IE Mobile 6 cooked into custom ROM for HTC Touch HD

While Microsoft won't be handing it out as an update for your WinMo 6 device, ROM cookers are making Internet Explorer Mobile 6 available now. Paul over at MoDaCo has built a custom ROM for the HTC Touch HD that includes IE Mobile 6 -- that's "6 on 6" as they say. Unfortunately, it's only available as a ROM update, not as an invdividual application installer. If you recall, Microsoft said that IE Mobile 6 won't be offered for download, because "the rich media experiences that IE Mobile 6 enables require more powerful, advanced devices." Perhaps in salty salute, Paul's ROM also sets the default explorer search engine to Google. Instructions and tales of caution just beyond the read link.

[Via GadgetMix]

[ipubs bastard child @ Dec 19th 2008 7:59AM]

Or for anybody not wanting to update their roms... get opera mini..

[Teh Lup @ Dec 19th 2008 8:03AM]

Opera is sick.
I went from IE and Skyfire on my older WinMo phone to Opera on my touch pro. Huge improvement.

[Will H. @ Dec 19th 2008 8:38AM]

Why would you upgrade your ROM to downgrade your broswer?

[kjb434 @ Dec 19th 2008 9:41AM]

Use Opera Mobile dillweed!

Opera Mini sucks. Opera Mobile is quite good and it is what IE 6 Mobile is trying to achieve.

[Dubb @ Dec 19th 2008 10:04AM]

Check out xda-developers.com for the latest Opera Mobile 9.5 build, I forget what the latest build number is, but it's awesome. I have PIE 6 in this ROM I just installed, but I haven't tried it.

[mercnet @ Dec 19th 2008 10:08AM]

I have Opera Mobile on my HP Ipaq with WM2003 and it works like a charm.

[ipubs bastard child @ Dec 19th 2008 11:33AM]

kjb434, i did actually mean both versions of opera. apologies.. dillweed.

I have both installed. mini is very useful for a speedy response. mobile is great for reading traditional sites at a more leisurely pace but I do suspect its not as bandwidth friendly. Frankly, the java midlet on my PDA that is opera, is a bit of a brute and I dont think you can even copy and paste text yet either. Even facebook appears wonky. Anyway, my point is, at the moment, on a mobile, it's sensible to have a few browsers until one stands out from the crowd but in reference to this, i'm not touching my precious rom just for a minor update to functionality.

[SimbaDogg @ Dec 19th 2008 7:57PM]

@ kgb343
opera mobile...great browser, but hardly stable. if you have ANY of the HTC devices w/ a slide out keyboard...odds are you'll at least in one point in another run into a situation where it completely wreaks havoc on your screen orientation. Slide out my keyboard and the phone is still in portrait. close opera, while in portrait, and all of a sudden it switches to landscape....hardly revolutionary. i was using it for months, but i simply deleted it off my phone. great browser, but until this is fixed in some upcoming build...its not worth my frustration. opera mini + skyfire = all i need...for now

[OneLove @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:05PM]

opera killed my mogul with memory problems!!! Please can i haz a touch HD in de americas?

[sandmanfvrga @ Dec 19th 2008 8:05AM]

What is Microsoft problem? They know IE 5 for Win Mobile sucks ass, it is a joke, but won't let current users upgrade? IDIOTS.

[ArcticFox @ Dec 19th 2008 8:12AM]

Because like everything Microsoft they dont like to optimise for older devices, just like Vista bloatware.

[jakem @ Dec 19th 2008 8:26AM]

@ArcticFox: For better or worse, WinMo updates have never been offered directly by Microsoft. It's up to the OEM/carrier to release a new ROM. However, I believe MS put a lot of pressure on their partners to release WinMo 6.1 upgrades which explains why upgrades were available for so many phones when that version was released.

Having said all that, I agree that it would have been better if the IE upgrade was available as a stand-alone application.

[KarlW @ Dec 19th 2008 8:49AM]

Yup, and it means people have to hack their devices to get today's technology in to today's devices.

Why do people still stick by Microsoft? Why go through all the hurt? Grab a G1 or iPhone and be done with them!

[ArcticFox @ Dec 19th 2008 9:17AM]

Why am i being voted down, its true Vista is a mess and was a big mistake for Microsoft, I am a PC and have always been a PC dont vote me down because you think im a Mac thats just sad.

[neodorian @ Dec 19th 2008 9:24AM]

KarlW: Judging by all the articles I read about jailbreaking, it would seem you have to hack your iPhone to get a lot of things to works as well (tethering anyone?). There will always be software or services not deemed ready or profitable enough to include by handset and software makers but that doesn't stop the hacking community from trying. You can get a lot out of your old devices this way. Maybe I don't want to shell out for a more expensive plan or switch carriers. Maybe I don't feel like buying a new handset right now. For whatever reason, it's always a good thing when people figure out how to do more with less.

