How would you change Windows Mobile 6.5?
By Darren Murph 
posted November 7th 2009 12:59AM
posted November 7th 2009 12:59AM
posted November 7th 2009 12:59AM
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The biggest changes I want are for the 65K color restriction to be lifted, for the OS to do some maintenance behind the scenes/close programs when I press the X button by default, and an easier way to back up all settings and personal data (My Phone only does some items; calendar and contacts are on my Exchange server and text messages/documents/media files are backed up through other means, so it's useless to me). None of those will happen, I'm sure, because those are significant changes and 6.5 is just an incremental upgrade. For now, I can put up with all of those things.
Other changes that could and should happen: update Windows Media Player (hasn't changed since 2006 according to the copyright date; it's ugly, slow and missing some features), freshen up the UI a bit more and make it all consistent (it's already happening, I can tell from running the latest 6.5.1 beta builds on my Omnia) and simplify some tasks (example, connecting to a WiFi network). It would be nice if more developers would follow the guidelines that MS puts out as well.
Otherwise, I'm very satisfied with 6.5; all of the improvements are very welcome and I'm loving the Marketplace. Unfortunately my phone doesn't get an official update, but there are an abundance of custom ROMs for my phone.
I traded my Imagio in for the Droid. I much prefer the layout and form factor of the Imagio, HTC did a very nice job with TouchFLO 3D. However, the Droid is just a powerhouse. I've never seen a phone as quick through apps or with internet this fast when using a 3G network. Also, as far as I could tell there weren't as many apps for Windows Mobile 6.5 as there are for Android. Maybe for Windows Mobile in general, but not tailored towards 6.5. One pet peeve I have with both; it's pretty tough to rearrange your apps as compared to the iPhone.
replace IE with the zune hd's browser.
Make manufacturers offer an upgrade to 6.5 for phones less than 2 years old. HELL, less than 1!
Something I miss, is being able to access my live calendar from my WM-device.
Personally, I know a lot of people who miss this feature.
I would like to pre-apologize for what I am about to do:
Yo Windows Mobile 6.5, imma let you finish, but Android 2.0 was the best mobile OS release of all time.
I think they should just start over. The entire WinMo line is so "band-aid" ridden that it seems impossible for them to get any perspective on their own software. There's no justifiable reason that today - in the age of cutting-edge, HD capable mobile devices - that I should ever, EVER have to gaze upon a screen that looks like it was manufactured for the Windows CE platform. I think that Microsoft's ability to completely reboot the WinMo platform will be it's key to breaking Apple's strangle-hold on the mobile consumer market.
I'm running a cooked rom on a sprint TP, and I definitely prefer 6.5 over 6.1. The Titanium home page meets most of my needs and runs well enough that I prefer it over running HTC's Rhodium Manila which is great but runs bogs down too often on this particular phone.
Specifically for WinMo enhancements I would like to see the ability to lock from the home page instead of having to go to the app page. I'd like more finger friendly softkeys along the bottom of the screen. (I think this is corrected in 6.5.1, but I've not loaded that rom.) I'd prefer the date/time (at least time) to able to viewed at all times on all screens. A battery level indicator, including percentage remaining (instead of just a graphic), viewable on all screens would be nice. I'd also like the ability to drag and drop icons on the app screen rather than only being able to move an icon to the top of the heap. There may be a way to do it that I'm not aware of, but the ability to create folders and organize icons in said folders would also be very nice.
While there are thousands of WinMo apps online, I have to admit I do like the new MarketPlace. It puts a lot of decent apps in a single easy to navigate place and allows OTA installation.
I'd make the email application actually... you know... not suck.
How about bringing back syncing via wifi, and while they are at it good support for syncing directly to Outlook 2007. My WiMo phone is constantly having to "re-sync" the entire data base. Also a better email client. mobile outlook is ALWAYS deleting my email sometimes even before I can review it. Basically the improvement would be to make it do what it is supposed to do, give me the ability to take my information with me on a mobile device. Eye candy is nice , but how about making the system work!!!!!!
I've looked at the motorola android, had a Blackberry Tour, had a Palm (Palm OS), and 2 WinMo phones. It seems that all of the vendors have forgotten what the devices are used for in a business environment. Just make them work, eye candy is OPTIONAL!!!
Best change for WinMo: cancel the whole thing and abandon it. No point in continuing when WinMo is going to end up dead anyway. Why bother prolonging the suffering.
SELL IT TO ANOTHER COMPANY THAT GIVES A CRAP
That screen gives me palpitations -it's so bad that it makes me angry.