Historically, major Windows Mobile releases have a track record of leaking out ahead of their official announcements. Actually, they don't just have a track record of getting leaked -- they have a track record of getting
installed on legacy hardware, and it looks like WinMo 6.5 may be no different. An intrepid poster over at xda-developers has thrown up files and instructions for getting a build of 6.5 (seemingly, anyway) on an old-school HTC Blue Angel of all things, a device that dates all the way back to 2004 and the early days of
this very site. We can't verify that this is actually 6.5 and not just some semi-slick skin heaped over 6.1, but the fact that we really can't tell should be just a little alarming to Microsoft if this is seriously what they plan to unveil
next month. Follow the break for a blast from HTC's past running a glimpse of Redmond's future, and while you're at it, dig your Siemens SX66 out of the attic.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Read - In action on the Blue Angel
Read - Screen shots [Via
wmpoweruser]
Read - Discussion and files at xda-developers
posted Jan 21st 2009 1:51PM
I trust it's real. This is the first time a new Windows build has been leaked from that part of the world either (speaking of person who leaked it).
I gotta say it's pretty pathetic the "big" 6.5 change to the GUI design is giving it the menu layout that Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard Edition has.
OMG it seems like HTC's add-ons on top of WM 6.1 are áctually better than WM 6.5.
WM RIP TBH :-(
Huh? Why do the screenshots look all jagged and unattractive? Hmm
--James
James,
For the last time, we get it, you are James, you don't have to sign every comment! Your comment is already signed right above your text!
--Lando
Which link has the screens? Can't find.
@James: I think they took the screenshot with MagicSS or other program that saves images in BMP format, then converted to JPG with a cheap program.
@vaxick: There is supposed to be a touch-friendly interface too. Maybe Microsoft is saving it for the convention next month in Barcelona. I do like the idea of the WinMo Standard sliding panels making their way into WinMo Professional, but then again, I'm a keyboard-oriented guy and the least my mobile devices try to look like an iPhone, the better they are.
AARG, its as I feared. I hope this isnt the case but it looks like WM6.5 is nothing more than some bug fixes and a new default plugin for the today screen.
Then again, the ".5" moniker denotes this is an update rather than upgrade. Lets hope WM7.0 is something to actually get excited about, because from what I could see, 6.1 and 6.5 aren't really different.
C'mon. This is not 6.5 people. This is a early beta test... It will look like the screenshots we have been seeing. I just hope they destroy the honeycomb look. It doesnt go with MS.
Definitely an very early beta if you've tried it.
Neat. Doesn't look too special though.
Personally I just hope the UI gets a major graphical overhaul. That's the one thing I don't ilke about WinMo right now. It doesn't seem as "fresh" or stylish as most new phones. I want my eye candy dammit!
I think its easy to forget that Winmo is still the most powerfull, most open and most functional mobile OS out there. What it lacks is the ability to run on sweet hardware. Give me a capacative screen, nice smooth animations, strong multimedia performance and some add ons, like universal search, and I will be runnings WMo in no time.