Windows Mobile: more of what's going on in the next two versions

Publicly disclosable details about the future of Windows Mobile are still sparse, but we can let the door open a bit wider on what was shown at this year's Mobius with regard to the next two versions of Windows Mobile. We all know that 6.1 is around the corner, but it's the next two versions beyond that which are really interesting. Post-6.1, WinMo will indeed have its app suite revamped, including a desktop-grade port of IE to Windows Mobile, which Microsoft is replacing pocket IE with and directly targeting mobile Safari. Likewise, the rest of the consumer-centric apps (photos, media, etc.) as well as the messaging suite will be upgraded to be a bit friendlier. This whole experience won't be too foreign to long-time users, but is the next step in the right direction.

But it's really the Windows Mobile that's two versions out that's the game-changer. Significantly redeveloped, this WinMo will focus on an upgraded user experience with massive changes made to ease of use, as well as new features like global search and data correlation, meaning the device would, for example, know who you're talking to and give you instant access to email from only that person, or maybe a map with that pinpoints their address. Fingers crossed they'll execute on this stuff -- Microsoft's a big company with lots of wonderful ideas that seem to fall out of the truck on the way to the store.

[Scott @ Dec 14th 2007 5:14PM]

Actually as pointed out above, iPhone (even with it's unfriendly-to-business attitude) already dominates WinMo in the US (but not Research In Motion). Which has to be pretty embarrasing to Microsoft, with the 10 year head start and all.

[Stephen P. @ Dec 14th 2007 5:41PM]

"Microsoft had a 10-year headstart on Apple." You can't be referring to the smartphone space, so you must be referring to the PDA category. I believe the company with the "headstart" in the PDA space is Apple, with it's lovely Newton. Then came he Pilot, which, unlike the Newton, wasn't a complete joke. Now the Palm brand has been dragged through the mud while Microsoft gradually caught up. Like it not folks, MS always catches up and becomes a major player in the market (see XBox).

[resource @ Dec 14th 2007 4:50PM]

At 2 years per version we are looking at 2008 for WM 7 and 2010/11 for WM8.

We have a Leopard/Vista situation here.

I use a WM6 Dash but it is lacking. Severely.

In 2010 the iPhone and ANDROID will destroy whatever Windows Mobile catchupware is released. It's sad how behind they are.

They need to merge with the Zune team. The Zune UI surpassed the iPods UI in just 2 models.

[Scott @ Dec 14th 2007 5:20PM]

"The Zune UI surpassed the iPods UI in just 2 models."

Thanks for the laugh.

[cwj @ Dec 14th 2007 6:18PM]

Have you tried a device that uses WinMo 5? With Windows, one step back is often not a bad idea.

[adrian @ Dec 14th 2007 5:25PM]

Gosh... this is my second post today. I reckon that I had only ever made 4 posts ever...

But I want my say to Apple lovers. I don't approve of flaming. This is going to be flaming so get out your retardants, you Apple retards !!

I bought a Mac mini version 1.1. Then Jobs JUMPED onto the Mainstream bandwagon and put the intel processor into a "New" Mac Mini. Right royally pissed off was I.

The Fan started to get noisier and louder and then just a racket..Everything took longer and longer to boot and process.

A few months later the hard drive failed, it took three separate trips to the Nerd desk to prove it. Now just after the Warranty has run out, the frickin video has gone, no picture.

I just loved that MAC-PC advert with the Microsoft bloke in a cast coz' he tripped over the power cable of his PC. That frickin power cable on the MAC... if the damn thing had not shagged itself I would have thrown it out the window one day coz the power cable kept on falling out the back.....!!!!!!

I have own 7 Dell machines, and purchased for my company around 20 Dell machines. I never had the same amount of trouble with any of them in such a short space of time.-
Now my Mac Mini is propping open my study door.

I found OSX unintuitive / ludicrous. It is not a patch on XP. I preferred 3.1 to OSX, but some distance. I found not a single useful feature in it that could turn my head from XP.

Now iphone is out..... I love the fact that so many of you "Apple Lovin'-Blow-Jobs" got screwed with the pricing. I am gonna arm you ALBJ's with some ammo.... I have never touched an iphone. In fact I have only noticed some poser with one in an airport from a safe distance. What a tosser. Come on !!!!!.... its a phone, just a phone. When I want to make a call I use my PHONE. When I need to send/receive an email I go to the office/home office and use my PC to do so. All other occasions that I feel the urge to do so, I close my eyes, breathe and continue enjoying my family or the company I keep.

But..... when Google comes out with it's mobile software.... then I am going there....... no problems.

Apple... never ever again....My sh1t stinks and so does Apple and so does anyone, anyone who seriously thinks that a Mac is better than a PC or that Apple is anyway better than Microsoft. I this applies to you i have one thing to say (other than what I have said already today)....

