It was just a few days ago that a newly debuted Windows Mobile developer, Colin Munro, released a new, commercial ($20) VNC client, zoomVNC.
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(Note that this is a review of the current, initial, 1.0 version.)
I’ve thoroughly tested the client and found some of its features unique, particularly
the ability to connect to more than one VNC servers (desktops) at the same time and really quickly switch between them, without having to exit any of the active connections – an example screenshot showing this is HERE
the ability of freely creating / editing macros (example screenshots: 1 2 3 4 5; an example of the pre-defined Ctrl-Alt-Del macro is HERE)
However, if you don’t need the above features, I’ve found it decidedly inferior to the, currently, by far the best VNC client, PT Pocket Office (PT PO for short). The major disadvantages of zoomVNC, compared to PT Pocket Office, are as follows:
No right click support !!!!! This is a MAJOR problem!
Scrolling on page can only be done with scrollbars – there’s NO mouse dragging (with hidden scrollbars to maximize the available screen estate) and, what is even worse, there’s no full screen support!!! This is another major showstopper for anyone striving for the maximal available screen estate.
Three special buttons only, while PT PO has its own, really sophisticated SIP’s
No cursor hovering possible as no hardware buttons can be assigned to mouse buttons
Other (not that important) advantages over PT PO:
Tracks the desktop cursor (may be useful if there's somebody sitting in front of the terminal and moving it with the local mouse)
$2 cheaper (PT PO costs $21.99), which isn’t much if you take the generic superiority of PT PO into account
Other screenshots & info
Client-side zooming: 25/50/100/200/300% and Fit to screen
Original resolution – if it’s changed, it dynamically changes (as is expected of any commercial tool)
Manual refresh is possible
A screenshot of adding a new connection; it’s in here that you can choose between 8 and 16-bit modes and the update rate.
Note that I haven’t tested its Tight / Tight JPG-compliance; hopefully it does support it. If it doesn’t, then, its bandwidth usage is definitely worse than that of PT PO.
Verdict
Because of the problems above, I still don’t include it in the the Remote Desktop Access Bible, the premiere resource of ALL remote control-related information. I’ll, however, do this as soon as a much more decent version is released. Similarly, I don’t recommend it over PT PO either.
Were it a free software, I’d certainly recommend it. But a title like this that is only $2 cheaper than the MUCH better PT PO is certainly not to be recommended - unless you MUST use its unique features (quick switching between active VNC connections and/or macro support).
(Just a quick note: the main homepage of the app, has severe server-side configuration issues. I’ve tried very hard to contact the author to send him a review before publishing it; however, the server is (mis)configured so bad that it returns PHP scripts verbatim (!!!!) to the client. This means almost nothing works on the Purchase page.)
Related
Some of you may have already played BS Hacker Replay Unlimited, a Cyberpunk / “hacker” game. It’s not a bad game (on the desktop Windows); I certainly recommend this review on it for more info. (Note that the linked review also reviews another desktop Windows "cyberpunk" game of the same developer.)
Now that Handango has cut the price of the Pocket PC port of the game in half, I’ve decided to give it a go, particularly when it comes to comparing it to the desktop version. There doesn’t seem a review of the Pocket PC version anywhere; PocketGamer.org hasn’t even mentioned it, let alone other Pocket PC gaming-related sites.
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Availability, price
(Current, tested version: 1.211)
The title is available for the original $9.99 on the homepage of the developer and, as has already been pointed out, at half the price, $4.99, on Handango.
Compatibility
All devices starting with Pocket PC 2002. This means, in addition to my Pocket PC 2002 iPAQ 3660, both my two other “problematic” devices have run the game without problems:
the WM5-upgraded HP iPAQ hx4700
the “slow” HTC Wizard (has for example no music or similar problems, unlike, say, SuperTux)
Differences between the desktop and the Windows Mobile version
First, you don’t need to enter any text on the Windows Mobile – everything is icon-based and, therefore, happens much faster (you don't need to enter commands on the keyboard, just click the given icon). The generic speedup also applies to functionality that was definitely slow in the desktop version: for example, cracking passwords, which is done much faster on Windows Mobile than in the desktop version.
