Browsing files on your Windows Mobile device can be a tortuous process at times. If you're fed up with the cumbersome default file explorer then it's well worth checking out X-plore.

Rather than leaving the main list view when you want to explore the contents of a folder, X-plore uses '+' and '-' icons that reveal or hide the folder contents without hiding the contents of the rest of the directory. The display is highly customizable too - you can change the font size and color scheme, choose how to sort files, show hidden files, and more.

What can it do?

X-plore lets you perform all the tasks you'd expect from a file manager, such as copying, renaming, deleting, editing, etc. It goes further than most though, facilitating extraction of compressed archives, file exploration within messaging folders, and powerful and reliable search. There's even a task manager that lets you view your running processes.

One of the strong points of X-plore is its previewing capabilities. It comes with an audio and video player, and although these are both rudimentary they offer a simple way to quickly check the contents of a multimedia file. X-plore also supports viewing of Word documents and comes with a built-in Hex viewer and editor.

All in all, X-plore represents a comprehensive, yet manageable explorer, which will improve the way you handle files on your device.

Download X-plore 1.52 in Softonic

Classic arcade fun on your Pocket PC/Windows Mobile device.

Download GoldMinerJoe 1.0 in Softonic

In Classic mode, players of the board game will find comfort in its familiarity, while experiencing the benefits of automated card selection, rolls of the die and token movement. Flash mode offers a ladder-style version of the TRIVIAL PURSUIT game in which one to six players take turns answering questions. Players move up the ladder with every correct answer and the first player to reach the top rung and answer the final questions is the winner. Play in single player mode or against two to six opponents in local hot seat mode and multiplayer.

Features include:

* Over 1600 multiple choice and true/false questions

* Two modes of play

- Classic play, the beloved original in a snazzy setting
- Flash mode, a quick fix TRIVIAL PURSUIT® game

* Multiplayer support of 2-6 players over IR (Infrared)

* Multiplayer lobby offers a meeting place for a networked game including chat among players

Download Trivial Pursuit 1.02 in Softonic

All the features of the PC version on your mobile device.

All Mobile Mines is fully compatible with Windows Mobile-based 2003 SE Pocket PCs, play in landscape or portrait mode.

An enjoyable timekilling game for your PDA.

Download All Mobile Mines 5.3.1 in Softonic

Game Editor lets you design and develop 2D games for personal computers and mobile devices. There's no need to worry about system issues or compatibility, and no need to do anything other than come up with the ideas.

Features of the program:

* Event-driven development
* Propagate events to other actors
* Multiple levels in a single file
* Helper actors
* Transparent actors
* Infinite actors
* Z-Depth control
* Clone and remove actors
* Multiple animations per actor
* Set parent actors
* Create actor paths
* Full screen or window mode
* Configurable resolution and frame rate
* Configurable audio format
* Control the view as the actors
* Tile draw tool
* Global and local scripts
* Global and Local Actor variables
* Periodic and Random timers

Download Game Editor 1.4.0 in Softonic

This mobile version of the Skype VOIP client also lets you call phones with Skype credits, as well as allowing you to receive calls on your online number, send instant messages, share files, and more.

Using Skype on your phone is dead easy. Once launched, the program gives you all sorts of warnings to notify you that it will be using your mobile Internet connection. Then it's just a case of signing in with your regular Skype account details to get started.

Your contacts will all be imported and displayed in the main window, along with details of their statuses. To call a person, just tap on their name and hit the phone icon. The call quality in our tests was excellent, and as long as your connection is stable you shouldn't experience any drop outs.

Instant messaging features

The IM feature in Skype for Windows Mobile is easy to use and includes a range of emoticons, templates for one-click replies, file sharing, and the ability to add other participants to the conversation. We did note a few lags in the time between the messages being typed and arriving at their destination.

Skype keeps a record of all your text conversations, as well as logging your call history, voicemails, and files exchanged. You can view this information at any time just by clicking the 'History' button from the well-organized main menu.

