How would you change Windows Mobile 6?

While some of you have no doubt been running Windows Mobile 6 for a few months or more already (thanks, XDA developers!), the majority of the world is just recently getting its first taste of Microsoft's latest mobile operating system from new devices like the Sprint Mogul and updates to others like the T-Mobile Dash. The critics have certainly been, um, critical of the new OS, to say the least -- "evolutionary, not revolutionary" seems to be the general consensus -- but until we're allowed to behold the glorious light that is Photon, it's the best we've got for now. Still, while WM6 has beefed up Office support and arguably improved the tethering sitch, there are a number of issues that users have been griping about for years which have curiously yet to be addressed. Where's the tabbed browsing in Pocket IE? How come we have to rely on pricey third-party apps to make a decent Today screen? And the old favorite, why can't we have the choice of "managing our own memory" and using that damn "X" button to actually close an app?

These are just a few of the complaints that have been making the rounds about an OS that feels like its definitely in need of a serious refresh -- if for no other reason than to draw some of the hype away from splashy young competitors; so, what do you think: what could Redmond have done differently this time around?

[Eli @ Jun 24th 2007 6:40PM]

PLEASE change the scroll bar...

[wxrman @ Jun 24th 2007 6:44PM]

Who can read that tiny print while running around?

Make it BIGGER with context-sensitive a size-based imagery.

larger text and easier button entry.

[Jon @ Jun 24th 2007 7:10PM]

You can change the font size since Windows Mobile 2003 SE. Although I prefer the small font as I gain more info on my 3.5" VGA Exec.

[patsy @ Jun 25th 2007 9:54AM]

Actually, provide more text and GUI size options. I personally would like things SMALLER on my Dash--thinner title and status bars, smaller menu text, etc. It's all about more info onscreen, and as long as I can read it (which I can), the smaller the merrier...

[Robert @ Jun 24th 2007 6:45PM]

replace it with an iPhone!

[JohnTitor @ Jun 24th 2007 6:57PM]

replace an Operating System with an Apple Product, is that logical?

[John Doe @ Jun 25th 2007 1:20AM]

Yah but I want it to actually function. And when I say function I mean do more then what Apple tells me I should do with MY hardware. You fanbois are slaves to Apple. Without having the ability to think for yourself Apple has stopped really innovating. All they need to do now is release anything and you will buy it like the lemmings you are. And you call people who use Microsoft products drones.

[ethana2 @ Jun 25th 2007 3:09AM]

Whoa, wait. More proprietary crap? Get Linux on that thing. Then you are in control of the interface. Try a windowing system. Don't like it? Configure it differently, etc.

Relying on someone else for interface changes.. Bah!

[George @ Jun 28th 2007 10:49AM]

I'd make it more marketable so more people want it. Then I wouldn't have to contend with so many people on line while I'm waiting for my iPhone.

[JohnTitor @ Jun 24th 2007 6:55PM]

this for the PDA makers like HTC;
VGA Screan or higher please
128MB of RAM
dedicated GPU
SDHC port
all are fully supported since WinMo 03SE

for Microsoft;
DirectX support (something, anything)
multi-touch support?

for Adobe;
Flash Lite 3 (YouTube FTW!!)

[t-bone @ Jun 24th 2007 9:39PM]

You forgot something: a super high tech battery that will power it for more than a couple hours.

[TokyoRob @ Jun 25th 2007 10:45AM]

John - Two PDA's exist with the hardware specs you wished for
02 Flame and the Sharp S01SH

Also Sharp has a 800X480 and QWERTY keyboard

However the GPU (Go Force 5500)is very poorly supported

[randy @ Jun 24th 2007 7:05PM]

What is this screen? I can't understand what anything on that page even does. "Owner: Wanita Benshoof?" What the hell is that? And what are all those freaky icons intended to represent? They are useless. Might as well be alien petroglyphs from the console of an intergalactic battlecruiser.

[carlo @ Jun 24th 2007 7:32PM]

You'd know what it was if you had a WM device.

