CES 2008 is long gone and so is one of my shorter audition trips. I’ve got a longer auditon trip coming up in a few weeks. This year I’m delighted that, so far, my “on the road kit” is performing well. In a previous post I wrote about the hardware that I was using, but in this post I’ll talk about some of the smaller, yet essential, accessories as well as a few essential pieces of software that I go back to time and time again while I’m doing work on the road. I’m not talking about the heavy duty applications (Office 2007, OneNote 2007, etc… ) but the utility applications that make my job a little easier and more productive. (some links below are affiliate)

Essential Accessories

iGo Stowaway BlueTooth Keyboard: I started preparing this post several days ago, but the recent news that iGo was going to discontinue the Stowaway Bluetooth Keyboard, moved this one up to the top of the list. I don’t use it often, but when I need it, it is invaluable. The Stowaway works well with any  Bluetooth enabled device that I carry with me, and has been a life saver in a pinch, when I’m working with smaller devices like the OQO Model 02 or a UMPC. It also has served me well on the Sprint (HTC) Mogul. I did an InkShow about this keyboard awhle back, if you’re interested in taking a look, although I find I have less time for that kind of coffee shop activity these days.

Call this one of those things you learn on the way to learning something else, I guess. The great team at ActiveWords has finally released version 2.0 of the ActiveWords InkPad, which allows Tablet PC and UMPC users to Ink their ActiveWords triggers.

If you aren’t familiar with ActiveWords, this is a great application for any computer but with the InkPad is a fantastic application for a Tablet PC or UMPC. By creating shortcuts you can use the keyboard or the InkPad to enter those shortcuts and navigate to a web page, substitute text, open a program, or perform other functions. ActiveWords has been one of my most used applications for sometime.

As Rob and I are busy setting things up on the OQO Model 02 units we will be using to cover CES 2008, we were both installing ActiveWords to help make entering text for blog entries a bit easier. Much to both of our suprise, version 2.0 of the ActiveWords InkPad has been available since November 9. I’m glad it is available. It will save quite a bit of time this week at CES 2008.

Here’s the link for ActiveWords. There is a trial so you can check it out and also some tutorial videos on the site. Take my word for it, (for whatever that is worth) this is one handy application that can really save some time.

I don't know how I missed this, but I'm glad I found it!

While perusing WNewquay's blog today, I found an article he wrote about ActiveWords. For those of you who don't know, ActiveWords is a program that lets the user execute programs, substititue text, etc with the press of a few keystrokes or ink strokes. ActiveWords is usually within the first group of programs I install when rebuilding my tablet pc or moving on to something else. You can watch our InkShow on ActiveWords here.

Anyway, WNewquay pointed out several months ago that ActiveWord Systems offers a free four year license of ActiveWords SE to all college and university students in the U.S. That's right - FREE! ActiveWords SE is similar to ActiveWords Plus, except the SE version does not include scripting, and SE works with a more limited collection of free add-ins. In addition, it doesn't appear that the ActiveWords InkPad works with the SE version. However, if you totally get in to ActiveWords, upgrading to the Plus version for InkPad capabilties is totally worth it. Being able to access the same ActiveWord shortcuts with your keyboard and tablet pc pen totally rocks. ActiveWords Plus is available for $49.95. Download the trial here.

Here is a little more "small print" info from ActiveWord Systems on the free version:

• To qualify for the free license you must be an active college or university student in the United States having your own E-mail address with an "edu" domain.
• You must register using your "edu" E-mail address to receive a Key to unlock your free license.
• The free license will expire four years from the date the unlocking Key is issued. You must keep your unlocking Key and the AWSEEDU.exe installer file to use ActiveWords SE on another computer. No replacement Keys will be provided and the AWSEEDU.exe installer file may be not be available from ActiveWord Systems in the future.
• Personalized end user support is not provided with this free license, however, extensive information is available on the support page and in the forum.
• ActiveWord Systems, Inc. reserves the right to withdraw this free license offer at any time. Withdrawal of this free license offer will not effect the terms of free licenses granted prior to the date the free license offer is withdrawn.
• There is no more small print.

This weekend, I posted 6 tips on how to improve the touch experience on Ultra-Mobile PCs and Tablet PCs.

Craig Pringle, a fellow Tablet PC MVP, has written a 5 part series on this subject, and goes into more depth from an application perspective. I encourage you to check out Craig's posts - great stuff:

• Getting More from a Small Screen Tablet - Part1: The OS
• Getting More from a Small Screen Tablet - Part 2: Mind Manager
• Getting More from a Small Screen Tablet - Part 3: Office, IE et al
• Getting More from a Small Screen Tablet - Part 4: ActiveWords
• Getting More from a Small Screen Tablet - Part 5: TEO

ActiveWords has released Beta 2.0 of the very handy InkPad for the Tablet PC and UMPC. Beta 2.0 shows they have been thinking about the UMPC with a number of touch friendly additions to this already “must have” software. Here’s a list of the new improvements:

1. The new interface implements a floating InkPad icon that can now be dragged to any edge of the display where it is docked as a pop-out tab. You can drag the tab from the edge to the display surface where it changes back into the floating InkPad icon.
2. The type and position (tab or floating icon) is remembered between changes in screen orientation. For example, you can use the docked tab in landscape orientation and the floating icon in portrait orientation, and the position of each is remembered for each orientation.
3. The InkPad is now designed for finger tip use on a UMPC. When you begin to enter your ActiveWord a "Go" button appears on the InkPad surface to trigger the ActiveWord entered. You can also simply move your stylus or finger away from the InkPad surface to trigger your ActiveWord.
4. A control is included to prevent movement of the mouse cursor from popping up the InkPad. This should be helpful as you switch between "stylus" and "keyboard/mouse" entry.
5. Recognition of inked ActiveWords is now even faster, making ActiveWords InkPad more spontaneous and delivering instantaneous response.
6. Compatibility with Windows Vista operating system.

Check it out here and also check out the video demo of the Beta running on a UMPC.

We have produced an InkShow of how well ActiveWords and Tablet Enhancements for Outlook work together for the Tablet PC user. 

• View

Download trial and more info:

• ActiveWords
• Tablet Enhancements for Outlook