Skype settings

There are a few settings you can tinker around with that help you personalize your Skype experience. For instance, you can choose to enable or disable the Mood message prompt, forward calls to another number, and block calls from people you don’t trust.

If you're expecting a fully-fledged version of Skype that has all the features of the PC or Mac version of the program then you'll be a little disappointed. There's no video conferencing or games, for example, and there are no tools for organizing your contacts into categories.

Sadly, Skype is no longer officially supported for Windows Mobile and the developer says it has no plans to release more updates for Windows phones in the future. However, you can still download the app from Softonic and use it for free.

It’s worth trying, because Skype for Windows Mobile offers everything you'd expect from a mobile version of the great VOIP app - it's easy to use, it's fun, and it's free!

Download Skype for Pocket PC 3.0.0.256 Beta in Softonic

Gambling is great fun but it can be a dangerous and ultimately expensive habit. Thanks to games such as Panoramic BlackJack you can practice your card skills without damaging your bank account.

Panoramic BlackJack is a Windows Mobile version of the popular game often known as 'Pontoon' or simply '21'. The object of the game is to attain a hand with a total value of 21, or as close to 21 as you can get without going over, while scoring more than the dealer.

This version of the game is very simple to play and if you don't know the rules then you can just check out the comprehensive help section. All you need to do in Panoramic BlackJack is to select the amount you wish to bet by clicking on the appropriate values. Chips representing that amount will then be displayed in the main window. Click 'Deal' and your cards will be dealt. You can then choose to stand, double, surrender, split or take insurance, depending on the circumstances. Unfortunately in this demo version, you can't view your total bank balance, but you do get plenty of chips to play with so you can keep going for quite a while.

The graphics and overall presentation in Panoramic BlackJack are excellent. The table and the cards themselves are realistic, as are the sound effects of cards being drawn and dealt. The addition of crowd noises is a nice touch too.

Panoramic BlackJack has a few options that you can tinker with. There are four difficulty levels and you can choose between various methods of card counting. There's also a high scores board so you can challenge yourself to improve on your bank balance. Unfortunately there is a glaring omission to the options menu - a multiplayer mode. Playing against your PDA all the time does get a tad repetitive so after a while I was crying out for the ability to pit my wits against a human opponent.

Panoramic BlackJack provides a well polished, realistic Pontoon sim, but being a single-player game it has a limited shelf-life.

Download Panoramic BlackJack 1.2.0 in Softonic

If you're a fan of Blackjack (also known as 'Pontoon' or '21') but can't be bothered with all the dealing and shuffling of the real thing then check out ISS Blackjack.

This Windows Mobile version of the popular card game gives you $10,000 and challenges you to make as much money as you can by beating the dealer. Unfortunately, it's not real money, but it's still great fun to play and doesn't come with the risk of blowing all your savings.

The aim of ISS Blackjack is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over, based on the value of the cards in your hand, as well as scoring more than the dealer. You are shown all but one card of the dealer's hand at the top then your hand is displayed below. You start by placing a bet using the buttons that display the various amounts from $5 to $100. Then, once a hand has been dealt, you need to decide whether to hit, stand, double, surrender, split, or ask for insurance, using the buttons provided. If you get stuck, check out the clear and comprehensive Help section included within ISS Blackjack.

There are a few options in ISS Blackjack that you can tinker with to make games more interesting. You can choose between three difficulty levels, toggle on and off the sound effects (which, incidentally, are very realistic) and choose the color of the table. Note that unfortunately, the 'Split' option is not available on screen resolutions of 176 x 220.

ISS Blackjack is an enjoyable, authentic mobile version of Pontoon, but it's a shame there's no online multiplayer feature.

Download ISS Blackjack 3.6.2 in Softonic

The best puzzle games are often the ones that are simple to play, yet seem impossible to complete. This is definitely applicable to Towers of Glennoi, a Windows Mobile version of the popular classic, Towers of Hannoi.

