Back in May I posted about setting up my AT&T 8525 and Windows Mobile and a few hacks and tweaks... this post is basically a complete replacement for those posts and is the result of using the phone daily for over six months. I've tried many applications, hacks and tweaks in the past six months and here is a list of the applications I have installed and how I set each of them up. A ton of credit goes to GollyJer for pointing out most of the applications I've tried!
The first major change is now my device is running Windows Mobile 6. You can get the official WM6 ROM from HTC's site - although the 
site says that the update will only be available until February 1st, 2008.
- Install WisBar Advance: $9.99. WisBar advance is probably the best investment you can make for your WM5/6 device. Too many features to list but on my device it replaced HandySwitcher ($9.00 itself) as my default task switcher and does a ton more like providing a cascading start menu, allows you to add/remove functions from task bar, skinning & themes and so much more!
- MY APPLICATION SETTINGS
- Apply Skin: Vista 2
- Settings:
- Taskbar
- Others:
- Uncheck
- The network icon uses the default icon
- The phone icon uses the default icon
- Startup
- Check "Run WisBar after a soft-reset
- Enter 5 in Delay startup seconds
- Install PocketBreeze: $19.95. Today screen replacement. This is one app I've used from day one. I still love it! This application crams a ton of information onto your Today Screen (see top 2/3rd of my today screen in the picture at right).
- MY APPLICATION SETTINGS
- Options
- General
- Height: 180
- Landscape Height: 100
- Tabs Bar
- Interface
- Uncheck Paint Vertical Tabs
- Install Spb Phone Suite: $19.95. This application replaces all of the functionality of Phone Alarm from my original list and it provides so much more. Although I love WisBar Advance if I had to pick only one application to buy/install it would be Spb Phone Suite. For how I use my device the two killer features of Phone Suite are
- "Photo Speed Dial" - see the five small pictures at the bottom of my today screen? All I have to do is touch those pics/avatars to dial those individuals. Very cool.
- "Reject and reply with SMS" - this feature allow me to ignore a call and reply to the caller with a canned SMS text that you pick from a popup list. Yes you can edit the list. This is great for rejecting a call while you are in a meeting... in three taps (Ignore, Yes, Tap message) you can respond to the caller with a SMS that reads "In a meeting."
- MY APPLICATION SETTINGS
- Check Call Filtering
- Feature Options > Accept all but black list > Add > Private Caller
- Profiles
- Feature Options > Custom > Speaker Volume 20% and Ring Volume 20
- Today Plug-In
- Feature Options > View >
- Uncheck Operator Name
- Missed Calls & messages
- Options
- Check Show unread VMail Count
- Uncheck Show unread MMS count
- Photo Speed Dial
- Menu
- Uncheck Confirm Dialog
- Feature Options
- Add your "Fave Five"
- Order your "Fave Five"
- Install Vista II Dialer FREE
- Install VistaHide Battery Gauge - copy shortcut to \Windows\Startup
- Install Pocket Controller Pro (actually the device portion is auto Installed by desktop application on first connect (See below)
- System - Settings - Pocket Controller
- Uncheck:
- Display Icon in System Tray
- Install Mapping/Searching/Local Information: Yes I'm still trying to decide which to use: Google Maps Mobile or Windows Live Search.
- Install Windows Live Search: Free. Now with voice commands (that NEVER work for me)
- Install Google Maps: Free. Now with My Location (that NEVER works for me)
- Add 1-800-GOOG-411 to your contacts and add a voice tag. Seriously. This ROCKS! FREE 411 service. I've used it at least 10 times in the last two weeks... much easier to use while driving than the two applications above.
- Install PTT Fix: Use the SJ Sleuth_PTTFix.cab. Free. This allow you to re-map the PTT Button (which you will do below)
- Install HTweakC: Free. Small application that allows you to pick registry tweaks from a menu so you don't have to hunt in the registry. Very nice.
- Bluetooth
- Improve BlueTooth stereo sound > Excellent
- Enable Auto Suspend
- SysTray
- Check Hide Wireless manager Icon
- Phone > More Tweak
- Disable SMS Sent Notification
- Other mobile registry tweaks. Listing of Hermes specific tweaks at xda-developers.com - I have implemented the following:
- Kill the startup sound (DAMN that was loud!)
- HKLM\SOFTWARE\HTC\StartupAnimation
- Enabled - change from 1 to 0 to turn everything off and permanently fix the volume issue
- Install Microsoft Voice Command (to \Device not \Storage Card). $39.99. I'd have to say that this one is totally optional. IMHO probably not worth $40. Obviously the selling point is that you can voice dial any contact without having to do any voice training. The other features are okay - like bringing up a contact by saying "Show Joe Blow."
- Other device settings
- Start > Settings > Today
- Items
- Uncheck ALL except Pocket Breeze and Spb Phone Suite
- Order Items so that PocketBreeze is on top and Spb Phone Suite is second
- Appearance
- Start> Settings > Buttons
- Button 3 - Map to <Today>
- Button 5 - Map to Voice Command
- Button 5 (Press and hold) - Map to Comm Manager
- Install Desktop PC Software:
- Pocket Controller Pro - $35.95. Kind of expensive but great this really is a great application. Basically it that allows you to control your WM device from your desktop PC. Tons of great features but the best is the ability to send text messages that I type on a normal keyboard!
- Free Registry Editor: Free. This doesn't actually install on your device. It installs on your PC and allows you to browse you device's registry remotely.
- WebGuide4:
$18.00. Now FREE! Another application that is not installed on my mobile device but I thought it was worth mentioning. I am using Vista Media Center (aka VMC or Vista MCE or just MCE) at home to record TV. WebGuide4 is an add-on that allows you to control MCE via a web browser. Even better there is a mobile version of the site. Very cool. I can control MCE remotely from anywhere (with adequate cell coverage, of course!) and even stream TV to my device. Here is a great review of the mobile components of WebGuide4. If you use this application pay the guy! Seriously - it is worth every penny. Microsoft decided to pay the bill for you!
- Hack the Vista WMDC Picture - yeah I did this. Yes I'm still embarrassed to admit it.