After a weekend of tuning and messing around here is the list of the software I installed as a standard base for my device:

* SBSH Pocket Breeze 5.4 - excellent today screen that integrates everything else
* SBSH Pocket Weather 2 - cool weather app
* additional skin/icons
* Dinarsoft HandySwitcher 3.0 - task manager
* Resco Explorer 6.17 - excellent explorer/registry editor
* Pocket Mechanic Pro 2.72 - monitor, clean your system
* Phatpad 4.4 - nice alternative for taking notes
* SBSH Mylist 2.2.1 - shopping list
* PPCLink Hicalc - conversion, currency, ...
* Pocket stars - cool tool to "see" the sky
* Google Maps
* GPS Tuner
* Wififofum - WIFI scanner
* Opera 8.65 - much better that Pocket IE
* Mobipocket Reader
* Pocket Informant

All of them works great and the VGA really does the job. I can confirm that migrating from 3.5 to 2.8 VGA causes a little trouble but after a couple of weeks you'll get used to it.

I forgot to mention that everything above is installed in my maim memory (currently toying with the 6gb and some SDHC patches - none of them functional because we have no other device with this hardware that has SDHC).

Hmm nice compilation of software tested :)

Those works ok for me too :

Resco Explorer
Resco Photo Viewer (vga output too)
Pocket Mechanic Pro
TCMP 0.71C (u have to put a fix on directdraw option to use it)
CoreMediaPlayer

Those works but problems.. :

Photocontacts
ThemeDream
AnimatedThemeSupport

Those don't works :

smsorganizer
blackberryconnect

I want a registry\tweak application.. i have try sdktool but it messed up my 8150.. maybe we must wait for a new version.
And i want something to get rid of XT9 (do not use cab on net,will break your hardware keys!)
And i need something to disable green led blinking,sms notification. (for wm2k3 there was Tweaks 2k)
Last thing.. anyone know a program to hide in auto sms and move in a folder without notice?

Chooo

On my i-mate 6150 I have some applications, as follows:
- Microsoft VB runtimes for PPC
- PHM task manager (rarely used)
- HTC zip (unzip files from PC)
- TranCreative Magic Button - prior to install this softwarethe phone become non-responding, because it minimised applications rather than closing them.
- AC IM selecter -permit to change the keyboard layout to TapTap keyboard.
- TapTap keyboard - usefull keyboard when you want to use your finger to find a contact
- VicSoft Clear Temp (to delete unused registry keys, and temporary files)
- PHM RegEdit. A registry editor (I use it to tweak a registry key wich permit to turn off the backlight in stand-by mode).
-WorldMate - forecast the weather
- yahoo Go 2.0 - I don't use it yet
and some other small programs (alarm clocks, games, calculators etc)

And I forget to mention TCPMP version 0.72 RC1

Tomtom
Resco file explorer
spb pocket plus, diary and finance
mobile g blogger
Agenda fusion
Audible player
Mobipocket
and a selection of games
no issues with any of it, the tomtom configuration was painfully slow, but it runs well

I'm looking forward in buyin the 9502 !
My app ist would be this:

1) Smart movie for watching videos
2) A good file explorer
3) A good e-book reader
4) An instant messenger software with wich i could talk to yahoo messenger contacts and preferably msn contacts
5) A good music player, cause i heard media pleyer ain't that good a playing music
6) A good web browser, prefferably opera
7) A wifi scanner
8) A good task manager
9) Resco photo viewer if it exists for wm6 devices
10) A good Office suite ! I don't know how good is the one that comes with the OS (the microsoft office, excell and power point) but i do know of other alternatives like QuickOffice, DataVIZ documets to go, or moby systems office suite
11) A good software that openes PDF files without chocking by not havin enough ram. The VGA screen is excelent for reading pdf files !
12) A good calculator wich has all the fucntions u can dream of !
13) A recording software, voice recording that is, that has unlimited recording time
14) A program that takes screenshots !
15) A good program with maps for gps use
16) Some sort of diary program to write my personal logs
17) Probably worldmate would be nice
18) An internet radio as the 9502 doen have a radio, but it does have wifi

I never had windows mobile devices so my knoledge is limited, but i do have a great deal of experience with symbian devices, that's why my list looks like it looks now!

all the software is fully available as i have most of that lot on my pda ad more

I agree with speedyuk, all these softwares are quite common..

On my 8150:

1) Pocket Breeze
2) Pocket Weather
3) Pocket Weaver
4) SPB Plus 4.0
6) S2U
7) Omega 1-Calc (nice one...)
8) SPB Clocks
9) e-Wallet
10) Resco Photo Viewer
11) Resco File Explorer Pro
12) Resco Registry Editor
13) Navigon 6.2
14) Google Maps
15) GPS Tuner 5.2
16) Opera mini

Opera mini is more than ok, but recently i changed my desktop browser from opera to firefox, and i heard there is a firefox coming to wm6 devices. Hope i will get my device by then...

Can you tease us with some landscape VGA Opera Mobile screenies? :-)