calendar, contacts, Todo list, notes) so if you lose this you can just re-sync it back. One folder can be set up to sync also (My Documents) and it will be restored. If you install your programs on your PDA using setup files via ActiveSync there is a list kept under Tools on the PC. You can use this to reinstall any or all programs you may be missing. (Remember to keep a copy of any cab files you installed so that you can re-install them if needed.) All other data will be lost.

Wednesday - November 15, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: How can I backup my data?

There are three ways to back up your data. On the WayPoint unit you can use Gismo. It is included with the product. Many PPC units include an on board backup program or you can purchase a third party one. The advantage is the ability to restore critical data while away from any other computer. Most of these programs also allow backup of the partial machine and even restore of partial data. Back up your data to the Flash Disk or an SD card.

Active Sync also has a backup facility. It always backs up all of RAM. If you need to restore the data then sync up as Guest and do the restore. Your normal sync name will be restored.

Another technique is to manually make a copy of any critical files. The copy can be made with File Explorer to a safe place on your PDA or to your PC.

Tuesday - November 14, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: Will the battery run down if I keep the unit off?

Yes, it will. It is best to leave the unit plugged into the cradle on external power when not in use. Battery discharge of Pocket PC devices is caused by a number of reasons including:

• The battery will self discharge which is basically true of all rechargeable batteries.
• The Pocket PC must supply current to the RAM memory to keep it alive. It will lose all data when the battery (plus the backup battery if equipped) is discharged.
• The CPU must have some power to keep the clock alive and to keep any alarms alive including the one for midnight.
• Every night at midnight the computer wakes up and updates the calendar and alarms for the new day. This behavior is unique to Pocket PC devices. The amount of battery power required to do this task is very dependent on the number of alarms and size of the calendar.

Generally a new battery will keep the unit going for more than a week but as the battery ages this time period will shorten. The backup battery, if equipped, can keep the RAM and clock alive even when the main battery gets low but it cannot run the unit at all so alarms may be missing if the main battery gets low. The design of the WayPoint PDA is to make all navigation features survive even if the battery runs down.

Wednesday - November 1, 2006
WayPoint Tip: How can I customize Quick Launch?

The behavior of Quick Launch can be modified by editing the QuickLaunch.xml file located in the \Windows directory on your WayPoint. It is best to copy it to your PC and edit it with Notepad or other editor and then copy it back. The fields must be preserved and just change the entries as needed. There are detailed instructions in Appendix C of the latest WayPoint navigation manual available for download.

We have included several icon images in ROM which can be referenced. These include: back, calculator, calendar, contacts, exclamation, find, help, inbox, navigation, notes, phone, reader, settings, tasks, terminalserv, traffic, and weather. Of course you can make your own jpeg image. It should be 104x120 pixels. If the ROM contents gets tight we could remove some of these images in a future ROM build.

Tuesday - October 31, 2006
WayPoint Tip: What is Quick Launch?

Quick Launch is a program supplied as part of the WayPoint unit. It can be started directly or from the WayPoint Navigation software. If you are in the WayPoint navigation software you can press and hold the right button to launch or revisit the QuickLaunch program. This permits rapid access to key programs that can be used in conjunction with WayPoint Navigation software. It can also be started directly from the Start Menu.

The purpose of Quick Launch is to start other programs or to switch to those programs easily. You can always return to the WayPoint navigation program using the right button. It is possible to customize Quick Launch to Launch whatever program you have loaded into your unit.

Thursday - October 26, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: Can I remove duplicate entries on my Start Menu?

Often you may see an entry on the Start Menu and a second entry in the Programs folder. This is intended to make that particular application easy to find for new users. However, later you might want to remove one of them to allow for better customization of the menus. Here's how:

Use the File Explorer to traverse to the \Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder. Delete the duplicate entry from this location. Do not be tempted to delete the one in the Start Menu as this might mess up some hard button mapping. Once deleted you can use the Start > Settings > Menus to customize where the menu items appear. You can have up to 9 entries on the menu list when you tap start. The rest appear in the programs file. You can build new folders in the programs folder and then you can move program links to them. Even a folder can appear on the Start menu.

Tuesday - October 24, 2006
WayPoint Tip: How can I change the default GPS application?

The default GPS application is only used when you select "Start GPS" from the Bluetooth menu. After the GPS connection is made the software will attempt to start a default application which is WayPoint as shipped by Mobile Crossing. This is controlled by a file in \Windows called bttl.ini. Note that if you start the application first you will not need to worry about this default.

To change this default copy the bttl.ini file over to a pc and edit it with Notepad. Look for a line that says: GPS_APP_PATH=\windows\waypoint.exe and change the line to point to the application you want to start. Then copy the file back over to the WayPoint unit.

Wednesday - October 18, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: Can a Pocket PC device be used like an iPod?

Yes, a Pocket PC PDA can also be used like an ipod. It can play mp3 and wma files. It can view videos. You can install audible software for talking books and use the built in e-book reader. A free program called tcpmp (link: http://tcpmp.corecodec.org/) can turn this unit into an even more capable movie and audio machine. You can use Windows Media Player 10 on the pc to sync your music and videos across.

Tuesday - October 17, 2006
GPS Tip: What can I do about the transfer rate or latency of GPS data?

You can check if a faster transfer rate is available and use it. For example the Mobile Crossing Bluetooth GPS receiver can automatically adjust itself to almost any b/s rate you can choose. Be careful though as the program you are using may not be able to keep up if the rate is set too high. You may have to experiment to ensure that data is not being lost.

Even if the rate cannot be adjusted you may be able to remove sentences or make them less frequent. Some sentences may not be needed by the program you are using while other sentences may only be needed at less frequent rates. Knowing the needs of the program and the content of the sentences (covered in previous tips) can permit you to streamline this data. SiRF chipsets (as used by Mobile Crossing) and some Garmin receivers as well as other devices will give you some control over this data using menu selections or utility programs. Note that sending some data less often may cause some tracklogs to skip a second every now and then or record a delay when the occasional data does get sent.

