gCalc v1.0

Description: gCalc v1.0 Requirements: Smartphone and PPC from 2003 to WM5 Last updated: February 20, 2007

Smartphone Screenshot:

When I bought my ASUS P525 PPC Phone, i was looking around for a calculator application wherein I can take advantage of it's built-in keypad; a calculator application wherein I could use with only just one hand. I found one, but doesn't really quite right for my needs. So, I decided to write my own calculator application, a simple one, but is good for one-hand use. And, it also works great on a Smartphones! :)

Feel free to download if you like it. :)


gCalc v1.0 Features:

• Simple, one-hand usage for PPC's with keypad/keyboard and Smartphones.
• Skinnable (see below).
• Works well with most popular screen types : 176x220, QVGA portrait, QVGA landscape, Square (240x240).

How to change skin:

You can change skins by downloading any of my sample skins below, or you can reate your own (i've included he Basic skin below which you can use as a template for creating your own customized skins).

• Just download any of the sample skin files below.
• Extract the archived file on your pc hard disk.
• Transfer the folder of the extracted files to the \Skins\ folder of the application directory (where you installed gCalc).
• Launch gCalc from your Start Menu, go to About by pressing the right-softkey (Shift) and pressing About (or keypad #8).
• You will then see all installed skins on your \Skins folder.
• Choose the desired skin and press [Select].

NOTE: The cab installer is for QVGA/Square devices. If you have a 176x220 screen, you ca download any of the 176x220 skin below. After installing gCalc, don't run it first, do the following:

1) Download the zip file containing the 176x220 skin.

2) On your PC, extract the files. It will be inside a folder (by default).

3) The name of the folder is the name of the skin, for example Default(176x220).

4) Try renaming the folder, say Default_176. Please don't use any spaces or special characters on the folder. It somehow generates an error.

5) Transfer the renamed folder containing the skin to the Skins folder of gCalc on your device.

6) Launch gCalc. Press [Shift] and then #8 (About).

7) You should see the name of the folder you just transferred on the list of "Installed Skins" listbox.

8) Choose that skin and press [Select].

Sorry, i don't have a 176x220 SP2003 device. I only tried it on the emulator on my PC, and it's working perfectly.

EDIT: Alternate download site on airfagev.com. Thanks to its webmaster, Mr. Rey Vegafria.

Aternate download site for the cab files and the skin files...

Download gCalc v1.0:

Download gCalc v1.0 for Smartphones (180kb)
Download gCalc v1.0 for PPC (275 kb)

Download Skins:

1. Basic Skin (QVGA/Square). I included this skin as a template for those who would like to create their own skin. Just change the images and use a text editor like notepad to edit the skin.ini file.
Download Basic Skin



2. Default Skin (QVGA/Square). This skin is already included in the cab file.
Download Defualt Skin



3. ClownFish Skin (QVGA/Square). This is the gCalc skin i used when i was still using the "iPhone" theme. Blends well with my iPhone WAD and Phone Dialler skins. :)
Download ClownFish Skin



4. Default(176x220). For Smartphone users who have 176x220 screen resolution, you can replace the default skin of the cab installer with this one. This is similar to the QVGA Default skin.
Download Default(176x220) Skin




5. Basic(176x220). For Smartphone users who have 176x220 screen resolution who wants to create their own skin, you can use this as a template. This is similar to the QVGA Basic skin.

Download Basic(176x220) Skin

Playlist Manager Updated

For those who are sending me emails and PM's regarding the update of the Playlist Manager, here it is, Playlist Manager build 103006.

What's new:

• Fixed minor bugs
• Made Fully compatible with SP 2003/2003SE/WM5 (both 176x220 and QVGA)
• Compatible for PPC (tested on PPC WM5, but it should also work on 2003 devies)

Smartphone Screenshots:

PPC Screenshots:

Dowload here: http://greatbal.blogspot.com/2006/01/playlist-manager-sp.html

ToggleView (for Smartphone WM5)

Description: Start Menu Gridview-Listview Toggler for WM5 Smartphones Requirements: Smartphone WM5 Last updated: July 16, 2006

Finally, i've gotten hold of a Smartphone WM5 device. Now, the first thing i had to learn is how to toggle the view of Start Menu from Gridview to Listview. You can actually do this easily by changing the GridView DWORD value in

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shell\StartMenu as follows:

• GridView DWORD Value = 1, for GridView
• GridView DWORD Value = 0, for ListView

To facilitate toggling between the two views, I have written ToggleView using .netcf. This automatically toggles the Start Menu view from Gridview to Listview (or vise versa).

Just download the cab file from either of the download sites below, install on your Smartphone WM5 device, and go to Start\Accessories to run ToggleView .

Download ToggleView (5 kb)

Download ToggleView (5 kb)

Download ToggleView from www.airfagev.com (5 kb)

Install .Net Compact Framework 2.0 on Storage Card? ... No and Yes!

EDIT: Yes, you can. Microsoft have shipped .net Compact Framework 2.0 SP1 with 'install to Storage Card' support.

