Windows Mobile 6.5 'second edition' bringing slightly revamped UI?
By Donald Melanson 
posted November 26th 2009 4:38PM
posted November 26th 2009 4:38PM
We've already gotten a glimpse of an updated on-screen keyboard seemingly set for inclusion in the next update to Windows Mobile 6.5, and it now looks like Microsoft might have even more changes on tap to keep folks satisfied in the buildup to Windows Mobile 7. Apparently, something that may or may not be called Windows Mobile 6.5 'second edition' adds a number of UI updates that are supposedly designed to make it more usable with capacitive touchscreens. The biggest of those changes, it seems, is that the clickable buttons from the top bar have been removed in favor of a larger, more finger-friendly bar at the bottom -- which, judging from appearances, is not quite ready for prime time. Of course, of all this is still just based on what's been turned up in an early build of the OS, but at least one unnamed Microsoft representative has reportedly confirmed that the updated UI does indeed come from Microsoft, but he apparently wouldn't confirm much else.
Still looks like crap, you cant polish a turd.
Just hurry up with WM7 thanks.
@Sheppard ...but you can roll it in diamonds. Sense UI!
@Sheppard
You can polish a turd, the mythbuster have proven that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiJ9fy1qSFI
@daan180
I almost fell off the chair laughing reading these comments..
@Sheppard Don't you think first they should make it work, then care about it's looks? So what do you want laggy platform or only nice looking? I think there are stages in building it...
@Sheppard
I agree with you if you're referring to just those buttons at the bottom... otherwise... No, you gotta be kidding if you believe the rest looks like turd.
@(Unverified) Far from laggy.
Yeah, those bottom buttons look fugly.
@MisterSquared
lipstick on a pig
@Bobbo Actually it's quite a smooth build. It is far from a 'pig'. It functions great, looks great, and is quick. WinMo 6.1 was great, other than the old UI.
Highly customizable OS, seasoned veteran which stands above the rest of the mobile OS world.
Mind expanding your 'lipstick on a pig' comment? Or did you just bite someone elses clever comment and claim it as your own?
@MisterSquared and everyone else who say this is ugly. You do realize that this UI is skinnable, right? This is just one of many skins available RIGHT NOW for many HTC devices via XDA. I agree that this is not the best looking of them, but there are many. I am curious as to how engadget would not realize this as well? I would assume them to be well informed and have seen many of the various skins available. I would hope that engadget get at least one winmo enthusiast to balance the coverage of the mobile space. Right now, they are like an MSNBC or FoxNews covering the left and right policital spectrums.
There are no truer words than the comment above. turd. lol
@PATRICKmcnicholl comments*
FAIL MS
fire all your design team except zune hd os team.
they seem to be the only ones knowing what they are doing.
omg at those lower buttons. that's like 1st grade amateurville.
Still ugly as sin
Nice attempt Windows, but try hiring some interface designers from HTC. They know what's up, and even managed to cover up your outdated design into something that looks attractive.
@DanMan
lol totally agree.
Microsoft don't know how to design UI.... oh wait, i mean OS in general.
@ericlin No sure, one of the world largest and wealthiest company doesn't have a clue on something they have done for 25 years.
But man these buttons are ugly and I'm sure they aren't going to be used.
@ericlin
I don't think their so bad at designing OSes..
Windows can be pretty reliable (I've seen windows server 2008 run for 378days before without a reboot..)
Its kind of like there's 4 Departments:
1. Core Development - Ok, we've done the best possible with that, it runs pretty damm quick.
2. GUI Development - Hmm... lets add a little gloss here.. little shine there.. it looks like a ma.. I mean.. It looks like a really nice gui.
3. Ease of Use - Hmm.. Users don't need to do that, that, that or that.. better stop them from going here.. hmm.. maybe we should add in 15 services for that.. oh wait.. auto-shutdown-updates.. what an awesome Idea...
4. Testers - .................Erm.. yeah that'll do, wheres my money?
i know this has been oversaid... but i've had this for weeks on my touch pro 2 thanks to the wonderful world of xda.................
@skyblaze. Ya I've had it on my HTC Touch. I think it's a real step forward as far as usability goes. The top bar is pretty cool looking, it pulls down for some icons (I don't use those). Its like they basically finished 6.5, then said, "okay lets merge that with some features of other systems" like Android. They have the top bar with notifications, and they added the feature of moving icons in the programs menu by clicking and dragging.
