Windows Mobile 7 chassis concept confirmed by Microsoft, not detailed
By Ross Miller 
posted Sep 10th 2009 8:47PM
posted Sep 10th 2009 8:47PM
We still don't know what it looks like or when exactly it'll arrive -- rough estimate sometime in 2010 -- but Windows Mobile 7's being given special care by Microsoft with a chassis concept of "carefully defined hardware specifications" for hardware vendors, according to James McCarthy. As for what those specs are and how strictly it'll enforce adherence, we're still in the dark. If it's anything like what we saw with the rumored "Pink" specs from back in May, we're not too worried, but it's really in Microsoft's hands to screw up. If they say it's okay to see StrongARM chips in WinMo 7 devices, someone'll do it, and we gotta imagine some negative vibes towards the mobile OS in general should someone ever have to manage with a handset like that.[Via WMPowerUser]
It'd be nice if when Windows Mobile 7 phones are finally released...US will get first crack at them for once.
Which country/region normally gets first crack at a windows mobile OS?
Haven't you noticed that a slew of handset makers are abandoning Windows Mobile?
The handset makers aren't going back and pay money to get another version of
Windows Mobile. Windows Mobile is finished officially by next year!
I've almost given my whole towards Android...
But if WinMo 7 and a Tegra/Snapdragon/OMAP phone can renew my interest in Windows...best believe I'll be there.
Android devices are suffering from the same hardware issues that WM are currently going through...that horrible 72XX series piece of garbage processors that they keep on slapping on all devices.
Its just fortunate that Android itself is pretty light weight and all devices so far are running on 480x320 displays.
Put VGA or even WVGA with Android and that processor, and it will suffer just the same as WM does now (except with better visuals).
Its about time Microsoft is putting a strangle-hold on device makers. They better make sure thats a continuously evolving spec sheet, because while that 72XX processor was good 3 years ago, its time to go to the factory where they are all stored and step on every core to stop this madness.
If I was Microsoft I would lock down Nvidia/Tegra exclusive and screw over Goo-pple
@cool8Man
Tegra is way overhyped. Although it's GPU is no doubt better, Cortex-A8 chips like the OMAP3 or Snapdragon chips can blow it away in terms of raw processing. Tegra is still using the old-school 65nm ARM11 cores. And pretty soon the dual-core Cortex-A9s and dual-core Snapdragons will be out, and will obliterate Tegra.
;)
and its really in apple's hands to screw us over
Don't they already screw you guys over?
I have SERIOUS faith in this new Microsoft.
I do too. They have been getting a lot of positive press this year and producing great products and services/software (as far as great goes for free services/software).
I am anxious for Windows 7.
Yup I do as well. I agree that they are on a good run in general right now by making all the right moves. The only MS sector that is lagging is WinMo but I do have serious faith in WinMo 7. I believe it will deliver but the crucial thing is of course, when?? They've been lucky so far because the smart phone war landscape hasn't changed too much which is to say that RIM and Apple are far and away still the leaders of the pack and everyone is still playing catch up. I believe MS is in last place so they really need to step it up before it maybe too late.
I got it last month with my technet subscription, and it is well worth the wait. I love everything about it so far. Hopefully some of the 3rd party people get some of the drivers out, but for the most part everything works great.
I would sex a Zune phone.
amen to that, it would also be appreciated if I didn't have to goto america to do it too (hint release zune HD in Australia and a zune phone too)
It wouldn't be as good as OSX.
you sir, are a moron.
I can't tell if that's sarcasm or not... Any other name and it'd be a shoe-in for sarcasm but with the name iKurt... it's just impossible to tell.
why the hell do you have to come back with new logins every few weeks? do you get banned that much?
Holla!!!
force GPUs and higher than QVGA res!
The resolution is probably going to be 800x480 (and what ever the widescreen was forget it off the top of my head ??x480).
640x480 VGA
800x480 WVGA
Microsoft is so far behind it's scary.
not really.....all its has to do is buy motorola or RIM or something and get rid of windows mobile altogether. i think it has enough money to achieve that.
It is? Best in class PMP coming out tuesday, critically acclaimed OS coming out in October, revolutionary game console add-on coming in 2010... Yep, all those sound pretty behind....
Agree with all except the add-on, the PS3 PWNS IT!
"revolutionary game console add-on coming in 2010."
LOL!
You mean Microsoft EyeToy ripoff?
Yeah, way to go Microsoft!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gOVj_I5npA
And the Sony version is just a rip-off of the Wii-mote, just implemented in a better way (which it better be, since the Wii is based on 2006 tech so Sony will have had a full 3 and a half years to refine the concept).