Monday - October 16, 2006
GPS Tip: What effect can the data rate have?

Most modern GPS receivers update their position every second. At 60 mph you will move 88 feet in one second. In addition the computation time and time to assemble and send the sentences plus the time to decode and interpret the information can cause the navigation information to be even older than one second by the time you see it. Generally the performance is adequate for most users but latency can be a problem at high speeds.

A few GPS receivers can update data faster than once per second. These receivers will almost always need a data transfer rate faster than 4800 b/s. Even receivers that only update once per second can benefit from a faster transfer rate to minimize latency problems. However, you may not have a choice to change the transfer rate as this may be fixed in the device. You must set the device and the program to the same transfer rate to permit communication.

Thursday - October 12, 2006
GPS Tip: What is the bit rate for GPS communication?

The standard GPS bit rate for transferring NMEA data is 4800 b/s. NMEA data uses ascii data and is divided into sentences that can be up to 82 characters long (including the CR/LF at the end). The serial protocol dictates one character per byte and that there must always be a start bit and a stop bit. This means on character takes 10 bits which translates to 480 characters per second or approximately 6 sentences. Note that all sentences are not the maximum length.

This can be a severe limitation on the amount of data that can be sent by the GPS device if it tries to provide an update every second. Some GPS devices limit the amount of data while others have more data but only update every 2 seconds. Still others transmit some data every second and some data less often. Some units update the data every second but only repeat the sentences every two seconds. Some use a combination approach. This can affect the use of the data by some applications. In addition the GPS data can be delayed so that it is no longer within the update period.

Friday - October 6, 2006
GPS Tip: Is the data rate on the GPS interface called the Baud rate?

Technically the term Baud rate refers to data on a modem or modulated signal. It is named after Emile Baudot the inventor of the Baudot code for telegraphy. It has been used to refer to the transfer rate of GPS data or other serial data but this should really be called a bit per second rate or bps or b/s. Note this should be in lower case because B/s refers to a Byte per second rate.

Tueday - October 3, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: How can I directly reference one entry in the Tip of the day web site?

The easy method is to view the item on the RSS feed and then click the link to go to the same place on the web site. The exact link with then show in the banner data and can be copied and then placed in another file, email, etc. The link will look something like http://mobilecrossing.com/support/tips.html#tip20060828. As you can see this is the link to the web site followed by the date of the tip so a direct reference can be generated manually for any tip using the date link in the format shown above.

Monday - September 25, 2006
WayPoint Tip: Can my WayPoint be placed in landscape mode?

As shipped the WayPoint cannot be switched to landscape mode. The navigation software works best in portrait mode but some users might want landscape mode for other usage so we have investigated alternate solutions such as http://www.nyditot.com/. This product can be used to switch the WayPoint to landscape mode and for several other tasks. Only landscape mode is covered in this tip. There is a free one week trial for the product so be sure and test it before you buy it. This software modifies key parts of the OS and can cause instability with some applications. Use at your own risk.

Installing Nyditot is simple. A soft reset is needed to turn it on and anytime the resolution is changed but you can change from portrait to landscape on the fly, even inside of some applications. Once installed a small dot appears on the screen. Thisdo can be dragged out of the way if it inte4rferes with product usage. Tap an hold on the dot to bring up a menu of Nyditot features.

The following WayPoint items work ok with Nyditot, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket IE, Notes, Contacts, Tasks, and Calendar. WayPoint navigation and Memory-map work on the main map screens but the sub-screens do not display all of the data. You may need to switch to portrait to see or change some of the data. The MS Reader 2.2.3 does not work but a free upgrade to 2.4.1 will work. File Explorer works but does not take advantage of the extra screen width. Windows media will not show the controls and gets confused.

Friday - September 22, 2006
GPS Tip: How high can you go and still use a GPS?

Commercial GPS receivers are artificially limited to 60,000 feet and 1000 Knots by government regulation. This is to prevent their use in a missile guidance system. However, some specialized systems can exceed these numbers to include working in satellites that are in earth orbit or even our own space shuttle. One such system is from Surry Satellite Technology, link: http://www.sstl.co.uk. They have a 24 channel system that works on satellites and get a fix in less than 4 minutes. It provides 10 meter accuracy. It uses multiple antennas feeding a single receiver.

Tuesday- September 19, 2006
WayPoint Tip: Can I use ActiveSync 4.2?

Microsoft has chosen to remove all versions of ActiveSync prior to 4.2 from their web site. If you need a download version or need to mix ActiveSync among several products that include devices that require 4.2 there are some special techniques that will permit your WayPoint to be supported on this version.

If you install ActiveSync 4.2 over the top of an earlier version of ActiveSync that was set up to support a WayPoint then the new version will also support your WayPoint automatically. Do not remove the previous version first.

If you install ActiveSync 4.2 in a new installation you should copy the file: http://www.mobilecrossing.com/downloads/MCUSBSH.INF to the new installation directory. (This file is also available on your installation CDROM.) Place the file in \program files\Microsoft ActiveSync\Drivers. After the installation you should plug in your WayPoint and let the hardware wizard find the driver for it. You can specify the ActiveSync\Divers directory to be part of the search path. Do not have it search the Mobile Crossing CDROM. This inf fie is the same but the driver .sys file that is in the same directory is wrong for 4.2.

Thursday - September 14, 2006
WayPoint Tip: Can I make the unit automatically start GPS Navigation?

Users that dominantly use the Navigation function can make this automatic even after a soft reset. To do this: simply copy the shortcut for the WayPoint program from \Windows\Start Menu to \Windows\Startup. Once this is done the WayPoint software will start automatically. Note that you can still use the WayPoint hard key (lower right hard button) to switch to PDA mode as always. Tapping it again will return to WayPoint navigation.

To keep navigation on the main screen even after turning off the unit for several hours be sure and uncheck the Display Today Item in the system settings (Start Menu > Settings > Today > Items).

