(Reminder: links in red are to external sites; if reading this on your PDA, don't tap red links unless connected to the internet)
Obviously, the JLT system includes EB Pocket, the dictionary program, as well as the programs built-into the Windows Mobile OS, which are explained on the System page. However, I've also included a couple of nice programs that add a bit more utility to the JLT PDA. These are free programs you can find online; my motives are simply to demonstrate the kind of useful things you can easily find and install on a Windows Mobile PDA and to save my customers a bit of work in finding and installing a couple of the most useful apps I've found. I want to make it clear that I don't take credit for any of these, and I don't charge any extra for installing them on JLT systems.
Please note that these are included on the current versions of the JLT Complete Systems; Complete Systems bought earlier may not include all of these, and they may be set up differently. If your system doesn't include one of these programs and you'd like it to, you can download it from the maker (see the links in each program's description); contact JLT if you need any help.
MDict (Wikipedia, pop-up word search in other apps)
MDict is another dictionary program. I don't use it for my main dictionaries because it lacks some of the powerful features of EBPocket, especially the more complicated search options. However, MDict is also a great program and it has some useful features EB Pocket lacks.
Using MDict is simple. Just start the program, and tap the dictionary you want to use from the Library menu. "JMDict" is the version of Edict included for MDict, and en-wiki-jumbo is the full-text Wikipedia. If the dictionary isn't listed there, just tap Search All from the Library Menu and it will search for and add all available dictionaries to the Library menu. Searching a dictionary within the MDict program is self-explanatory. To enable looking up words from other programs, simply tap the "X" a the top right corner of the screen to minimize MDict. You'll then see a magnifiying glass icon floating in the top left corner of the screen, over the Windows Mobile logo. When you select a word and tap the logo, MDict will look the word up in the last dictionary you selected in MDict (thus be sure to select JMDict in the Library menu before minimizing MDict if you want to use it to look up Japanese words--if you leave a different dictionary selected, the pop-up will search for anything you select in that dictionary instead). MDict is the work of Rayman Zhang at Octopus Studios.
To install a new MDict dictionary, just download it, unzip it if necessary, and copy the big .mdx dictionary or the folder containing it into the MDict folder in the Octopus Studios folder in the Program Files folder on your SD card. Then, as above, tap Search All to tell the program to look for new dictionaries and add them to its library. Many dictionaries are available right from the MDict site, as well as elsewhere online.
The current MDict English and Japanese versions of Wikipedia are from October, 2010. You can search for and download newer, smaller, or other-language versions of Wikipedia from Clearbits--just search for Wikipedia ("jumbo" or "max" is the full version)--and ahuv.net. These versions of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License. JMDict, an alternate-format version of the well-known Edict, is the property of the EDRDG at Monash University in Australia (license).
Troubleshooting MDict:
First, some background information. When you tap the little "X" at the top right corner of a Windows Mobile program, with very few exceptions, it doesn't actually close the program. It just minimizes it to the background. This is a good thing, because it means you can leave a document open in a program and go back to it instantly, rather than waiting for the program to restart. If memory gets scarce with all those open programs, the OS itself automatically shuts down programs you haven't used in a while. If you have a WM200SE device, you'll have the built-in Switcher program to switch between programs. In WM6 devices like the Axim X51V, instead you have Switch, which is the little icon in the middle of the top bar of the screen. Tap it to see a list of programs running, and tap one of them to instantly bring it to the foreground. You can also use Switch to shut down (really shut down!) any running program. All functions are self-explanatory. It's a small, simple program that works perfectly and speeds up use of your PDA. Switch is a free program Copyright 2001-2006 Harald-René Flasch.
KoolCalc is a scientific calculator program. For whatever reason, the standard calculator program that comes with the OS doesn't work on the X51V, so I've replaced it with KoolCalc. KoolCalc is a small program, works well, and, as a scientific calculator, it's got more features than the built-in one. Using KoolCalc is pretty straightforward, but a couple of hints:
Tascal Registry Editor, or TRE, is exactly what the name says, a registry editor. A registry editor is one of the easiest ways to turn a working PDA into a useless lump of plastic, metal, glass, and solder. Unless you are very familiar with the Windows Mobile OS and the registry in particular, please do not use this program unless directed to by me through the customer support system. Used properly, TRE can help diagnose and cure odd problems. If you do feel tempted to try your luck and you make some change you can't undo (yes, this is possible), you can save yourself by wiping the system back to factory condition with a hard reset, then restoring from the last backup you made. This of course means that it's a good idea to make a backup before playing around in the registry.
TCPMP, or The Core Player Media Player, is, no surprise, a media player. I've installed an older, free version because it works much better with the Edict Audio Companion dictionary than the built-in Windows Media Player, and than newer versions of The Core Player (which replaced TCPMP) and most other media players. And for most other video and audio use, TCPMP is just as good. Here's the key thing: it doesn't have the function many programs have of automatically scanning all memory cards and adding any media files found to the program's library. Windows Media Player has this feature and it's a disaster: unless you're careful, WMP will start scanning the SD card automatically, which then freezes the Axim for eight or more hours if the Axim is plugged in or until the battery dies if it's not, and once the scanning is complete having such a huge library slows WMP to a glacial pace. With TCPMP, that's not a worry. It's possible to install a newer media player program if you like, but if you have the Edict Audio dictionary, I recommend keeping TCPMP the default program for mp3 audio files (and setting the new program to NOT scan memory cards automatically, an option WMP doesn't give you). More info on using TCPMP with the Edict Audio Companion and audio flashcards.
MobileXpdf is a free, open-source PDF reader for Windows Mobile on WM6 Systems. More info on the program (and at some point possibly a later version) is here. One weird thing: it can't open files from the "open" command in the menu. To open a file, just tap it in File Explorer. If that doesn't work, go into the options in MobileXpdf and make sure "Associate PDF-files with MobileXpdf" is checked.WM2003SE systems (Dell Axim X30 at this point) come with the free Adobe Acrobat for PPC to read PDF files. Unlike the regular Win/Mac versions of Acrobat, it's fast and works well.
For dictionaries for other languages, please see the Other Dictionaries page.
More recommended programs to come (the rest of this page under construction).
See the Installation Guide on the System page.