Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5.3 shown off very, very quietly

Say, for a moment, that you're Microsoft and you're on the cusp of releasing a version of the much-maligned Windows Mobile 6.5 that actually made it touch-friendly for once -- but like all WinMo versions before it, you're relying on carriers and manufacturers to wage an inexcusably slow, arbitrary, incomplete upgrade campaign. Wouldn't you think that quietly burying its launch amongst a sea of more interesting (and less controversial) products might be a good idea? Indeed, that appears to be the angle Microsoft is taking at CES by discreetly showing off a Toshiba TG01 and Pharos Traveller loaded with the long-rumored 6.5.3 with "tiles" along the bottom and finger-friendly adjustments throughout the UI. As far as we can tell, this truly is what 6.5 should've been -- in our quick look, we're finally comfortable not having a stylus handy, even on a resistive display. It's still not pretty, but this is a case where function is at least earning its money trying to trump form.

Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5.3 shown off very, very quietly

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 9th 2010 8:40PM]

not bad. I like the big fonts home screen coz almost everyone way too focus on apple ish menu. shame I just got my iPhone 3Gs am glad WinMo is sticking to what they know about smartphoes unlike other phones trying so hard to compete with iPhone except for android I love them "heart" "heart" "heart"

[XIYL Posted Jan 10th 2010 1:07AM]

Just so everyone knows. Every element of 6.5.3 is entirely skinnable to your liking. There is a png assigned to everything in the OS. So even if you think its ugly it doesn't have to be.

[Johnny Tremaine Posted Jan 10th 2010 11:56AM]

@XIYL
But who the hell wants to do that?

I want a smartphone that works out of the box, not one that has me searching a forum of developers for solutions.

Most people have enough to worry about in their day, then taking time out to tinker with their pricey new smartphone that shouldn't NEED tinkering.

[XIYL Posted Jan 10th 2010 11:32PM]

@(Unverified) WinMo doesn't need tinkering, but its highly tinkerable. I'm not trying to say its the right OS for you but for a power user like me I can't get enough. My old HTC Touch Viva is fully themed out even farther then HTC goes to look all uniform and standardized throughout the OS. But when 6.5.3 gets officially released its going to look very different from that screenshot because of how customizable the ui is to OEMs. Just take a look at this theme as an example.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=4527014&postcount=1

[Johnny Tremaine Posted Jan 10th 2010 11:48AM]

WinMo fans miss the boat when they rail against the iPhone.

WM isn't in dire straits because of Apple; it's because they took their eye off the ball, ignored their mobile division and let RIM eat their lunch. If you're in business you're not using Windows Mobile (except a number of IT pros), you're using a Blackberry.

Between losing the enterprise to Blackberries and losing the general consumer to Android, the iPhone and dumbphones, Microsoft is done in the mobile arena.

Oh, they'll keep the division alive and issue an occasional update, to serve a small niche and also out of a sense of pride, but even their major shareholders know that Windows Mobile is a zombie division.

The only avenue left to Microsoft is a major acquisition: buying RIM.

[DJPalesto Posted Jan 19th 2010 11:27AM]

get rid of those arrows on the soft qwerty and give me a bigger space bar! it's a touchscreen, and i know the addition of arrows would be nice, but the spacebar is used more than any other key, it should be a little more prominent!