Monday - September 11, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: Some programs only provide a help file but I would rather read a manual

It is possible to read a help file like a manual using PIE (or even IE or other browser if you move the file to a PC). The file will be read as one long scrollable file but all of the links and image references will still work. All of the installed help on a Pocket PC ends up in the Windows directory. Use the file manager to browse that directory to reveal lots of PIE files as shown by the icon on the left. You may need to change the setting in the File Manager to “View all files” to be able to see the help files. Once you can see them you can just tap on the file to view it in Pocket Internet Explorer.

Note that the file name may be different than the name that help calls it but it will usually be close. While the file can now be read like a book it may not have been written that way so some of the sections may not flow together as well as they would have in a book. You can still use the links to read it like a help file if you wish. A line separates the sections.

Friday - September 8, 2006
WayPoint Tip: What can I do with the Highway maps?

Highway maps for the USA are included for free with every WayPoint unit. These can be used to augment local maps by providing routing between two different detailed map locations even if the detailed locations are not directly connected. Using the highway (longhaul) maps in this way can improve routing performance. They can also serve as destinations if you are only traveling to a town or intersection. They provide a graphic indication showing the location of counties and county names. The graphic icon can be used to enable or disable a specific county map if this detailed map is available. They can be located in the Flash Disk area of the WayPoint or on an SD card. If you have multiple copies of a particular state then only one will be chosen.

With the exception of county names and city names there are no POIs on the Highway maps. But, you can add Landmarks from your landmark database and these will appear on the maps.

Wednesday - August 30, 2006
WayPoint Tip: How can I use a different GPS on my WayPoint?

The WayPoint 200 has a user friendly automatic BT connection to the GPS. But this does reduce the flexibility in the use of other devices. The automation is controlled in a bttl.ini file located in the Windows directory. It contains custom entries to detect the passkey (2003) for secure connection and a string to recognize the BT-GPS- device to differentiate it from other BT devices. This file can be downloaded to a pc, edited and uploaded back to the PDA to change these settings. It is also possible to make some quick changes without editing the file.

To remove the need for a passkey, change the Configuration in the Bluetooth Manager to remove the High Security option. To handle the case of a different prefix on your GPS you can connect to the GPS manually using the BT manager and then make the device the default serial device. Finally you can rename the shortcut to have the required BT-GPS- prefix. After these changes are made the new GPS will automatically connect like a standard Mobile Crossing GPS would.

Tuesday - August 29, 2006
WayPoint Tip: Can I get weather for places that I am not currently located?

The Weather Underground capability works automatically to get data where your GPS fix says you are. In the absence of a fix it will use the last known location. If you would like to use it to get data for other locations you can download the Weather Anywhere file from http://www.mobilecrossing.com/downloads/Weather%20Anywhere.cab. Copy the file to your PDA and then use File Explorer on the PDA to find the file. Tapping the file in File Explorer will cause it to install Weather Anywhere on your WayPoint PDA. There is built in help inside the file on how to use it.

This program is a front end for the standard Weather Underground program. It presets your GPS location to the location of your choice. If you have a GPS fix then this will not work since the fix will overwrite the location data. This location data is also used by Traffic Watch so it may not behave as you would expect. Note that you can enter any location you please but there may not be Weather data or there may be some missing data for the location you choose. An Internet connection is required as usual to actually get the data.

Monday - August 28, 2006
GPS Tip: How about some more tools to work with SiRF mode on GPS?

Here are some more PPC tools that will manipulate SiRF data on SiRF GPS receivers. A mainstay is SiRFTweak which Is being replaced with GPSTweak. Check http://sirftweak.networktroubles.org/gpstweak.php for a copy. Memory-map has generated a nice tool to simplify change modes in SiRF receivers. Download http://www.memory-map.com/MMSirfSetup.exe Memory-map navigation also support SiRF mode. Leadtek has a nice tool that can be downloaded called WinFast Navigator or WinCE navigator. Go to http://www.leadtek.com.tw/eng/support/list_driver.asp and then agree to the terms. Find one of the GPS products and it will take you to the download pages. It is also called WinCE monitor.

Friday - August 25, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: How can I make tagged PDF files so that re-flow will work?

Tagged PDF files can be generated in Acrobat, Framemaker, and ActiveSync. Since ActiveSync is a free download it is the preferred way for many users wanting to distribute tagged files. Just create a PDF file and drag it to a PDA via ActiveSync and it will become a tagged file. Now you can drag it back to the pc and distribute it to anybody. Even if they do not use ActiveSync, but transfer using another method they will still be able to re-flow their documents. ActiveSync users will find that the file transfers faster.

Of course, tagging the source files will usually produce better results. If you create tagged files in Framemaker turn off the compressed tags feature in Acrobat setup. It is not supported by all readers. The Pocket PC version of Acrobat reader works best with tagged documents but can also read regular untagged PDF files without the re-flow feature.

Thursday - August 24, 2006
GPS Tip: Ublox GPS analysis tool available

A new GPS analysis tools is available from U-blox. This will work with any NMEA compliant GPS receiver but has special functions to control the U-Blox chip set. It is the equivalent of SiRF Demo for U-Blox devices. There is a PC version called U-Center and a Pocket PC version that implements almost all of the same functionality making it one of the most powerful GPS analysis tools available on the Pocket PC.

The Pocket PC version can be used alone or it will also communicate and share data with the PC version. It is available as a free download from http://www.ublox.com/products/u_center_mobile.html.

Monday - August 21, 2006
GPS Tip: How can I control the SiRF GPS settings?

If you have a SiRF GPS there are previous tips that talk about a few things you can do from a Pocket PC to control some of the internal SiRF settings but for the more advanced control you will need a PC that can hook to your GPS. One of the most powerful tools you can get is a program called SiRFDemo. It runs on a PC and can be downloaded from http://www.usglobalsat.com/downloads/SiRFDemo.exe

Friday - August 18, 2006
GPS Tip: With GPS built into my cell-phone why would I want a separate GPS?

