Even if you don't use the calculator on your phone very often, the default one that comes with Windows Mobile phones is so ugly that it should NEVER be used! It looks so amateurish and out of place that it's one of the first things that gets the boot on my phones.

MyCalculator by SpaceTime Mathematics is a free scientific calculator for Windows Mobile and Palm phones. It is gorgeous to look at, easy to use and finger friendly. Some features that stood out:

• The answer is computed and shown on the screen as you enter your calculation.
• Clicking on the solution stores the number in memory and it stays displayed on the screen just above the input keys. Click on the stored number to use it in a calculation and remove it from memory.
• Clicking the '2nd' button brings up the scientific functions (as well as returns you to the original screen).

This is a fantastic FREE program that will only enhance the usability of your phone. Download MyCalculator.

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If you're like me, then you use the internet to research major purchases before hand, by looking for the best price among different retailers. But, we've all had those times when we are out and about shopping in stores, and we see a sweet deal that we think is too good to pass up. But is it really a good deal? Could it be cheaper elsewhere? Bookmark www. frucall.com/m for quick access to a comparison shopping site that will spit out the 10 lowest prices for any item you enter.

Frucall is truly bookmark worthy. It allows you to do free comparison shopping by searching according to the product details, like brand name and model (of course the more details the better), or by entering the barcode.

I searched for Cannon PowerShot SD 750 and got the 10 lowest prices they could find. The search was fast and it turns out it's $10 cheaper if I buy it online. I also like that Frucall has links to customer reviews courtesy of Amazon and Yahoo.

Frucall also allows you to call in your search to 1-888-DO-FRUCALL, or you can send a text message with the barcode, ISBN, or brand and model of the product to FRU11 (37811).

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I love logic and puzzle type games. For me, they help pass the times at doctors offices, the hairdresser, the person who showed up 15 minutes late for lunch today. Try these out and be prepared to get more fun from your cellphone.

1. Vexed. Eliminate the blocks by matching them up. There are easy and challenging levels. This was the first game I started playing regularly on my PocketPC.

2. Tangled Bugs. Spiders are shown with their webs completely tangled up. Try to move the bugs around and untangle the mess. Crossed lines are shown in white, untangled lines in green.

3. Smart Mahjongg. The object is to remove all 144 tiles. To do this, click on 2 tiles with the same design. The tiles are stacked, so the only tiles that can be uncovered have to be on an outer square on one of the stacks. Yes, you will need glasses or a keen eye because the design details are tiny. Still, this is a fun way to pass the time.

4. HexaVirus. The bottom left virus is activated. Every virus of the same color it touches becomes activated too. By touching one of the viruses on the bottom screen, you can change the activation color, and thus expand the territory. Activate all viruses in less than 30 moves to win! And then try with one less move. It's harder than it sounds!

5. All Mobile Mines. The classic Minesweeper game - but for your mobile (Windows Mobile Pocket Pcs only). The objective of the game is to locate all the mines as quickly as possible without uncovering any of them. If you uncover a mine you lose the game.
   

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One of my favorite sites, PalmAddicts, shortlisted a few of their Favorite Games for the Palm OS platform, and we couldn't agree more. The list includes:

1. Mazera. An older 2D adventure/ puzzle game.
2. The Quest. A 3D role playing game.
3. ZdoomZ. Another oldie but goody. The grand-daddy of all first person shooter games.
4. LJP. Not really a game - it's a multi-platform emulator that can bring to the screen for titles from GameBoy and NES - like Pokemon, Zelda and Final Fantasy III.
5. WarFare Inc. An amazing real time strategy game.
6. Fish Tycoon. Virtual life simulation and a real life addiction.

Most of these games also work on a PocketPC. Get more deets at PalmAddicts.

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MSS Converter makes conversions between currencies (with the ability to automatic update rates), lengths, areas, volumes, masses, speeds, temperatures, pressures, times, angles, energies and powers, radiations, forces, angular speeds, computer bits & bytes, viscosities, light, magnetism and torques - if you can think of something that this program doesn't convert - you're good!

The software is super easy to use. The screen only has icons and at first I was like - how do they expect me to know what's what - but if you look at the bottom of the screen, you'll see the "Units" button, so use the right soft key for quick access to your conversion choices.

With the "Menu -> Options" (left soft key), you can setup which units to show or hide for each conversion category. I also like how you can update currency conversions (manually or automatically). I've used this program to convert grams and ounces, figure out currency conversions (Jamaican to US dollars and Euros), and it isa life saver in my daily engineering work.

Download from FreewarePocketPC.net. The software supports VGA and QVGA resolutions, with portrait, landscape or square screens.

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BlackBerry certainly has it's evangelists, and we have already looked at some 10 must-have BlackBerry programs plus 6 apps that web workers love. We found more apps, this time FREE that need to be on your phone according to BBGeeks and CIO.

Internet Browsing & Search
1. Opera Mini. A Better Way to Browse. Period.
2. Google Maps. I prefer Live Search Mobile myself, but some people haven't yet seen the light.
3. Beyond 411. This can also add searches directly to your address book.
4. Yahoo oneSearch with Voice. Tell it what you would like and it will listen and give you the results you seek.
5. Tellme. Say what you want and hear the results including latest on traffic, weather, and more

Utilities


6. BBScreenStream. A small tool to constantly capture the screen and display and/ or record it on the PC - like a video. (seems to be issues with some Blackberry versions).
   
7. BBScreenShooter. Image capture software.
   
8. Auto Lock and Soft-Reset. Two programs that lock your BB once the backlight fades out and allows a soft-reset without having to take the battery out (doesn't work on OS 4).
   
9. Avvenu. Remote access to files on your computer from your BlackBerry.

Money & Finance


10. Stock Viewer. Keeps track of your investments.
    
11. JabpLite BlackBerry Personal Money Manager. You have to love the intuitive software titles.

Portals, News & Readers


12. Yahoo! Go 3.0. Seriously sweet. Access to email, flickr and now with widgets like myspace, eBay and MTV.
    
13. Handmark Pocket Express. This is an all-in-one portal, giving you free access to news, sports, weather, business, and more.
    
14. Google Mobile Updater. Puts all Google services at your fingertips including Gmail, Google Sync (which lets you sync Google Calendar with your BlackBerry), Google Reader, a mobile RSS reader and more.
    
15. MobiPocket Reader. For those who enjoy reading books on their phone (I am not one of them).
    
16. Viigo RSS Reader.

Travel & Weather.


17. WorldMate Live. Personal Travel Assistant and Weather app. The free version rocks but is missing some key features - like flight status updates and flight schedules.
    
18. BlackBerry Weather Push. Via the BlackBerry mobile site. (Seems some people are having issues with this though not downloading properly and freezing).

Social


19. Twitterberry and TinyTwitter. Both are good Twitterclients (Twitter is rapidly becoming an addiction for many).

Media Player.


20. xPlayer.

More


21. gWhiz. An integrated suite of mobile learning tools. So far there is gGlash, a trivia flashcard program and gCalc, which converts your BlackBerry into a university level graphing calculator.
22. GridMagic Community Edition. An advanced spreadsheet application which lets you edit spreadsheets and more.

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