Drop, charge, and lose the cordsMicrosoft previews Windows Mobile 6.5
Windows Mobile 6.5
(Credit: Microsoft)On Monday, Microsoft officially unveiled the latest version of its mobile operating system at GSMA Mobile World Congress 2009. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer previewed Windows Mobile 6.5 during his keynote address, and as expected, the updated OS brings a handful of enhancements, including an application store, a backup and restore service, and an improved mobile Web browser. Here's a full rundown of the new features:
My Phone service
My Phone is a free service that allows you to back up your phone's information to a password-protected Web service. It offers automatic synching and backup so you can store your contacts, appointments, text messages, and other information to the service and then easily restore the information to your device if you happen to lose it or upgrade to a new smartphone.
In addition, My Phone lets you automatically upload photos and videos straight from your phone to the service. Currently, My Phone is only available as an invitation-only beta.
Windows Marketplace for Mobile
Windows Marketplace for Mobile will operate as the central hub for searching, browsing, and purchasing mobile applications for your smartphone. It comes preloaded on all Windows Mobile 6.5 devices where you'll be able to download applications over the air or from your PC simply by entering your Windows Live ID. Developers who have already created programs for Windows Mobile will be able to offer their products through the marketplace after a security and compatibility check from Microsoft.
Internet Explorer Mobile
With Windows Mobile 6.5, you'll get more features from Internet Explorer Mobile. Built on the Internet Explorer 6 engine, the
mobile browser will support Flash and JavaScript and includes new tools for better page navigation, such as zoom in/out sliding scale and a breadcrumb feature that shows you where you are on a Web page. In addition, Microsoft added that the browser allows for more transactions (e.g., checking flights, buying movie tickets) than any other mobile browser.
New user interface
The most noticeable difference you'll see in Windows Mobile 6.5 is the user interface. It was designed to be "finger friendly" and "people centric," bringing more important information up front and allowing for a better navigation experience.
The Start menu now features a honeycomb format so you can more easily tap on icons without hitting the wrong button. You can also move and rearrange the icons to your liking. From the lock screen, you'll be able to see any missed calls, voicemails, new messages, and upcoming appointments, providing your most important information at a glance. The Home screen also uses Zune's interface. Our slide show below better illustrates these features and how they work, so be sure to check it out.
Now, while these capabilities seem aimed for the touch screen, Microsoft said it's still committed to non-touch devices and offering its customers a choice, so Windows Mobile 6.5 will also come in Standard Edition.
Availability and partners
Now, here's some bad news. Microsoft doesn't plan on releasing Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrades or devices until the second half of 2009. While there were a couple of handset announcements made in conjunction with the Windows Mobile 6.5 news (LG has committed to Windows Mobile as the primary operating system for its smartphones and will release a 6.5 device later this year, and HTC will offer Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrades for its new HTC Touch Pro2 and HTC Touch Diamond2 devices), you can bet that Microsoft's competition won't be sitting still during that time and will make gains in their own operating systems.
The new enhancements promise to improve the usability of the OS but they seem more like baby steps rather than giant leaps forward, so it will be interesting to see where Windows Mobile 6.5 will be in the game by the time it finally comes out.
Bonnie Cha is a senior editor for CNET, covering smartphones and GPS. When she's not testing the latest gadgets, you can find her chasing after her crazy lab or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California. E-mail Bonnie.
The *only* thing Windows Mobile does well and better than anything else is Exchange/Outlook synchronization, and that's because Microsoft makes both products. Beyond that, I'm ready to jump to iPhones this fall for my company; I'm the IT director, and we're currently standardized on Windows Mobile.
Poor Microsoft, sometimes it seems like they don't have an innovative bone in their body. This recent news about Windows Mobile 6.5 shows that they are just applying bandaids to a very diseased and dying patient, and even then nothing will be available until late 2009 after new developments with iPhone and webOS have occurred.
The core of Windows Mobile is an antiquated operating system that can't compete with something like iPhone, Android, and webOS, which were created from the ground up to support finger touch and other modern smartphone features. Windows Mobile, if it is to have any chance of success, needs to be completely rewritten; Microsoft needs to accept the fate that Palm did for its old Palm OS: death. And I seriously doubt Microsoft has the guts to do this.
It's sad that it's been delayed until 2010... considering WM6.5 will be H2 release, i'm betting WM7 won't be until Q3 at the VERY earliest, if not Q4 2010.
Microsoft is trying to catch up from being 2 years behind in 9-12 months. It should be interesting to see if they can make it pretty and more functional AND make it more stable to become a true player in the market again.
I think it goes back to what Steve Jobs said years ago: Microsoft simply has no taste.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR8SAFRBmcU
When you have a company whose products are designed and specified by program managers, with good intentions, but with no design talent and no design taste, this is what you get: a third-rate product that pales in comparison to those designed by experts. But this really should come as no surprise. This is Microsoft. Those who expect anything different from them will always end up shaking their heads in disappointment.
One could argue that Microsoft's products might get the job done, but it's the difference in eating a meal prepared by NASA scientists vs. one prepared by one of the world's top gourmet chefs. Both may provide the nutrition you need, but one is certainly more enjoyable than the other.
And it is difficult to argue your position with those who are without taste. They just don't get it and will most likely dismiss you as some kind of pretentious, uppity snob, even though all you're looking for is something that is tastefully designed. But you just can't discuss the subtleties of the palate with the hot dog and burger crowd. That might be a bit harsh, but I think it's dead-on.
Windows Mobile: Pass the ketchup
Personally, I like the look of Windows Mobile 6.5. It has a nice, finger-friendly UI, but it keeps the features of previous versions of the OS.
Webkit--open, H.264--open, AAC--open, PDF--open, iTunes--no more DRM
Apple plays as well as anyone with open standards. They just don't license their OS.
some tried and tested windows mobile backup solutions. Any recommendations for this?
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by Richard_Boyle
July 17, 2009 3:33 AM PDT
- I have just switched to www.backupandshare.com for windows mobile backup. So far happy with it. I can backup on my 5.0 version also.
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