What are some of your favorite Windows Mobile applications? Let us know in the comments!

Games

Death Drive - Who doesn’t love a little vehicular combat?  Death Drive brings Carmageddon like combat to your Windows Mobile powered device.

Kevtris - What is mobile gaming without at least one version of Tetris?

Pocket Heroes - Pocket Heroes is a Heroes of Might and Magic game clone for Pocket PC.  It may be a bit simple for some, but still a lot of fun.

Realms - A space based shooting game that might remind you a bit of the old Asteroids arcade game, but only in concept.  Multiple ships to choose from and numerous levels to explore.

Internet Tools

Fring - Fring brings their instant messaging services to more than just the iPhone and iPod Touch with a Windows Mobile version.  Allows you to instant message with AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, MSN, SIP, Skype, Twitter and Yahoo.

Opera Mobile - The popular Opera browser comes to the mobile format with a full set of features.

Slick - Allows you to instant message with AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, Jabber, MSN and Yahoo. Also has text messaging, emoticons, message history and more.

TwitToday - A plugin for your Today screen that allows you to post to your Twitter account.

Web Viewer - Web Viewer is an expansion to the web browsing ability with a tabbed browser that allows you to save open tabs and more.

Media Players

MPlayer for Windows Mobile - Part of the MPlayer suite for Linux, MPlayer for Windows Mobile will let you play Flash videos as well as videos in the RV40, RV30, R20, sipro, cook and atrac codecs.

RealPlayer - An official mobile release for the famous Real One Player.

The Core Pocket Media Player - TCPMP, as it is known, supports a dizzying array of video and audio formats from DivX to Ogg Vorbis.

YouTubePlayer - Just as the name implies, YouTubePlayer lets you to search YouTube for videos and then plays them in their native FLV format.

Phone Applications

Call Firewall - Call Firewall does exactly what you would think it might in that it helps you create blacklists and whitelists for your Windows Mobile powered cell phone.  One of the coolest features is that it will send an SMS to a blocked call telling them why they were blocked.

iDialer - iDialer, pictured above, gives you a new dialing interface that feels similar to another popular phone’s dialing system.  It does offer compatibility with popular Internet phone services such as Grand Central and JaJah.

Skype - The well known Skype service is available for Windows Mobile, enabling you to make Skype calls from your mobile, saving you a lot of money on calls.

Utilities

CapSure - You can capture your screen in BMP, GIF, JPG or PNG and then add captions, obscure sensitive information and more.

Dashwire - Allows you to sync your phone at all times including pictures, files, contacts, messages and more.  Cool feature that lets you see texts on your computer as they arrive at your phone.

GSync - As you can probably guess by the name, GSync allows you to synchronize your Google Calendar with your Windows Mobile powered phone.  The app is available in Dutch, English and Italian.

iContact - iContact changes your contact interface to more of an iPhone style system that allows you to browse through your contacts with just a flick of your finger.

Pocket RAR - An official version of the RAR archive manager that you can use on your mobile device.

SoftKey Manager - This app allows you to edit the soft keys on your Today screen.

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We'll be able to put the same capability into a Blu-ray player. We'll go into DVRs (digital video recorders), game consoles, etc., just as others are doing to make the same capability available through other devices.

Smart (if obvious) strategy, but Blockbuster is about a year behind Netflix (NFLX), which already has deals to build its streaming service into Samsung and LG Blu-ray players, Microsoft (MSFT) Xbox 360s, Roku Web video set-top boxes, and TiVo (TIVO) DVRs.

The good news: This game is far from over, and as far as we know, none of Netflix's deals are exclusive.

The bad news: Neither company is close to getting its rental service on the set-top boxes where they'd make the most impact -- the ones you rent from cable companies like Comcast (CMCSA) or Time Warner Cable (TWC).

See Also:
Blockbuster's Web Movie Rental Box: Good Deal, Lots Of Competition
Netflix CEO: Cable Cos Not 'Very Excited' About Netflix Streaming
Why Video On Demand Is Still Cable's Game To Lose

Firstly I’m going to look at the actual call quality and the phone functionality. During my use of it so far I’ve had no problems with calls with both myself and my caller coming through loud and clear. The phone also doesn’t drop calls and picks up excellent reception in areas where the Storm couldn’t find anything. The 3G network from Vodafone seems to be fast in Belfast City Centre but disappears very quickly as you move out of the city. This is however a Vodafone problem and not a phone issue. Texts are very easy to type and e-mail can be setup as long as you know the connection information for your provider. Unfortunately the N96 only supports POP3 and IMAP so no Live Mail for me. Since Live Mail will be introducing POP3 shortly this is no big deal and I’m happy to wait.

The browsing experience on the N96 is probably it’s weakest point. While the large screen does make website viewable and the cursor makes them easy enough to navigate the experience is certainly not as good as that on the touch screen phones and certainly not as good as the iPod Touch. The mobile versions of sites display well though and since I only ever use the Mobile Live Mail, BBC News and Google Reader sites I’m happy with what I get. You can choose to download Opera Mini but this is something I’ve yet to do.