However, a LOT of the desktop functionalities have been removed. For example, there are no files on hosts any more, you can only transfer money from them (and trash / BNC them if you deem it necessary – it’s only in this respect that it’s the same as the desktop version). Which is even worse, a LOT of functionality (still) present in the desktop version (ability to upgrade hacker apps; several missions or, for that matter, almost ANYTHING except just money transfer etc.) are severely missing from the PDA version.
The built-in, one-page (!) help (screenshot of it here) is in no way as good as the built-in, several-page tutorial of the desktop version. Apart from the differences between the desktop and the WM version (NO filelists, NO file transfer etc) for example it doesn’t even explain how the different BNC connections affect the trace speed – in this respect (too), it’s really poor.
Music
The music is exactly the same as in the desktop version (pretty repetitive, mono). Unfortunately, the Pocket PC version severely lacks the rather basic, but sometimes (for example, when you click a server to hack on the map) really cool sound effects.
Graphics
QVGA only (sorry, no high-resolution VGA support). However, the developers have managed to squeeze everything into this; that is, almost everything important is displayed, without the need for scrolling (which is, by the way, impossible in the PPC version, unlike on the desktop).
Verdict
If you loved the desktop version because of the great missions and the flexibility, you’ll be REALLY disappointed. In the conversion, all of this has been removed; this makes the game really shallow and uninteresting. I really disliked the PPC port because it’s just the best parts (the missions and the sophisticated file lists and options) that have been removed. You may want to give it a try to see whether you like it though.
Linux undoubtedly has its place on mobile devices under the sun. Now that I’m planning a new roundup of all “let’s remote control your desktop PC from your Pocket PC” solutions, I’ve also thoroughly tested the well-known Linux-based rdesktop on my Sharp Zaurus C-760 (running under pdaXrom, the native (!) X-Window environment for Sharp Zaurii; its non-pdaXrom-based versions are qtrdesktop (Cacko and the original Sharp ROM) and Opie-rdesktop for OZ/OPIE; also see this for more info) and found it immensely better and more feature-rich than most other (even commercial – see for example Mocha’s Remote Desktop client) Pocket PC- or Palm OS-based remote desktop solutions. And the list doesn’t end in here: you can run for example Kismet on most Linux-based, Wi-Fi enabled devices (like the Zaurii with a Wi-Fi card).
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Now, all major “gadget” manufacturers have announced Linux-based mobile devices. They are as follows (I really recommend checking out the links!):
Nokia 330 (successor to the well-known Nokia 770 Internet Tablet). It’s rumored to have built-in GPS, 3.5”, high-resolution screen, DivX / MP3 video playback capabilities and a lot more. If the Web browser will be at least as good as Nokia OSS (which, I have to admit, isn’t very bad, albeit it does have its share of problems) or will be a direct port of Firefox, then, this gadget will be really cool and much more appealing than the Nokia 770. (Particularly if the screen will be much better / brighter than that of the 770 and the price won’t be much higher either.)
Sony MyLo: this seems to be another REALLY cool device: video (!!!) phoning with the built-in Skype client, probably games, Wi-Fi, built-in Opera (the Linux version of Opera is, currently, far superior to the current, 8.6 version, Pocket PC-based Opera Mobile).
Archos 604: another promising, Linux-based, Wi-Fi enabled device with a 30Gbyte hard disk with TV out and a 4.3-inch 480x272 screen. Unlike earlier, “dumb” Archos devices, it’ll greatly support Internet connectivity and contains the Linux version of Opera.
PepperPad 3: another video playback-oriented, Linux-based device: thumbwheel, TV-out, general ruggedness, kitchen- and bathtub-readiness (cool – you’ll be able to watch videos in your bathtub without fearing it’ll go wrong!), and a generally ergonomic design.
What does HTC (the major Windows Mobile manufacturer) do in the meantime? It seems they are just resting on their laurels and don’t plan to release anything really cool and multimedia-related. It’s only much smaller companies, for example Gigabyte, that do release really advanced devices. These aren’t, however, available outside the Pacific region. Someone should awake the HTC folks
Now that I’m working on a FULL roundup of EVERYTHING Windows Mobile instant messaging-related, I’ve also scrutinized the current state of Internet Relay Chat (IRC) applications. As I’ve already published several articles on Windows Mobile IRC clients, I’ve decided not to wait for the instant messaging article to be finished, but publish the news (as they are, as is the case with
First, PocketIRC .
