The phone itself is good, if not the best in terms of performance. Having followed the desktop Windows concept of registry files the Windows Mobile platform allows for immense fine tuning, tweaking and customizations, not to mention the powerful hardware base of the Raphael ( HTC Touch Pro ) which makes it a swiss army knife. After having played around with it for a few weeks and literally killing it with hyper apps (apps that modify a lot registry values and internals and are resource hungry) I am in a position to recommend some applications what one must have on their WinMobile / HTC Touch.
1. QuickMark QR-Code reader: If you ever used the Nokia N95, you’ll know what a QR code is. Its yet another form of visual encoding for various types of data. You could very well create your own online at KAYWA. Basically the phone’s camera turns into a code reader and can distinguish ebtween plain text, contact info and web url’s. So when you want to download apps directly to the phone or want to save some contact info or URL for later use, just scan it off the PC monitor or paper.
2. Advanced Configuration Utility: This is a equivalent to TweakUI for Windows desktop OS. Everything can be fine tuned and customized using this utility. Pretty much anything that CAN be configured WILL get configured with this tool. Careful what you change though because some tweaks may come back to bite you after a soft reset.
3. TF3D Config Tool: Originally developed for the Diamond it scales well to Raphael as well. Contains minor TouchFLO3D tweaks and most important of all, theme selector, a feature that is inherently absent in the Touch Pro. Wonder why HTC wouldn’t let people have their way.
Attention networking lovers:Make the best out of your WinMobile/HTC Touch with these network related utilities
4. HTC Network Plugin: If you’re on WiFi most of the time and would like to extend file sharing capability to the phone as well, this is the tool for you. It easily picks up machines on the home network and lets you transfer files with ease. Try not streaming anything from the PC using this because the data transfer quality isn’t the best. You might also want to turn up WiFi performance on the phone to make good use of it.
5. PocketTV: Although the WinMobile platform ships with Windows Media Player, it only plays MPEG4 (Doh!). if you’re used to downloading videos, its likely that they are going to be MPEG1. This nifty little app bridges the gap and features real-time output filtering (like turning video to b/w, sepia etc.)
6. Fring: The well featured IM client now also boasts of add-ons for facebook and twitter. If you have a look at my twitter page you’ll see updates from fring. It even supports SIP and voice calling for Gtalk.
It would be nice if HTC released a customization tool for the TouchFLO3D.
ThinkingCap - plugged in to the head 
October 29th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I currently have a WinMo standard phone, and am looking at getting a Touch Pro.
But one of the things I’m really missing from the WinMo world is an easy and reliable podcast solution. I want the phone to constantly ping podcasts of my choosing, sync them locally, so I always have the latest “x” releases of the channels I want to listen to/watch.
What’s the best (video)podcast solution for WinMo 6.1 Pro?
October 29th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Jon,
First off, thanks for dropping by. I’m not sure whether the “RSS Hub” application is standard in all WinMo’s or just the Touch Pro. It doesn’t download the pod/webcasts straight away (imagine the mess) but does grab the details and the download link for latest releases. I’ve been using it for businessweek.com pod/webcasts. You can set the frequency at which it should update itself and on which types of networks. Would have been nice if the media could also be streamed instead of just downloading it, thus eliminating storage maintenance issues.
Hope this addresses your query!
December 5th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
This is my first “cool” phone and I am not sure what to do. I am not to tech savy but I know I want to use this phone to its potential, after all Im stuck with it for at least the next 2 years. All of those applications sound interesting, but to someone who didnt even have the internet on their old phone, the lingo is foreign. Can you explain in “dummy” terms what the applications actually mean and what they do?
December 7th, 2008 at 4:17 am
Hey Allie! Thanks for dropping by. I can understand that if this is your first time with a windows mobile based phone (kinda like windows XP for your PC) the features and capabilities can be a little overwhelming.
Here’s a quick rundown of what those apps can do for you on a daily basis (no tech jargon I promise)
1. QR code reader: The idea is to be able to scan an electronic business card info (the ones you send with MS outlook), web links and even normal text. One of the websites that’s using this very wisely is freewarepocketpc.net (check http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/get-alccontrol-v1-1.html). You can scan the download link directly off the screen without having to open a browser and typing it in. This Quickmark app does all that for you.
2. Advanced config utility: I wouldn’t recommend using this unless you’re a techie or really know what the stuff in there means. Its a way of tweaking your phone just like you would do to your PC.
3. TF3D tool: this one’s fairly straightforward in what it lets you tweak in the phone. Mostly performance improvements. The best part is the ability to change the TouchFlo 3D (the cool interface) theme of the phone altogether.
4. PocketTV: You might have played mpeg videos on your PC. Now there are two types of mpeg videos out there, MPEG1 and MPEG4. The touch pro phone can only play MPEG4 type videos. This nifty app lets you play MPEG1 too.
5. Fring: Consider this an all in one chat software. Even lets you configure internet phone service on it. You can also use it for voice chat via the Google talk portion of the software.
I hope that explains much of what these apps do. You could always contact me directly via the contact page if you need more advice.