The Update can be downloaded HERE.

----------------------------

(old post)

There has been a number of applications requiring the .Net Compact Framework 2.0 to be installed on the device. And, more applications that require this would certainly be coming out in the near future. But the seeming problem to this is that installing the .net compact framework 2.0 takes up about 5.4MB of your precious internal memory. Now, that could be very unappealing to most device owners, and hence, could b a big turn-off to many! I, for one, has always been too conscious in keeping my Storage memory at least 20MB free.

Inasmuch as we want to keep installing applications on the Storage memory to the minimum, we cannot forego with the fact that sooner or later, many applications would be requiring the .net compact framework 2.0 to be installed on our devices, and hence, we will be forced to reserve around 5.4MB of our internal memory for this.

So, the question now arises... Can we install the .Net Compact Frawmework 2.0 on the Storage Card instead?

The answer is NO. Even if you choose to install on the Storage Card during the installation process, the files would (by default) be installed on the \Windows directory.

But, Yes, there's a workaround to that!

I read in the forum of Pocket PC Thoughts that somebody named Menneisyys has done a "hack" that enables you to "relocate" the .NetCF files from the \Windows directory to a directory on your Storage Card!

How? Read it HERE.

I did the hack based on his article, and it really worked! I could now run (and create my own, hehe) applications that requires .Net Compact Framework 2.0 with the common language runtimes and class libraries "stored" on my Storage Card.

For those who dares to try out the "hack", i suggest you edit your device registry on your PC using a remote registry editor. It will save you one big headache! =)

Menneisyys, you're a saviour! :-)

Smart Simon

Description: Simon says... Play that tune! ... Let Simon teach you to play some tunes. Just follow what Simon is playing, note for note. Requirements: Smartphone and PPC (2003/WM5) Last updated: June 19, 2006

Another freeware game written with VB.net compact framework for Windows Mobile devices (Smartphone and PPC), with OS 2003/WM5.

Simon will play some song phrases. All you have to do is to follow what notes Simon is playing. He will be playing each song phrase note by note, so that you will be able to follow correctly (hopefully!)

On each round, Simon will play initially a single note. Just play that note correctly, and Simon will increment the notes he's playing by one note until you complete the round by playing the song phrase correctly yourself.

There are three levels:

1. Easy Level = Simon will be playing song phrases consisting of only 4 different tones.
2. Medium Level = Simon will be playing song phrases consisting of 5 different tones.
3. Hard Level = Simon will be playing song phrases consisting of 6 different tones.

On the first round of each level, Simon will play a song phrase with a maximum of 6 notes. If you make it on that round, you will move on to the next round wherein Simon will increment the number of notes on the song phrase he will be playing.

Just remember, if Simon says play the "blue note," just play the blue note.

NOTE: To play the colored buttons representing the musical notes, just tap on the screen of your PPC or (for Smartphone users) press the keys corresponding to the colored buttons, as follows:

• key [1] = Red
• key [4] = Orange
• key [7] = Blue
• key [3] = Green
• key [6] = Violet
• key [9] = Yellow

PPC WM5 (240x320) screenshots:

Just download the appropriate cab file below and install on your device.

Download Smart Simon for Smartphones (117 kb)

Download Smart Simon for PPC (177 kb)

or, visit www.airfagev.com to download Smart Simon.

Stack 'Em

Description: Test your eye and thumb coordination with this game. Just stack those moving blocks and earn points! Requirements: Smartphone and PPC (2003/WM5) Last updated: June 12, 2006

Another freeware game written with VB.net compact framework for Windows Mobile devices (Smartphone and PPC), with OS 2003/WM5.

This Beta version has 7 levels. The object of the game is to stack as many blocks moving around the screen as possible. Earn points as you do so.

NOTE: Action Button or Key#5 to stop those moving blocks.

PPC WM5 (240x320) screenshots:

Just download the appropriate cab file below and install on your device.

Download Stack 'Em for Smartphones (191 kb)

Download Stack 'Em for PPC (293 kb)

Alternate download site:

Download Stack 'Em for Smartphones (191 kb)

Download Stack 'Em for PPC (293 kb)

or, at www.airfagev.com:

Download Stack 'Em for Smartphones (191 kb)

Download Stack 'Em for PPC (293 kb)

BaseHue Express for WM5 Devices

Description: Change the BaseHue of your WM5 device the easy way! Requirements: SP WM5 (176x220 and QVGA) and PPC WM5 (QVGA/VGA) Last updated: April 23, 2006

The interface colors of the WM5 device is mainly based on a single hue. Most UI elements, such as the Taskbar, the softkeys, buttons, etc., are thus "painted" using this hue, with varying degrees of Saturation and Luminosity or Lightness.

In order to change the UI colors, one can use a registry editor and change the DWORD value BaseHue in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Color.

The accepted value of this DWORD value ranges from 0 to 4294967295. If you choose a value between 0 - 255, you'll get greyscale UI colors. Any other value from 256 above gives you "colored" UI elements.

