Sometimes we are in too much of a hurry (or on calls constantly) to plug our Shadows with a USB cable. This is where Bluetooth sync comes in handy. This How-To is for Windows computers. You will need a Windows Vista or XP computer with Bluetooth. If yours doesn’t have Bluetooth you can always buy a Bluetooth USB dongle on the cheap and install the software yourself (I suggest IOGear as they are a well known company). If you want to learn more about setting this up read more. Read Full Entry

This Tutorial is for Vista Users that wish to import vCARDS to their Windows Mobile phones. This will work for all versions of Windows Mobile. There are 3 methods described here so be sure you read them all.

If you are making the transition from a system that uses .vcf files for contacts or just need to import some there are a few methods.  The sure fire method is to use Microsoft Outlook. A free trial is available for download (it also comes on the CD that comes with your Shadow). Once you have Outlook up and running simply go to File Menu > Import and Export > Select the option ‘Import a VCARD file (.vcf) and click Next

Select the .vcf you want to import and click Open. This only allows for one vCard to be imported at a time.

If you want to import several files at a time or can’t use Outlook for some reason these other methods should also work.

Read Full Entry

 This should have been posted a long time ago but for some reason I just didn’t see that this was the reason it worked. In Google Maps for Window Mobile there is a feature called ‘My Location.’ It uses cell tower triangulation to basically zero in on your location within a certain range of error. This can be helpful when leaving the airport in a new city or if you are prone to waking up in strange places. It operates similarly to Navizon. In order for that to work you need to App unlock your phone before installing Google Maps.

There are two ways to do this. The first is to create a new DWORD entry in your registery under HKLM > Security > Policies > Policies with a value of 0000101b and DWORD = 1. Thanks to SurrealNetworks

If you don’t know what I just said then simply download and install the SurrealNetworks App Unlock

To pay or not to pay. That seems to be the question when it comes to phone insurance. There are many considerations to take into account when it comes to deciding whether or not to get insurance on your phone. Lately, I’ve received a lot of emails from people who broke their Shadows in one way or another. Be it falls, drops, water or stolen it does cost money to replace or restore your Shadow.

The solution is insurance (T-Mobile does provide it). I have used it before, many years ago for a broken screen. The Shadow does demand some dollars so unless you have cash coming out of your ears you might want to consider the replacement costs. My suggestion is this, if you are young or accident prone, get insurance. You will be happy you did. At the most you will wait a few days for your new Shadow to arrive in the mail.

For awhile I have been wanting to provide a more inclusive guide to the Windows Mobile Standard Shadow than just the front page here. If you look to the right in the menu, just below ‘Ask Mike’ you can see a link that will take you to the new page ‘68 Things‘. It is meant as a primer for the new user and a Table of Contents for our How-To’s. I don’t expect it to stay 68 things forever, but instead I expect it to grow over time.

You might notice that not every item has a link. That is intentional and is a preview of some of the How-To’s to come.  It is real fun being able to make these How-to’s and write informative articles as I learn along the way as well. So if you have questions about something do these steps in order to find the best results faster: use the search function up top, use the search function in the forums, if you haven’t found an answer yet the best place to ask one is in the forums as more fellow Shadow owner’s visit there on a regular basis. Remember, AllShadow.com is mobile friendly so be sure to save a bookmark on your phone as well.

Enjoy the super list!

Ever since the Exclusive Video on Skyfire I have received numerous emails asking how to get Skyfire. Skyfire is in private beta right now, so the options on getting it are limited. Skyfire operates both on your device and on the Skyfire servers and that is one reason why it works so well, distributed browsing.

Two ways to get Skyfire:

1. Go to the Sign Up page, enter your information and wait. Hopefully the queue won’t be long and you will be added to the user list and be able to download and use Skyfire.
2. Wait for the final release, because of the beta status of it there are a few options that don’t work. I’m sure you want a working copy right?

If you do happen to have a friend that emails you the .cab file. It won’t work. Skyfire requires your cell number and some other registration details so the server can appropriately handle the connection between the web and your phone.

Skyfire is a great browser and worth the wait. So be patient it is coming…

First, we wrote an article on putting a password onto the Shadow as well as enabling encryption on your storage card in case someone got their hands on it.

If you want more encryption in case a family member or coworker needs access to your phone on occasion then there are several programs available. I’ve listed four of the more promising ones here with some notes. Read Full Entry

I finally had some time to sit down and update my Shadow. I documented the process so if you haven’t already done it, here is a handy little guide to help walk you through it. Read the entire article before beginning.

Read Full Entry

The AllShadow.com team gets a lot of emails about syncing with a Mac. There is a 3rd Party application that supposedly works flawlessly for Windows Mobile <-> Mac syncing. I don’t own a Mac so I can’t personally verify this. So I ask you, the community, if you own a Mac and use Missing Sync, what are your experiences so far?

If you own a Mac and do not already have it, go get Missing Sync and let us know.

We just added a new page so members of the T-Mobile Shadow community can ask questions and let us know about new discoveries related to the Shadow. So if you know of any Windows Mobile Standard/Smartphone related news that you would like others to know about feel free to let us know in Ask Mike! (also linked to in the menu on the right)

Hi Everyone!

I am out doing some Army training and will be out of touch for the next few days so don’t be alarmed if you don’t as many posts.

Remember, if you have questions you can always ask in the forums. You will get some great responses from the community there.

Also, if you found a cool application that you think the community should know about you can always contact me via the forums. I look forward to hearing about new and exciting apps that make our Shadows better.

See you soon!

This post is a follow on to the post about watching “How to Watch Online Video“. Many of you have discovered that TCPMP is great for watching almost all video on the Shadow. One thing I noticed about TCPMP, as wonderful as it is, is the occasional jumpiness and laggy video. After messing with the settings I have found some that work really well.

From the main video screen press Options > Buffering > and double the number in the Normal Buffer Size field. Press Ok

Back at the main video screen again press Options > Video > Video Driver and Select ‘GDI’. Back at your main screen start the video and you should notice a huge improvement while playing your downloaded videos. Enjoy!

With the Holidays here, many of you are traveling to different destinations and might be using Live Search, Google Maps, or Yahoo Go on your Shadows to help out with directions and traffic. One item that makes the mobile map applications on Windows Mobile much more functional is a bluetooth GPS.

If you are receiving a new bluetooth GPS sometime soon. Click Read More for a short walkthrough on setting it up on your Shadow so you can enjoy the full range of benefits of knowing where you are.

Read Full Entry

Many wonder if Facebook and MySpace can be accessed from the Shadow. The answer is a resounding ‘YES’. Both MySpace and Facebook have a mobile site that gives limited functionality but still allows you to post updates and blog postings from your phone.

For Facebook go to m.facebook.com

For MySpace go to mobile.myspace.com

The MySpace mobile page has more functionality but the Facebook interface allows for immediate status update and a summary of your friends’ activities right on the front page. Enjoy!

The MyFaves application is great, from one location you can communicate effortlessly with your favorite five people without having to navigate through endless menus. In less than a minute you can send a picture to one person, a voice message to another and a video to the next. In honor of efficiency, we present an overview of MyFaves on the Shadow along with some tips and tricks to make life even easier.

If you have MyFaves, you should see the familiar five circles on your home screen. Selecting any of these will bring up an additional menu.

Read Full Entry