[Derek @ Jun 24th 2007 9:18PM]

was that supposed to be a joke?

[james @ Jun 24th 2007 7:06PM]

the ablity to delete files directly from the search tool especially when trying to kill files found over 64kb. or how bout telling you the directory of the found files

[lotech @ Jun 24th 2007 7:15PM]

Actually Making a OS that humans can use and not for nerds.

Seriously, 2 years of WM5 and I'm puling my hair out with its quirks - congratulations Microsoft - my next phone will be an untested iPhone or at the very least a Blackberry.

When did operating systems stop being the interface with the hardware and more a big tie in to subconciously send me to a sub service of Microsoft and or its high bidding 'friends'.

[David @ Jun 24th 2007 7:56PM]

A windowing system. We need 640x480, and then we need to USE IT.

Take a cue from 3rd party apps, Ms. What do they do? Why do users want them. Especially make note of 3rd party stuff that replaces/adds on to included functions.

Netfront 3, Resco Explorer, SPB Shell, etc...

I'd give a long list of how to build a handheld OS that works, but I guarantee Microsoft wouldn't listen.

[Peter Elliot @ Jun 24th 2007 7:16PM]

How about getting rid of the stupid bar at the bottom which labels the two soft buttons. It's a waste of space and can be merged with the top bar.

[Ken @ Jun 24th 2007 7:18PM]

It's Microsoft. Get used to it, or change what you use. Whining about how you wish Microsoft could do their job as well as Apple does is useless.

[nottakingitpersonally @ Jun 24th 2007 7:22PM]

Why why why why after the same Windows Mobile for the last 5 years did M$ not see the neeed for evolution? Did Palm's slide down the toilet mean they were going to settle for mediocrity? why did M$ miss the chance to make something awesome and attract millions of new users like the not-too-different Iphone?

Chance missed to really wow the pants off millions of worldwide users. Not like the Zune wasnt a sign of things to come or anything...

[David @ Jun 25th 2007 12:47AM]

WHich is exactly why Apple said it reinvented the phone with iPhone. It's not about Apple getting a huge marketshare--it's about making everyone step up their game.

[Kevin @ Jun 28th 2007 2:00AM]

you dont even know what the iphone is like. You have never even touched it. It could be a total flop. "Think Different"... more like think like a drone

[Kirk @ Jun 25th 2007 1:29PM]

David. Step up their game? You mean downgrade functionality to 2004 levels? iPhone has a very long way to go to catch up the RIM and Windows Mobile.

[nikster @ Jun 26th 2007 12:44AM]

"Did Palm's slide down the toilet mean they were going to settle for mediocrity?"

You hit the nail on the head right there. WM6 is a bland competitor to the equally hapless symbian OS.

Which is why the iPhone will wipe the floor with both, at least OS-wise.

[Danny @ Jun 24th 2007 7:36PM]

I'd like it to play nice and just freakin' work for once. I can't lash out on an operating system on the train, it's a social faux pas!

[ScOObyDoo @ Jun 24th 2007 7:36PM]

1) Make a REAL program launcher. The current 3x4 launcher is pathetic, you almost always need a third party app to improve it.

2) Rewrite the connection manager. The current "work" "the internet" and other crap connection screen is confusing and rarely works correctly

3) Make the email client a real email client. The current late 90's featureset is getting boring. We need filters, spell check, HTML support (without Exchange requirement)

4) Rewrite most of the default apps. Calc looks like it was ripped right out of windows 3.1, Explorer is just a disgrace and the remote desktop client hasn't seen new features since it was made for the first HPC devices

5) Get the windows update feature fixed and working. Stop making people depend on the operator for updates. The current system is insane where operator X has the good update and bug free OS, and operator Y still has the shitty version that doesn't work well. The OS should be operator independent. Let them make their own addon packs that configure the OS, but leave the rest alone.

6) Multitouch...

7) Better displays. We REALLY need to move past 320x240, I know VGA is available so this is more towards the manufacturers, but we really need something better than the current qvga devices.

