Monday, April 3, 2006
Options For Using Your PPC as a USB Mass Storage Device / Card Reader
Posted by Jon Westfall in "SOFTWARE" @ 06:00 PM
If you had asked me a year ago what feature I wanted most in my Pocket PC, I would have unhesitatingly answered that I wanted the device to be able to function as a card reader when plugged into computers that did not have Activesync installed. I envisioned that this would make me way more productive as I'd never have to carry around a USB key again. It turns out that I was a bit wrong, since realizing that I found this feature cool more than actually needed it. Still, its a really nice feature when I do have the need for it, and I know a lot of people that would consider it a lifesaver.
Currently there are two programs on the market that allow you to do this with your Pocket PC. Softick Card Export II (There never was a I release for PPC, so you didn't miss anything) and a new program named WM5torage . The newer of the pair, WM5torage is freeware and only works on WM 5 (And apparently on smartphones as well). Softick's product, which was released last summer (And purchased by me within 48 hours of its release) supports WM 2003 devices and costs $14.95. I've been very pleased with Softick's release schedule (Releasing an update every 2 months or so), and their stated support for newer devices as they become available. I haven't had the chance to try WM5torage much, but it appears to be popular with those of us who have WM 5 devices and don't wish to buy software when a free alternative exists!
Are you interested in this type of functionality? Drawn in because it's cool? Use it every day? Let me know - I'm pretty curious as to how much use this software is, now that many laptops & desktops are coming with builtin card readers.
Note: This software is not the same as Deje's driver which allows your PPC to read USB Mass Storage devices, not to act as one!
Currently there are two programs on the market that allow you to do this with your Pocket PC. Softick Card Export II (There never was a I release for PPC, so you didn't miss anything) and a new program named WM5torage . The newer of the pair, WM5torage is freeware and only works on WM 5 (And apparently on smartphones as well). Softick's product, which was released last summer (And purchased by me within 48 hours of its release) supports WM 2003 devices and costs $14.95. I've been very pleased with Softick's release schedule (Releasing an update every 2 months or so), and their stated support for newer devices as they become available. I haven't had the chance to try WM5torage much, but it appears to be popular with those of us who have WM 5 devices and don't wish to buy software when a free alternative exists!
Are you interested in this type of functionality? Drawn in because it's cool? Use it every day? Let me know - I'm pretty curious as to how much use this software is, now that many laptops & desktops are coming with builtin card readers.
Note: This software is not the same as Deje's driver which allows your PPC to read USB Mass Storage devices, not to act as one!