The object of Towers of Glennoi is to move the tower of blocks from one side of the screen to the other. Sounds simple, right? Well, it's not, because you have to move the blocks one and a time and can only put blocks in ascending order of size.

As a result, Towers of Hannoi becomes a question of shuffling the blocks between the different poles in order to be able to stack them in order on the correct pole (the one on the far right).

Towers of Glennoi proves an enjoyable and challenging puzzle game, although it is pretty limited. There is only one game mode and you only have eight levels to play. The graphics are neat and tidy without being sensational. Also, I would've liked to see the inclusion of an 'Undo' feature that lets you take back the previous turn if you've made a mistake.

A perplexing timewaster, Towers of Glennoi is worth downloading for a long train journey. Just don't expect to be playing it forever.

Download Towers of Glennoi 2.1 in Softonic

Despite all the latest computer gaming technology and newfangled consoles, it's often the most basic games that stand the test of time - like Uno, for instance.

Pocket Uno is a Windows Mobile version of the classic card game, whereby you need to be the first person to get rid of all your cards. It's a faithful recreation of the original, with the same colors and designs on the cards and exactly the same rules.

It actually takes a little while to get into Pocket Uno. For starters, the program first launches in Esperanto for some bizarre reason. Luckily, you can change this to one of five other languages via the 'Lingvo' option. Also, if you've never played Uno before you might want to read the rules on the Internet or in a book first because there is no help file included.

There are several options available in Pocket Uno to help you customize your games. There are three difficulty levels, controllable animation speed, plus the ability to toggle on and off the background display. Unfortunately though, you can't change the number of computer opponents (it's set at three) and, more crucially, there's no multiplayer option.

Despite these shortcomings, Pocket Uno is still and enjoyable and well-presented version of a card game classic.

Download Pocket Uno 1.63 in Softonic

Few would've thought that a game about packing boxes in a factory could become so popular. Sokoban, which is Japanese for 'warehouse keeper' became popular on gaming platforms of the 1980s and there are now loads of versions available, especially on mobile platforms.

SokoSave is one of the better versions of the game you'll come across. The freeware comes with lots of features and settings designed to make your experience of the puzzler all the more enjoyable.

For starters, there's a playback history feature which allows you to undo one or more moves. This is done simply by sliding the slider backwards - or forwards if you want to redo the move. The playback section also lets you jump to a particular move, and can even replay all of your moves in slow motion.

The game controls in SokoSave are a bit confusing at first as they work differently to other Sokoban clones I've played on Windows Mobile. Luckily though, you get to choose whether to use the touchscreen or directional buttons to move the boxes around - so you can find the best control method for you.

One thing I love about SokoSave is the degree of control it gives you over your game. Not only can you alter graphical elements such as animation, background, orientation, etc., but SokoSave also lets you choose which levels you want to play. This is great for if you get stuck as it means you don't have to complete a puzzle in order to move onto the next.

If you're a fan of Sokoban then I challenge you to find a better Windows Mobile version of the game than SokoSave.

Download SokoSave 345 in Softonic

The path to perfection has no borders, so as the new bubble game. Smiling Bubbles are not only chatting and laughing, entertaining you but also give you a chance to improve your skills - they are clever and cunning you see.

At first you will need some time and attention to clear up who is who (there are both positive and negative characters). Then you should develop your own strategy, using your quick mind and acuity of vision.

An amusing and entertaining game for your Pocket PC.

Download Smiling Bubbles PPC 1.36 in Softonic

Bass Guitar Hero challenges you to hit all the right notes as the colored notes move down the neck of the guitar to the fretboard. You need to tap the colored square beneath the string of the falling note just at the right time in order to score points.

Unfortunately, there is just one song preloaded in Bass Guitar Hero, and it's nothing that you'll recognize. However, you can load your own songs into the game, though they will need to be in WAV format. Simply tell Bass Guitar Hero which folder to look in on your device and it will auto-detect any WAV files in there.

