Free software download

With society pushing us to be online and available in our every waking moment, it is hardly surprising that there are a plethora of instant messaging programs available for PDAs and mobile phones. IM+ offers connection to a wide range of networks without becoming too bloated or over-complex. The first thing we noticed after installing IM+ was the simplicity of its user interface. As soon as the program opens, you can get to work configuring your accounts. IM+ lets you access the popular MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, ICQ, AOL (AIM), Jabber and Google Talk networks, meaning that whoever you need to stay in touch with, IM+ will be able to help you out.

On Windows applications featuring such a range of connectivity, it’s normal to see a complex list of options when the configuration process starts. IM+ simplifies the process of setting up your accounts, and beyond message alerts, contains practically no options to configure. This may put off more advanced users who enjoy tinkering with their accounts but we thought it was a good move on the part of Shape Services (IM+’s creators). The only problem we noticed when setting up our account details was that the ‘backspace’ key on our device’s touch screen keyboard didn’t work. This is of course a small issue, but it slowed us down when we made a mistake.

The contact list display (or ‘Roster’) in IM+ should be immediately recognisable to anyone who’s used an instant messenger service before. Giving you the choice of whether to view all your contacts or just those online, IM+ also sorts your contacts by groups if requested. Selecting an online contact immediately initiates a chat with them, while the holding your stylus on the contact will provide some limited options referring to that contact, such as ‘rename’, ‘delete’ and ‘info’. We were disappointed that ‘info’ didn’t try to display a contact’s full profile rather than just their email address. We thought that a more full extract of the contact’s online profile would have been useful, at least including their birthday, homepage and interests.

Entering the text for sending messages was simple enough. As usual, we found the Transcriber feature to be the easiest and most accurate method of text entry, but this is very much a matter of personal preference for the individual user. IM+ also allows you to copy and paste text from other applications into your chat window; particularly useful if you’re using the program to collaborate on a work project, or even just to send your friend a link. IM+ also supports the most popular emoticons for instant messaging, for those times when words just can’t convey your feelings.

Up against some stiff competition, IM+ is an excellent chat program for your Pocket PC. While it has a couple of small issues and omissions, it is easy to use, relatively small and very stable. In other words, an excellent way of staying in contact even when you’ve got a good excuse not to!

Download IM+ (IMPlus) for Windows Mobile 5.65 in Softonic

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We’ve all been in those awkward situations where we wished there was an excuse to leave a party, a meeting or a date. Fake Call offers you an escape route from these kind of scenarios by allowing you to simulate an incoming call.

Fake Call is dead easy to install and set up. You start by programming in the time you want the bogus call to come in. You can choose from an interval of one minute of five minutes, pick from more preset intervals, or enter an exact time and date yourself.

Then you need to select a contact who you want to pretend is ringing you. This can be anyone from your address book, or you could even create a new contact and use Fake Call to pretend it’s them ringing you. This could be good for playing pranks on your pals, convincing them that Paris Hilton is phoning you for a chat, or that you’re being invited to lunch with George Clooney.

The simple, touch-friendly user interface makes Fake Call very easy to use. However, it would be nice if there were a few more options, such as a feature for saving the fake calls to your call log, or simulating incoming SMS messages.

If you want a quick and foolproof way of getting out of an awkward or embarrassing moment, Fake Call provides a handy solution.

Download Fake Call 1.1 in Softonic

So it’s not the most exciting new application you’ll find on Softonic but it could save you a lot of money and embarrassment. Similar to Apple’s iPhone locking tool S2U2 gives you the power to block your PDA’s keyboard and screen by means of a sliding bar. That’s pretty much all there is to it. Oh and it’s also a screensaver when your mobile’s not in use. I knew there was something else.

Download S2U2 1.50 in Softonic

I’ve had a few tarot readings before and while I’m not sure they were completely accurate (I never became a millionaire, as one reading promised) I still keep an open mind about it.

Best Tarot Pro lets you check what’s in store for you through the medium of cards. The basic premise of the program is to enter a few details about yourself, think of a situation or problems you want some answers to, then ‘choose’ a series of 10 cards that will reveal the outcome.