1. The built-in GPS also requires cell-phone service and does not work outside of the service area.
2. The antenna in built-in GPS systems is often inferior resulting in poorer performance.
3. The navigation programs on these systems usually have a monthly fee and connect time charges.
4. An external GPS works anywhere and can be positioned remotely for optimum reception.
5. Once purchased there are no ongoing charges for separate GPS navigation solutions.
6. Where you are is your business, not the phone companies.
7. External systems provide more features and more choices. You are in control.
8. Get a GPS in your phone for 911 emergency services as a backup.

Wednesday - August 16, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: How do I hook my smartphone to a BT GPS?

Here is how to do it on the new Motorola Q device which is a Windows Mobile Smart phone. First you should connect the phone and the GPS. Turn the GPS on and then from the phone execute the following command: Start->Bluetooth folder->Bluetooth Manager->Settings->Menu softkey->Paired Devices->Menu softkey->Add. It will ask for a PIN code to pair. The correct key for Mobile Crossing GPS is 2003. Other devices might use 0000 or some other code. This connects the two devices. Some phones will let you set the outgoing COM port. If this is permitted then you will need to select a new outgoing port for the GPS. The Q defaults to COM 1. Once this is done you are ready to use the GPS.

Load the application you intend to use and set the GPS settings. Be sure and use a smartphone version if you have a smartphone (although some cell phones are really Pocket PC devices). For Mapopolis you would run the program and then use settings to set the GPS communications COM port to 1 for the Q phone. It is likely different on a different device. If you do not know and cannot find out from the BT manager you could try them all one at a time from 0 to 9. The Baud rate can be anything for Mobile Crossing but may be required to be a particular setting for other brands. Try 4800 baud to start. Once you have the COM port selection you only need to start the GPS from the program. In Mapopolis you go to the GPS screen and tap start. It will connect.

Tuesday - August 15, 2006
GPS Tip: How about distance estimation in other GPS formats?

When distance estimation is needed users often switch to UTM format. In this format the data represents actual meters on the ground so a change of 1 in the coordinate shown on the GPS is a distance of 1 Meter. A meter is about 10% more than a yard. For estimating purposes people often think of 100 yards as the distance on a football field. 100 Meters is the distance of the field and one end zone. For UTM the estimation is excellent so long as you are in the same zone but impossible if you cross zone boundaries. In UTM there is no need to correct up and down distances from sideways distances as the grid is square. The Pythagorean Theorem can be used to figure diagonals.

When latitude is specified in degrees, minutes, and seconds then it is helpful to remember a minute is one nautical mile or about 6000 feet thus a second is 1/60 of a minute or 100 feet. When your navigation programs provides distances in portions of a mile then it can be useful to remember than a mile is approximately 5000 feet and a tenth of a mile is thus about 500 feet or somewhere near a block away.

Monday - August 14, 2006
GPS Tip: How can I estimate distances with my GPS?

Some GPS receivers can display their location is several different formats while some will only use one format. Most can display values in Latitude and Longitude using degrees and minutes. Unfortunately this is angular and not linear distances so it can be hard to estimate differences in Latitude or differences in Longitude. It can be helpful to know that one minute of latitude change is equal to one nautical mile (about 6076 feet). This is by definition. Thus 60 nautical miles is 1 degree of Latitude.

While Latitude doesn’t change very much as we move toward the North or South Pole Longitude does. At the equator the distances in Longitude and Latitude are about the same but as we move away we need to adjust the Longitude values. A minute of Longitude is equal to one nautical mile times the cosine of the Latitude. At the equator (0 Latitude) the cosine is 1 while at the North Pole it is zero. At 45 degrees it is about .7. A trig calculator can compute the values for other angles.

Thursday - August 10, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: Can I sync my inbox to an SD card?

I do not normally recommend using ActiveSync to sync your Inbox (Messaging on later units) since it can easily fill up RAM memory. However you can force the mail to be stored on your SD card if you know how to change the Pocket PC registry. Add the following values to the registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\ Microsoft\ MAPI.

A string value named PropertyPath should contain the path name to the place that you want mail to go. A string value named AttachPath should contain the path name to the place that you want attachments to go.

If you have problems with your SD card getting renamed after this change then remove the checkbox entry on the today screen for your Inbox (Messaging) at Start > Settings > Personal > Today > Items.

Wednesday - August 9, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: Is there a collection of the e-book tips?

There is a newly created collection of all the previous e-book tips and some new data has been added as well. There is information about Tome Raider and data on some new sources for e-books and other programs that are e-book centric. The new information is in the Knowledge Base on the Support page and can be found directly at: http://www.mobilecrossing.com/support/book.html.

Tuesday - August 8, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: Can I get PODCASTS on my PDA?

PODCASTS are the latest method of receiving radio and TV broadcasts from the Internet. A PDA such as the WayPoint is capable of receiving and displaying/playing these broadcasts using suitable software directly on the PDA itself. What you need is an Internet connection and a Podcast client. One such freely available client in Pocket Podcasts, Link: http://pocketpodcasts.sourceforge.net/. This program will allow you to view or listen to podcasts and will help you to manage them, including subscribing. It can handle audio by itself including MP3 but needs a video viewer such as TCPMP for video support. It can also handle RSS feeds and can support a storage card for data.

There are other programs available for PPC devices as well, but this one has good reviews and is free. The author recommends video downloads to be in Divx or Mpeg4 for best results. There is a PC component you can use when your at home.

Friday - August 4, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: Can I read CHM e-book files on my PDA?

CHM e-book files, also called compiled html files, are often used for manuals and help files. They can be read on your Pocekt PC device if you have a reader. A couple of good readers are: http://www.microolap.com/products/pda/chmreader/ and http://www.codeproject.com/ce/CHMReader.asp. The second one is free.

This is a handy way to keep reference manuals close at hand for easy access.

Thursday - August 3, 2006
GPS Tip: What else about SiRF do I need to know?

Programs wanting NMEA data will not work if your GPS is set to SiRF mode. For this reason NMEA is usually the default. To get a unit back to NMEA mode you can try just running the battery down (backup battery in some cases). Often this will reset the unit. On Mobile Crossing Bluetooth and other Global Sat Bluetooth receivers the center green GPS status light does not light in SiRF mode so if it the light is out you might try switching it back to NMEA mode.

SiRF mode does provide some features not available in NMEA mode. For this reason some programs, such as Memory-Map Navigator can work in this mode as well as in NMEA. This program is also a good program to use to switch the GPS from SiRF mode back to NMEA. Other programs such as GPS Info and Leadtek WinFast Navigator can sometimes do the job as well but it may be hard to verify success and to get the baud rate right on those programs. SiRF mode is usually 38400 Baud but can be at other rates. Be careful when experimenting with SiRF mode since you can render your unit useless if you fail to switch it back.

Wednesday - August 2, 2006
GPS Tip: How can I control a SiRF chipset from my PDA?

There is a new utility available call SirfTech link: http://w5.nuinternet.com/s660100031/SirfTech.htm that will run on your Pocket PC and allow you to use SiRF mode to change settings on your SiRF based GPS. All current Mobile Crossing GPS receivers are SiRF based. One good use for this utility is to get a GPS back into NMEA mode if it gets stuck in SiRF mode.

A receiver can get stuck in SiRF mode due to problems that occur when SiRF mode is in use. Even though you use NMEA mode on the GPS some things can temporarily switch to SiRF mode. For example turning on WAAS support requires SiRF mode as does forcing a cold start.

Tuesday - August 1, 2006
WayPoint Tip: Can I get a permanent car mount?

We are pleased to announce that ProClip link: http://www.proclipusa.com now has a custom mount for the WayPoint units. It is Item No. 971675 and can be selected from the list of device holders. You will also need to purchase a custom vehicle mount for your car to go with it for a complete solution. Other holders can likely be added in the future so if you need different features contact ProClip. For more information on mounting alternatives check our web site at: http://www.mobilecrossing.com/products/accessories/wp_car_mount.html

Monday - July 31, 2006
GPS Tip: How can I get two applications to use my GPS at once?

There is now a free application from http://www.gpsmeter.com called Port Splitter that will allow you to create a second port for GPS applications on your PDA. The site also includes an area calculator for GPS use. For more port splitter functionality consider gpsgate from http://franson.com/gpsgate/.

Thursday - July 20, 2006
Pocket Tip: How can I back out ActiveSync 4.X?

This is a Microsoft problem. Some users have upgraded to ActiveSync 4 and didn’t like the additional functionality loss in that version. Mobile Crossing recommends only using 3.7.1 or 3.8 versions for this reason. We have found the 3.8 version to be slightly more robust. If you try and downgrade an ActiveSync 4.X version you are likely to break ActiveSync entirely due to the fact that Microsoft installs some upgraded files that are not backward compatible. If you downgrade and receive errors like bad ceutil.dll you will need to erase this file manual and then reinstall ActiveSync. The file is located in the \Windows\system32 directory. Alternately it may be located in c:\program files\common files\microsft shared\notesync forms.

For more information consult the Microsoft web site and forums.

Tuesday - July 18, 2006
WayPoint Tip: What is the difference between Find > All Places by Type and the Detour Quick Route?

These two commands can be a bit confusing as they share a common screen that shows your favorite types (categories) of POIs. If you configure one of these screens by changing the default categories or default radius it will also effect the other one. However an item selected from the two screens will behave different. Both screens place a checkmark by each category that contains entries for nearby locations.

If you tap and hold the detour button and then select from a category there will be a list of close by locations in that category. Tapping one will automatically generate a route from your current location to the POI. Note that you must have a GPS fix for this to work. Alternately you can specify a starting point from the map.

If you select Tools > Find > All Places by type and then tap a category you will get a map that shows only locations of that category. This looks like a regular map but it has been filtered to only show one kind of POI. You can use it like the regular map to tap on POIs to see what they are and to tap and hold to bring up a menu to permit working with them. The origin of this map can be the current GPS position but may be other places if you change the origin entry on the category display screen.

Friday - July 14, 2006
WayPoint Tip: Which of the POI categories are important to a tourist?

WayPoint POIs are oriented toward tourists and business travelers. Besides the obvious categories of Restaurants, Gasoline stations, and hotels you are likely to use the Tourist Attraction category a lot. It includes some driving tours, museums, art galleries, historic buildings, bridges, some parks, ferries to islands, some businesses who cater to tourists, wild life refuges, aquariums, zoos, public transportation, river tours, piers and wharfs, hot air balloons, botanical gardens, ghost towns, fishing, science centers, theatre, fancy churches, playgrounds, culture centers, planetariums and observatories, some clubs, amusement parks, monuments, boating including sailing, dams, forts, famous shops, recreation reservoirs, gardens, and many other items.

When you get to a new city or town it is a good idea to set the POI distance to 25 miles, set the category to Tourist attraction, and just look at all of the entries. You may find a great spot to visit that you didn’t even know existed.

Thursday - July 13, 2006
WayPoint Tip: What is a POI anyway?

POI is an acronym for Point of Interest and can be any text identified object in the database other than a roads, waterways, and railroad lines. These include such items and restaurants and gas stations plus a whole lot more. In the WayPoint PDA they are called landmarks, business, or places. They are generally divided into categories (or types) to make them easier to find. In the WayPoint navigation software they are usually identified with a visible icon that graphically shows the category. You can search for them and use them as destinations for navigation. You can tap a POI icon to find more information about the object.

User saved locations are also treated as POI’s in searches and navigation. This drastically increases the power of the search and routing functions since you can add your own POI’s to the database. You can also place them in existing categories or make up new ones.

Wednesday - July 12, 2006
WayPoint Tip: How can I find or route to a city?