December 7th, 2008 at 4:50 am
[…] network afficionados! December 7, 2008 Posted by bigduke in Miscellaneous. trackback In the previous post I highlighted some of the day-to-day utility apps to help you use your HTC Touch Pro (or windows […]
December 12th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
TF3D doesnt work with my touch pro
why?
December 13th, 2008 at 4:52 am
In order to install TF3D you need to have .NET compact framework 3.5 installed on your mobile because TF3D is an application built using the latest .NET framework. Its freely available from Microsoft’s website. To install it, start the setup process on your PC, make sure the mobile is alreay connected via ActiveSync. You will be prompted to continue with installation on the phone itself. Go through the steps and you’re good to go.
March 4th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
just go into the tf3d config folder and delete the “tweaks.xml” file and it will work
March 6th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
I’ve been researching the HTC Fuze (AT&T) but I have Verizon. I’m locked in until Aug 2010 so I’ve started researching the HTC Pro. It’s got a bad rep out there on the internet. I need a “working” phone with the capability to sync with my Outlook. Would you recommend it?
March 10th, 2009 at 10:09 am
If I were you, I’d wait till windows mobile 7 went up on one of HTC’s line of products. The Touch Pro does have issues with responsiveness and in my case crashes atleast a couple of times a week. Not to mention the LCD liquid in the screen on my phone seems to have gotten displaced creating a sort of distortion in the middle of the screen.
On the bright side its still better than most windows mobile phones out there and the keypad sure does come in handy (other handsets offer this anyway).
March 15th, 2009 at 9:06 am
Hey! how’s it going, thanks for showing us all these cool things. Now come the questions. How do I install the advanced utility thing? buddy I’ve been going insane. There’s a set up that wont work, I dled and installed the 3.5 framework and the advanced thing isnt the only app ive tried to put on my phone.
http://www.isyougeekedup.com/must-have-applications-and-programs-for-the-htc-touch-pro/
and
http://www.isyougeekedup.com/more-great-programs-and-applications-for-the-htc-touch-pro-fuze/
There’s 3 things I’ve tried to put on, the torch button, slide to talk button and the kevtris. I installed kevtris because that had a real set up but the other ones like the utility tool and the slide talk button from the instinct (which is a must with our phone) has a setup.xml and it takes you to a web page…. not an installer. So I’m lost and no one else knows, and No FORUMS HAVE MY ANSWERS =( so I dunno what to say. If you can’t help then im screwed and will live without it. DL the slide button, and see if you can work it, theres a setup.xml and like 30 other read-only files that all don’t do anything on the computer or the phone and like I say it sends you to a web page. Thanks for you help if you can. =D
March 16th, 2009 at 4:14 am
Hi,
I have the same issue. It just directs me to a web page. Is there a step-by-step guide on how to install TF3D ona a Touch Pro.
Cheers
April 30th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
big duke:
I’m having the same problem with installation…i end up on some web site…i’ve tried everything my little computer illiterate brain can think of…so i’m waiting anxiously for your answer to these last three questions! thanks so much!
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Ok so i have the HTC touch pro and im trying to download the .net 3.5 framework and it takes FOREVER to download and once it gets to the end it does nothing i dont know what to do i need that update but this phone SUCKS it is sooo slow it lags way to much it freeses time to time and the thing cost 400 bucks tell me is there a way to make this thing go alot faster
July 24th, 2009 at 10:49 am
@Justin
I hope you’re not trying to download the framework directly on the mobile. That might not work since I don’t think Opera mobile support large downloads. Secondly, you’ll have to install it via ActiveSync from the PC because that’s how Microsoft intended it to be. As for speed issues, here are a few things that worked for me:
1. Ensure there aren’t any or atleast few apps running in the background.
2. Its Windows Mobile, you know what that means right? Soft reset it on a weekly basis.
August 2nd, 2009 at 4:55 pm
what does soft reset do aha i feel so nuby
August 2nd, 2009 at 5:00 pm
sorry for posting that a simple google search solved my problem but does the htc touch pro .(off topic) have apps like facebook and myspace or do you have to use fling
August 14th, 2009 at 12:36 am
Great website. This is one of the coolest website when you’re looking for apps for your HTC Touch Pro. I’ve downloaded few that were mention here. There’s no better advertisement than word of mouth. I will pass this site on to my colleagues and friends.Thanks!
December 28th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Hi, I have some questions about the htc touch pro 2. First off, does the touch pro 2 have a flash player or is it only you tube accessible? Second does the htc touch pro 2 have word,excel ex apps something useful for school wise? And last of all would you recommend waiting for something newer from the htc pro line or just get the HTC Touch Pro 2?
January 2nd, 2010 at 5:30 pm
i thought by this being a windows phone that it would be one of the best out there. im disappointed with the internet as well as the lack of apps. i switched from the motorola cliq for the htc pro 2. big mistake. seems like droid phones are the way to go not to mention its cheaper.
January 7th, 2010 at 8:16 am
my must have app is a trekking gps navigator like azimutgps (site: http://www.azimutsoft.com ) or nonigpsplot