I read in a forum (http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=38186) that whereas the accepted value of BaseHue is up to 4294967295, the colors actually just repeat. The main hue value are from 256 to 510. Anything higher will give you the same colors as represented by those numbers.

I wrote this application that simplifies changing the BaseHue value without the need for manually tweaking the registry - the BaseHue Express. Just run the application on your WM5 device, choose a color from the color wheel, press the left softkey "Apply", and your UI Colors affected by BaseHue is automatically changed.

NOTE:

• Left = move countercloskwise (more precise)
• Down = move counterclockwise (faster)
• Right = move clockwise (more precise)
• Up = move clockwise (faster)

PPC WM5 screenshots:

Just download the zip file below, extract on your PC, transfer BaseHueExpress.exe to your device (Smartphone or PPC), and run BaseHueExpress.exe (NOTE: you have to manually create a shortcut on your Start/Programs Menu.)

Download BaseHueExpress.zip (22 kb)

BT Chess (beta 1.0)

Description: Play Chess over Bluetooth with other Windows Mobile Devices! Requirements: SP 2003/2003SE/WM5 (176x220 and QVGA) and PPC2003/2003SE/WM5 (QVGA/VGA)with MS BT Stack Last updated: April 9, 2006

Now you can play Chess with your fellow Smartphone and PPC users over Bluetooth!

This program should work (theoretically) on any WM devices, Smartphone or PPC, with OS 2003/2003SE/WM5, as long as the device has MS Bluetooth Stack. Tested on Voyager, XPhone2, C500, C550, Tornado, SP5, XDAIIs (thanks to those who have spent time in testing this one.) It also works in landscape mode on PPCs.

PPC WM5 screenshots:

The program automatically determines if your device is using MS BT Stack. If it doesn't, it will prompt you at start-up.

This doesn't have an AI. The main purpose anyways is for you to play with another WM device user.

By the way, for those who want to try this and doesn't have anyone (WM device user) to play with, you could try playing between your WM device and your desktop/laptop. Your BT device on your desktop/laptop should have MS BT Stack. If it doesn't, just follow the procedure below:

1. Disconnect your Bluetooth device from your desktop/laptop.
2. Uninstall the software that came with your BT device. How? Go to Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs>And choose your Installed BT Software. Or alternatively, Go to Control Panel>Bluetooth Devices>Click Hardware Tab>Click Properties>Click Driver>Click Uninstall button.
3. Re-connect your BT device on your desktop/laptop. WindowsXP should recognice the device and you should let Windows install the Bluetooth stack by itself (don't install the software that came with your BT device.)
4. Download the zip file below.
5. Unzip on your desktop/laptop.
6. Run BTChess.exe and see if the program recognizes your BT Device. Your desktop/laptop should have the .Net Framework installed. You can download the latest version of .NET Framework 2.0 Redistributable in case you need it.
7. If it does, then your BT device has MS BT stack installed.
8. Try playing. :-)

How to use BT Chess?

1. Make sure that both devices are running BT Chess.
   
2. Upon start-up of the program, you may opt to Turn on your BT (and optionally set it to "discoverable" mode so you could be invited by others running the same program.) Unless you turned-on your BT device, your Menu Option to Start a New BT Game will be disabled.
   
3. If you don't turn-on your BT device, you may be able to play a Solo Game. Since there's no AI, however, you play with yourself in this mode. :-)
   
4. If you have your BT device turned-on, you can invite other BT-enabled device running BT Chess by choosing Menu>New Game>BT Game> and choose to either Play as White or Play as Black. Alternatively, if your device is set to "discoverable," you may be invited by other users.
   
5. Once you have chosen to play white or black, the program will search for other BT devices within range. Just choose from the list with whom you want to play with.
   
6. The other device running BT Chess would prompt the user that you have invited him/her to play chess. You will then be prompted if he/she accepted the invitation. If he/she does, the game starts.
   
7. NOTE: if you didn't get a response, the other BT device probably is not running BT Chess on his/her device.
   
8. NOTE: if the other device is currently engaged in a BT Chess with someone else, you will get a prompt saying that he/she is playing with another player.
   
9. For PPC users, you may use the stylus or the navigational pad in playing the game.
   
10. For Smartphone users, you may use the navigational stick or your keypad to navigate. Your keypad is used as an 8-way navigational pad with 5 as the action key.
    
11. Once engaged in a game with another player, the menu option Accept BT Invitation is automatically "unchecked." In this case, you will not receive any invitation from other BT Chess users within range. However, you still have the option to "check" this one and be able to receive other invitations while engaged in a game.

NOTE: If you want to receive invitation to play only from those BT devices you have already "bonded/paired" with, don't set your BT to "discoverable".

Sorry, but I don't have cab files yet for this Beta version. Just download the zip file below, unzip on your PC, transfer to your device (Smartphone or PPC), and run BTChess.exe (you have to manually create a shortcut on your Start/Programs Menu.)

Download BT_Chess_Beta1_build04092006.zip (98 kb)

or, alternatively, if you're having problem downloading from the above link, you can download from here: www.airfagev.com - BT Chess Beta