All of the cities in the loaded maps are listed in the top pull down for searches. Selecting a city from this list and then any other item that shows up in the search lists of places can be used to find a location in the city. However, sometimes you may want to search for the city instead of scrolling the list. All of the cities are in the category ‘Named Places’ in the Landmark (Place or Business) selection. These places can be search like any other POI entry. In addition the Cities can be searched on the major road maps. These are in a category called ‘Place’ in the same category search list. If place is not in your search categories then make a user defined landmark and then assign it to a new category name called PLACE. Any category would create will show up in the category list.

There is also a category called HAMLET. This is a list of those local places within a city. A Hamlet is defined as a small village with no local government services that depends on a city or county to supply these services. The local area you are searching for may be in a Hamlet instead of a real incorporated city.

Tuesday - July 11, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: The idea of e-books is neat but what if you prefer the public library?

Libraries are supporting e-books as well. Check your local library and see what they have to offer. For example follow this link to the University of Virginia library. Link: http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/ebooks/. This library is a bit different in that it offers some books to the general public while most do not. Many libraries have a web presence but require a locally obtained library card to use the web facilities to actually check out books. In some cases you can just download an e-book and keep it but most of the time you have to actually check it out. Many of the libraries use a DRM system with time limited licenses so you do not need to return the book to the library. Instead, it will just time out unless you check it out again. They generally own a limited number of licenses per book and manage them exactly like a real book. Once the number of licenses have been used by customers they won’t let you check out a copy until someone else’s license expires or is returned. The big advantage is that you can use your PDA to read the book and after you have a library card you can do everything from your computer at home or anywhere that can access the Internet.

Monday - July 10, 2006
WayPoint Tip: Can I find out about one way roads?

If you have chosen to display the speed data on roads (Tools > settings > map Features) then the 1 way roads will also indicate the direction of travel. You need to just tap on the road to display the data. In addition, even if the speed setting is not turned on, Freeways and other divided roads will show travel direction for the lanes you tapped. On these roads there will be a suffix (N,S,E,W) appended to the road name showing its direction. This can be important if you tap the road and use it for a destination or through point. Be sure and tap the side of the road (direction) you want to go to avoid a funny route.

Friday - July 7, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: Can I sync media content?

Yes, you can. If you have the Microsoft Media Player Version 10 on your PC you can use it to sync video and audio files as playlists to your PDA. Just select a file or playlist in the Media Player and use the Sync tab near the top of the screen. This tab uses ActiveSync to perform the connection so you will need to have your PDA hooked via ActiveSync. The entries on the tab are locations on the PDA itself. Version 10 is a free download from the Microsoft web site.

If you can’t use version 10 you may want to try http://www.viksoe.dk/code/playlistsync.htm. This is a free download that adds a conduit to ActiveSync to be able to sync files to the PDA. Of course you can also simply browse the PDA from explorer and drag files from your PC to the PDA window. Another way to get media files to the PDA is to use a card reader to transfer the files and then plug the card into the PDA expansion slot.

Thursday - July 6, 2006
WayPoint Tip: Can I 'read' audio books on my PDA?

Yes, since you can play any mp3 file you can listen to audio books in this format. In addition Audible (link: http://www.audible.com) has a reader for their books that can run on a PDA. The reader will interface with Microsoft Reader to provide audio playback without having to use a separate player. Here are a few more links for audio books that will work on your PDA since they support standard file formats for audio content: http://www.audiobooks.org, http://www.freechristianaudiobooks.com, http://www.downloadbooksonaudio.com, http://www.freeclassicaudiobooks.com, and http://www.audiobooksforfree.com. There are many more available including several of the sites mentioned under the previous tips on e-books.

Another player that can play custom books is from http://www.overdrive.com. The interface requires downloading the Overdrive Media console and a Windows Media Player on the PC to decode the DRM data and play the audio book. The Windows player on the PC can send a copy of the file to your PDA to be played on the Pocket PC Windows Media Player. Both Overdrive and Audible need custom software to manage and decode the files.

Wednesday - July 5, 2006
WayPoint Tip: How can I search for intersections on Interstate highways?

In WayPoint navigation the Interstates and other highways are designated with letter(s), a hyphen, a number and a trailing letter for direction. The intersection search will work for these roads but the problem is they are usually connected to side streets with ramps and thus are not directly connected to the road you want. Generally the best way to do an Intersection search is to enter the cross street first and then look for ramps in the list of intersecting streets. A ramp will usually lead to the Interstate. Sometimes the ramps are designated with a destination such as Ramp to Los Angeles to help in find the correct one. Intersection can also be found on Major Road maps but all of the Intersections might not be shown. An exception to picking the cross street first is when you are searching for a specific exit number. In this case pick the Interstate and the exit numbers will all be listed in the list of cross streets.

To do an intersection search pick the first road and then tap ok. A second screen will appear with a list of roads that cross the first one. The list can be sorted alphabetically or going East (North). Using the ordered sort can help in selecting a cross street when you are not sure of the name (or it is called ramp) by comparing the exit names near the street you want.

Monday - July 3, 2006
WayPoint Tip: Do POI’s have phone numbers?

Yes, they do but you might not see them. The Information box that appears when you tap a POI is limited to 3 lines of data. The first line is the name of the location and must be shown but the next two lines are configurable. Use the command “Tools > Settings > Map features” to select the features to be displayed on the maps. The Pop-up Information Box includes 3 entries, Show Coordinates, Show City Name, and Show Speed Data. Turn off either Show Coordinates or Show City name to make the phone number show up in the Information box.

Speed Data shows up when you tap a road and indicates the speed range for the road that is used by the router to figure out the fastest route.

Wednesday - June 28, 2006
WayPoint Tip: What is the quickest way to generate a route?

There are several quick route options built into your WayPoint. The 7 favorite locations are available on the left hard button. Just tap the one you want to generate a route. The Detour button can find closeby POI, just tap and hold on the button to bring up the choices then pick the category of POI you want. Any location shown on the screen is a candidate for a route destination. Just tap the spot and then tap and hold on the box that shows the data about the spot. A menu will appear and you can simply select ‘Route To’. This will work anytime, even after a search of some location or the display of a location from Pocket Real Estate.