Unfortunately the process of selecting a card isn’t exactly in your hands. In fact, you just click on the ‘Next’ arrow and a card is automatically displayed on screen for you. I’m not sure whether tarot experts would agree that this is a valid way of reading your fortune, but even if it’s just a bit of fun, I would have liked the option to select cards myself, or at least have a graphical representation of the cards that are being drawn.

On the plus side, you do get good descriptions of what the cards represent and the program does a good job of explaining how this impacts on the problem at hand. The annoying thing with this demo is that it cuts out before the crucial tenth card is drawn and doesn’t provide the overall assessment, so you need to pay for the full version for this.

While it’s validity as a fortune-telling medium is questionable, Best Tarot Pro still provides an interesting diversion and you’ll learn quite a bit about how tarot cards work.

Download Best Tarot Pro 3.95 in Softonic

Personally, I don’t find the Windows Mobile Today screen that bad, but looking at it every day can get a bit boring. So perhaps it’s a good idea to freshen up your device by installing Touch Shell Free.

The application is designed to make your Pocket PC more usable, as well as adding rich graphics and 3D effects to your user interface. It definitely represents a more finger-friendly way of navigating Windows Mobile.

Touch Shell Free completely revamps the Today screen, adding shiny new menu icons along the bottom of the display and giving over the main chunk of the screen to the clock display. There are icons for home, contacts, file browser, weather, media player, and connectivity. Clicking any of these will produce a gorgeous animated transition and the menu for that item will be loaded.

The design of the contacts manager and file explorer sections is particularly impressive, because it facilitates faster and easier access through larger buttons. The media player also looks great, although ultimately it’s just a one-screen facade for Windows Media Player. And I guess that’s the crux of Touch Shell Free – it’s offers a nice new way of navigating through Windows Mobile, but ultimately it doesn’t change the functionality or usability of any of the core tools in the operating system.

Nevertheless, Touch Shell Free is well worth downloading for anyone who wants to make their Pocket PC look a bit cooler.

Download Touch Shell Free 1.0.0.5 in Softonic

I’m a big fan of pub sports and table soccer (or “fussball” as it’s often known) is one of my faves. The game is perfect for anyone who is too lazy to go and play football for real. Resco Table Soccer takes things a stage further, and is perfect for anyone who is too lazy to go to the pub and play fussball.

Resco Table Soccer is a fast and furious simulation, packed with enough different game modes and options to keep you amused for ages. You have the choice of playing a quick friendly match or participating in an entire championship. The tournament mode (which is, unfortunately, not available in this demo version) allows you to compete for prizes against other players from around the World by uploading your scores to the Resco servers.

The full version of Resco Table Soccer offers you a choice of 20 different national teams, three unique tables, and three different championships, although more are available to download once you’ve registered the product.

There are two different control systems to choose from in Resco Table Soccer. You can either use the touchscreen to move the players and spin them, or do so using preset buttons. Both options take a little while to get used to and you’ll probably get spanked by the opposition on your first couple of goes. Once you’ve mastered it though, Resco Table Soccer is great fun to play, and is highly absorbing. The graphics and game physics are so realistic that it’s easy to forget you’re not actually standing above a real fussball table.

The only major criticism I could level at Resco Table Soccer is its lack of multiplayer mode. Yes, you can challenge others to beat your scores online, but there’s no substitute for being able to battle it out with a pal who is sat next to you – and this isn’t an option in Resco Table Soccer.

In conclusion, Resco Table Soccer is a great way to have some fussball fun without having to venture out to a bar.

Download Resco Table Soccer 1.22 in Softonic

If you like the color orange then you might want to give Curlyfire a try.

This Windows Mobile theme will transform your Pocket PC with a vibrant new orange skin that will make your device stand out from the pack. The new background wallpaper in Curlyfire consists of an abstract image of glowing blobs and bright orange spirals.

Besides just adding a new background picture, Curlyfire also changes the color scheme of Windows Mobile, adding orange top and bottom menu panels and a yellow Start menu bar.

Personally, I found the whole thing a bit garish, but Curlyfire is certainly an eye-catching theme nonetheless.

Download Curlyfire in Softonic