[jason @ Jun 25th 2007 2:17AM]

Your thought about 'making the OS configuration independent of the operator' is wishful thinking, and isn't something over which Microsoft has any control. Virtually all large operators have a super prescriptive set of UI and OS requirements, and updating and OS that's heavily customized to meet these requirements usually requires a customized update.

[Smiley @ Jun 25th 2007 3:54AM]

"2) Rewrite the connection manager. The current "work" "the internet" and other crap connection screen is confusing and rarely works correctly"

I second that. Actually, you you should have added:
3) Rewrite the connection manager. The current "work" "the internet" and other crap connection screen is confusing and rarely works correctly
4) Rewrite the connection manager. The current "work" "the internet" and other crap connection screen is confusing and rarely works correctly
5) Rewrite the connection manager. The current "work" "the internet" and other crap connection screen is confusing and rarely works correctly

And also:
6) MS, get a f*cking clue about your connection interface. *I know* the connection manager has many entries so as to automatically switch between available connections (WWAN/WAN/VPN...), but it *doesn't* have to look that way.

[ScOObyDoo @ Jun 25th 2007 8:09AM]

@Jason; I understand that, but it shouldn't affect the core of the OS. It would be extremely easy for Microsoft to make WindowsMobile updates AND an operator built accessory addon pack that doesn't interfere with your OS. Imagine buying a Dell PC and not having access to service packs and hotfixes till Dell decides you can have them, while at the same time HP users are 3 versions ahead of you...

The whole thought behind their OS at the moment is flawed, there is no logic to how the builds are created and they REALLY need to catch up with how their desktop OS's are produced.

[saq @ Jun 24th 2007 7:42PM]

I for one am pretty damn happy with WM6. ANY gripes about the today screen are from someone with low experience in WM devices and is trying to do something they probably don't need to. Cheap 3rd party today mods can put a bit more functionality into it yes, but I don't know why I need any of that.

My today screen has time & date, email, calendar and tasks. I used to use SPB PocketPlus today screen for a few icons, but after several years of using PDAPhones I don't really see the need for them anymore. 99.9% of what I do on my PDAphone (Hermes, WM6) is email and internet. Occasionally I bust out wififofum to do a wireless site survey, occasionally I use SPB Time for various things like cooking or in conjunction with the next app, and I use Mobile Coach for my workouts and exercize to keep track of everything. 3 apps that can be easily found under recently run items on the start menu.

What needs to be changed? I honestly don't know.

[Dster @ Jun 24th 2007 7:51PM]

Here's an idea:

let me use MSN messenger without forcing crap on me like

-importing, without any choice, my msn contacts into outlook
-adding, again without choice or ability to remove, my hotmail account to the device, so that any index of unread emails MUST include all the spam, and only spam, that ends up in this account.

Hi Microsoft, DON'T TRY TO FORCE PEOPLE TO USE YOUR WHOLE CRAPWARE VIRTUAL UNIVERSE just because they want to use a single part. OK?

[Adam @ Jun 24th 2007 7:56PM]

I'm not sure why there's needs to be a second "status bar" at the bottom of the Today screen, it seems like a waste of space. Couldn't these icons (which are usually things like the status of connections) just be placed up the top?

[phi @ Jun 24th 2007 7:59PM]

how about not make it run so slow? I hate when I'm on a call, and I get another call, and it doesn't know how to interpret my "fast fingers." I'm running it on a T-mobile dash, and it can't even do the most basic things elegantly and efficiently. Tell MS developers to pick up a Nokia or Sony Ericsson phone and play with their UIs and at least get it to that level quickness before you add crap on top of it.

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

Finally someone mentions the biggest problem...

My HTC Vox (same as the Dash internally) is so slow that sometimes I completely miss a call waiting for it to respond to the answer button. Why is it that a 200MHz processor is totally inadequate to run WM6 yet it still can't get a battery to last a day? No other platform offers such terrible performance. I don't see how they can even ship this crap.

Another serious annoyance is that the touchscreen version is much more fidgety and annoying to use than the standard one. The X button is pathetic. I shouldn't be penalized for having the extra hardware.

