The year 2004 represented the absolute zenith of PocketPC software development. With powerful devices like the HP iPAQ hx4700 and Dell Axim X51v hitting the market, developers pushed the platform to remarkable heights.
Productivity Powerhouses
Pocket Informant
Pocket Informant replaced the built-in Calendar and Tasks with a vastly superior experience. Key features included:
- Unified calendar, task, and contact views
- GTD (Getting Things Done) methodology support
- Desktop synchronization beyond ActiveSync
- Customizable views and filters
For mobile professionals, Pocket Informant transformed how work got done on the go. Microsoft’s official PIM tools simply couldn’t compete.
ClearVue Office Suite
Before Microsoft released mobile Office, ClearVue dominated document viewing:
| Application | Features |
|---|---|
| ClearVue PDF | Fast rendering, zoom, bookmarks |
| ClearVue Presentation | PowerPoint with animations |
| ClearVue Document | Word with full formatting |
| ClearVue Spreadsheet | Excel with formulas |
The suite was particularly impressive on VGA-class displays, rendering documents with near-print quality.
TextMaker and PlanMaker
SoftMaker’s office suite offered actual editing capabilities:
- Full Word document compatibility
- Excel spreadsheet editing
- Original formatting preservation
- Small installation footprint
For users who needed to create content, not just view it, SoftMaker was essential.
Internet and Communications
NetFront Browser
The default Pocket Internet Explorer was functional but limited. NetFront offered:
- Tabbed browsing
- Full CSS support
- JavaScript compatibility
- Page rendering options
- Download manager
Web browsing on PocketPC finally approached desktop quality, especially on VGA devices.
VeriChat
Before smartphones unified messaging, VeriChat connected PocketPC users to:
- AIM (AOL Instant Messenger)
- MSN Messenger
- Yahoo Messenger
- ICQ
- Jabber/XMPP
Background notifications meant you never missed a message, even while using other applications.
Navigation and GPS
TomTom Navigator
TomTom Navigator transformed PocketPCs into capable GPS units:
- Turn-by-turn voice guidance
- 2D and 3D map views
- Points of interest database
- Speed camera warnings
- Route optimization
With a Bluetooth or CompactFlash GPS receiver, your PocketPC became a $300 navigation system that rivaled dedicated $600 units.
Pocket Streets
Microsoft’s Pocket Streets offered basic mapping for free, but serious navigators needed third-party solutions like TomTom or Destinator.
Multimedia Excellence
The Core Pocket Media Player (TCPMP)
TCPMP was arguably the most important media application ever released for Windows Mobile:
Supported Formats:
- Video: AVI, MP4, WMV, OGM, ASF
- Audio: MP3, OGG, WMA, AAC, FLAC
- Containers: Matroska, OGM
Its efficient code delivered smooth video playback even on modest hardware, and it remained essential through the Windows Mobile 6.5 era.
PocketMusic
For audio playback, PocketMusic offered:
- Skinnable interface
- Equalizer and DSP effects
- Playlist management
- ID3 tag support
- Background playback
System Utilities
SPB Pocket Plus
SPB Software House created essential system enhancements:
- Task manager with memory optimization
- Enhanced Today screen plugins
- Quick launcher
- System information tools
Their products exemplified the quality possible on Windows Mobile.
Total Commander (formerly Windows Commander)
Total Commander CE brought dual-pane file management:
- Archive support (ZIP, RAR)
- FTP client
- File comparison
- Batch operations
Power users couldn’t imagine using PocketPC without it.
Gaming Highlights
Warfare Incorporated
Real-time strategy on PocketPC reached maturity with Warfare Incorporated:
- Full RTS gameplay
- Multiplayer support
- Campaign and skirmish modes
- Touch-optimized controls
PocketQuake
The full Quake port demonstrated what Windows CE architecture could achieve with skilled optimization.
Development and Reference
Plucker
Plucker enabled offline reading of websites:
- Desktop application fetched and converted web content
- Synchronized to PocketPC
- Read anywhere without connectivity
Essential for commuters and travelers before ubiquitous WiFi.
MobiPocket Reader
MobiPocket established ebook reading on PocketPC:
- DRM support for purchased books
- Annotation and highlighting
- Dictionary integration
- Web content import
Amazon later acquired MobiPocket, influencing Kindle development.
Where to Find Classic Software
Many applications remain available through archives: