Windows Mobile 6 Professional in pictures

So Smartphone Edition's successor, Windows Mobile 6 Standard, is really only half of the story behind the launch of Microsoft's tweaked mobile platform next week. Well, technically, it's a third of the story if you count Classic, which we don't -- Classic is to Pocket PC what Standard is to Smartphone, and it's not the phoneless Pocket PCs that get our hearts pounding these days (our apologies, Axim). Instead, it's Professional that's the real prize here, filling Pocket PC Phone Edition's shoes. Revolutionary it ain't, but for folks who love (or own and merely tolerate) Windows Mobile devices, this sucker's fresh look makes it the new king of the hill on the Microsoft side of the fence. Enjoy the eye candy!

Gallery: Windows Mobile 6 Professional in pictures

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

[Zach @ Feb 9th 2007 3:07AM]

Soooo, tell me again how this is different than WM5.

Oh, that's right. It's a sea green theme.

[lotech @ Feb 9th 2007 3:22AM]

Yeah any other company could have added this pathetic improvement in features in half the time. Just like Vista, Microsoft dream big, waste a year trying to change the world, realise you're screwed, go back to old codebase and add some improvements, make it look LESS shit (but not amazingly better) and increase its version number and require only new equipment can run it....
Leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[Ayle @ Feb 9th 2007 9:11AM]

My 8125 runs that fine.....

[Eugenia @ Feb 9th 2007 3:38AM]

Hey, is there no VoIP in there? The early betas of WinMob6 had a SIP implementation in them!

[Adam @ Feb 9th 2007 3:54AM]

Have they actually improved anything????

I hated every minute I had to use my O2 Exec and the horrendous user experience that is WM05. It seems nothing here will bring me back to being a Windows user.

[Frode @ Feb 9th 2007 4:43AM]

Eyecandy? This looks exactly like Pocket PC 2002 with different colours.
And no, I wouldn't be caught dead with an iPhone which is just as outdated either, so don't even go there.

[fraxyl @ Feb 9th 2007 8:17AM]

How is it outdated? It's not even out yet.

[Paul D @ Feb 9th 2007 4:43AM]

Hm, up to version 6 and Windows Mobile still has ugly, pixelated fonts? The icons look pretty jaggedy too. I guess living in 2007 has raised my GUI expectations.

[Mills @ Feb 9th 2007 4:46AM]

alright call me a hater but microsoft just cant get anything right. 6 versions of their mobile OS and they still cant figure out font smoothing. I mean really, is it that hard to make something look nice through and through? these pictures hurt my head

[Mills @ Feb 9th 2007 4:50AM]

paul, didnt see your comment. im glad i wasnt the only one who noticed the crappy fonts. and to clarify, im not ragging on them because they are microsoft. Im ragging because every other company was able to get this right the first time....

[Call me Kenneth @ Feb 9th 2007 5:14AM]

Uh, you folks know that ClearType is a toggle in WM, right? Right?

[Paul @ Feb 9th 2007 6:16AM]

So that's a plus...but why the heck should something like ClearType be an option that's turned off by default? Is it so resource or processor intensive that having pixelated fonts is the preferred alternative? It's like Microsoft likes being the dot-matrix printer of user interfaces.

[Paul @ Feb 9th 2007 6:12AM]

I love how, in 2007, Microsoft still insists on using jagged fonts with no anti-aliasing. What's the point of raving about how awesome ClearType is if they can't even use it in any of their products?

[Andrew Peron @ Jun 24th 2007 11:57PM]

uhh.
you can definitely use ClearType on Windows Mobile 5 and up.

Settings>System>Screen>ClearType.

[surur @ Feb 9th 2007 6:15AM]

Useful new features in WM
1) Encrypted storage, means losing your device does not mean your e-mail attachments on your SD card gets exposed.
2) New Internet sharing app turns your phone into a bluetooth internet access point.
3) Windows Update means security updates can now be pushed to devices.
4) Better and faster Pocket Internet Explorer with better DHTML and full screen mode.
5) search your 12 GB exchange server mailbox from your device.
6) Shortcut keys in Pocket IE, easier e-mail setup with g-mail and yahoo mail etc using wizards which get their settings from an internet database.
7) Better one-handed usage.
8) Better memory management.

