Change Windows Mobile Today Screen SoftKeys

One of the best ways to customize your Windows Mobile device is by changing the softkeys on the Today screen. If you're like me than you probably never use the default Calendar shortcut on the left key. I can just tap my appointments on the today screen. I changed mine to launch the HTC ActionScreen application which gives me a list of actions like New E-mail, New SMS, etc.

Always be careful when editing the registry. Watch your typos and double-check your changes.

To change the left softkey:

1. Open your registry editor of choice.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Today\Keys\112
3. Change Default*
4. Change Open**
5. Soft reset your phone.
   

*Default is the name you want displayed on the Today screen above the softkey.
**Open needs to be set to the path of the executable you want to run. (Ex: \Windows\htcactionscreen.exe)

The change to Default will probably show on the Today screen momentarily, but you will probably need to do the soft reset to get it to launch your app.

To change the right-hand softkey you need to follow these same directions except you navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Today\Keys\113.

I have heard of some free applications that can do this for you automatically, but I prefer this method to using up memory with more software.

Smartphone / PPC Development Community

It occurred to me that it would take quite a few posts and time to remember and document every little tweak and hack I've used on my phone. Since part of the fun is in experimentation and reading up on what others have done I direct you to a wonderful site:


http://xda-developers.com/

Do you want to find some neat open source applications? Go there.
Do you want to find some nifty hacks? Go there.
Do you need some help with troubleshooting a problem? Go there.
Do you want to install a completely different ROM or operating system? Go there!

I've never tried to upgrade my ROM, yet, but I've heard great things. That and so much more can be found at XDA. It's an awesome resource. Check it out.

Transform Your WM Phone Into a Wireless Hotspot

That's right; you can turn your Windows Mobile phone into a wireless hotspot for your laptop. If your phone is WiFi enabled (like my HTC Titan) you can use the WMWiFiRouter application to easily connect a wide variety of devices to the internet via an AdHoc connection through your phone.

This is a pretty bad-ass piece of software. Everyone should try it out and buy it. For $30.00 USD it's a great deal.

If you happen to be a Nokia phone user you can also checkout JoikuSpot which comes in two flavors. They have a Lite free version and a paid Premium version.

You can find the link to WMWiFiRouter in the title and JoikuSpot is linked off of their homepage.

When I say this software is a great addition, I mean it. There's almost zero configuration. On my HTC I installed the .CAB file, launched it and clicked "Connect". Within a few seconds it showed I had a solid connection and it was ready to serve up some internet.

The best part is if your provider charges for tethering (the usual way you might connect your laptop through your phone) there's no way for them to flag your account for charges and you don't need to get anything from them to configure the app.

Now I just need to find a provider that offers EVDO and a 4 bar connection in every corner of the globe I might go...

WMWiFiRouter

Hacking Up Windows Mobile

I started using Windows Mobile based smartphones/PPCs about 2-years and got hooked on their capabilities. Right now I use an HTC Titan, also known as the HTC Mogul 6800. It's a great little device, but I can never resist the urge to improve.

With a few modifications my Titan's UI is completely revamped and improved to increase my personal productivity with the device. Not only that, but it runs faster, more effectively and more efficiently thanks a few registry hacks.

Windows Mobile runs just like any Windows OS. That is to say they both have common components, like a registry. It is also worth mentioning that the benefits and the risks of editing a Windows registry apply the Windows Mobile.

To begin you first need to download and install a registry editor. I highly recommend the Resco Registry Editor (and the entire suite they offer with their File Manager replacement), but there are also some nice frees ones. Total Commander and PHM Registry Editor are free for you to download. I suggest PHM.

The first hack is great for making your Windows Mobile phone feels a bit "snappier":

1. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\GDI\GLYPHCACHE
2. Change limit from 16384 to 32768
3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\STORAGEMANAGER\FATFS
4. Change cachesize to 4096
5. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\StorageManager\Filters\f sreplxfilt
6. Change ReplStoreCacheSize dword decimal value to 4096 or 8192
   

I hated the start-up sound when rebooting my phone:

1. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Sounds\SystemStart \Sound
2. Change \Windows\Piano.wav to \Windows\*none*

These hacks enable various power management features on some Windows Mobile functions:

1. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Comm\AsyncMac1\Parms
2. Change to DisablePowerManagement to 0 (Zero)
   
3. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Comm\Irsir1\Parms
4. Change to DisablePowerManagement 0 (Zero)
   
5. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Comm\PPTP1\Parms
6. Change to DisablePowerManagement 0(Zero)
7. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Comm\L2TP1\Parms
8. Change to DisablePowerManagement 0 (Zero)

My favorite way to use hacks is to "install" them via .CAB files when I come across them online. This way there is no need to remember the original values you're changing. If you ever need to revert back to the default you need only to uninstall the hack just like a program.

Credit for these hacks goes to the fine people at the MotoQ forums and PPCGeeks. I have included a link in the title of this post for the PPCGeek forum post that lists the performance and battery hacks I included above. The poster is also kind enough to include the .CAB file for them.

Many hacks will require you soft reset your phone (turn it off, turn it on) to take effect. The general rule of thumb is to wait about 30 or 60 seconds after applying the registry change, soft reset and enjoy.

PPCGeeks CAB File