The presentation of Bass Guitar Hero is a little rough around the edges. The graphics are basic and the animation of the falling notes is quite jerky, making this much less enjoyable than the original Guitar Hero game. Not also, that Bass Guitar Hero is only compatible with VGA Windows Mobile devices.

However, if you've got a very good imagination then you can play Beatles tracks with Bass Guitar Hero and make out like you're Paul McCartney while you're sat on the bus.

Download Bass Guitar Hero 1.0 in Softonic

I'm always impressed by the creative ways in which developers utilize the movement-sensing G-Sensor feature inside certain Windows Mobile devices. Resco Bubbles is one of those motion-sensitive games that really shines.

Your objective in Resco Bubbles is to pop all of the bubbles that are spread across the screen by rolling a marble. That might sound easy, but the catch is that these bubbles are numbered and you need to burst them in order.

To make the game even more interesting, Resco Bubbles is played across a range of different surfaces, such as wood, carpet, and linolium. The movement and response of the ball differs depending on the terrain.

Resco Bubbles is played by tilting your phone up and down and side to side to move the ball around. You'll need to enter the calibration menu before you start for premium accuracy, but this is fairly straightforward to do.

The game is great fun to play and requires lots of dexterity, although it does get a little repetitive with just five levels, so it might be worth upgrading to the full version. Graphically, Resco Bubbles looks nice, with smooth animation and realistic bubble-popping sound effects, although perhaps the addition of a musical soundtrack would've lifted the game a bit.

Overall though, Resco Bubbles is one of the more appealing G-Sensor-based games.

Download Resco Bubbles 1.41 in Softonic

Living in a castle is great but it does have its downsides. One of the main ones being that you're prone to attacks by invaders who want to get into your castle, as you'll witness in Defender.

An interesting mobile strategy game, Defender charges you with the task of defending your citadel from waves of attacks by nasty monsters. In order to block their path you need to build towers strategically in the land in front of your castle. Bricks don't come for free though, so you'll need to think carefully about where you put them and which kind of towers to use in order to maximize your defense system.

It doesn't take long to get used to the way Defender works, thanks to an interactive tutorial at the start, which walks you through the process at a gentle pace. The control system in Defender is straightforward enough and just involves clicking on the square you want to build your defense, before selecting a tower from the menu that pops up.

Overall, the game is well packaged with intricate graphics and an awesome soundtrack. The only criticism I would level at Defender is that the pop-up, tower-selection menus are incredibly small and so it's sometimes difficult to work out what you're doing.

Rather like a computerized version of Crossbows and Catapults, Defender provides an immensely fun challenge for Windows Mobile users.

Download Defender 1.21 in Softonic

Jigsaw puzzles aren't the most practical travel game, so if you're looking for some puzzling fun while you're on the move then try SPB Puzzle.

As with a regular jigsaw, the object of SPB Puzzle is to join the pieces together to form a complete picture. There are ten different pictures (one in the trial) included in the game, each a classical work of with its own description.

One of the great things about SPB Puzzle is that it allows you to create your own custom puzzles, using pictures you have stored on your device. This can be done very quickly and you can set the difficulty levels for these jigsaws.

The presentation of SPB Puzzle is excellent. The rendering of the jigsaw pieces makes them seem very realistic, and I love the way the pieces automatically slot together when you find a match.

On the downside, it would have been nice to have more of a range of designs included in SPB Puzzle rather than just paintings. Having said this, you can download new puzzle packs from within the game.

If you're fanatical amount jigsaws, then SPB Puzzle could be the missing piece in your Windows Mobile games collection.

Download SPB Puzzle 1.0.1 in Softonic

If you're hooked on Facebook's Farmville game then you probably can't stop thinking about crops and plots wherever you go. Now you can organize your planting strategy even when you don't have Facebook access, thanks to FarmValue.

