While the HTC Touch Pro comes with an array of applications loaded by default, there are a few good programs they left out, like Google Maps. After sorting through tons of applications for Windows Mobile, I’ve come up with a list of useful programs to load onto your virgin Touch Pro.
- Advanced Configuration Tool – This program allows you to tweak all sorts of settings
- CorePlayer – Media player. Plays almost all music/video formats and has better streaming capabilities than the stock Windows Media Player. TCPMP is not working on the Touch Pro (yet), so this is the next best thing.
- Diamond TF3D Config – Although the program was made for the Touch Diamond, it will work on the Touch Pro. If you’re using TouchFlo3D, this program will allow you re-arrange the tabs as well as remove unwanted tabs.
- GMobileSync – If you use Google Calendar, this program will allow you to sync your Google Calendar to your phone. You may get an error after syncing, but don’t worry, the calendar entries will sync.
- Google Maps- Surprisingly, this wasn’t included in the list of stock programs. Google Maps is almost a no-brainer; it lets you search maps, get directions, show traffic, etc. Better yet, Google Maps even works with the Touch Pro’s built-in GPS. Using GPS with Google Maps will let you create a route from your current location, but it does not automatically re-route in the event of a detour.
- Kevtris 2- Tetris for your phone, ’nuff said.
- PdaNet- A must have program if you plan to tether (use your phone as an internet connection). You can connect via bluetooth or USB connection. Supposedly, the program disguises your data usage so it looks like you’re browsing from the phone, not from your computer. Most carriers have a tethering fee in addition to the standard data charges. PdaNet basically lets you evade those tethering fees by disguising the traffic. I’ve used PdaNet on and off for over a year and have had no tethering charges or additional fees.
- PHM RegEdit – Registry editor for Windows Mobile. A must have if you plan on doing any advanced tweaks.
- Remote Desktop for Windows Mobile 6 – This is just what it sounds like, a remote desktop program for Windows Mobile which lets you access your remote desktop enabled PC while away from it. Why they did not include this in the stock ROM is beyond me. Remote Desktop comes in handy if you need to access a PC, but don’t have a computer available.
- SPB Mobile Shell- An alternative to TouchFlo3D. Mobile Shell basically replaces your home screen with its own interface. I use SPB Mobile Shell because I find TouchFlo3D to be laggy at times and cause overall sluggish performance. Installing Mobile Shell helped performance overall and there’s also a ton of customization that can be applied to suit your liking.
- SPB Insight – An alternative to the default newsreader “RSS Hub”. RSS Hub is pretty good, lightweight, and fast, but it lacks a few things. One is the lack of images, the other is how RSS Hub only downloads part of an article, making you visit the site to read the rest of the article. SPB Insight not only downloads images, but it also (most of the time) downloads the entire article for offline viewing.
- SPB Pocket Plus – A very powerful today screen plug-in. Lets you add all sorts of plugins and shortcuts to your today screen with lots of other features. I use Pocket Plus as one of the tabs in SPB Mobile Shell.
- Sprite Backup – This program backs up your phone, contacts, programs, etc. Backups can be scheduled and only take about 5-6 minutes to run. It is always a good idea to have backups!
- TorchButton – Lets you use the camera’s flash function as a flashlight. The application is lightweight; you just run the program to turn on the light and run the program again to turn it off. By default, the LED light will only stay on for 30 seconds to prevent burn out.
- Total Commander – A feature filled file explorer program with too many features to list. This is a definite must have program because you will never know when you’ll need it.
- VNC Viewer – Exactly what you think it is. Will let you connect and control the desktop of any VNC server.
- vxUtil- Network utilities such as ping, traceroute, whois, etc. Network administrators may want to look into this program; it could come in handy and save you time.
Update: See my more recent post for more great Touch Pro programs.
 My Touch Pro Today screen with SPB Mobile Shell and Pocket Plus |
 Recently used programs tab in SPB Mobile Shell |
 Weather Tab in SPB Mobile Shell |
 SPB Insight Tab with News Feeds |
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Nice write up… Learned about a few new programs that look interesting… BTW. TCPMP is working on Touch Pro:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=88539&d=1211902452
See ya,
Oh wow, finally. I didn’t know that TCPMP was working, that’s great news. Thanks.
Great list! One question, have you heard of anyone getting PDANet to work for tethering on Touch Pro’s configured for Sprint (CDMA) or ATT (GSM) in the USA?
