Recently, I replaced my iPaq 3870 with a 5450, mostly for the faster processor and the built-in wireless. Sometime soon I’m planning on spending a couple of weeks completely mobile, using whatever computing access there is around me, and otherwise relying completely on the iPaq, to see what really works, and what is simply not possible or pleasant on a pocket device. So I’ve been hunting out the software I need. I’ve found a few very good things, and some others that might just about be enough.

For reference, I’m already a big fan of:

• PockeTTY — excellent SSH-enabled terminal emulator, much more versatile than my old workhorse SSHCE. Even does port forwarding.
• NetFront3 – web browser which supports JavaScript, CSS, Java (!) and multiple windows. The only real alternative to the built-in Internet Explorer, which is now really showing its age.
• JabberCE — IM client with support for most IM platforms, including most importantly, Jabber.
• PocketFeed — simple but effective RSS aggregator.
• PocketBlog — simple blogging client, which isn’t very happy talking to MT, but is still useful for composing posts. Mostly I’m cut-and-pasting into MT via NetFront
• Virtual Display — virtual screen utility, very useful for reading webstuff on the small screen.
• TomTom CityMaps — excellent maps of most European cities.
• Metro — for routeplanning on buses and the underground what TomTom is to the roads.
• GSPlayer2 — the only MP3 player I can find which supports shoutcast/icecast streams.
• Snap’n'Type Keyboard — nice thumb keyboard which although a bit bigger than HP’s, but works with the jacket on or off.
• Etymotic ER4-P Headphones — lovely in-ear headphones. Excellent sound quality, and very good acoustic isolation, so I can listen to quiet music in noisy places.
• and of course PocketVNC, Citrix Metaframe Client and Windows Terminal Services Client for remote access to GUI systems.

The biggest obstacle to mobility will be network access. Although I have a beta GPRS account (i.e it costs me nothing to use), it’s extremely slow and strangely won’t connect to certain hosts, for which the service providers can offer no explanation. So otherwise its 9600 bps over my mobile (which does cost), or opportunistic access to wireless nodes. Some of my clients have wifi, some don’t. Sitting where I am today at HHCL/Red Cell, I’m getting enough signal leakage from somewhere else that I’ve been able to tune into The Continual and listen to some decent music while I work, but I’ve yet to find any other open access points near places I frequent.