The application list for Nokia is starting to grow with the addition of iPlayer from BBC really being a huge selling point for the N96. I tested iPlayer on the phone in Belfast City Centre and the quality was excellent with absolutely no lag and I was able to watch through an entire episode of Top Gear. I also added Twibble application which gives me access to Twitter on the move and I’ve found it a joy to use so far. I is certainly one of the best Java best Twitter applications and one I would recommend for the N96. Games are also starting to become more plentiful on this phone with the N-Gage application for running some pretty high spec and attractive games. I’ve only really had an opportunity to play the demo games so far but I’ve been impressed with what I’ve played. Nokia certainly do not have the application variety that Apple’s Application Store has and I would like to see an increase in the number of apps that can be accessed from the central Download location.

The phone itself is well built with a 3.5 inch headphone jack, memory card slot for extending the already plentiful onboard memory, USB port for computer hookup and sync with Outlook as well as a 5Mp camera which can take some excellent images. The lack of a lens cover is a pity so be careful not to scratch the lens. The keys are flat and similar to the Motorola Razor design which is not entirely my cup of tea but still they are much easier to use than any touch screen phone. Overall the N96 is an excellent evolution from the N95. It may not be a massive step forward but it is a step forward and with the exceptional multimedia power of this phone Nokia have a real competitor that should attract everyone who still has doubts about the touch screen devices.

SCORE: 5/5

XMCP wrote a post this weekend which looks at how Google tracks each of us as we use the net. Last year James Thomas devised a plan to go without using any of Google's services and was able to turn off their tracking as well. XMCP's post doesn't include the mobile point I've noted above but does look at some of the elements of tracking. People talk about how worried they are about national ID cards - does Google know more about us than an ID card ever will? I like XMCP's notes about Google Chrome.

Just how much does Google know? Ok for Google to control these many bits of data on each user no matter if they use it or not? Here's my chart for easy reference:

• If you use Adwords, they know your marketing plan and they know your purchasing patterns.
• If you use Adsense, they know which of your sites makes money (though we know nothing sadly), they know how to target which ads to your site, they know how much to payout and how much to keep.
• If you use Alerts, they know what topics are important to you.
• If you use Analytics, they know which sites you control and/or monitor, how those sites are doing and every trend possible.
• If you use Blogger, they know what you write about. Every word, every phrase, every out and in link.
• If you use Calendar, they know where you have been, are, and plan to be.
• If you use Catalog search/Product Search, they know what items are of interest to you and which items you actually purchase.
• If you use Checkout, they know all of your personal information: name, address, phone, credit card, ccid.
• If you use Chrome, they know everything they didn't already know about your browsing.
• If you use Desktop, they know what you have on your PC.
• If you use Docs and Spreadsheets, they know that you are writing a paper on 13th century france, and your checking account is $30 overdrawn.
• If you use Earth, they know where on the planet you desire to research.
• If you use FeedBurner, they know all about your readers and your readership levels.
• If you use Finance, they know what stocks (and other instruments) you own, which you monitor, and which trends you follow.
• If you use Gmail, they know everything. Yep, everything.
• If you use Groups, they know you have a fetish for rare steaks and love art from Paris.
• If you use Image search, they know that you like Britney Spears and you have a craving for chocolate babaka and cat photos.
• If you use Local search, they know where you are now, and what you are interested in.
• If you use Maps, they know where you might be, where you might be going, where you have been. And as noted above, if you have GPS, they know where you are at this exact moment.
• If you use Reader, they know what you are interested in.
• If you use Search (any Google search), Google knows every search you have ever made.
• If you use Talk, they know who your buddies are.
• If you use Toolbar, they know every web site you visit.
• If you use Translate, they know that you are learning German.
• If you use Video, the same applies as for YouTube.
• If you use YouTube, they know every video you have watched, what genres you like, which naughty videos you have watched, which ones you commented/favorited on, and the videos you have uploaded.

Please add your own Google tracking bits and I will update the post. (added Reader per comments)

XMCP wrote a post this weekend which looks at how Google tracks each of us as we use the net. Last year James Thomas devised a plan to go without using any of Google's services and was able to turn off their tracking as well. XMCP's post doesn't include the mobile point I've noted above but does look at some of the elements of tracking. People talk about how worried they are about national ID cards - does Google know more about us than an ID card ever will? I like XMCP's notes about Google Chrome.