@skyblaze
Yeah I had this on my Touch Dual last month. This is old news. I thought it was released already even.
@skyblaze
I've been building my own rom on xda that is way nice than Engadget screen shot.
@skyblaze Yeah, it's weird. It seems like half of Engadget is aware of XDA / PPCGeeks and keeps making sly references to them in stories, and the other half has never heard of them so keeps posting 'news' stories that are months out of date.
Engadget, can you please get all your editors on the same damn page? Sheesh.
@skyblaze
You think this is new, I have 23506 Plus Sense UI (Manila 2.5) ported to my Raphael (Original Touch Pro)
Can't put a pig on a lipstick. I think the UI is the problem for most people. HTC have sold quite a few HD2s so its not necessarily the OS.
why cant ms just abandon WM UI look and integrate Zune UI look on their "windowphone" instead?
I mean Lipstick on a pig.
@kris120890
No you were correct you definitely can't put a pig on lipstick
Is there anyway to change my timezone on Engadget to suit my time? It's annoying cuz it'll say I posted this at 4:50pm when I'm actually posting this at 9:50pm!
I still maintain that this UI is WAY uglier than what they have now.
I've figured out some of the things wrong with windows mobile.
They need to keep drop down menus , its too much like windows, but on a phone. You can't really do that, its different if its marketed as an internet tablet, but its a phone.
A phone, everything should be finger friendly. Before touchscreens, phones were functional and finger friendly, you could quickly text and make calls.
Now, winmo has forgot about these things, Even though I hate how the iphone is clamped down, I can say they worked hard on making a good UI, everything is easy
@Hydra Opps I meant to say they need to get rid of drop down menus, its like a phone running windows 3.1
@Hydra It's not a phone, it's a SMARTphone.
@Hydra
Seriously - have you used a WinMo 6.5 device? Getting to your most common function is quick and easy. For example, when I get an email I press one button on my homescreen and I am opening and reading my email (homescreen even previews my email with no clicking - try that on your iPhone). To reply I simply press the menu button which brings up a new menu and I hit reply. How hard is that? In fact, I challenge you to make it simpler.
I just wish Engadget would stop posting WinMo news. At the top of their home page they could just state in big, bold lettering that they hate all things WinMo. That would save us from their snarky and inaccurate reporting. Which in turn, shapes opinions for people like Hydra who have never used and probably has never seen the device in person.
Second Edition... hmm. Just had a flashback to Windows 98 SE days.
@Mr Blurrycam +1 for your avatar et name!
@Mr Blurrycam Totally was coming here to say just that.
But you beat me to it. Dangit.
The second edition is like MS saying
"Here, we know we screwed the last one up, but we're not ready for a major release yet, is this any better?"
@Mr Blurrycam: It's not actually called Second Edition, so relax. And yes, it may still seem ugly (though maybe less ugly than the 6.1/6.5.0), but it's actually far more usable if you hold your phone with one hand (doubly so if it's a vertical slider).
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/06/is-this-windows-mobile-7/
Can't come soon enough. 6.5 is just too bland. I've seen and used an iPhone, and the experience I got while using it just blows away anything I got from 6.5.
Second Edition ? seriously ?
I love how Engadget show the worst pictures.
I am running the 6.5.1 build and it looks and feels great. Much more responsive, updated MS apps, and does NOT look as bad as these pics!
@derviskemal
Give us some screenshots then ......
@fourthletter
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss70/vin255764/Screen02-1.png
That's what my Verizon XV6900 looks like.
That's HTC's GUI, not Titanium (Microsoft's GUI)
This build is so a mess (try to take a contact note) that i reverted to a ROM with 6.5 "first edition".
Dear MS,
Eating up more screen space on a device with an already small screen = bad idea.
@(Unverified) but the peoples with big fingers will not agree.
And disgusted with having to use anything like a stylus, finger is the only acceptable navigation tool.
@(Unverified) Indeed. And the whole point is so that people with fat/unco fingers can use it, but then they block the screen with said fingers.
People who want bigger buttons should just get a bigger screen.
It's a nice attempt at changing things up a bit. WinMo gets the job done and that's the main purpose of the OS. This fascination with a bunch of fade in and out effects, etc is overrated.