... and many other changes. Nothing earth shattering by itself, and WM 5 SE is probably appropriate, but to say the only thing that changed is the skin is very wrong.

[Call me Kenneth @ Feb 9th 2007 6:45AM]

Well, ClearType looks like ass on a 240 x 320 screen, so I guess you can't blame MS for disabling it...

[wbw @ Feb 9th 2007 6:56AM]

Is there not 1 programmer at Microsoft that thinks "I've 5 minutes to spare. Let's apply the dialler skin to our briljantly looking calculator"?

[DT Jacobs @ Feb 9th 2007 7:21AM]

Sheesh, and I thought Palm OS was bland! They put an Aqua interface on the Today and Dialer screens and expect us to think it's Vista!

[Jay @ Feb 9th 2007 7:43AM]

@ Paul

Maybe if the HARDWARE had a higher resolution than 320 X 240, things wouldn't look as pixelated. Don't get me wrong, I'm not very impressed by this new OS but try not to mindlessly bash Microsoft for once.

[Moocaca @ Feb 9th 2007 7:55AM]

Unbelievable that most people who are commenting on here are non techs.

[Dave's Football Blog @ Feb 9th 2007 8:16AM]

What about cut-and-paste? Smartphone Edition required hacks just to let you cut-and-paste while typing an email. Did M$ ever add that, or are we stuck hacking this OS, too?

[Goodman @ Feb 9th 2007 9:59AM]

>What about cut-and-paste? Smartphone Edition required hacks just to let you cut-and-paste while typing an email. Did M$ ever add that, or are we stuck hacking this OS, too?

Are you kidding me? Even my Sidekick can do that (and it doesn't give me "out of memory" messages, the way my Pocket PC always did).

[Ellianth @ Feb 9th 2007 12:41PM]

What are you talking about? To cut and paste in any application all i have to do is:

1. hi-light the text i want to cut or copy,
2. tap the text and hold for the context menu to come up.
3. paste it where i want.

Standard windows shortcut keys also work (ctrl + x, c, v) by using the keyboard)

[August @ Feb 9th 2007 6:53PM]

What a hardass.

I love these badasses who abbreviate Microsoft as "M$". Man, they are so edgy.

I love it even more when someone points out how much of a dumbass they are.

Thanks man.

[hesh @ Feb 9th 2007 8:21AM]

Most of the updates/improvements are system related. The new theme is just to spruce it up the cosmetics a bit so don't be fooled that it looks similar to WM5.

I would love to throw this on my 8125 to mess around with while keeping my 8525 intact until I decide it's worth upgrading.

[ZSX @ Feb 9th 2007 9:05AM]

[quote]
Is there not 1 programmer at Microsoft that thinks "I've 5 minutes to spare. Let's apply the dialler skin to our briljantly looking calculator"?
[/quote]

I agree that the calculator looks hideous still. It has remained unchanged since Pocket PC 2002. In fact, also think the dialler skin is pretty ugly, but at least it can be skinned using the Eten dialler hack.

If you want a prettier and much more functional calculator, get 1-calc Lite (and other programs) for free from the Windows Mobile website.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/domore/default.mspx

[Frode @ Feb 9th 2007 9:58AM]

@fraxyl

yeah, it's not even out and yet it's lagging 2+ years behind.

It's 2007 and the iPhone doesn't have 3G, meaning no proper data transfer or videoconferencing, no way to install your own applications and from what I understand no FM and no ability to shoot video. Imagine that!

[Patrick @ Feb 9th 2007 11:23AM]

Wow, clueless commenter overload!

[Josh @ Feb 9th 2007 11:56AM]

Can anyone tell me what software is used to get windows mobile screenshots like this?

thanks,
-j

[Patrick @ Feb 9th 2007 11:57AM]

Hey Josh:

GetPDAScreen is free:
http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com/en/index.php?soft=552

[August @ Feb 9th 2007 12:10PM]

Here's a pressing question- anyone remember Vindigo? They didn't support WM 5.0/Activesync4.0+. Will that change?

[murata @ Feb 9th 2007 12:44PM]

SSDD

thank goodness for wisbar and opera

[gtpunch @ Feb 9th 2007 1:14PM]

For those of you who clearly don't understand ClearType, it wouldn't show up in these shots, as it's subpixel rendering is only visible in photographs, not screen captures from the device or an emulator.