THE EMPEROR IS WEARING NO CLOTHES.


(p.s The Emperor refers to Steve Jobs in this instance, and in no way refers to magnificence or any grand virtues whatsoever).

p.p.s Apple sucks.

p.p.p.s I feel better now.

[Alan @ Dec 14th 2007 6:09PM]

The simple fact is, if the Iphone had rolled with GPS and 3G and an SDK and Blackberry Connect, WM would be well on the way to being toast...

In the mean time, my Tilt and I will just have to get by. The dissapointment of the iphone was significant as I'm a Mac user and now I've just got one more thing keeping me tied to a virtualized windoze desktop.

[Bob @ Dec 14th 2007 7:49PM]

Ballmer is a brilliant man and one that the Apple-heads sneer at, laugh at, poke fun at.

In the end, Ballmer will have the last laugh (along with Balsillie/Lazaridis and the Google boys). Sometimes I just wish Microsoft or Google would just buy Apple and redo those commercials to where the Apple guy is forced to be de-programmed from the cult of Steve.

[resource @ Dec 14th 2007 8:16PM]

The Zune UI is better than the iPod classic.
The model that is competes against.

Period.

[MS what??? @ Dec 14th 2007 11:09PM]

No offense, but when did they deliver anything as leaked?.....................Its never as "user friendly" as they would like you to believe. Lots of grandious....never to be actualized ideas though.......

[jasarius @ Dec 15th 2007 2:36AM]

Just a personal observation:

I think that both the WinMo and iPhone platforms are great and they both have their respectable strengths and weaknesses.

The key problem I see is that M$ tries to be everything to everyone; something for the IT, enterprise and everyday Joe/Jane. Apple doesn't. They have a strong and constent vision/roadmap (courtesy of Jobs) and they implement their strategies very well.

I'd expand, but its late and I don't really have a point now that I think about it.

[tamoghno @ Dec 15th 2007 5:18AM]

windows mobile ... does anybody care ?

S60 is future , along with android .

[Billy Rorex @ Dec 15th 2007 9:43AM]

what everyone is forgetting is windows mobile makes pda's the iphone is just an ipod windows mobile will do 1000 things the iphone wont

[Mike W @ Dec 15th 2007 12:10PM]

This hurts most since we've been hearing for the past 2 years how Q1 2008 was going to be Photon with all these amazing things that a few reviewers talked so highly about in the end of 2005. Now I'm hearing 2 versions which means at least late 2009.

I don't know about you guys, but my Windows Mobile PPC is nearing 2 years old and I have been waiting to see what pops up in this mystical mid-2008 release, and now I find out I'm getting 6.1, considering 6 was an update to 5 that somehow went from 5 Second Edition to 6... It's just ironic having an update to an update and it taking 2 years just to get to that.

Windows Mobile is great and HTC is putting out some great phones, but seriously... when will I not have to reboot my phone two or three times a day?

[Matt @ Dec 15th 2007 5:00PM]

That's ridiculous! So they're basically saying, "The next version still won't be up to industry standard, but two versions from now should be." Why not skip the next version and get to a decent user experience today?!

Arrgh!

[chrisrue @ Dec 16th 2007 6:20PM]

Those features will mean neither jack nor shit since carriers/operators can choose to strip out any features or functionality of Windows Mobile they so choose, in favor of their own lame-ass services that no one in their right mind would ever think about using.

http://www.chrisrue.com/funcave/2007/12/where-have-all-the-features-gone.html

http://www.chrisrue.com/funcave/2007/10/i-want-my-rdp.html

Yeah, I've got a Treo 750. No, it doesn't have Windows Live for Mobile on it since upgrading to WM6.

Am I surprised? Not at all.
Am I pissed? You betcha.

[coldwar23 @ Dec 17th 2007 4:48AM]

Touch screen is for shite. I like tactile response. The iPhone is a POS. Glad apple users can still put on their lipstick while driving. Way to go on STEALING UNIX Apple and making everyone laugh about it. Jobs will eat his own feces in a year to try to get people back to apple after everyone figures out that apple was the bad seed all along.

[winmober @ Dec 17th 2007 5:13AM]

I have been using windows mobile since its 2003 version. Last purchased Dopod U1000 (Advantage 7500X) with win mobile 5, and then upgraded it (Thanks HTC) to win 6. Bought an unlocked iPhone recently. Found this much hyped iPhone very rigid. Thanks Microsoft, your OS is much better, user friendly, and has a lot of third party applications to support all kinds of user needs. The mobile IE and Powerpoint mobile need to be more useful. Mobile IE should be as good as PC IE, and Powerpoint mobile should allow editing.