Microsoft CFO says 'we'll have much more to say' about WinMo 7 in February
By Chris Ziegler 
posted January 29th 2010 8:11PM
posted January 29th 2010 8:11PM
Every indication we've had out of Microsoft is that Windows Mobile 7 is on track for a grand unveiling at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month, and indeed, Fox Business has none other than CFO Peter Klein on record saying as much -- the closest thing we've had to a confirmation outside of Robbie Bach's analyst remarks a few weeks back. At the 4:07 mark of the video, Klein says that the company is "heads down" on WinMo 7 and expects to have "much more to say" about the product out in Spain, which would mark the one-year anniversary since the announcement of 6.5 at the same venue. Considering the brutal response that last version endured over the better part of 2009, let's hope they're coming to the table with something much, much more delicious this time around.
I'm an Android fan... I have an Android phone and am starting to look into developing on the Android platform. Still... when I hear news about any firm bringing something new to the table that might further stimulate the market, I'm optimistic.
I mean hell... look what Microsoft did with Windows 7 in contrast to Vista, some might say that Windows 7 was a "game changer". But still, although I'll probably never go back to a MS Mobile based device, I'm still hopeful that WinMo 7 will take the platform in a positive and upward direction.
My friend desperately needs a more touch friendly WinMo version, at least like 6.5.3 on his Sprint TP2, but also wants his warranty to work, so he's stuck with 6.1. Even though he loves the hardware, he hates the software. I try to convince him that it's ok if he doesn't have the warranty. It's a very nicely built phone. Anyhow, I don't understand why Sprint sits on their a$$ on this and don't release the update.
@Panormous
If he HSPLs and puts in the 6.5.3 ROM then it doesn't really mean his warranty is void because you can always flash back your old SPL so HTC will never know you flashed it, thus your warranty remains intact.
@Psyg He can do that? Hmm, never thought of that. That should convince him. Thanks!
@Panormous
When was the last time he checked? I have a Touch Pro2 on Verizon and was starting to think I was getting left behind from 6.5, but they updated it earlier this month. If he hasn't recently checked, he should again.
@Guardians13jm
I checked it myself. Sprint announced they're coming up with a release by the end of first quarter of 2010. Personally, I'd say too little too late (by that time everybody will be talking about Seven)
I'm like a FOX News watcher, I only like it when the person yells everything at me through the screen. Where the heck is Steve Ballmer?
Microsoft...What a joke!!
The company and its products make me want to throw up!!
Billions of dollars in revenue and can't even keep up little asian companies...Die Microsoft!!!
I must be one of the only winmo users who actually wants windows to not go TOO far with minmo7, if it became a UI all about fun and finger friendlyness like android it'd lose alot of the functionality they have now, i don't want winmo7 to be all superficial and no brains underneath, i want to be able to run all the apps i have now rather than wait for months for everything to be rewritten for a completely new OS. windows must remember with winmo7 that windows mobile has been a success for them upto now because it is a business and productivity orientated OS upto now, if they lose sight of this just to be able to compete with iPhone and android i for one will be extremely disappointed.
@BiGPiNK
What does it matter if the UI became better? Most devices that run WinMo have a keyboard so there wouldn't be any worries there. Serious, if there was a device that had a iPhone like OS with a keyboard, it would be heaven. I think Microsoft has a chance to do that.
If they didn't support backwards compatibility for their already existing apps, that would be the stupidest thing on earth. I don't think Microsoft is that dumb........right?
@BiGPiNK
Sorry bud, I think it's been confirmed that WinMo7 will not be backwards compatible with previous versions of WinMo. But worry not - people feared the same thing when vista/win7 came out. Applications are pretty easy to port over if written properly, and microsoft is pretty good at providing good APIs. I don't think we'll have a problem with app development.
@Plazmic Flame "a iPhone like OS with a keyboard"
You mean like the Palm Pre/Pixi?
That Microsoft CFO looks, talks, and projects the image of a congressman/senator. In other words, blah, blah, blah "I'll tell you what you want to hear" attitude. I know a bullshitter when I see and hear one and that's one of them. Just examine his body language. Who knows what the final product will look like. Mark my words, in typical MS fashion they will have 2 different versions of WinMo7 for enterprise and regular consumer use. I hope this doesn't steal support away from Android or WebOS.
Well, allow me to shed some light on what Winmo 7 really heralds. It will be the release of Windows CE (embeded) 7. Current Winmo 6.X devices are actually based on CE 5 which is ancient and not up too current expectations. CE 6 R3 is available and some folks are deploying it now. CE 7 will resolve all the technical shortcomings currently experienced. Now what interface you put on it is a different story. Sega Dreamcast was a CE device, Zune HD is a CE device. There are many varied devices running CE as a matter of fact. GPS devices, Fish Finders (see sporting goods). Even the Fujitsu iPAD runs CE. BTW check this link : http://www.windowsfordevices.com/c/a/Windows-For-Devices-Articles/Windowspowered-mobile-tablets-webpads-UMPCs-and-MIDs/
@Trailmixxx Yeah I remember that the good ol' Dreamcast was WIndows CE based. It run fast and smoothly. It was also a dream to program for. Very easy to make apps. In fact, there are still people out there making apps for the DC. I just hope MS does not bloat WinMo7.
@alextek
What really sux about Winmo is that it never has been deployed propery. HTC is the best manufacturer to produce devices as far as I can recall. I used to have a XV6700 (apache) and it was great if you could stand a stylus driven environment. So far HTC is the only company to really put forth effort to skin Winmo well, which really was the point. As far as bloat goes I dont think it will be an issue. The feature Im most excited about is that you can skin the whole OS in silverlight. Developers can use Visual studio 2008 with it or you can code in C. It really is a superior platform, its just that no one deploys it well. That and when was the last time you saw a CE device advertised on TV?
@alextek Dreamcast was a dream in every sense. Nothing since can match it prowess relative its era. Too bad the word "playstation" got every d ick hard and pu ssy wet in a 20,000 mile radius.
too bad majority of the population will be tuning in to iphone 3.2 os hahahha.
I doubt Windows Mobile 7 would impress more than Android 3.5....
Is Microsoft silent in the face of Apple or what? Oh, I forgot about Bing. Is everyone using that?
Anyone noticed that you need Flash to watch this video? Shame about the iPhone users....
One word: Courier!
That guy obviously if already fighting a bit of an uphill battle so it would be nice to use a picture that tried to reduce his doofus-looks aspect rather than deliberately enhancing it.
Be nice.