This simple Windows Mobile app lets you calculate and plan the perfect crop for when you return to your computer. FarmValue is very easy to use. You just need to enter the number of hours or days until you'll log back onto Farmville and hit the 'Calculate' button. FarmValue will then show you the three top crops that will give you the best return based on that timescale. Choose one of these then insert your planting field size and hit 'Calculate' again. This will then display the exact total gain you can expect to receive from this crop.

It must be stressed that FarmValue doesn't actually allow you to play Farmville on your Pocket PC, which is a bit of a shame. You should also note that you need Flash Player 7 installed in order to run the app.

If you're fanatical about Farmville then FarmValue offers you a way to stay on top of the game while you're out and about.

Download FarmValue 1.1 in Softonic

StyleTap Platform allows you to run applications (and games!) originally written for Palm OS handhelds on your Windows Mobile Pocket PC handheld. With more than 20,000 applications for the Palm OS platform available – many of them free – you will be able to do so much more with your Windows Mobile Pocket PC handheld.

Sample screen shots of StyleTap PlatformStyleTap Platform is fast, compact and comes with everything you need. Just add your favorite third-party applications for Palm OS Platform and you're ready to go!

• Supports most of the thousands of application programs written for the Palm OS 5.2
• StyleTap Platform is fast, compact and comes with everything you need to get going
• Applications written for Palm OS show up as native Pocket PC programs
• Cut and paste text and bitmaps between applications
• Backwards compatibility enables both older and newer programs to update screen
• StyleTap takes full advantage of high density VGA screens for maximum readability
• Works great with standard size Pocket PC screens as well

Download StyleTap 1.1.016 in Softonic

PBA Bowling is a pretty good effort at a bowling sim for Windows Mobile, and is one of the most realistic you'll find on the platform.

The control system used in PBA Bowling is a lot more natural than you'll find in most bowling games. You simply need to line up your ball using the directional buttons, choose your trajectory, then stop the curved power bar in the right place. If your mobile has a camera on board, you can even use the motion sensor support to bowl down the lane like you would on a Wii.

In terms of its presentation, PBA Bowling is second to none. The 3D in-game graphics are excellent and the sound effects are so realistic that you'll think you're actually at a bowling alley. What's more, there are so many different game modes (tournament, multi-player, Spare Challenge, single game), bowlers, locations and balls to choose from that it'll be a long time before you get bored of this one.

The only really annoying thing we found with PBA Bowling is that you can't skip through your computer opponent's turn, meaning you need to wait and watch each of its shots before you can take yours.

That minor point aside, PBA Bowling is probably the most polished bowling game you'll play on your Pocket PC.

Download PBA Bowling 1.0.9 in Softonic

First came the keypad, then the touchscreen, and now voice input is being touted as the new revolution in smartphone interfaces.

Speereo Voice Launcher allows you to open applications and documents through voice commands. Setting this up is a surprisingly quick and painless affair. You just need to set the Applications and Web sites that you want to assign voice commands to, then speak the command you want to use into your device. Then, when you want to open that app or site you just need to hold down one of the handware buttons (you can configure which one yourself) then speak the command to open the app.

The good thing about the voice recognition system in Speereo Voice Launcher is that it is based on your own voice and phrases of your choice, rather than preset commands. This means you can configure it in any language and with any command. The recognition works quite well, as long as you're not somewhere with lots of background noise. You'll find that you need to talk clearly, slowly and with precision for the program to work best.

Speereo Voice Launcher comes in the form of a Today screen plug-in and a floating toolbar, either of which can be disabled or enabled. The plug-in is great because it gives you shortcuts to contacts, tasks, games, calendar, etc. from one bar, meaning you can hide most of the existing items on the Today screen to free up space.

I found the floating toolbar in Speereo Voice Launcher to be rather annoying, mainly due to the fact that it sits right in the middle of the screen and cannot be picked up and moved around.

Aside from a few quirks though, Speereo Voice Launcher provides a novel new way to control Windows Mobile.

Download Speereo Voice Launcher for WM Touchscreen 1.0 in Softonic