PocketIRC has always been one of the best IRC applications for the Pocket PC (see these search results for more information on this question). The brand new version just released adds / fixes the following:
The much requested Favourite Channels list and auto join on connect capability (example screenshot here)
More detailed error messages, and improved disconnect detection
Verdict: a must for all existing PocketIRC users and recommended for anyone that wants to access IRC on his or her Pocket PC.
DXmobile releases Glam IRC, a “modern-style IRC app”
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DXmobile, a newcomer to Windows Mobile development, has recently released a brand new IRC application called Glam IRC. Note that DXmobile doesn’t have a homepage; therefore, you’ll need to download their app (if you bother, that is) from third-party servers like PocketGear and Handango.
Unfortunately, while, on paper, this application seems to be pretty capable, in reality, it is really-really weak.
First, it doesn’t run properly on WM5 and WM6 VGA devices: it has major rendering problems. It seems it’s sensing a QVGA screen as can be seen in for example this Dell Axim x51v screenshot (the same in Landscape). The same stands for WM6 (Crossbow), as can be seen in here. It’s, however, OK with WM5 QVGA (including landscape) and WM2003(SE), both QVGA and VGA, as can for example be seen in this WM2003SE VGA Pocket Loox 720 screenshot.
Unfortunately, this title is one of the worst IRC apps for Windows Mobile I’ve ever tested. It’s very hard to find anything positive about it, except for the DCC and the offline messaging capabilities (which I couldn’t test because of the major trial restrictions, and I, generally, don’t request a review copy of apps I know I couldn’t write anything positive about.)
The problems:
Has a lot of typos - no serious app should contain typos
Major incompatibility problems with WM5 / WM6 VGA models
Absolutely no user control commands (kick etc) (1; in Menu / List channelname Users, there is no context menu and the main menu only offers DCC file sending to the user
No colors, bold, underline, italic etc
Trial mode entirely useless, you can’t even tell anything to anyone
Upon receiving a message in another tab, you don’t get any kind of a notification; not even the color of the tab name is changed
Not any kind of copy/paste support (including clicking URL’s), let alone logging and other advanced functionality that have long been supported by alternate clients
Verdict: forget it, this REALLY overpriced ($19) and REALLY bad application is just not worth bothering. There are a lot of even FREE IRC clients that are way better than this one.
The Mundu instant messenger client is widely known among both Microsoft Smartphone (in the new, WM6-related parlance, “Windows Mobile Standard”) and Palm OS users – on these platforms (particularly on the Palm), it’s probably the best IM client.
The developer has just come out with a heavily updated, new version. While it’s only meant for the MS Smartphone platform, thanks to the convergence between the MS Smartphone and the Pocket PC (Phone Edition) (in the new parlance, “Windows Mobile Classic / Professional”) devices, it works pretty good on all Pocket PC (Phone Edition) devices starting with WM5.
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Much as it does have some problems on Pocket PC (Phone Edition) devices (for example, it doesn’t support working in suspended mode and vibration, unlike with MS Smartphones, where both are supported), I really recommend it particularly if you
want seamless auto-logging capabilities
want conference support with MSN, Yahoo and, according to the developer, AOL/AIM
want file upload (no file download is possible)
Note that, in addition to the connectivity problems (it doesn’t work while the PPC phone is suspended) caused by the officially not-supported platform, you also need to learn to live with the lack of touchscreen support. This means you’ll need to use the Action button (the center button in D-Pad with most Pocket PC’s) instead of for example double-clicking to, say, initiate a conversation with someone. Note that you can still select and use the menu with the stylus.
Another great news item is that the Mundu folks will release a Pocket PC (and a Symbian)-specific version very soon. Hope that version will also fix the issues caused by the differences between the Smartphone and the Pocket PC platform; most importantly, the (on the Pocket PC) lack of vibration and suspended mode support.