Yes, PdaNet works fine for me with my CDMA Touch Pro. I’m using PdaNet 2.0 btw. My old HTC Touch would always drop the connection, but the Touch Pro stays connected and doesn’t drop out, its great.
Thank you very much mate. Very good description. A+
TCPMP installs, but unfortunately crashes when you try to open it on the cdma touch pro.
… i really am tearing up right now… i used to do write ups like these last yr wen i wuz in highschool and i honestly MUST thank you for the countless hours you put in to writing this… college is beating me up when it comes to getting free time but im going to get back to it soon… i am so happy there is someone else doing this… i can truley say I LOVE YOU
I love my Touch Pro! I’ve even got used to typing on the touch keyboard. Although if you’re a multitasker like me that emails, texts, talks and uses GPS all at the same time, TP at times will crash on you. All in all, its ranking up there with my all time favorite phones.
I’d throw in Evernote, Kinoma, lastfmmobile and Skyfire. All are free (Kinoma has a pay version that has more codecs and features).
Wow wow wow! Thanks so much for the info. This is the one and only site an HTC Touch pro nerd will eva need!
I am so behind on all of the abbreviations used on this site so I am confused. In plain terms, can anyone tell me what site I will need to go to and get or even buy a program to use my new touch pro for tethering. I just upgaded my phone from a treo 755p to the touch pro. I have gotten used to using my laptop and pdanet with my 755p and would like the same convience. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You use the same PDANET that you used for the Treo 755p. PDANET has a palm version and a windows mobile version.
ok so the article was amazing n i def wanna add n remove some apps from my htc touch pro cdma which im currently on. can these apps be found and downloaded on here or do i gotta buy them from the vzappstore that verizon offers if possible it’d be big help to avoid ne charges could ne one help out w that question plz
The names of the programs link to their individual web pages.
Has anyone found an instant messenging program for HTC?
Thanks for this great List. My new Touch will be complete now that I know where to get most of the goods.
rdp link broken
Fixed, thanks.
I like the way you have your today screen layed out in spb mobile shell, with pocket plus. How do you make the icons smaller? I cant seem to find any settings that change the icon size. Thanks!
Hi There,
I am new to the HTC Pro, and there are a few things that are driving me crazy! I’m sure there are ways to correct these annoyances, but I have not yet found it on the stock phone, and I have not yet installed any of the tweaks.
1. On the top of the screen, Which I would equate to the “Start Bar” are the notification icons. On other Windows Mobile phones, I would be able to tap the icon and it would bring up the notification. On this phone, when I tap the icon it brings up System Status and shows all the same icons that appear on the bar. I can then tap the icon again, and it will bring up the content. Any way to bypass the System Status screen?
2. Also on previous screens, I would be able to tap the speaker icon, and it would bring up slide bars to adjust volume, mute, vibrate in a small little window. Now it bring up a window full screen, and does not have all the same options that the earlier version had.
3. Any way to kill the app/stop the process when clicking the “x” instead of just having close the window and keeping the app running?
4. In Outlook, the reply at the bottom of the screen is a “reply all” any way to change that to just “reply?”
I’m sure there’s more, but that all I can think of for now.Thanks for the help!!
Deb
Tap and hold the individual icons. A sub menu should appear giving you the options to change the sizes.
Debbie – Go to Start – Settings – TouchFLO and uncheck the “Show System Status screen when status icons are tapped” option. That will solve #1 and #2.
Start – Settings – Task Manager – Button (tab at the bottom). Select the radio button for “End programs by tapping ‘x’”. That’ll solve #3.
As for #4, I have no idea.
Thanks for the response. I unchecked the “Show System Status screen when status icons are tapped” and that fixed #1, but I am still getting the volume full screen. No big deal. Other annoyances that I have noticed are the extremely SHORT battery life. So bad that I am thinking about taking it back!!! I am lucky if I get 4 hours from a full charge, with NO usage. VERY LAME! I have direct push with Exchange running as well as Gmail, which I have set to ever 30 minutes. My last HTC phone I had both running and Gmail checking every 5 minutes and I would get two full days.
The other thing is the lag with the TouchFlo 3D. I was considering some of the custom ROM settings, but afraid that would just shorten the battery life.
