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Optimal software suite for the communicator

4 replies · 2,320 views · Started 28 January 2006

After having used my 9500 for quite some time, I've found myself becomming increasingly annoyed with the limitations of the built-in applications. On paper everything looks ok, but in practical use they all fall short in one way or another. Some more than others.

I view the 9500 as a potential laptop replacement for people like me who travel a lot and like to travel light. And from a hardware perspective it COULD be just that - ideal formfactor, long battery life, superb connectivity and good processing power/memory - but the software is not quite up to the task.

To be fair, Nokia does state that the communicator is not designed to be a laptop replacement for mobile office work, but meant more as a supplementary mobile terminal. Which is a bit sad, now that they have designed a hardware that is obviously capable of so much more.

But of course there are the third party software vendors, which brings me to the reason for this post. What would the ultimate software suite for the 9500 look like?

I've browsed the forums, reviews and Google and came up with the following list...

Basic apps.

E-mail : Profimail
Calendar / Contacts : Aqua Calendar
Browser : Opera Mini
Wordproc. : Datawiz Documents To Go
Sheets : Datawiz Documents To Go
Presentations : ?
Media Player : ?
Desktop : SymbianWare Powerdesk

Extras

Map : TomTom Mobile 9500
PDF : Adobe Reader
Database : EpocWare PowerData
Archive : EpocWare Zip Manager
E-book reader : MobiPocket Reader
World Clock : Mobimate WorldMate
FTP client : Y-ftp
Finance : RMR Bank
Wallet : SymbianWare PowerSafe
HotSpot Finder : Psiloc Hotspot Finder

I should point out that this is not merely a philosophical experiment on my part. I plan on assembling a software suite for my 9500 to replace the built-in apps and hopefully get the functionality I feel is lacking in the vanilla device.

Any comments/suggestions?

As one who is considering purchasing a 9500 (and a Netbook user), I find this thread rather interesting...I'd like to add a cross application "spell checker" to the list...like the one on my Netbook!

DT

I'm a PowerSafe user. However, Epocware offers Handy Safe which comes with a desktop agent that allows you to create and edit entries on your Notebook/PC and synchronize it with the communicator.

On the other hand, I recommend Ycalc by Yellow Computing; a practical everyday calculator.

I'd go along with most of your choices especially AquaCalendar (of which I'm a big fan).

I used to use Powerdesk but now I use iDesk for my desktop which also happens to be free.

For the database, I'd suggest 'SmallBase' from Corisoft as I've use that quite happily for some time now but I have to admit I've not tried PowerData.

One addition: 'Plan' from Twiddlebit which is an 'MS Project' like piece of project planning (& tracking) software.

Andy.