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Apps
- What is Mobile Widget?
From Wikipedia. Widgets are small apps that run within Widget Engine. Each mobile phone OS maker has its own Widget Engine implemention, they are the same in essentials while differing in minor points.
- Why you prefer Widget apps instead of native Symbian or Windows Mobile apps?
1. I am trying to make the apps as small as possible, a native app could be huge in size and memory usage comparing with the same functional widget app.
2. The UI control is more easier to manage in a widget app.
3. Native apps require signed or certified by Nokia or Microsoft's store, that's about EURO 50 or USD 99 per app.
- What is the difference between the free Roadmate and paid Roadmate Live?
Roadmate Live provides additional real-time features which are not included in Roadmate. Such as real-time bus arrival times, departure times, real-time parking lots availability at selected carparks, as well as bookmarks.
- Why some apps are charged for SGD1.60 or SGD1.99?
They were all free for 11 months since January 2010 except for Roadmate Live. Honestly speaking, I never try to make money from these apps, I am just hoping your purchase could help me to cover the expenses of server hosting, extra bandwidth, Marketplace annual registration fee and app submission charge. SGD1.60 or SGD1.99 is the lowest price point I can choose from Marketplace or Ovi Store.
Symbian
- How can I get your apps?
Apps are only available at Nokia Ovi Store. To browse Ovi Store, click the Ovi Store logo, to download apps, you must use Ovi Store client software on your mobile phone, you must login with your Nokia account.
- I clicked the logo, I got error message: "Sorry, this item is not available for your country".
Your IP address does not seem to belong to Singapore. My apps are only available at Singapore Store and visible to Singapore's IP.
- I can find your app in Ovi Store, but can't install it, it prompts for unknown type error.
To ensure the Widget apps function properly, it is recommended that your Nokia device is updated with the latest device software by using Nokia Software Updater.
Windows Mobile
- How can I get your apps?
Apps are only available at Microsoft Marketplace for Windows Mobile. To browse Marketplace, click the Marketplace logo, to download apps, you must use Marketplace client software on your mobile phone, you must login with your live ID.
- I clicked the logo, I got error message: "Error loading application details. This application is not compatible with your device selection, or has been removed from publication".
You are not in Markerplace Singapore, or your home market is not Singapore. My apps are only available at Singapore Store and visible to IP or LiveID tied to Singapore. To verify this, check the right bottom of your browser, you should have "Singapore - English (Home)" shown as below.
"Singapore - English" means you are visiting Marketplace Singapore Store, "Home" means your home market is Singapore.
- I can't find your apps in Marketplace, I am using the Marketplace client on mobile.
Make sure your phone's region setting is set to Singapore. Make sure your phone ROM is Windows Mobile 6.5+ Pro edition. My apps only work for ROM 6.5 and above.
- I still can't find your apps in Marketplace, my ROM is Windows Mobile 6.5 Pro.
Microsoft Marketplace mobile client checks your phone OS and it filters out un-matched apps, for example, if you are using Windows Mobile 6.1, you won't be able to get any Widgets or Apps designed for 6.5 from Marketplace.
If you are using cooked 6.5 ROM, you have half chance to get these apps, depending on whether or not the cooked ROM modifies OEM identifier in registry. For the case of Touch Pro 2, the registry key "HKLM\Software\OEM\ROMVersion" is used to store OEM identifier. Normally the cooks will change the value to something else, e.g. their ROM series names, while the value from official HTC ROM 6.5 is "1.86.707.4(67102)", which is authorized by Microsoft. That means, Marketplace will use this registry key to identify if the device is 6.5 Pro.
If you happen to install such cooked ROM, you may need to find the official OEM identifier from your phone maker, input into the cooked ROM registry, and do a soft reset; or ask the author of cooked ROM not to change this value, or refresh back to official ROM.
- I can find your app in Marketplace, but can't install it, it prompts for unknown type error, my ROM is Windows Mobile 6.5 Pro.
Check if the file "\Windows\wmwidgetinstaller.exe" exists.
If it does not exist, you are using a cooked ROM, it keeps OEM identifier but removes Widget Engine unlikely. Please contact the author to put back Widget Engine or simply choose another ROM.
If it does exist, you may need to re-register widget apps to Widget Engine, download the cab file and install.
- I have problem with uninstalling/upgrading/installing your apps: I got duplicated icons after upgrade, uninstall failed, no more install button, etc
First of all, widget app does NOT have any install/uninstall functions, widget app is simply zip file. Install, uninstall and upgrade are managed by Marketplace mobile client and Widget Engine, so it is not fair to blame me with a bad rating on Marketplace's review when such error happens -- Widget app has nothing to do with this kind of error.
Microsoft said, if you get the apps from Markerplace, you MUST uninstall/upgrade from Marketplace/My Apps too.

You can NOT, manually uninstall them from phone settings, or simply delete them from storage. Marketplace client has its own registry settings and database to record downloaded apps, an improper uninstallation may cause old records not deleted and prevent you reinstalling them again.
When such error happens, even the apps are removed already from outside of Marketplace, you may still want to remove the entry from Marketplace client/My Apps. If there is a duplicated icon, you can manually delete it from \Windows\Start Menu\Programs\, then try to re-install from Marketplace.
There are many known/reported issues in Marketplace, I am sure Microsoft will be able to improve its Store, that may take times, so just be a little bit patient.
- Do your apps support HTC Snap or Smartphone with ROM 6.5?
Technically, yes they support because Widget Engine is shipped with ROM 6.5 Pro regardless of Smartphone or PPC. But you may not be able to find any widgets in Markerplace, this is because one app is only allowed to publish to one market at one time. HTC Snap is under Smartphone, while most of widgets are published to PPC market.
If you want to try my apps on your HTC Snap, drop me an email.
There are some known issues for widget apps on a non-touch device, cursor seems to be disabled within apps, you may want to try 3rd party cursor app (eg, iCursor) and work together with wodget apps.
Can not find the answer for your question? Drop me an email at mobile.widgets@sh2sg.com
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