Where is Windows Mobile headed?

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows Mobile, Microsoft, Mobile Minute

Where is Windows Mobile headed?

by Brad Linder Dec 14th 2007

Windows Mobile may have trounced PalmOS pretty completely over the last few years, but if the mobile operating system wants to maintain its market share, it's going to need to make some changes. For example, iPhone has raised the bar for mobile web browsing while the Windows Mobile version of Internet Explorer feels like a web browser from 1997 at best.

The folks at Microsoft are well aware that Apple, BlackBerry, Symbian, and others are continuing to push the envelope. While Microsoft is preparing to release Windows Mobile 6.1 with a few tweaks here and there, Microsoft reps have leaked some details about the much bigger changes coming in Windows Mobile 7 and 8 to a few high profile gadget blogs including Engadget and Gizmodo.

Here's what in store for Windows Mobile 7:

Upgraded applications, including new SMS and email programs and essentially a port of the desktop version of Internet Explorer 6 (does this mean we still won't have tabbed browsing?)
Zoomed web browsing features
Improved music and photo applications

And Windows Mobile 8:

Completely redesigned interface
Global search feature
More intelligent connections between the phone and OS features. For example, dial a contact and bring up all recent emails from that person, see their address, and other contact info all at once.

Of course, you can do some of these things today by using 3rd party software. But we're willing to bet most users don't think of their cellphones as software platforms, and as such don't spend a lot of time downloading and installing third party applications. They expect their device to just work when they take it out of the box.

Tags: windows-mobile-7, windows-mobile-8

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

zelet said 7:55PM on 12-14-2007

I have one guess... Its going where the iPhone has been for 6 months?

Just like everything in the last 7 years with Microsoft. They get their ass handed to them in whatever market they are in - then they use their unlimited resources to introduce a product that isn't as good and then subsidize the price with the money they got by illegally leveraging their OS and Office Suite monopolies.

DagMX said 9:22AM on 12-15-2007

You know...iphone fanboys are the worst. the iphone has done nothing new. It's just a snazzy iterface over a stripped operating system.
Get over it

Duey Cheatham & Howe said 9:29PM on 12-14-2007

@1

Besides the UI & Mobile Safari, what does the iPhone do that a WM phone can't? Nothing. I own both and iPhone and a T-Mobile Dash and my WM device gets most of my time because it's a device I can do everything from.

Curtis said 10:54PM on 12-14-2007

Anyone know of a way to filter the RSS feed? I'm starting to think they should rename the site "Windows Mobile Squad". Not sure what WM has to do with Downloads or even cool websites...

michael said 9:21AM on 12-15-2007

I love WinMo.

It contains a lot more functions than most other mobile OS's, not too difficult to use, and it works for me.

I think WinMo really needs a whole new redesign. It always feels really cramped on screens, and you have to kind of dig deep into the menu to get what you want (same reason why I hate the original iPod UI). Too bad it will take until WinMo 8 to see this.

WinMo 7, based on what's known, doesn't sound too interesting, as I use several add-ons to get those functionalities, but at least it will be more optimized.

Here's my top list of what I want:

1. Bigger phone screens - Not really WinMo's fault, kind of, but MOST WinMo phones have really small displays, and as a result, the WinMo UI is kind of cramped and squashed in that screen, making for some people a hard time to navigate. The iPhone has a large screen, and obviously large screens work better.

2. Deepfish Browser - From Live Labs R&D. It's sort of like Safari on iPhone, but for WinMo. Though I think Deepfish has been working for almost a year already. Put that kind of browser along with desktop IE7/8 integration (like faves, RSS feeds, etc.) http://labs.live.com/Deepfish/default.aspx

3. Display systems info all at the top bar constantly - time, battery life, connection, program title, bluetooth, etc. info should always remain at the top to see at a glance.

4. More fluid UI - less lag, more slicker movements from app. to app.

5. Zune/Xbox integration - A portable Xbox player would be cool, or the next best thing would be playing Xbox-like games over WinMo. And even if it's not a Zune, and a Zune phone is pretty doubtful, at least it can play music purchased from the Zune store (with DRM), and all the other stuff.

That would be my 5 top must-need new features. There's more, but I don't want to bog down the comment section.

WinMo is the most versatile/usable mobile OS to me, and I love it. AT&T Tilt works great, and I'm happy with it.

Oh, and WinMo at least lets you download FREE ringtones, where you have to purchase them separately for the iPhone. What a laugh: https://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/domore/ringtones.mspx

zelet said 12:08PM on 12-15-2007

Apple's Garageband lets you create ringtones out of any MP3 for free and then integrates with iTunes to add as a playlist for your iPhone.

Second, WinMo isn't cramped because of small screens. I have the Sprint Mogul (6800). It has a huge screen and the interface still blows.

I shouldn't have to pull out a stylus or use my fingernail to scroll a window. There shouldn't be 10 layers of settings for everything. There shouldn't be three screens of settings either.

The iPhone isn't perfect but it has as close to perfect of a mobile UI that you'll see out there. It'll take Microsoft years to catch up and they still wont get it right.

RJ said 4:36PM on 12-15-2007

Judging from the fact that the iPhone has taken more market share in the US (Q3 2007 http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkontherun/2007/12/iphone-q3-us-sa.html) that WM across all devices, I can't see how Microsoft can pull this back without dramatic changes to WM - but how long is that going to take, and how much will Microsoft manage to screw it up?

ecbiker said 10:02PM on 12-26-2007

Man, I work at a real office and we don't have time to deal with pretty i-phones and pods etc.. In the real world microsoft rules the roost. I can even manage a server from my XV6800! let see you do anything like that on an i phone. It's just like that movie Idiocracy, everyone is getting to the point where they need big simple (dumba$$) buttons. Ha what a funny thought. Bunch of freaking i-hippies.

hendhess said 11:16AM on 1-18-2008

In response to #5:

Hey Michael, have you tried Opera Mini (not to be confused with Opera Mobile)?

If you combine it with Cloudyfa's Esmartec jbed, it's pretty slick... My apologies if you've already checked this one out.

www.operamini.com

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