In the beginning, there was an awesome media player for Windows Mobile called ‘BetaPlayer‘. It could handle all kinds of audio and video codecs that the mobile version of Windows Media Player couldn’t. Eventually BetaPlayer turned into TCPMP (The Core Pocket Media Player), a freeware media app. And it was truly awesome. Then, all of a sudden, TCPMP dropped support for files downloaded from iTunes for legal reasons, and TCPMP became a little less useful. From this, the commercial CorePlayer was born. CorePlayer allows developers to collect some revenue and pay licensing fees for proprietary codec support.

I’ve been using CorePlayer for quite some time now and I love it. It does everything I want it to do: movies, video clips, audio files, YouTube, podcasts, JPGs, FLV files… and tonnes more.

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QUICKLIST:

System/OS/Device Requirements: Pocket PC 2000, Pocket PC 2002, Pocket PC 2003, Pocket PC 2003 SE, WM5, WM6, WM6.1
Price: $29.95 ( 20% off for the month of November with coupon code “WMCoolOpen”!) Free trial also available.
Company: CoreCodec, Inc.
Download: Available at our store for only $29.95!

KEY FEATURES:

• YouTube support, with built-in browse and search
• BlueTooth Stereo (A2DP) and Remote Control (AVRCP) support
• Programmable Hotkeys
• Supports over 15 Languages
• Media library (Manage your RSS Feeds, playlists, podcasts, bookmarks)
• Podcast Support (Standard and Enhanced)
• Streaming support (HTTP, UDP, RTP, RTSP, RTCP, SDP, Unicast, Multicast)
• IPTV/DVB-H/DVB-SH Ready
• Audio: MP3, WMA, AAC, MKA, WAV, OGG, Speex, WAVPACK, FLAC, MPC, AMR, GSM, ADPCM, ALaw, MuLaw, MIDI
• Video: WMV, CoreAVC� (H.264), AVCHD, MKV, MPEG-1, MPEG-4 part 2 (ASP), DivX, XviD, MJPEG, MSVIDEO1
• Images: JPG (420, 422, 440), BMP, PNG, GIF, TIFF
• Containers: FLV, Matroska�, ASX, ASF, TS, PS, M2TS, 3GPP, MOV, AVI, MPEG-4, NSV
• GPU support: Intel 2700g, ATI Imageon, Qualcomm QTv
• CoreUI / Universal Skins (Custom interface)

VERDICT:

There are a number of ways to watch YouTube videos on your mobile phone, but CorePlayer is the coolest and easiest way I’ve found, hands down. It uses minimal memory, runs very smoothly, the mp3 player shows album art, allows both mp3 and aac equalizer usage, and it can play back 700×600 DivX avi files without dropping any frams which is very cool.

The only problem I actually encountered with it was that the download did not include a help file, which would have been very useful. But there are plenty of resources online that provide help and CoreCodec themselves offer an email helpline to those in need. So it’s not all bad news on the help front.

RATING: (out of 5)

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This version is for Windows Mobile Professional (touchscreen), a separate version is available for Windows Mobile Standard (non-touchscreen).

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QuickList:

System/OS/Device Requirements: Windows Mobile 6.0, 2.2MB
Price: $5.95
Company: Wiggins Professional Services
Download here or grab the free trial here.

CONCLUSION

There really are no ‘key features’, it’s pretty straight forward: a super neato crystal ball! But, having said that, check out the following pictures — the animations and sounds are some pretty cool features.

RATING (out of 5)

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QuickList:

System/OS/Device Requirements: Windows Mobile 6
Price: $9.99
Company: Software A To Z, Inc.
Download here or grab the free trial here.

KEY FEATURES

• Create, edit, play and share quizes
• Quizzes may be text only or text with multimedia
• Easy to use create wizard, edit tool and play interface
• Incrementally build a quiz, add multimedia, play or share
• Lots of play options with preset popular quick settings
• Organize quizzes into separate quizbooks for easy play and sharing
• Sample quizzes, tutorial and intro included

CONCLUSION

This software could be super helpful if you’re studying for exams/finals or tests in school. I would have loved to have had this software when I was attending university! It would have made studying so much more fun. Bleh. Tests!

RATING (out of 5)

Line Rider Mobile brings all the fun of the Internet phenomenon to your mobile phone or PDA. Grab the pencil tool and construct tracks filled with ramps, hills, and jumps, and then send your virtual sledder down the route. Play the addictive Puzzles mode to test your mastery of the lines, share your creations with other fans and publish them on the Line Rider official Web site.

• Choose “Create Tracks” from the main menu to start your track from scratch, or to open and play preloaded tracks.
• Choose “Puzzles” from the main menu to complete the various challenges available inside the game.
• Choose “Shared Tracks” from the main menu to send your own creations to other Line Rider fans, or to retrieve tracks drawn by other fans.

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QuickList:

System/OS/Device Requirements: Windows Mobile Pocket PC Edition 2002, 2003, 2003SE, Windows Mobile 5 and 6
Price: $14.95
Company: In-Fusio North America
Download here or grab the free trial here

KEY FEATURES

• Exclusive mobile version of the Internet phenomenon Line Rider
• 9 line tools, including layered scenery, finish lines, destructible lines, acceleration lines…
• Puzzles game mode, to test your mastery of the lines
• Preloaded tracks to inspire your own crazed creations
• Music or sound effects to bring out the best of your creations

CONCLUSION

Dude. Line Rider! For your phone! What more can I say? And with a touch screen phone this game is probably the most addictive game your Windows Mobile device will ever see. In case this wasn’t already clear, this game comes very, very highly recommended!