Why is it so tedious to delete SMS messages? Why can't we get threaded SMS views? Why can't I turn off the annoying predictive text on my Vox? Why doesn't my dial screen change with the theme settings? I shouldn't have to install a registry tweaker to overcome annoying usability problems.

Yeah, the today screen sucks and so does the launcher, but where does all that processor power go? It's a sad state of affairs when Windows Mobile is best of breed yet that's what we have. If there's any opportunity for the iPhone to succeed, it's in the potential for it to be the only phone who's UI doesn't totally suck.

[Mike Klein @ Jun 28th 2007 9:44PM]

All reports from xda developers forums are that WM6 screams. Zero pregnant pauses from what I read.

I've heard this before...but hearing from engrs is more promising.

[boe @ Jun 24th 2007 8:00PM]

First and MOST IMPORTANT - FIX the BLUETOOTH STACK. This is listed on several PPC6800/mogul/titan threads. Calls made from the BT stack sound like doody. While you can hear them - you sound garbled or choppy to them - doesn't matter what BT headset you use. The BT stack for WM5 sucked but this one is SIGNIFICANTLY worse - I can't believe they didn't make this a priority after all the posts about how bad it was in WM5. Also there is more static and shorter distance with the new BT stack.

I'd fix VC 1.6 so confirmation works with WM6 - you'd think they'd test the two considering there aren't many MS aps for PPC and none more popular.

I'd fix the communications manger - even if you turn off WIFI - it still pops up with messages every time you pass a hotspot.

I'd fix Picture Blocker in HTML e-mails - the whole point of WM6 was the new e-mail capabilities - chances are anyone running Exchange 2007 has a spam and virus blocker running on their server - there should be a way to auto download pictures in HTML e-mails.

Include a flashlight app for any PDAphone with a flash for the camera - vjcandela's app was one of the most important apps available.

Fix the button options under settings- there are many more hard buttons than MS gives you options to set.

[Don @ Jun 25th 2007 9:50AM]

A lot of these issues sound like issues with a pre-release version of WM6 that was hacked for the Hermes.

No offense to the hard work and the people who went through it that enables us to get our hands on WM6 before the official release, but I wouldn't knock these things until they are officially compiled for your device by HTC.

As far as improving WM6, it's not a night and day improvement over WM5, but I really do enjoy the HTML E-Mail support from Exchange. It has some slight cosmetic improvements over WM5 that give it more of a "Today" instead of a "last week" kind of look. It seems to run fairly quickly and it hardly ever crashes my device anymore.

I have no complaints with the BT stack. In fact, I think it works better than the WM5 one. Yeah, sometimes I get garbled calls when holding the phone in certain positions, but my headset always syncs quickly and the serial port interface always works flawlessley. I used to have to power cycle a lot when trying to initiate the connection between TomTom and the GPS receiver.

Not an earth shattering upgrade, but overall I'm happy.

[boe @ Jun 25th 2007 9:58AM]

Don - the items I listed are on the final release of WM6 - I'm using the Sprint HTC mogul which comes with WM6 on it.

I was using a hacked version of WM5 AKU 3.5 and the BT stack was very good - not perfect but far better than WM6 - there are many threads about the BT stack issues on various phone forums - this is an issue with the final release. I've posted a request to try and get the WM5 AKU 3.5 BT stack ported so that I can run it on WM6 as WM6 is so bad. This is the biggest issue with WM6 in my opinion.

[Charles @ Jan 7th 2008 5:58PM]

Have you seen the "Flash light colors" app that runs of the VB runtime using just the screen? It works for any phone that has a screen, not even worried about if there is a camera let alone a flash on the camera.

[JohnTitor @ Jun 24th 2007 8:01PM]

you know what, Microsoft should just create another sect of Windows CE
something more targeted toward Consumers than Businessmen
Even the current Windows Mobile does a lot but why are people so interested in iPhone?
simply put, it's softer around the edges

[david @ Jun 24th 2007 8:09PM]

My Dash with WM6 is a slow pig. I press 3-4 buttons before it catches up with the first press. It's also a memory hog. However it would be less of one if it automatically quit programs instead of leaving them in the buffer. Overall, I don't see much improvement over WM5 except it doesn't lock up as much.