Just how much does Google know? Ok for Google to control these many bits of data on each user no matter if they use it or not? Here's my chart for easy reference:

• If you use Adwords, they know your marketing plan and they know your purchasing patterns.
• If you use Adsense, they know which of your sites makes money (though we know nothing sadly), they know how to target which ads to your site, they know how much to payout and how much to keep.
• If you use Alerts, they know what topics are important to you.
• If you use Analytics, they know which sites you control and/or monitor, how those sites are doing and every trend possible.
• If you use Blogger, they know what you write about. Every word, every phrase, every out and in link.
• If you use Calendar, they know where you have been, are, and plan to be.
• If you use Catalog search/Product Search, they know what items are of interest to you and which items you actually purchase.
• If you use Checkout, they know all of your personal information: name, address, phone, credit card, ccid.
• If you use Chrome, they know everything they didn't already know about your browsing.
• If you use Desktop, they know what you have on your PC.
• If you use Docs and Spreadsheets, they know that you are writing a paper on 13th century france, and your checking account is $30 overdrawn.
• If you use Earth, they know where on the planet you desire to research.
• If you use FeedBurner, they know all about your readers and your readership levels.
• If you use Finance, they know what stocks (and other instruments) you own, which you monitor, and which trends you follow.
• If you use Gmail, they know everything. Yep, everything.
• If you use Groups, they know you have a fetish for rare steaks and love art from Paris.
• If you use Image search, they know that you like Britney Spears and you have a craving for chocolate babaka and cat photos.
• If you use Local search, they know where you are now, and what you are interested in.
• If you use Maps, they know where you might be, where you might be going, where you have been. And as noted above, if you have GPS, they know where you are at this exact moment.
• If you use Reader, they know what you are interested in.
• If you use Search (any Google search), Google knows every search you have ever made.
• If you use Talk, they know who your buddies are.
• If you use Toolbar, they know every web site you visit.
• If you use Translate, they know that you are learning German.
• If you use Video, the same applies as for YouTube.
• If you use YouTube, they know every video you have watched, what genres you like, which naughty videos you have watched, which ones you commented/favorited on, and the videos you have uploaded.

Please add your own Google tracking bits and I will update the post. (added Reader per comments)

Accessing the internet, reading news, checking the mail and being connected has become very important for us these days.I just wrote about how SmartPhones could help us recess and save costs. And now I say about the boom that these SmartPhones are making in many areas, one area particularly being of the readily available broadband technology. These high tech gadgets being the IPhone 3G, Samsung Instinct, BlackBerry Bold, Google Phone, and Sony Ericsson’s Xperia X-1.

The digital boom is everywhere, even in third world countries like Pakistan where Blackberry’s are being sold under contract’s from Mobilink, till the US where a 7.3% increase in broadband usage was observed generating $8.8 billion in revenues in data services.

Analysys Mason, a London-based research firm predicts that mobile network operators in developed regions should prepare for a tenfold increase in wireless network traffic by 2015. The report had a few interesting points…

• • By 2015, developed regions will account for about 25 percent of the cellular user population but those users will generate 65 percent of total global wireless network traffic.

  • Average wireless network traffic per cellular user (for all voice and data services) in developed regions will increase to eight times its 2008 level by 2015, rising from 56MB per month to 455MB per month.
  • By 2015, data will account for 94 percent of total wireless network traffic in developed regions.

This certainly means that high end data services will be offered to users along with a strong healthy competition between service providers.

What do you think….

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Vaja is now offering an ivolution for all those Omnia owners out there that want to have a very nice case for their new friend. And with more Omnia owners on the way thanks to the news earlier this week regarding Verizon adding the Omnia, I suspect more and more people will be interested in this stylish case.

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Reuters: Mobile phone companies also see limited scope for growth in Japan, where 109 million subscribers, or some 85 percent of the population, already own a mobile phone. ...

The quirks of Japan's mobile phone market have prevented foreign companies, including Nokia's rivals such as Samsung Electronics and LG, from successfully targeting Japanese consumers. ...

Foreign companies, excluding Sony Ericsson, only occupy around 5 percent of Japan's mobile phone market, according to IDC Japan, a research firm. Japanese manufacturers, in turn, have only a small presence outside their home market.

Meanwhile, we can't help but wonder how Nokia be able to take more market share in the U.S. Last quarter, Nokia held 8% of the U.S. market, fifth place behind Samsung, Motorola (MOT), LG, and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIMM), and just ahead of iPhone maker Apple (AAPL).

The problem: Beyond its N95 smartphone, which has a tiny (but passionate) niche audience among live mobile video broadcasters, the only Nokias we see in the U.S. are low-margin, throwaway phones that people get for free from their carriers.

Meanwhile, Nokia has had little success marketing its high-margin smartphones in the U.S., where Apple, Google (GOOG), and RIM are dominating mindshare.

See Also:
Another Apple iPhone Advantage: Mac Software Companies
Nokia: Global Consumer Spending Crash, Cutting Estimates
This Winter's Smartphone Wars Are Set: Who's Going To Win?

The two devices currently vying for my "daily driver" position - the Samsung Omnia and the HTC Touch Pro will soon be options on Verizon Wireless. VZW announced the Omnia and Touch Pro this past week, and it looks like Verizon-ites will have a chance to snag a great device when they make their appearence in stores. Now if I could just pick between the two!