Wednesday - June 21, 2006
WayPoint Tip: How can I convert Jpeg maps for Memory-map navigator?

Memory-map navigator prefers png or tif files can only support 256 total colors in an 8 bit palette. Jpeg uses 24 bit color and tends to add colors to graphic items like maps. In order to import a jpeg file into Memory-map the method to use is to first convert it to a gif image. Do not use any kind of dithering filter that will just mess up the open areas of the map. Once you have a nice looking gif image then resave the map as a PNG file. Memory-map can import this file and you can then add the calibration information and create the boundary as per the instructions in the memory-map documentation. Memory-map will save the new map in its internal qct packed format.

Monday - June 19, 2006
WayPoint Tip: How can I set the city for a search?

On the address. landmark, and intersection pages there is a drop down list at the top that can be used to select the city from the available maps. This is often set for within 25 miles and does not need a city. If you want to select the exact city you can use the scroll wheel on the side to scroll through the list. You can also bring up the keyboard and type the first character of the city name which will cause the highlight to move to the first city starting with that letter. In addition to cities you can also limit the search to a particular zip code. The # key will reach the list of zip codes.

The quickest way to a city might be to pick the next letter and then scroll up rather than down. Press the scroll wheel to make the selection.

Thursday - June 15, 2006
WayPoint Tip: Does Internet really mean Web browser?

To many folks the term Internet is synonymous with Web Browser. When we say the WayPoint can make use of the Internet to load maps for example they immediately think that we are getting them from our web page. This is not the case. We have many applications on the WayPoint PDA that can access information on the Internet without using a web browser or even a site that supports the web. In addition to Pocket Internet Explorer (a web browser) that ships with every unit we also ship Pocket MSN (Messenger), a Terminal Services Client, and several unique applications, Map Loader, Weather Underground, and Traffic Watch. The user can also add things like RSS readers, ftp clients, email clients for direct Internet email, and several other Internet aware applications. There are even many other web browsers that will work.

Wednesday - June 14, 2006
WayPoint Tip: How can I check if I have an Internet connection?

The maploader, trafficwatch, and weather underground all have automatic updating capabilities. When each application starts it checks for an Internet connection and then uses this connection to check for updates. If you see the checking for updates message then you have an Internet connection. If it offers to update you should tap the update choice to permit it to load the latest version of the program. These applications all have Internet capabilities without using your browser.

Friday - June 9, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: Can I create my own e-books?

Yes. Each of the e-book readers has the tools available to create the books. For the most part these require a PC. There is often a free tool to create the files, usually by converting a file in a different format, and a professional tool that will often let you edit the file directly. The free tools will not allow the generation of DRM protected files. For lit files there is a converter plugin that will work with the newer versions of Word to create lit files. This tool is available from the Microsoft website. It will not work if the file is very complex. Palm’s e-book reader has a drop book utility that lets you drag and drop a file created in their format. It will then create an eReader file. The format is a bunch of keywords similar to html to identify the entries and can be created in a text editor. The PC based reader I already mentioned in the earlier tip on DOC files can convert standard text files to and from this format. There are many utilities to convert PDF files from various programs and Adobe sells one as well. MobiPocket also has creation tools available on their web site. Check for licensing restrictions on these programs if you plan to sell the book.

Thursday - June 8, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: What is Mobipocket?

Mobipocket is an e-book reader from http://www.mobipocket.com or from you PDA use http://www.mobipocket.com/mobile. Like most readers that work on Palms it can read its own format and Palm DOC files. Files will have a .prc for Mobipocket files. It does support DRM for its own format which is an extension of the DOC file format. The program can not only read e-books but also has the ability to read RSS feeds and other news sources. The PC version can also import files in other formats for use by the e-book reader. Import formats include HTML, word files (.doc), RTF files, text, Adobe PDF, Excel, Power Point, and Visio. You can use the PC version to push files to your PDA. Books in mobiepocket format are available from the link above or several of the previous sources mentioned in these tips.

The Pocket PC (and the PC) version supports annotation, file links, table of contents, images, highlighting, bookmarks, and a dictionary. Files are stored in the ebooks directory on the PDA. This does not have to be in RAM. The books can be moved as needed using the program or even beamed.

Wednesday - June 7, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: How can I read pdf files?

You should download a reader from the Adobe site (link: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readerforppc.html). Adobe reader is the defacto standard for the exchange of documents. They have versions for almost every kind of computer you can think of. Their product is a generalized document reader and now they have added DRM support to make it an e-book reader. They call these e-books the Digital Edition which are available from the above link and from other sources previously listed in these tips. The Reader for Pocket PC is huge. Its takes more than 8 Megs of space on the unit so I suggest you install it on an SD card. If it is installed on an SD card the card can be moved to another device and it will work.

One of the reasons it is so big is that it tries to read all kinds of documents instead of just e-books. For this reason it considers the page presentation sacred and preserves this format on whatever unit it runs on. This means you could have to scroll a lot to read a document on the small screen of a PDA. For this reason Adobe has designed a tagged format for small screens. Tagging the data provides the intelligence that allows the small screen version to re-flow the document to eliminate horizontal scrolling. Their reader can work either way on the PDA but only if the document is tagged. There is a conduit installed on the PC for ActiveSync to automatically tag a document, if needed. Documents created in Acrobat or Framemaker can be pre-tagged so that they will re-flow even if transferred without using ActiveSync. All of the pdf files created by Mobile Crossing for download are pre-tagged so that you can read them easily on your PDA.

Tuesday- June 6, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: What’s a DOC file?

A DOC file is a Palm based database containing e-book data. It should not be confused with a Word file containing a .doc extension. A DOC file usually has a .pdb extension (Palm Data Base) but occasionally be found with a .prc extension. Note that some DOC readers will not find documents with a .prc extension, but you can try renaming it to .pdb. Palm stores the type id inside the file itself instead of in the extension. A DOC file has a type id of TEXt. The DOC database manages the text information such that it can be used on a small low powered platform like the original Palm OS but it current can be used with almost any platform since there are a wide variety of readers available. There are a huge number of files available in DOC format.

