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IE Mobile 6 situation on Sprint's Treo Pro explained: it's built on WinMo 6.1 AKU 1.4
Not long ago, Microsoft had taken a stand that "existing devices" wouldn't be offered an upgrade to its significantly improved (read: actually usable) Internet Explorer Mobile 6, arguing that current hardware wasn't capable of supporting the new browser's heft. That ultimately proved to be poppycock as cooked ROMs started coming out of the oven with IE Mobile 6 goodness baked right in -- and now that Sprint's version of the Treo Pro has it even though the GSM version seemingly won't be offered an official upgrade, a whole new explanation is in order. Although it does require 128MB of RAM and a 400MHz core, we've now been told that it has more to do with IE Mobile 6's unwieldy footprint -- it's hard or impossible to bundle it into an easy-to-distribute CAB, apparently -- which makes it a better fit for an entire load of Windows Mobile than an update. Occasionally, Microsoft will freshen an existing version of WinMo with a so-called AKU, and going forward, all 6.1 devices to hit the market (including the Sprint Treo Pro, coincidentally) will use AKU 1.4, which includes IE Mobile 6. So there you have it: prior to 6.5, new devices should be rocking the updated browser, but otherwise, start scanning for a cooked ROM -- knowing the community, they shouldn't be that hard to find.
IE Mobile 6 cooked into custom ROM for HTC Touch HD
While Microsoft won't be handing it out as an update for your WinMo 6 device, ROM cookers are making Internet Explorer Mobile 6 available now. Paul over at MoDaCo has built a custom ROM for the HTC Touch HD that includes IE Mobile 6 -- that's "6 on 6" as they say. Unfortunately, it's only available as a ROM update, not as an invdividual application installer. If you recall, Microsoft said that IE Mobile 6 won't be offered for download, because "the rich media experiences that IE Mobile 6 enables require more powerful, advanced devices." Perhaps in salty salute, Paul's ROM also sets the default explorer search engine to Google. Instructions and tales of caution just beyond the read link. [Via GadgetMix]
Internet Explorer Mobile 6 coming soon, emulator out now
In all honesty, Internet Explorer Mobile would've done good to come out yesterday (or the day / week / month before), but we guess the slow and steady approach may pay off eventually. Hot on the heels of Mobile Firefox comes word that the Internet Explorer Mobile 6 Emulator is available now for developers to tinker with, which is sure to excite throngs of coders across the web. For all of you out there simply waiting for a better browsing experience within IE Mobile, you're treated to yet another "coming soon" message. Still, we're totally looking forward to support for "full fidelity desktop rendering," enhanced Script / AJAX support, improved handling of multimedia and touch / gesture support, we just wish all of this was available already.[Via UnwiredView]