[Alan Strangis @ Dec 19th 2008 9:31AM]

@ KarlW: The reason MS won't officiallly release it as a stand alone is because people will try to install it on devices like the HTC Wizard, and then bitch about performance. There'll be guidelines and recommendations to ODM/carriers as to what devices it will run on, and those will get updates I'm sure.

The last thing anyone needs is people installing it on a Wizard then posting "OMG it suX0rz" all over the place.

Of course, hacked cabs for it will eventually come out at places like xda and ppcgeeks, but people there trying it will (mostly) know what they're getting into when they push it.

[Alan Strangis @ Dec 19th 2008 9:48AM]

As for hacking devices:

I'll take hacking my HTC to run software, perform ugrades etc, over having the device manufacturer limit what I can run without playing Jailbreak tag. That's why my iPhone 3G went back, and I returned to WinMo.

Imagine that, actually giving you a full featured OPML compliant RSS reader that allows you to download not only news, but audio and video podcasts with no 10 MB limit.

The iPhone is a slick device, but it's not nearly as functional as I want/need my phone to be. It also helps that here in Canada, there's a $10/m all you can eat internet plan on one of the CDMA carriers, which is awesome when you tether with PDA Net. :D

[frauhottelmann @ Dec 19th 2008 10:12AM]

Well they do this on purpose. I cooked the PIE 6 into a ROM for the HTC Vox and it's really not usable. The device is indeed to slow. And it needs a lot of components, that can't simply be delivered via a CAB. So you rely on your manufacturer anyway...

[neodorian @ Dec 19th 2008 10:25AM]

@Alan: We have one carrier with unlimited EVDO for $15/month so it's similar. Apparently they want you to pay a higher rate for a data card but if you use Internet Sharing or WMWiFi it shows up just as data and you can tether freely within reason. I used it for a month or two when I was without home internet service.

I look forward to newer devices with the kind of slick hardware you find in the iPhone but I can't give up functionality to get it.

[Nadool @ Dec 19th 2008 12:25PM]

I've had some HTC WinMo device or another for the last 2 years. And it still makes me scratch my head every time I open the "Windows Update" tool in Settings because I've never seen an available update. I don't think it's even functional. Maybe in the future it will be.

Maybe I shouldn't say this too loud but I'm just glad I don't have to pay for a new WinMo each time.

[ipubs bastard child @ Dec 19th 2008 11:11AM]

I agree tho some sites even opera mini cant navigate properly and I'm stuck with IE. particularly those that require flash which I dont think opera does yet. I don't mind using IE but it's not as smooth going as opera. I would like to try IE m6 but I really dont want to mess aobut with my ROM just for a browser update.

[Nadool @ Dec 19th 2008 12:26PM]

Skyfire my friend...Skyfire. They just recently made it so you don't even have to register anymore, you can just download it from what I can tell. I already had mine registered so I'm not sure. Skyfire is great for Flash. I'm a little wary about going to sites where I need to type any passwords or credit card info though.

You're basically viewing the internet through a PC on their servers. But the browser is pretty fast and offers more in terms of a 'real internet' experience. Especially Flash. Not just Flash 7 either.

[Christian Walters @ Dec 19th 2008 8:16AM]

Well, this is the first step, get it onto something. Now either the fines folks at MaDaCo or XDA will tinker with it for a couple weeks, and then bam....we shall see a thread in every forum entitled:IE6 on 6 for-xxxxxxxxxxxxx installer.cab avalable for download! Can't wait!

[Brandon @ Dec 19th 2008 12:53PM]

IE6 has been cooked into roms for a while. I have it on my Diamond in the Juicy ROM. This is nothing new, however from what I've seen there is still no direct installer cab. I still use Opera however, tried using PIE6 for Outlook Web Access today, non light version (not permitted in a non-IE browser) and it wasn't usable enough. Text entry had issues etc. I say it still has a way to go.

[lolkatz @ Dec 19th 2008 8:17AM]

sucks about the manslaughter

someone remind me why anyone would use IE on a mobile if there are other alternatives?

honest question, educate me.

[mocax @ Dec 19th 2008 9:34AM]

Probably for similar reasons why Bush gets voted for 2 terms.

There's something good about it/him.

[Alan Strangis @ Dec 19th 2008 9:41AM]

Nobody WOULD use the older IE on WinMo (that's why so many people love Opera Mobile or SkyFire etc...)

The new 6on6 looks pretty good though, and certainly worth a try once the ROM cookers get their hands on it.

