Since the launch of the iPhone, the standards of user interface on mobile devices have greatly improved and windows mobile was widely criticized for poor user-interface. Even though, HTC changed the way people look at Windows Mobile with their launch of TouchFLO 3D, the much bigger await was for a Windows Mobile upgrade.

Microsoft has promised a completely re-designed and elegant UI in Windows Mobile 7, however it’s launch maybe pushed further until 2010. Meanwhile, Windows Mobile 6.5 has been officially announced at the mobile world congress yesterday and it fails to impress with just a few minor improvements over Windows Mobile 6.1. At least it lets us know that Microsoft is finally working on improving the UI side of Windows Mobile.

The new Today Plug-In
The most important part of Windows Mobile is the Today screen and instead presenting us an entire re-vamp, Windows Mobile 6.5 will only have a new plug-in called the Titanium which is nothing but the sliding menu as found in the standard edition of Windows Mobile 6.1 (non touch-screen version)

The top Start bar and the bottom soft keys taskbar will become completely transparent when this plug-in is enabled. All other today plug-in get disabled just like the TouchFLO 3D does when this plug in is enabled as it covers the entire screen.

So now in the Today screen, you have a stacked menu with sliding glassy menu which gives access to your favorites, clock, text messages, email, calendar, photos and music too. All in the precise menu format.

Programs Menu
The traditional grid styled program list is now replaced with an hexagonal launcher. The Start menu is also removed.

So now when you press the Start button, instead of the standard drop down list, you get a hexagonal launcher menu right on top of the Today screen. Again, this menu is transparent to give a glassy look behind.

The new lock screen
In the launcher screen, the left soft key area is assigned to Device Lock function which gives a new lock screen.

The lock screen will hide all the Today plug-ins and shows a clock at the bottom with a sliding unlock button at the top.

You now have a full view of the background image like a screensaver on the desktop in this lock screen along with a clock at the bottom. The unlock button also gives notification information if you have any.

Pop Up Menu
The pop-up menus were until now plain in the style of the old Windows 95 until now. Windows Mobile 6.5 will have it enlarged and much more high-lighted for finger based navigation.

Internet Explorer
The new version of Internet Explorer is included with a good zoom bar at the right side and auto full screen view of web pages. The url nav bar also has a progress bar at the back. Near the bottom you also have rounded buttons for quick functions like back, favorites, menu and so on.

We still find Opera 9.5 as the best browser for pocket pc.

Apart from this we don’t find any major improvements over previous editions of Windows Mobile. Microsoft should definitely make something elegant in Windows Mobile 7 and release it as soon as possible in order to cope with the emerging mobile technology where they’ve got a lot more competitors with far better stuffs everywhere.

when i can download it ?? theboss (86.96.226.xxx) 2009-03-19 16:33:56 when i can use it .. ilike it soo much but doesn't available now Reply | Quote 1   0

Carty (59.97.64.xxx) 2009-03-21 05:08:11 trust me, its not worth the wait. We all hope for a new era with Windows Mobile 7 instead. Reply | Quote 0   6

download ariez (69.88.24.xxx) 2009-05-16 09:03:35 good theme Reply | Quote 2   0

htc viva t2223 issam (90.153.128.xxx) 2009-09-16 05:54:44 hi is this version of wm6.5 work on my htc touch viva T2223 if it is the version now on my mob is 6.1 .....!!? Reply | Quote 1   0

issam (90.153.128.xxx) 2009-09-16 05:56:08 can any 1 tell me were and how 2 download ............ thanks. Reply | Quote 0   0

Carty (59.97.64.xxx) 2009-09-17 07:08:20 Dear Issam, HTC won't release an official Windows Mobile 6.5 update for HTC Touch Viva. But you can find unofficial builds, ask in our Experts Help section. Regards, Carty.. Reply | Quote 0   0

ipo205 (68.245.7.xxx) 2009-10-07 14:23:21 can u advise how 2 download 4 HTC TOUCH PRO Reply | Quote 0   0

Carty (59.97.65.xxx) 2009-10-08 07:21:17 Find it in our Experts Help section. Reply | Quote 0   0

Write comment
Name:
Email:	do not notifynotify
Title:
UBBCode:	-color-aquablackbluefuchsiagraygreenlimemaroonnavyolivepurpleredsilvertealwhiteyellow -size-tinysmallmediumlargehuge
Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Related PocketPC Posts:

With Windows Phone 7 Series got unveiled at the MWC, everyone was in doubt about the future of older versions of Windows Mobile phones. Cool down guys, actually WM6.x versions are getting rebranded to Windows Phone Classic and some interesting updates are also coming to the older versions and one of such is the Windows Mobile 6.5 ROM upgrade for HTC Diamond 2.

We enjoyed Skype on our Pocket PC phones all this while but an official confirmation comes to our disappointment, that the older version will no longer be downloadable or supported from their website.

All are still behind the Windows Phone 7 Series which has been unveiled during the Mobile World Congress at Barcelona and Microsoft decided to make its older Windows Mobile versions in other brand names – Windows Phone Starter Edition and Windows Phone Classic.

The MWC in Barcelona witnessed the unveiling of the Windows Phone 7 Series after a long time of wait. Now some talks are going on that, the older versions of the Windows Mobile will henceforth be renamed as Windows Phone Classic.

One of the most successful and impressive Windows Mobile phone made by HTC is no-doubt the HD2 and as a follow up to its huge success, HTC has decided to manufacture a phone which is an exact miniature of the HD2 at an even lesser price tag.

Toshiba introduced two phones at the MWC 2010 in Barcelona and of the two we have already seen the TG02. Here’s another one name K01 which takes multimedia as its first priority.

This time at Mobile World Congress, it was a big even for Windows Mobile PocketPC users as Microsoft unveiled their new, most awaited Windows Mobile 7 and apart from that, we also noticed some new PocketPc phones still packing the older 6.5 versions.

Microsoft is on a move as the Mobile World Congress is just two days away. Now some rumors suggest that they are planning to give out the earlier Windows Mobile versions for free.

Since the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5.3 we haven’t had much options in customizing it. Also, we are quite bored using the same old Grey colored bars and program menus. But it seems, now, the themes of this Windows Mobile version can be customized.

Some of the recent modifications done by the Microsoft to make the Start key more user friendly, has removed one of the most wanted and useful feature – Recent program lists. Here’s an interesting workaround.