I installed a lot of programs on my PPC with PocketPC 2002. Most of them disappeared quickly, because they were not used and only consumed memory. Some stayed for long. The list below covers most of these programs. It is, however, not a test, merely an users opinion. I have no interests in any of the programs.
1. Essentials
Agenda Fusion. A nice PIM for the Pocket PC. I never came further than version 4.93, but it works fine. Commercial.
Dockware. A screensaver with a clock and calendar. I put my best digital pictures there (insects and kids) and enjoy while I am working and the PPC is loading in the cradle. Freeware. For those who like it, download a bunch of European bird pictures, plant pictures or insect pictures to display (240x320, put unzipped files in /program files/dockware/).
BananaPC. A little taskmanager, screen enlarger and volume button. Essential because it really closes programs and it can hide the title bar to enlarge the area programs can use. Many programs respond well and use almost the entire screen. Tip: default, the BananaPC buttonbar overlaps essential parts of the title bar. In position x: 230, y: 0; vertical; small icons, the buttonbar is in topright, vertical position and does not overlap essential parts. Call the menu by tap-and-hold the x-button, then select options. To deinstall: first exit the program, then deinstall. Freeware.
TodayPlayer. Play and manage MP3-music from the today screen. I use the Pocket PC to carry bird and grasshopper sounds into the field (better than the old tape recorders), using Mortplayer to play them. It made me forget Windows Media Player. Freeware.
Netfront web browser. Internet explorer on PocketPC 2002 is bare (I would say 'bar en boos' in Dutch) and I wanted a CSS enabled browser to read my HTML-files. This one works fine. Commercial.
Pocketwijzer. A Dutch railway time table. Essential when traveling by train in the Netherlands. Commercial.
Total Commander. I forgot about file explorer since I installed this. Freeware.
2. GPS and moving maps
Navio. Moving map program, that uses scanned and calibrated maps. I use it to find my way outdoors when I am hiking, bird watching or catching insects and note interesting sites. Only moving map program that includes the Dutch 'Amersfoortcoordinaten', therefore essential to me. Commercial.
POIedit. Desktop (PC) program that reads and manages TomTom ov2-files. It can save these files in a Navio readable format (use 'generic ascii', not 'Navio ascii' due to a bug in the latter), and I use it to display information on my Navio maps. One such use is the file of bird watch spots in the Netherlands. Freeware.
GarmapCE. GPS interface and moving map program. Works after some work on the PC to prepare the maps (you have to cut the bitmaps in parts with a separate program, which consumes some time, but allows for large bitmaps). The seamless communication with my Garmin GPS enables me to manage the GPS tracks, waypoints and routes on the Pocket PC. While connected to the GPS, GarmapCE shows where you are on the map and where you are heading for. Freeware.
Omani 3.0.0.3. Moving map program that uses the GPS for input. It crossed my path because it can use Garmap maps as input and is an alternative to Garmap. It is not particularly better or worse, but in contrast to Garmap it is not able to exchange waypoints, routes and track with the GPS. The website is completely japanese, but the download of the English version is recognizable. Freeware.
Ftxpbrowser. A simple browser that has a full screen mode and tabs to handle multiple pages. Freeware.
4. Today plugins
Taskplus. Shows upcoming tasks and birthdays. Freeware.
Uptime. Displays how long I still have with my battery. Freeware.
cLaunch. Launch the programs directly from the today screen, instead of browsing to programs and searching for some icon below. Nice tabbed interface, so it uses only 2 lines on the today screen. Freeware.
5. Utilities
µbook. My favorite for reading ebooks. Handles a lot of formats and ses the full screen for display. Used to be freeware, but the author turned it into shareware recently. Find the last freeware version on www.pocketpcfreewares.com.
Vade-mecum. A plucker reader. Displays websites that have been captured by Plucker, a PC/Mac program. Websites can be 'plucked' from the web by Sunrise, a PC desktop program. That needs Java to run. All freeware.
ADBIdea. A flexible outliner with a PC companion that I use to note ideas or organise brain waves. Handles drawings, text and inclusion of any document. Freeware.
TomeRaider. A reader for text information. Quick and orderly, especially for word lists. I use the PC companion to generate texts of EU directives and so on. Commercial.
Booklib. A database for books. I keep a record of my books, especially when someone 'borrows' a book. Freeware.
EasySMS. Writing SMS with the Pocket PC is much easier than on the phone. Freeware.
Frequency Tuner. In 2003, I met some people who tuned their instruments with a special device. This program does exactly the same and does its job perfectly. My guitar is tuned now. Freeware.
Passman. To keep your secret codes secret. Freeware.
StopTime. A stopwatch, timer, alarm and alarm notes application, that reminds you of the time gone, the time to go and that it is time. Freeware.
TKCreator. Edits the Today screen theme on the PPC. Many themes have insufficient contrast between text and background and I use the program to modify them. It is also possible to make your own themes. Freeware.
Where is my RAM. Memory cards are always too small! How come? Freeware.
Xsforms and Xsdesigner. A database application based on forms. Essentially, a form with input fields is developed and the program creates and manages the database. Xforms runs on the PPC, while Xdesigner is the development application on the PC (XP only). Very convienent for databases that use a single table. Freeware.
Xnview Pocket. A nice image display program with a lot of options. It also converts image formats. Freeware.