10 Questions about Pocket PC 2003 

Interview by PC Counselor

Published: 05/26/2003

 

 

Recently I found a web page  where the autor, Inge Wallumroed, was talking about his first impressions after testing the newest OS for Pocket PCs from Microsoft: Pocket PC 2003. I sent him a few emails and suddenly He was working beta testing my program Tweaks2k2 running on Pocket PC 2003. After a few hours of work and taking in consideration that many of my users at my site and at www.todopocketpc.com wanted to know more details about this OS He agreed to answer to 10 questions in a short interview which I'm publishing here unedited keeping every word in the way it was told.: 

 

PC Counselor: Could you tell us a little bit about you?
My name is Inge Wallumroed, I live and work in Oslo, Norway. My job is as an advisor in one of the biggest Nordic system integrator companies, Eterra, and I also do freelance advisory for others, like Mobile Mind in Norway. Mostly in mobile solutions, wireless networking, mobile phones and security. But I also do advisory in laptops, Pocket PCs, software and all that matters with mobility, including training and education. I also run my website and talk about mobility all the time when I can! :-)
The company that I am an employee in, is one of HP's biggest partner in the Nordic region of Europe. That is why we get to software and hardware very easy - and that is why I have access to Pocket PC 2003 for test purpose and of course to write about on my website www.inges-pda.net I have an agreement NOT to distribute screen shots of the new OS for Pocket PC - yet,.. but I will of course put them on my website when I am allowed. A funny thing is that some person offered me a Sony Ericsson P800 for a copy of the Pocket PC 2003 - do you think he got it? NO! So no need to mail and ask me! :-)
PC Counselor: are the current applications running it Pocket PC 2002 compatible  (including the applications created in embedded Visual Basic) with 2003?
Inge Wallumroed: Yes, so far I have tested YOUR application, some worked and some we sorted out by a little cooperating over the Internet. So you are prepeared to launch your upgrade soon. I have also tested ICQ, it was NOT accepted at once, but I got it to work by ignoring the warning on my screen. As we do on Windows XP on some programs, too! Resco Explorer works good, no problems. Pocket Slide Show, MapSonic (GPS), TomTom (GPS), Globe, Acrobat Reader 1.0, BizKit for PDA (Norwegian edition), vxUtil and Super Explorer is what I found out works so far. I have a lot to test yet, but I only have 24 hours a day as you all others have. Oh,..I forgot, the AirScanner Anti-Virus - works too!
PC Counselor: is Window Media Player faster playing WMV? is supporting the new codec from WMP 9.0?
Inge Wallumroed: As far as I know and experienced, the Media Player series 9 is faster and better than the previous one. I noticed less buffering in high bitrates and so far up to 192kb is no problem to play - even over the wireless network I have at home. I do not know so much about the Media Player - but it seems to me that the new for Pocket PC will be more appriciated then the old one. My first reaction was: impressive! 
PC Counselor: is possible to personalize Pocket PC 2003 changing icons, colors, etc?
Inge Wallumroed: No, I must say that this is the only thing I miss regarding the Pocket PC 2003. But, the reason is obvious; it would take the valuable space in your Pocket PC and it is better to chose to do that yourself than Microsoft force us to have it. If you want it - there will be a lot of 3rd party SW. But of course the Today screen, can be changed as before.
PC Counselor: does "the close button" really close or just minimize the applications?
Inge Wallumroed: As before, just minimize. 3rd party again - for thos who want that. I have no problem using iTask!
PC Counselor: Does Pocket Word support tables, anything new in Excel? 
Inge Wallumroed: To be very honest with you: I never use Pocket Word or Pocket Excel... hehe, so I do not have the single clue. I use my iPAQ for communucation; e-mail,  IP-telephone, GPS when I drive or boat, surfing the web, test different programs and I must admit; my Word and Excel is used on my laptop. I do not see the value of those programs on my iPAQ. But that is ME, all others must do as they feel and like. We are all different. :-) 
PC Counselor: Does the inbox download the emails from multiples account all at the time or do we have to change from one account to another to download the new emails? does the inbox support HTML emails?
Inge Wallumroed: You still have to switch - the Inbox is not much changed, cosmetics, yes..but not much as far as I have noticed. And it does not support HTML. That ios good I think, most operate with a small communication line... and too much graphic would be frusterating for some - even if we could turn it on or off. I bet some will complain anyway, either not for finding the right button and some for all the pictures.
PC Counselor: does the MSN Messenger support the transference of files or it's the same we have in PPC2002?
Inge Wallumroed: The MSN Messenger is the same as in 2002. But there also is a short cut to Pocket MSN in Programs. It takes you to a short introduction page and you can from there go to MSN Mobile.
PC Counselor: any changes from the point of view of networking? Can we now access share folders in the PPC from our PCs? 
Inge Wallumroed: Networking is faster, much faster than before. BUT, I miss a program with capabilities as the Resco Explorer. We cannot play music, for example, from  within the File Explorer. I miss that and had to download the Resco Explorer. But as before, you can't access and browse folders in shared mode (located in your PPC) .
PC Counselor: Can we browse any web site (including does with JavaScript and vbscripts) in the same way we does in our PCs? does the new PIE support banking?
Inge Wallumroed: Mostly the same way - it supports animated GIFs, JavaScrips, XHTML and more. I have NOT tried banking yet - cause I had no bills to pay and also I did not think of it..hehe..maybe I come back to you with an  answer? :-) 
PC Counselor: Any changes in the ActiveSync program in PocketPC 2003? anything new?
Inge Wallumroed: The Active Sync 3.7 is NEEDED for syncing with the Pocket PC 2003 - but it also works with 2002 version. Not much new for your eyes to see - but better performance and little more XP style.  I also recommend to download AS 3.7 and try for yourselves - it is worth it!
PC Counselor: Conclusion: what really impress you from Pocket PC 2003?
Inge Wallumroed: The speed of networking and browsing the web! And less resets. The sound is good too. And it is faster when it has lots of programs open... well, the programs I use at least. But I think the CE 4.2 was good for the iPAQ H5450 - I think HP made it for the CE 4.2. I also like the way we now can connect to the wireless network; it recognizes network - ask if you will connect and if there is a WEP code involved; type it in and you are connected in a few seconds. Change network on the fly is also easier - go to Connections and advanced and you "see" the available networks and can tap and hold and connect to the network you want. My iPAQ also remember where it has been - so when I am at home or office - it connects itself, no need for any special settings. Was it like that before? I do not remember!! Guess so, but I had too many different Pocket PCs so I sometimes mix them! And of course the two arrows on top of the screen, that is pointing in each direction; telling you this: you are online and have an IP-address. When you sync..those rotates and you know sync is in progress. I am a an user...I do not look too much under the "hood" - but so far - I am very satisfied with POCKET PC 2003. I guess other "techies" will be able to tell you more about performance and other features..but so far, I am happy!
PC Counselor: Thanks Inge for anwering these questions and let us to publish them. 

 

One day after the above interview Inge Wallumroed gave me another good news:

ctitanic :
one question
Inge W:
ok
ctitanic:
everybody wants to know if... there would be a 32 MB rom.
Inge W:
yes..on my site I describe the answer on that from HP Norway: iPAQ 3950, 3970 and 5450 are supported... and future models, of course
ctitanic :
ok, so the ROM you have installed right now is less than 32 MB.
Inge W:
3950 has 32 Mb rom.
yes, I guess so
ctitanic:
ok, so that's enough, I will let my users in the Spanish site forum know about this good news. Thanks again... I will add this conversation to the original interview. is it ok?
Inge W :
ok

 

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