Regardless, what matters is what developers will do with it. And since no one has done anything with either of the motion control products except for the Wii, I would hold judgement until Natal or the PS Three-mote comes out.
okay, so you got that Microsoft wasn't the first to do camera motion sensing
but if you really had to say they ripped off somebody, i doubt it was sony.
and i do believe it is the first housing to have dual camera and IRCam with on board processors,
which is what makes it stand apart from the xbox vision cam, otherwise they would have just used that.
(btw, are they going to phase that out when natal comes out?)
I don't know if this is a smart decision. If Microsoft decides to allow WM 6.5 have limited specification require while making a WM7 require a more stringent hardware requirement. I can see it working, but in my opinion. I see MS dropping 6.5 because of lack of sales, after the release of WM7. Thus making it harder for Microsoft to go about it this way. Now if MS had a Pro edition for WM7 with strict hardware requirement while letting normal WM7 platform be what it wants. I see this being the better approach, as it has a more viable method for marketing.
I agree to some extent. The last thing MSFT needs is more SKUs. As if the branding between Win 7 home premium enterprise ultimate wasn't enough on the PC side I wouldn't want to see that same sorta thing being carried to the mobile side.
I disagree.
Microsoft has let hardware makers play fast'n'loose with specs for far too long, ODMs releasing devices with specs barely fit for purpose. Its one of the reasons WM gets a bad rep and why their market share is in the state its in.
Seeing 6.5 dropped for lack of sales? What are you basing that on?
6.5 will have an important place in MS's strategy. I'm running a very lightweight build of 6.5 on hardware that is 2+ years old. It works flawlessly and is quick. Having 6.5 in the pocket will allow MS to sell lower-end devices at more affordable price points. Windows 7 Mobile will then be reserved for high-end devices in the $200+ range.
I wanna see Microsoft take advantage of Tegra, but seriously that chassis is sexy
That picture isn't the chassis.... it's the Zune HD.
@ mark. thats what they want you to think.
Eh, until I actually see this mythical mobile OS from MS, it's still just vaporware and rumors. Yes, MS is WAAAAAY behind in this space, so much so that the only way to gain back share is by doing a big acquisition, like Palm or Motorola. And they'd be re-entering the headache prone hardware territory again, that they've wanted to exit for some time.
Interesting that you list two companies that have come back from the brink. MS doesn't need to buy either of those companies... it just has to claw its way out of a deep hole. These days they'v been garnering a lot of positive mindshare and that will help them. after all, nothing breed success like success.
Yes I understand that, I was just saying that it looks really cool. I hope that Microsoft comes up with something just as good for winmo.
(Sorry about the wording above)
Microsoft needs to have a strict hardware guideline so they can focus on delivering a tighter and better overall experience. The Software takes a hit when they need to waste time including compatibility and accessibility features for every type of hardware out there.
And regardless of who says what, this is really why Apple can provide a very good overall experience. Obviously not everyone likes what Apple does, but hopfully Microsoft can pull of some solid competition.
The Xbox is a perfect example of how microsoft can succeed when they have 100% control over the hardware, and hopefully the ZUNE 2.0 will also show it.
any solid product from microsoft will force Apple to lower prices and/or add features, as well as show the rest of the market they need to start to provide solid products, not just crap.
I have an Iphone and I am p....d of with apple's jailbrake exclusive rubbish and so on. I am really up for one. I was hoping android will come with a better touch sensivity but not yet. someone somewhere wil and that day will come. I love Apple product and customer services but with this iphone being so exclusive i am off it and I wil not buy another one unless it is sold from apple store unlocked.
This is good. It addresses one of the main problems with Windows.
hopefully M$ will make 2.5mm plugs with mini displayport standard... 3.5mm are too big.
to tell you the truth windows mobile is not that bad as everyone says it is. i use to get a new HTC made phone every year "first phone Qtek 1010"
my friends use to think i was crazy buying phones that cost an arm and a leg, the only way it was possible for me to even enjoy windows mobile platform was to get or make my own cooked rom.
But i have moved on from windows Mobile to the iPhone, my Last windows mobile phone was the HTC tytn good times.
i dont think i could use a phone with out doing something to it i have bin spoiled by cooked roms and Jailbreaking.
they should take what works on windows mobile and move it to the Zune platform just my two cents.
Well now I have a WinMo6 phone with hardware can even laugh at N97, but got crashed always. If WinMo 7 could give me at least 3 day "crashless", I will stay WinMo forever.
Go get a ROM for 6.5. They are free and available from PPCGeeks and XDA. Huge improvement over 6.0/6.1. I have to reset my device about once every 10 days.
or download 'Clean RAM' and be free from resets.
You can even schedule it to free up leaked memory that plagues WinMo.
Put the Zune software as the core of Windows Mobile 7 and most people will try and make babies with it.
WinCE is the core of both so I would guess they will be closely related.
Last thing MS should do is have two separate platforms where Zune apps cannot run on WinMo 7. That would be a mistake.