Speaking of TouchFlo 3D, any way to get the Lock button on the home screen? I know I can hold the end key, but it doesn’t work consistently. Some times I have to try 2-3 times before it locks the phone.
Lastly, If I do some of these tweaks, and decide to return the phone, I’m assuming a factory reset would take care of everything for me?
Thanks. BTW, this is a great site. Very resourceful and
Oh, one more thing, When I have TouchFlo 3D on, the soft buttons are Phone and Camera. Any way to change camera to Contacts? I have gone into settings, buttons, and I have 4 buttons labeled “button” with an assignment of “context menu.” I can not figure out what four buttons these buttons are referring to.
Thank again!
Deb
Debbie – for the battery, see the battery tweak here:
http://www.isyougeekedup.com/cool-and-easy-touch-pro-fuze-feature-enhancing-registry-tweaks/
Lag and also battery life can be solved with a custom ROM, but it is a fairly technical process. No way to get the lock button the home screen.
You don’t even need to hard reset your phone. All the tweaks on this site do not change your phone permanently. It’s only the custom ROMs that do; you have to flash your phone back to stock if you were to return it.
The settings for the buttons doesn’t really do anything. You have to edit the registry to change the softkeys. Use a registry editor and go to:
HKLM\Software\HTC\Manila
Then edit the following:
HomeRSKPath – \Windows\addrbook.lnk
HomeRSKText – Contacts
Thanks for all the help Eric!
I pretty much have the phone setup the way I want it now. I have installed your cab files for increased battery, as well as the Advanced Configuration Tool and the changes for increased performance. I’ll see how that works for me onver the next couple of days. As for flashing the ROM, I’m not ready to do that yet. Once I decided for sure that I will keep it, then I’ll make that jump, although I am waiting for the release of TouchXperience. The last thing that I want to do was make the ulock the slider, but i can not remember where I saw it.
Thanks again for your help, great site!
Deb
Do anyone know how to put adobe flash player on the htc touch pro? Or is their a similar program? When I go to certain web sites my access is limited cause, I don’t have this program and every time I try to download it, it says “sorry, your platform is not supported.” Any help would gladly be appreciated.
As much as i love this phone, the battery life is horrible! I have done everything that I am aware of doing. What is happening is that when i have low signal strength, it kills my battery. Is there any way to modify the phone so that it doesn’t suck battery power? Having 4-6 hours of standby time is killing me! My previous HTC I was able to get 2.5 days standby with direct push on.
Thanks for any suggestions!
I have the htc touch right now, but am upgrading to the touch pro asap.
I was just wondering if Throttlelock works on the touch pro. I’ve become addicted to it and enjoy the additional security it provides… keeps nosey people from playing with it.
the mobile shell link takes you to stupid handago site, is that what i gotta download? if not, can someone send a new link to the new mobile shell?
How in the hec do you take the clock of the hone screen???/
hi, stupid question… where do i install the cab file? also, where do install the Kevtrix and then how do i start it on the phone? thanks…
Do you have to have a data plan to use PDANet with Sprint? Im looking to use an HTC Touch PRO with PDANet to check my email at work on a laptop since my webmail site it blocked from company firewall….I dont have VISION on my acct…
No need to use PDANet anymore, there’s a simple tweak that will allow internet sharing:
http://www.isyougeekedup.com/how-to-enable-internet-connection-sharing-on-sprint-htc-touch-pro/
If you don’t have a data plan (Power Vision for Sprint), then you will get charged. If you do have a data plan, but not a tethering addon, you won’t get charged because Sprint won’t know the difference if you’re tethering or not. And yes, there are two separate charges, one for data and one for being able to tether.
The BATTERY LIFE IS FULL SHYT!
awsome site
Does the programs work with HTC Touch Pro II ?
were can i get tcpmp for free
i rather have PdaNet for free and help pleas
I have a quick question does tethering just connect your phone to your computer or does it allow you to suck the internet out of your phone into the laptop so you can use an internet connection.
also if it is for internet like i said it is free with the program right.
Will these apps work with the Touch Pro 2?
Does anyone know if any of the Touch Pro ROM’s will work on the Touch Diamond from Sprint?
Some of them might, but it’s generally not recommended. There are lots of Diamond ROMs on PPCGeeks:
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=66
why dont we have a twitter app yet….. this sucks ass
Is there any way to use the GPS on my Verizon HTC Touch Pro without having to pay Verizon? There has got to be a way to unlock it…right?