The basic format for the data does not support any fancy font control or other features. There is support for bookmarks that are stored in the database itself at the end of the file. This bookmark facility is often used to provide a Table of Contents and some readers will automatically generate a list of bookmarks based on a search criterion such as the word CHAPTER. If the DOC file is edited the links may point to the wrong place. Many Palm readers have customized the basic DOC file with more advanced features, usually unique to their reader. This may cause a basic DOC reader program to show odd characters in the text or perhaps html like statements in the text. These enhanced files often have a .prc extension. You can read and create DOC files from Text files on a pc with a free DocReader link: http://mpickering.homeip.net/phpwiki/index.php/DocReader.

Monday- June 5, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: What is eReader?

eReader (link: http://www.ereader.com) is the latest name of an e-book reader from Palm. Earlier it was called Palm Reader but the new name signifies that is has branched beyond Palm. This reader is available for Palm, Pocket PC, Windows Mobile, PC, and Macs. There is a free version and a Pro version that costs $9.95 but comes with a dictionary for that price. Features of the Pro version include all of the features of the free version plus reference book support, font selection support, auto scrolling, themes and more. Books that can be read on this eReader will have a .pdb or .prc extension but it cannot read all files with these extensions.

This reader can read books custom designed for this format and features embedded pictures, TOC, bookmarks, and DRM support. It can also read book in the original Palm DOC format. Books for this reader are available from the above site and many of the sites mentioned previously.

Friday - June 2, 2006
WayPoint Tip: Warning! The Power from the 12 V power plug is 12 Volts

We have discovered that the vendor who made the new car mount for us failed to mark the 12 Volt Power cable with a warning sticker. The plug is designed to plug into the cradle where a regulator will drop the voltage to 5 V for PDA and BT GPS use. Some users have tried to plug it directly into the PDA itself with disastrous results. Do not do this. If you need a warning sticker for the cable please call (408) 738-8816 x105 and ask for one. We will mail it to you right away. All older cables already have the warning sticker and new shipped units will include this warning.

Thursday - June 1, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: What is Microsoft Reader?

Microsoft Reader AKA MS Reader is an e-book reader that is shipped with most installations of Pocket PC and is freely downloadable from Microsoft (link: http://www.microsoft.com/reader). Versions are available for Windows PC’s, Tablet PC’s, and Pocket PC’s. The reader is designed to read e-books identified with the .lit extension only. This link is also a place you can purchase e-books for this reader, although the sources mentioned in earlier tips on e-books also have some .lit books.

Features of this reader include: table of Contents support, clicking links in the document to traverse the document, dictionary support by clicking on a word in the text (requires free dictionary download from Microsoft), image support, clear type font support, annotation support including bookmarks, highlighting, notes and drawings. You can also copy text to your clipboard. The e-books are compressed to minimize the disk space requirements. DRM is supported but requires that the reader be activated using a Microsoft passport login. Text to speech is a feature of PC version and the PPC version supports audible books from audible.com.

Wednesday - May 31, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: Why do I need a special reader to read e-books?

Actually you can read many e-books without a special reader. Project Gutenberg (link:http://www.gutenberg.org) rewleases all of its books in .txt format for simple reading using a text editor. For Pocket PC this means these files can be easily read by Pocket Word. However, an editor is likely not the best tool to read books with. It is typically not oriented toward just reading a page at a time and does not support such features as bookmarking your progress. In addition .txt file books do not lend themselves to elaborate or easy to read formatting options. They often have fix length lines of data that do not wrap well on the PPC screen or require scrolling. In addition there is no DRM protection possible for these kinds of books and no graphics support.

Tueday - May 30, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: Can I use my PDA as an e-book reader?

Yes, you can. This is one of the great uses for a PDA. You can hold a full library of books on an SD card and reading is easy with the unit in the palm of your hand. All you need is a program to read the e-books and a source of books. One good source of books is memoware.com (http://www.memoware.com) but there are many more as well. Most of the classics are freely available while more recent books can be purchased. One of the complications with e-books is that they are often formatted and designed for a particular e-book reader so you will need to have an appropriate reader to use with the book. For Pocket PC PDA’s there are 4 main readers. These include Microsoft reader, Palm eRreader, Adobe Acrobat, and MobiPocket. There are a few others (Tomeraider and Tiny text come to mind) but these are the main ones. Each of these and perhaps a few more will be covered in future tips.

Note that e-books have two basic flavors in addition to multiple formats. There are free books and books you have to pay for. Most of the time the books you have to pay for are locked and must be unlocked to be read using a key supplied by the company you buy the book from. The readers mentioned above have support for locked books, called DRM (digital rights management) in the trade.

Wednesday - May 24, 2006
WayPoint Tip: I can drive to a location on the map but I cannot find that same location?

Searching for a location can fail for several reasons. Here is a list of probable ones:

1. The city you selected is not the city that the address is really in. – Solution: try another city or set the search origin to that city and search within 25 miles of the city.
2. You selected within 25 miles and the location is outside that boundary. – Solution: select the city or zip code from the drop down list.
3. You selected anywhere but did not wait long enough for an exhaustive search. – Solution: wait for the search icon to disappear or select the city name.
4. You abbreviated a street name prefix or suffix differently than it is stored in the database. – Solution: Do not enter the prefix or suffix. Let the automatic wild card matching show the correct address and then pick it from the list.
5. If you can drive or scroll there then tap the screen on the street and see what the name is in the database for future reference.
6. If it is a contact search be sure that the contact address is the same as one of the search solutions mentioned above.

Tuesday - May 23, 2006
Pocket PC Tip: What is a cab file?

A cab (cabinet) file is the native install format for Pocket PC and Win CE devices. If you have a cab file you don’t need a PC to install files. Instead you can just copy the file to the device and use file explorer to find it. Tapping on it will execute the installation.