[Touch Diamond, MDA Compact IV General] low.flying.pigs:
Hello willpom,

Thank you for the interesting feedback.

The purpose of displaying the Help file within the GPS Cycle Computer application itself is to remove unnecessary dependency on external applications. The required functionality to implement this is already present within .NetCompactFramework 2.0 and above upon which GCC, and indeed all .NetCF applications, are already inextricably dependent, and all existing users already have, or potential new users unavoidably require.

There would not therefore arise any adverse bulking out of the application as everything required is already present on any device running GCC, and the requisite changes within GCC would have no adverse impact on the already relatively small size of the GpsCycleComputer.exe and no adverse impact on performance, the only noticeable effect of any significance would be that it works on all devices.

In fact by removing unnecessary dependence on external applications, the footprint for running GCC on any given device is significantly reduced, and compatibility significantly increased, since no external browser or PDF viewer, or anything else, is required.

Separately, whilst on the subject of application bulk, there exists potential to significantly reduce the size of GpsCycleComputer.exe, estimated approximately between 161Kb to 220Kb, and by doing so, possibly also reducing the memory in usage whilst running. Further information in this regard to be provided in due course.

It can be stated any changes would not adversely affect any existing functionality or user.

With regards to the separate issues of browsers, and compatibility in general, this serves as an example of why unnecessary dependence on external applications should and will be eradicated.

Specifically regarding Opera Mobile and Flash® in any Windows Mobile browser, Opera ended Opera Mobile on Windows Mobile at version 10.0, whilst Adobe® ended Flash® Lite™ on Windows Mobile at version 3.1 which supported Flash® up to version 9.0, according to the Adobe® test site, when installed, as per screen grab 1 and 2. However, although version 3.1 is not stated, version 3.0 supported up to version 8.0, see here and here so either way it is at least up to 8.0.

A compatible browser, such as Opera Mobile 10.0 in conjunction with Flash® Lite™ 3.1 provides access to Flash® content up to version 8.0 / 9.0. Unfortunately many websites utilise Flash® content generated with a higher versions of Flash® making that content unavailable. Unfortunately again, as there is no readily apparent means of displaying higher version Flash® content in any browser, therefore there is unfortunately no recommendation of an alternative that can readily be given.

No issues could be reproduced in usage over WiFi, and no issues could be reproduced using the HTC HD2 standard camera application either by starting Opera first then the camera, or vice versa.

Specifically regarding Opera Mobile 10.0 compatibility with GCC, if Opera Mobile 10 is already running when GCC is started, GCC fails to start in this instance, despite working normally ordinarily, with the attached MissingMethodException error.

If GCC is running, but Opera Mobile 10 is not, when Readme.htm is accessed from within GCC by either the Menu Page, using either the Help button, or About button and selecting 'View readme...', Opera Mobile 10 displays the file without issue running alongside GCC.

The exception error as detailed was only observable on the HTC HD2 device, it was no observed in either Windows Mobile 6.0 or 6.5 Emulated Environments (others untested at present), and may therefore be device specific.

It is worthwhile investigating this exception further, even though GCC will in future handle help files itself, as there may be other devices and or applications that cause similar behaviour in similar circumstances obstructing GCC from running when other applications already are.

I look forward to your future feedback with interest, as with that of all users that take the time to positively contribute.

Further information to be added.

low.flying.pigs