Editorial on WM 6.5

[gyoung345]

I found this article at engadget which I thought was interesting about WM 6.5. I found that Drybonz posted a link within this post, but I don't know if everyone saw it. Good insight into WM 6.5.

[lawmangrant]

Very good WM 6.5 article.

I am ready for this thing to be released already!

[Noir]

I agree
and what's worse it looks like the chefs here are making more gains than microsoft themselves
not anyone is impressed microsoft. I wonder what constraints will be put on windows mobile 7

Heck even meizu is using win ce 6...wow

[Torx]

1: It's exactly the same as Windows Mobile 6... er, 5.

well, so is their line of windows os's, they look the same, have been the same, just tweaked visually every release. this is no different than ubuntu or what palm was doing years ago. Just because were getting a slew of new OS's doesnt mean microsoft should start from ground up. Although i and everyone else would like to see that, its not going to happen. Years from now iphone and android will still look the same, just minor tweaks here and there to stay up to date.

2: The interface improvements are still way behind the curve.

of course they are, thats windows mobile. dont like it, move onto android or iphone
it is beta, and im pretty sure they arent putting all their eggs in 6.5 when 7 is around the corner.

3: The UI tweaks are mostly just skin deep, and third-parties have already gone way deeper.

thats the beauty of windows mobile.. YOU CAN CHANGE ITS APPEARANCE through 3rd party. the guy just answered his own complaint. Unlike iphone and android, your stuck with their skin forever.

4: It doesn't support capacitive touchscreens.

give it time, let the lawyers settle this one with apple. im sure its got something to do with apple. Capacitive screens are finger gestures only, right?? therefore no stylus will work this is why windows mobile devices and the software cater to stylus driven resistive screens.

5: It's not due out until "later this year."

this is a valid complaint. taking waayy too long and by the time it comes out there will be better options out there.

6: You probably can't upgrade your phone

welcome to the capitalistic world of electronics. were you born yesterday?
this is what XDA and ppcgeeks are for!!!

7: No Zune integration. Not even a new Windows Media Player.

well thats a no brainer.. you think MS wants to take sells away from their already failing zune?? NO.

8: Where's the keyboard?

for shame you only tested one device with one keyboard on beta software and beta phone... i guess he doesnt realize you can install new finger friendly keyboards??

9: The browser is still weak.

BETA.

10: It doesn't innovate in any way.

of course it doesnt, and it hasnt in years and years.. but it does its job of allowing multitasking apps to sit on top of the OS, and allowing you to innovate it YOURSELF.


this guy is a complete moron, and is obviously an apple **** rider.
while i did play devils advocate there are complaints to be made, but i think final justification should be held until final release.

[zero157h7]

I read this when it was first posted and I thought it was horrible.

[chronster]

i bet the author has an iphone lol

[zero157h7]

Most of the guys at engadget have an apple bias.

[badchad]

5: It's not due out until "later this year."

I think this is the thing that frustrates me the most. I don't see MS releasing WM 7.0 until some time after 6.5. Although pure speculation, this means if we get 6.5 by the end of 2009, it'll be another year until wm 7.0, putting it end of 2010 early 2011.

Man that's a long time...

[DavidinCT]

Some phones have the beta now....but, still it does sound like the same thing as 6.1 with some extra features.... I might just try it but, I'm still holding out before getting a new phone till WM 7 phones come out...

[GoodThings2Life]

Regarding Zune integration... it's still coming... and according to the Zune folks, there will be some big announcements on that line later this year, so I anticipate Zune 4.0 to bring all of that movement this fall... just in time for the "official" release of WM6.5.

As for it being a "failing" service/product... I wouldn't say that... with the sole exception of the iPod Touch, it is truly a superior device by comparison of the hardware (feature for feature), and the current 3.0 software (even according to Gizmodo and Engadget) is pretty much on-par or better than the current iTunes in most areas (with only a few exceptions). And when you think about it, when has ANY pre-3.0 Microsoft product been worth much? It took Windows 3.0 to make it even recognized.

As for the original article... lot of criticism of WM6.5 being "too little too late", and there is a HUGE amount of that attitude that is right on the mark. Microsoft has NOT taken this very seriously, and is taking very small steps to catch up. Microsoft gets criticized by us for taking too long to innovate and improve, but when they do manage to keep up, they are criticized as being anti-competitive monopolists and told they MUST cut back.

That doesn't change the fact, however, that WM has one quality that no other mobile OS has... customization. Don't like it? No problem... build your own ROM with the functionality and design you want. Install a 3rd party solution or design your own.