Other entries in the development tools category included:

• Crossfire from AppForge -- Finalist
  
• eMbedded Visual C++ from Microsoft
  
• eMbedded Visual Tools from Microsoft
  
• Pocket PowerBuilder v1.5 from Sybase
  
• Visual CE from Syware
  
• Visual Studio .NET with .NET CF from Microsoft -- Finalist
  
• WebSphere Studio Device Developer from IBM

In all, the magazine's panel of 80 judges considered almost 600 products, spread among 100 categories, divided into three major sections -- Pocket PC software, Smartphone software, and developer software.

About NS Basic/CE

According to NS Basic Corp, NS Basic allows developers who program with tools such as Visual Basic to apply that experience to developing applications for Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC and other Windows CE devices. NS Basic/CE is a complete development environment for applications with a "true Pocket PC look and feel." It includes features such as databases, serial and IR communications, signature capture, and more.

---

Related stories:

• Major update to Basic language package for Windows CE, Pocket PC
  
• Device app development environment supports .NET platform
  
• An introduction to Microsoft's four .NET programming languages
  
• Moving Pocket PC apps to the .NET Framework and Visual Basic .NET
  
• NS Basic released for Windows Mobile 2003
  
• Visual CE rapid app development tool gains functions, flexibility
  
• Access NetFront browser wins best software award