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  • Contributing Editor James A. Martin offers tools, tips, and product recommendations to help you make the most of computing on the go.
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Mobile Computing: Clever Treo Tricks

James A. Martin

Think your Palm Treo is just a simple little smart phone/camera/camcorder/music player/video player? Au contraire. With the right software, your Palm OS or Windows Mobile Treo can do lots more. Here are just five clever tricks your Treo can do.

Note: Most, but not all, of these utilities are available for Palm OS and Windows Mobile Treos. You can download free trials for all of these programs.

1. Record Phone Calls and Voice Memos

Several applications let you record calls on your Treo. (But keep in mind that it's illegal to do this in some states without the other party's permission.)

I tried the $20 Palm OS CallRec, and it worked well. The audio quality of the recordings I made was good, and the program's controls were easy to use. You can record with various quality settings, and your recordings are automatically stored onto a Secure Digital card. You can also record voice memos.

2. Count Carbs

Atkins dieters can keep a running tally of all the steak they're eating with Atkins Diet Carb Counter. The carb counter database includes chain-restaurant food, a graphical charting of your carb intake, a journal, and other tools. This $40 utility comes in Palm OS and Windows Mobile versions.

3. Count Seconds

Since you're dieting, you're also exercising, right? Next time you go for a jog, power walk, or bike ride, use your Treo as a sports watch.

For Treos running on the Palm OS, there's the $15 MegaClock. You could also try IntelliTimer ($30), a more feature-laden Palm OS utility.

For the Treo 700w and other Windows Mobile devices, try Timekeeper ($10).

4. Play Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man

You're waiting for the bus. You've already checked e-mail and voice mail. Now what? Play a game on your Treo, of course. Vintage video games, such as the classics Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, are finding a new life on handhelds. We've got free trials of Palm OS and Windows versions for each game; they're $15 to keep. Here are the links:

5. Make Your Treo Look Like a Computer

PalmRevolt ($15) is a cool little utility that makes the Palm OS interface look like the Mac OS or Windows XP interface.

Got a Favorite?

Of course, there are just five out of thousands of cool, fun, and useful Palm and Windows Mobile apps. Do you have a favorite? Tell me about it.

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