Click here to head over to Palm's Support Knowledge Library to learn how to create Caller ID Ringtones for your Palm OS Treo. You can do this for the Treos from the 650 onward.

Tip: Porting Palm OS PIM Data to Windows Mobile
Now that 50 percent of all smartphones coming out of Palm are based on Windows Mobile, more people than ever are making the transition from a Palm OS device to a Microsoft-based device. Readers often ask about what's the best way to port PIM data from their Palm platform Treo to their new Windows Mobile Treo, for example.

Palm has a very useful article in its Support Knowledge Library that explains exactly how to do this successfully. Of course, the tips offered in this article apply when porting data from any Palm OS device to any Windows Mobile device.

Because all Windows Mobile devices sync with Microsoft Outlook, you must have a copy of that application before you begin. Nearly all Windows Mobile vendors bundle a copy with their devices (HP is the notable exception), so if you don't have Outlook on your PC already you should be okay.

Here are two scenarios to keep in mind:

ActiveSync replaces HotSync Manager as your synchronization mechanism. The ActiveSync application on your desktop PC also takes care of software installations. (Microsoft has replaced ActiveSync with an app called Windows Mobile Device Center with Windows Vista.

Your previous Palm OS device's settings, third-party applications and historic data will not migrate to the new Windows Mobile device.

Tips & Tricks: Cingular (AT&T) 3125
Although these tips and tricks are written for the 3125, many should apply to T-Mobile's SDA, which is also built on HTC's Star Trek design.

1-Return to Home Screen from any other screen

Press the Home key

2-Lock the keypad from the Home Screen

Press and hold the Home button and click Key Lock. Once the keypad is locked, the left label changes to Unlock

3-Unlock the keyboard

Press Unlock and then press the * key

4-Call a Speed Dial number

Press and hold assigned number key

5-Change volume during a call

Press the volume key on the upper left side of the phone

6-Change Profiles

Hold down the home key and choose a profile (e.g. silent, meeting, outdoor)

7-Turn on Flight Mode

Hold down Home key, Select Comm Mgr, Press 1. To turn off flight mode, follow the same procedure (you can use other functions on the phone)

8-Switch between speaker and earpiece during a call

Press Menu, Select Speakerphone On or Speakerphone Off

9-Turn on/off speakerphone during a call

Hold the Talk button for several seconds during your call

10-Send a Picture

Select Start > Pictures & Videos. Select the picture. Press Send, Select the method of delivery (MMS, email), Enter recipient information, Press Send again

11-Set a Picture as the Home Screen

From Home screen, Press Start, Select Pictures and Videos, Open desired picture, Select Menu, Select Use as Home Screen, Follow prompts

12-Reboot (soft reset)

Remove the battery

13-Factory Reset

Press Start, Accessories, then select Clear Storage (note: all programs you may have downloaded will be erased)

14-Mute a song

Press the # key

15-Change font size

Navigate to Start, Select Settings, Select More, Select Accessibility

16-Switch to a digital clock on the external screen

Navigate to Start, Select Settings, Select External Screen, select either Digital Clock 1 or Digital Clock 2

Tips from HTC

Tip: Transfer Files, Pictures to Cingular 8525
A few days ago a reader posted a question asking if it was possible to attach or transfer pictures and files directly to a Cingular 8525 (HTC Hermes) from a digital camera or a flash card reader.

Our moderator provided an answer (no) that could prove valuable to others who own this Pocket PC Phone or any other smartphone like it that can't serve as a USB host. That’s because the 8525’s lack of USB hosting capabilities is what prevents users from directly transferring files between it and another device like a digital camera or flash card reader.

This leaves the most direct way to exchange files as a storage card. Simply copy a picture (for example) to a microSD card—the type of removable storage supported by the 8525—pop it out of your digital camera or flash card reader and place it into the Pocket PC Phone. Of course, the other device must support this memory card format as well for this to work.

For more on the 8525, see our review.

Tip: Windows Mobile - Cut Wires with Bluetooth
Although this tip is specifically for Palm's Windows Mobile Treos, it should apply equally well to other devices built on Microsoft's operating system for wireless devices.

Bluetooth Shortcourse: Bluetooth is an open specification and standard for allowing a wide variety of devices to communicate through a short-range (up to 30-foot distance) wireless connection. It works for both voice and data communications.

So, in effect, it allows you to link your smartphone to a headset (for example) wirelessly where wires were once required. In addition to wireless headsets (both of the standard and stereo variety with more recent editions of the specification), you might leverage Bluetooth to connect your smartphone to a handsfree carkit, GPS unit, a PC, etc.

First, before two Bluetooth wireless devices can connect, they must establish a partnership. Some accessories refer to this as pairing or forming a trusted partnership.

To pair your Windows Mobile smartphone with an accessory:

1. On your Bluetooth accessory, turn on the Bluetooth feature and make the device discoverable. Refer to the accessory's documentation to learn how.
2. On your smartphone: press Start. Select settings, then Connections, then Bluetooth.
3. Check the boxes for "Turn on Bluetooth" and "Make this device discoverable."
4. Select the Devices tab at the bottom of the screen.
5. Tap "New Partnership" to search for other Bluetooth wireless devices.
6. You'll see a list of available devices in range. Highlight the device you want, then select Next.
7. If the device has a connection option, it will appear on the next screen. Select Finish.

Now the devices will see each other when they're turned on and within range.

Here's a general guide to connect you device with a Bluetooth accessory once they've been paired:

1. Put your Bluetooth accessory into Discoverable mode. Refer to the accessory's documentation to learn how to do this.
2. On your smartphone, press Start. Select Settings.
3. Go to the Connections tab, and select Bluetooth.
4. Check the boxes for "Turn on Bluetooth" and "Make this device discoverable."
5. Go to the Devices tab.
6. Select "New partnership ..." Your smartphone will begin searching for other devices.
7. You'll see a list of available devices within range who are in Discoverable mode. Highlight the one you want, then select Next.
8. The Bluetooth accessory may have connection options, such as a Passkey. Get the Passkey from the device's documentation.
9. Now your smartphone will see the Bluetooth accessory when turned on and within range.

How to delete a Bluetooth pairing

If you no longer want to automatically connect with a device, go to the Bluetooth Settings screen and select Devices. Highlight the connection you want to remove, press and hold Center, and then select Delete.

Click here to head over to Palm's Web site to get more specifics about how to leverage Bluetooth to transfer photos, documents and other items to a PC; beam Calendar appointments, Contacts, Tasks, Memos to a handheld or PC; make calls through a Bluetooth headset or car kit; use a GPS device; and ActiveSync with a Windows PC. Client-server architecture purports to make enable users to dictate up to 160 words per minute.