RATING (out of 5)

The Samsung Omnia’s biggest selling point is its touch screen – it’s huge, very responsive, and looks very sharp. Also worth noting are its 8GB internal memory (expandable to 24GB with a 16GB microSD card!), great battery life, GPS built right in, and a 5MP auto-focus camera (with LED flash).

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Mitchell Oke of GadgetZone had this to say about the Omnia:

The Omnia has a beautiful 3.2 inch 240×400 display that dominates the front of the device. It isn’t quite as high-res as some of its competitors, but it looks great and is extremely responsive. The biggest problem with some of these touch screen handsets is that the display isn’t sensitive enough to a finger press. Fortunately the Omnia passes with flying colours.

In fact, Samsung are so adamant that you won’t need a stylus that there isn’t a slot for one! Some may see this as a nuisance, but in a week of use without it we can safely say that the stylus can stay in the box.

That’s a glowing recommendation if we’ve ever heard one!

Sadly the Samsung Omnia still uses proprietary connectors for power, syncing, and audio. But so many phones still do that we can’t be that disappointed. Someday, my friends. Someday phone manufacturers will light up our lives with 3.5 mm headphone jacks…

Have an Omnia? Be sure to let us know what you think of it in the comments below.

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Google Maps 2.3 has arrived!

This release offers more than just bug fixes too! It’s got walking directions, POI reviews, street view, and transit alerts too!

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We’re excited to announce the availability of Google Maps for mobile version 2.3 with Street View on Nokia S60 and Windows Mobile. Street View was previously released on Google Maps for Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone. Street View lets you access street level imagery to help orient yourself when looking for places, businesses, or getting directions. Say you’re going to meet with friends at an unfamiliar restaurant. Now you can search for it in Google Maps for mobile, click on “Street View”, and see what the place and surrounding area look like. Similarly, say you need to get to a shop in a part of town you don’t know. Find it using your phone, get directions to it, and see how to get there with full-screen panorama images of every step along the way.

And best part yet? As always, it’s a free download from Google.com/gmm – what more could you ask for?

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Are you in the market for a new Windows Mobile phone? Well the good folks over at Mobile Tech Review have just posted up a very detailed and lengthy video review of the new Sony Xperia X1. They are “very impressed” with this WinMo device:

The hardware is impeccable, the panels are both fascinating and useful, and of course there’s no carrier bloatware! Though other phones offer many of the same features, somehow the Xperia X1 has that special sauce where the whole is greater than just the sum of its features. It’s fun, it’s cool and it offers very good entertainment possibilities while also being a very good business device thanks to Windows Mobile, the hardware keyboard and push email. The Xperia is perfect for power users and those who like something new and different (courtesy of panels), and it’s priced at the high end where mostly power users tread. If you’re just looking for an affordable Windows Mobile touch screen phone with a single user interface, the Xperia isn’t for you.

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It’s time for the fifth edition of WindowsMobile Cool’s sister site round up featuring the best of this week at BlackBerry Cool, the voice of the BlackBerry community and QuicklyBored, the latest in mobile entertainment!

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How to save money on your phone bill
Vayyoo’s vPost application for BlackBerry
Nintaii for BlackBerry – first accelerometer game for BlackBerry

FollowUp! v.1.1 for BlackBerry Reviewed!

Verizon BlackBerry Storm OS 4.7 Upgrade (Probably) Coming Today!

BlackBerry Storm screen won’t scratch

NotNow v.1.1 Reviewed!

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We at WindowsMobile Cool heard about this device at the end of last week, but we had no idea just how much hype this device would get!

Now, just so we’re clear, this isn’t a Windows Mobile device – but it’s still pretty rockin’! Check out these features: Touch display which slides and tilts to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard, ssisted GPS, 5MP camera with dual LED flash and Carl Zeiss lens, 3G with HSDPA, WiFi, A2DP Bluetooth and 32GB of onboard memory, plus a slot for another 16GB via MicroSD card. Cool!

For more info and specs, check out Dial-a-phone’s full review.
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The object of Plant Tycoon is not so different from the goal of Fish Tycoon — only instead of finding the seven magic fish of Isola, you are to discover the four magic plants including the Magic Fruit of Life. Each magic plant will give you permanent enhancements and abilities that will bring fortune and fame to your plant nursery. You discover these magic plants by cross-breeding plants and solving genetic riddles.

You start with a couple of dollars, a handful of seeds, some soil and water. Grow plants, organize and harvest seeds. Monitor the plants health, age and maturity and be careful of dehydration and infestations. Sell some of your creations to fund your research and to buy better supplies to use in your Nursery. Discover the four magic plants and get rich!

QUICKLIST:

• Requirements: Windows Mobile, 2.8mb RAM available, PROCESSOR: ARM/XScale
• Price: $19.95
• Company: LDW Software, LLC
• Download Link
• Free Trial Link

INSTALL/SETUP:

• Download Plant Tycoon (Trial or Purchase) from our storefront
• Move .cab file from your desktop computer to your Windows Mobile device (main or storage)
• Select the .cab file from its location on the device, file should automatically install

KEY FEATURES

• Strategy- Adventure- Puzzle all combined in one unique game!
• Multiple approaches to solving the game are possible.
• Discover from hundreds of possible breeds.
• Plenty of upgrades.
• Different levels of difficulty.
• 3 levels of game speed.
• The game is easy to learn but difficult to master.

CONCLUSION

Just like Fish Tycoon, Plant Tycoon is mindless fun – which is great. I can play for 20 minutes and relax and care for cute little plants and kill little bugs that threaten my game livelihood. It’s not as rich and glamourous as its desktop counterpart, but it’s just as entertaining. If you like sim games, this one is likely to be right up your alley!

RATING (out of 5)