As for Cut & Paste, it's available in Phone edition not by default in _Smartphone_ edition. I found this a big pain with my smartphone and installed xBar just to fix this (there are other apps that do the job now).

I moved from Smartphone to Phone edition of WM5, and have found it a lot less restricting and less awkward overall.

[Andrew Paul Baisden @ Feb 9th 2007 2:07PM]

I'm sorry but the iPhone is much better looking interface and features.

[Ayle @ Feb 9th 2007 4:24PM]

Oh Puhlease!!!!

[jack @ Feb 9th 2007 7:38PM]

the iphone is better looking and more features than what? the windows mobile OS?? how can u compare a phone to an OS? wow you dont belong on this planet go move to the sun you dumbass

[steve @ Feb 9th 2007 2:28PM]

Will there be Blackberry type PUSH email? If so, will you be able to get it without exchange...so that the carriers will host some form of a server like with Blackberry?

[Jameson F @ Jul 3rd 2007 9:58AM]

For Steve...

Currently there are two big providers in a BES like product.. Verizon has its Wireless Sync product that is offered from Nokia and then there is GOOD Mobile that is owned by Motorola... Both are carrier agnostic so really it doesnt matter who you choose but to be quite honest nothing has come close to being as realiable as the Blackberry server..

[Brian C @ Feb 9th 2007 5:41PM]

To those who bashed about font rendering, there is ClearType (also available in WM5) that does smooth the font. It is a user preference. It's your choice.

[lmw @ Feb 9th 2007 7:36PM]

Ha! To show screen pics of the Calendar program to show off WM6? As far as calendar programs, it's the worst, and it doesn't look like they improved it. What is a little blue box going to tell me about an upcoming appointment? I need something quick and efficient, where I can just see and know. I'll stick with Pocket Informant, thanks.

[Mrwhite @ Feb 10th 2007 12:29AM]

"jack
the iphone is better looking and more features than what? the windows mobile OS?? how can u compare a phone to an OS? wow you dont belong on this planet go move to the sun you dumbass"

iPhone runs "OSX" /end conversation.

[August @ Feb 10th 2007 3:33AM]

Yeah.

An "OSX" you can't install third-party apps on.

I'll take non-proprietary apps over ones with shiny, reflective icons any day.

[adrian @ Feb 11th 2007 8:28PM]

newbie question but I recently purchased a cingular 8525 and is it possible to upgrade mobile OS later? and how much do they normally go for

[prime @ Jun 24th 2007 8:38PM]

adrian go to http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=HTC_Hermes

[skidoo @ Feb 12th 2007 3:17AM]

most of you are confusing an Operating System with a User Interface.

OS != GUI

[Raynel @ Jun 24th 2007 10:29PM]

The system overall needs a redesign as far as the user interface - yes I agree. The OS itself needs stability period. WM5 needs to be reset too many times and after a few weeks the speed crawls. If Microsoft fixed these two things on the OS then they could spend their time making the interface cleaner and easier to navigate.

[Waylan @ Jun 25th 2007 12:02AM]

Umm...definately cleartype enabled...OMG,I need to be able to actually read the dang thing...and better networking with the PC. GUI OVERHAUL>>SOME PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIKE A CHANGE MICROSOFT UGH, lol.

[JJ122 @ Jun 25th 2007 1:22AM]

I know where you are coming from with the microsoft needs to take a chance with design but it comes back to being able to easily use the device, new and old users alike. I can also see the point someone will probably make in that people who use WM6 will be power users and they will be able to figure it out. but do you remember the first time you tryed switching OSs? whether windows to apple or even linux. it wasn't nearly as easy as what you started with. And there is also people that are just needing to get there email on the go and dont want to figure out a new interface. I agree there needs to be a different interface but anything more then evelutionary will be a bad thing. and MS will be bashed with anything that isnt the exact same as the last version but completly revelutionary (sorry for the spelling Im and engineer not an english major. lol) And I really dont think that WM6 and an iphone can be compared because if LG or motorola decided to make one a WM6 phone can and would be a better deal for the price and functionality.

[Gman @ Jun 25th 2007 2:37AM]

http://web.mac.com/wolfiemac/iWeb/iPhone/Track%20iPhone%20/Track%20iPhone%20.html

June 29th - iDay.