[chris2 @ Dec 19th 2008 8:28AM]

could they stuff any more symbols and icons up above the address bar? it's not pretty enough yet.

[ZSX @ Dec 19th 2008 12:12PM]

Well, the symbols in the task bar give you:

1) The start menu: to launch into another program from this screen, or return to the home screen.
2) The title of the open window.
3) A new emails notification which you can click on to read them.
4) An indicator that you are connected via WiFi for data, tapping on it opens your WiFi connection settings.
5) An indicator that you have a GPRS connection available which is not currently being used for data, and which has a strength of 2 bars, tapping on it opens your WWAN connection settings.
6) An indicator to tell you that the phone is muted which you can clcik on to change to change the status.
7) The time which can also be tapped onto give you details of your next appointment.
8) A button to minimize or close the window.

That is quite a lot of functionality packed into a small area. Sometimes people prefer functionality over prettiness.

[ljm @ Dec 19th 2008 2:38PM]

That is WinMo not IE6...and it's somewhat functional, but it would be nice to figure out some sort of way to hide the title bar and then make it come out when wanted.

[Phoenix @ Dec 19th 2008 4:05PM]

Opera Mobile does do this: it fullscreens, but when you press the button to get it's toolbars back the taskbar comes back too.

[Derek @ Dec 19th 2008 8:32AM]

The custom ROM I've been using for my Touch has already had this for awhile, but I use Opera Mini.

[Hammer @ Dec 19th 2008 9:11AM]

Does anyone care? Based on latest data, Windows Mobile (aka Windows CE) is dead. :)

[sandmanfvrga @ Dec 19th 2008 9:23AM]

Far from dead, far from it. I don't like it, but Windows Mobile is still selling, alot of people use it.

[Alan Strangis @ Dec 19th 2008 9:39AM]

Based on what data? Smarmy comments by gadget blog writers?

In the same quarter that the iPhone 3G launched and sold 6+ million phones, WinMo sold 5+ million, hardly dead, & the HTC Diamond alone sold over 3 million.

Palm is dead. WinMo, like RIM, just got smacked down during one of the largest product launches in history, but not as badly as engadget, gizmodo and all the TWiT podcasts would suggest.

[Jorge @ Dec 19th 2008 9:29AM]

Can any of you that praise Opera Mini please prodive a link to the browser you use? Opera mini SUCKS in the AT&T Moto Q and pretty much any other device I have tried it with, so I really want to know if I am trying the wrong version of Opera Min.

[kjb434 @ Dec 19th 2008 9:47AM]

Use Opera Mobile.

The latest build on their website is awesome except that flash is disabled, but you can get the previous version (which is still good) with flash enabled.

The key is Opera Mobile and not mini. Of course you need a touch screen phone for Opera Mobile.

[ran @ Dec 19th 2008 1:20PM]

@kjb434: You can use Opera Mobile on Symbian devices without a touchscreen. Sure it may not be as fun to play with, though it's still very good to use.

[Borce Georgiev @ Dec 19th 2008 1:47PM]

Not interesting. Files for IE6 can be extracted from this rom and packed in litle .cab file with simple rom cooking tools like packege creator. But who still uses IE6 ?

[Darren @ Dec 19th 2008 9:55AM]

People still use WinMo?

[Alan Strangis @ Dec 19th 2008 10:18AM]

*snore*

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2008 10:37AM]

I updated my ROM today and didn't even notice that it had a newer version of IE. Still playing around with it.

[treacherous @ Dec 19th 2008 11:12AM]

What an incredibly morbid headline for an advertisement...

[ugg.tryptophan @ Dec 19th 2008 4:05PM]

i know, its so sad : (

[ColumnBreak @ Dec 19th 2008 12:48PM]

I've tried so hard to like Opera Mobile, but I just can't get to like it. I've been using NetFront Browser for WinMo for six months now, and it gets the job done. If you use the Web a lot, definitely check it out. The set up of tabbed windows and interactive favorites is neat.

[ColumnBreak @ Dec 19th 2008 12:50PM]

Oops, was trying too much and wasn't paying attention to if I was replying to a comment or what.

But anyway, not offering PIE6 for current WinMo is ridiculous. I'm |__this__| close from going Android.

[Heyzeus @ Dec 19th 2008 1:03PM]

What ever happened to Microsoft "Deepfish?" Is this it?

[jakem @ Dec 19th 2008 1:55PM]

That was just a research project that, like skyfire, used proxy servers to do the rendering on your behalf. They shut the servers down in the middle of the year.

[Jarrod @ Dec 19th 2008 2:58PM]

I wouldn't be tempted by this.

More than happy with opera on my Diamond

[Phoenix @ Dec 19th 2008 4:06PM]

Oh Paul, is there anything you can't do?