Finally, note that I’ve thoroughly updated the comparison / feature chart of my well-known Windows Mobile Instant Messaging Bible (cross-posted to: PPCT, MobilitySite, AximSite, XDA-Developers, FirstLoox, BrightHand, HowardForums), the source of ALL information on instant messaging. In there, you’ll find a REALLY thorough comparison of Mundu to all the alternative instant messenger clients on the Pocket PC – and tons of screenshots. Make sure you check it out to discover what this messenger is really capable of and how it compares to the alternative messengers.
Probably the "prettiest" of the bunch out there (also fairly large in size at nearly 3mb installed).
I really liked the graphics and the options but it was a little laggy (running on the Moto Q).
What killed it for me though at least in my limited tests (<10 mins, lol):
--> It kept a constant data connection (to Gtalk at least), like if I were streaming a video kind of connection. I could have only imagined what my battery would have looked like after 30 minutes.
Then again maybe it was a fluke or after 10 mins it does some awesome idling, I dunno.
I know you didn't get to test the bandwidth but if you get around I'd be interested to see if you get something similar.
Anyone having read my emulator reviews (particularly the NES (Famicom) and the TurboGrafx-16 (PC Engine) ones) knows SmartGear is one of the best 8/16-bit gaming console emulator for both the Pocket PC (Windows Mobile 6 Classic / Professional) and Smartphone (Windows Mobile 6 Standard).
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(the About screen)
Just after my publishing my reviews of the previous, 0.12 version, the developer, Larry Bank, released a brand new, 0.24 version of the emulator.
Let us see how it compares to the previous, well-known version! (Please DO read the two above-linked reviews to find out how the old version fared against the competition, what its major strengths and weaknesses are. In here, I do NOT provide you a FULL introduction / tutorial, “only” an up-to-the-point elaboration on the changes.)
Pros
Fortunately, the new version, as opposed to the old one, does save battery life automatically as can clearly be seen in this screenshot. (The previous version, as can be seen in here, didn’t offer any battery saving as it used the CPU close to 100%. This is great news!
When you pause the game, the menu bars will be displayed at once (on all platforms) as can be seen in here. This also means resuming a game after you’ve done some for example settings changes will work, unlike with 0.12.
There’s a new option, Rapid Fire, with freely definable target button (in here, for example, I’ve made it work together with Button B ). This is certainly welcome!
The menus are also easier to handle (here’s the new Settings screen and here’s the old)– for example, instead of the old “Throttle Framerate”, now, “Throttle to 60 fps” is used, which is easier to understand. As can also be seen, there’s a brand new checkbox, Quick & Dirty Rendering, which also results in some speedup, which can prove pretty useful on lowest-end handhelds.
Now, there is some way to change the video size with the newly added “Video Size” option, which allows for using 75, 100, 150%, Fit2Win and Fit2Win*.
With NES emulation, Landscape mode works OK, unlike previously.
Generic speedup / optimizations.
Cons
There is still no VGA support. You can, of course, play with the new “Video Size” settings, but none of them will help (and some, for example, Fit2Win*, will result in the program immediately exiting on some VGA models)
Screen buttons / tap areas are still not supported
The highly useful (as the emulator, unfortunately, still doesn't have any kind of manual state saving / loading) “Auto Load/Save” option can’t be enabled in the trial version, unlike with the previous one, where it worked (almost) flawlessly.
Compatibility-wise, there don’t seem to be changes. As far as the NES emulation is concerned, BattleToads still stops after displaying “1991”; Elite is still having problems and Famicom Wars (MMC4) still displays the “#10 missing” error. PC Engine emulation-wise, Street Fighter II Champion Edition (J) and Shinobi (if it starts at all – it was only on my HTC Wizard that it did) still have the same bitmap problems. The platform bug of Turrican still exists, making the game unplayable.
Several previously flawlessly running PC Engine games just refuse to start. For example, F1 Dream has refused to start on ALL my test devices. Operation Wolf and Afterburner 2 has only started on my QVGA HTC Wizard (but not on any of my VGA devices – not that it’d be any fun to play a game only occupying the upper left quarter of the VGA screen...)
Verdict
While this emulator still has its share of problems (particularly VGA- and generic game / ROM compatibility-wise), it’s clearly got better and his, as usual, highly recommended (particularly for MS Smartphone users). If it runs your particular favorite games, that is.