Bar bouncers may need to start patting down patrons for PDAs on pub trivia night. Using technology from "offline Web technology provider" Webaroo, you can now download the contents of the expansive knowledge-trove Wikipedia to your portable device.
Webaroo is a free software program and service. Essentially, Webaroo servers gather key content of Web sites and compress them into "Web packs," which users can then download to their laptops, PDAs, and phones to search while on the go, even without a connection. (When you re-connect, the device content gets updated.)
You're not limited to Webaroo Web Packs, either; you also can download Web pages of your choice.
The Wikipedia Web pack is a 6GB download, though the company recommends you have 1GB of RAM and 10GB of free space. You also may opt to select individual sections of Wikipedia instead, such as Wiki - Unix, Wiki - Business Leaders, and, of course, Wiki - Canadian Music. (Who doesn't need constant access to the discographies of Celine Dion and Raffi?)
Roaming techies might also find use in some of the Technology Web packs, such as Chip-India Know-How Internet & Networking (resources for creating and running a smooth network) and Chip-India Know-How Operating System (topics related to desktop operating systems--from Windows XP to Mac to several flavors of Linux).
Or, again, if you have a Web-based tech resource you refer to often, you might find use in downloading its content yourself.
Another enterprise application: You could, for example, download a customer's Web site before a business trip and read up on them on the airplane.
The list of supported document formats as well as audio and video formats is pretty extensive, too. Check out the FAQ for more info,
Webaroo is free and works on Pocket PCs or a Pocket PC Phones running Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition or Windows Mobile 5.0. For laptops, you need Windows XP Service Pack 1+ or Windows 2000 Service Pack 4.
What kind of Web sites would you like to save to your PDA?
Posted by Ted Samson on October 16, 2006 12:31 PM
