Making the Smartphone smart

From TreoCentral

Let's face it, the Treo isn't as smart as a smartphone should be out of the box. Sure it can correct what you type or fill in the rest of a word, and one could make an argument that makes it smart, but I'm talking about making the device a genius. This can be done with a series of third party software which act as extensions of the basic OS. The software may cost you, but in the end it's completely worth it.

1) BrightCam. BrightCam is brilliantly coded to poll values from the camera to determine the amount of light and adjust the screen brightness accordingly. This utility can also measure outside noise and adjust alarms, ringtones, etc. on the fly. The fact that this program is completely autonomous makes it number one on the list.

2) SharkMsg. SharkMsg is almost like an answering machine, in that if you choose to ignore a call, it will give you the option of sending a predefined text message to that number. It has a very nice and simple GUI with large buttons, so you can use your finger instead of a stylus or the center button on the 5-way.

3) TreoAreaCodes. TreoAreaCodes is a very nice application which uses databases to cross reference a country code, area code, and the first x numbers of a caller to "trace" it back to a city, state, and country. It will allow you to view state seals, state flags, etc. It will also draw up a map and highlight the country or state in question. This utility can also identify certain European carriers. This application is not, however, 5-way compatible, and therefore requires a stylus or finger to change views.

4) ZLauncher. ZLauncher is not just a graphical improvement over the native OS. It also has capabilities far beyond the native OS. ZLauncher is able to integrate many functions into one GUI. It seamlessly integrates the use of the SD card and moving/copying files to and from the card, a "Recycle Bin" similar to that of Windows XP, software control of soft resets, and so much more.

Images for 1-3 are from MyTreo.net