[mckoder @ Jun 24th 2007 8:12PM]

How would I change Windows Mobile 6? Watch it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkh0sWc7JW8

[burnblue @ Jun 24th 2007 8:12PM]

Actually create a new OS. Or call this one Windows Mobile 5.5.

Also, I don't really like the direction of merging the smartphone and Pocket PC OSes, that is having touchscreen and non-touchscreen devices handle pretty much the same. Since I still own a Pocket PC 2003 device I might be uninformed and what I'm about to say might be 3rd party developers' responsibility. With that said, I hate how the menu bar for WM5 and WM6 devices just use two menus mapped to the softkeys (New and Menu for example), while the menu bar on a 2003 device can fit a bunch more. Menu items that should be top level (like View and Edit) are now buried under "Menu" on new apps.
I think a smartphone interface with a great emphasis on usability was demonstrated here http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/23/samsung-ultra-messaging-a-peek-at-the-future-of-windows-mobile/
and it looks like the next Windows Mobile. It makes a great replacement to the Today Screen, specifically if u don't have a touchscreen. If you do however (Classic), we need something accessible with as few taps as necessary, something that can be customized for thumb-oriented use, and something that can put all your information out front where you need it (Take cues from SPB).

Must-improve items:
1) Memory management. We don't want to always need 3rd party task managers to make our windows _really_ close instead of minimize.
2) More modern Pocket IE that can have multiple windows open and add better options in fullscreen and desktop style browsing. Look to Wii and iPhone.
3) Better connections management, screw "Work" and "Internet" confusion.


Thanks. I love Pocket PCs.

[carlo @ Jun 24th 2007 10:00PM]

Hey, excellent answer! I don't know how I missed that Samsung article, but as for the user interface concerns I think that's an excellent looking solution!

[mckoder @ Jun 24th 2007 8:12PM]

The most important sign that Microsoft doesn't get it is... the File Explorer. Who wants to manage files - on their phone? This example is typical of the difference between the Apple and Microsoft approaches.

[carlo @ Jun 24th 2007 10:08PM]

I think the File Explorer is the best thing it offers to me, aside from the ability to edit and create MS Office Docs.

I use my phone as a miniature external hard drive on a weekly basis. It's highly practical.

Maybe I'm not understanding what you're saying, but I enjoy being able to navigate the files that are on my phone, memory card, etc.

If I had to change anything about it, I'd want it to be a little faster but that's more of a processor/hardware issue, and not software.

How would you suggest we otherwise manage files on our phones?

[mckoder @ Jun 24th 2007 10:38PM]

How do I suggest managing files on the phone? You don't! It is bad enough that you have to manage files on your computer. Do you also want to manage files on your phone, your gps, your watch, your thermostat, your car, etc? These devices should be management-free. Apple gets it.

[burnblue @ Jun 24th 2007 11:56PM]

I guess if I wanted just a phone, I'd get that. If I get a Pocket PC (note the PC) device, I want to be able to do anything I want with it. I want to be able to do without my laptop for a while if needs be. Anything that I can stick an SD card in and browse the Internet with needs a File Explorer.

[Ellianth @ Jun 25th 2007 10:51AM]

@mckoder

As I've alway said: It's better to include something and have people not use it than to not include it at all. I find the file explorer very useful. Unlike you I like being able to manage files my own way. Who's my PDA to tell me what files I need and don't need. This also makes it possible to crack games :D (actually never mind). I can see why you wouldn't want a file explorer on your future iphone...

There won't be any third party applications that you'll need to organize O.o . I mean, how many times can you organize your songs before that gets old?

P.S. If apple gets it, they wouldn't allow you to resize photos on your phone. Seriously.. do i really not have anything better to do while walking around than resize a photo? I guess it's something to do when not organizing your music.