With each and every passing day that Microsoft doesn’t release WindowsMobile 7, they make their job and reliance on WinMo 7′s success all the the more greater. I don’t think it takes much imagination to think about what will happen to Redmond if WinMo 7 tanks. End of the line me thinks. So just how soon can we expect WM7? Early reports pegged the next mobile OS from Microsoft at late 2010. Those dates as of late have slipped back as far as late 2011 — a full year later than originally planned.
To some, WM 6.5 was nothing but a waste of time — lipstick on a pig if you will. While a handful of elements were beautified on the outside, drilling down a few menus revealed it was the same WM 6.0 underneath.
If you had hard feelings about WM 6.5, it’s probably going to get worse. In February of this year (2010), reports are staring to circulate that another WM 6.x update dubbed “Maldives” (or WM 6.6 for the rest of us) will be let loose. Bug fixes, speed improvements, UI uplifts, and other general TLC are no doubt the biggest and most important updates we’ll see. But it all begs the question: Why?
Why waste months on developing, testing, and marketing the 6.x platform? A platform that is grossly outdated when compared to the modern mobile OS’s of 2010? It just doesn’t make much sense. Am I alone here?
The roller coaster of emotion that Windows Mobile fans’ are on isn’t for the faint of heart. Being stuck with WinMo 6.5.2 when the big champs such as iPhone, Android, and webOS are so much nicer to look at and use is no doubt tugging a few heart strings. This forthcoming news isn’t going to help either.
Several industry sources (according to Cellular-News and Brighthand) are releasing grim outlooks for Windows Mobile fans hoping for a late ’10 release of WinMo7. According to those sources, don’t hold your breath for any release until mid 2011 with a possible revealing at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2011 in February 2011.
Yuck. That is quite a ways away. I hope Microsoft is finally starting to truly look ahead as if they release WinMo 7 to compete against current iPhone/Android/webOS offerings, dropping in 2011 with 2009 features is going to add insult to injury.
It’s not all death and sorrow however. ZD Net is citing different sources and information saying we could see at least a small preview of WinMo 7 later this year with release early next. Basically it’s the same thing we’ve heard many times before. So why write it? I somehow find some interest in keeping WinMo 7 near the top of the news heap. I’m genuinely excited. Please don’t disappoint me Microsoft.
Regardless of your opinion on Windows Mobile, you have to admit that the HTC HD2 — all 4.3″ of it’s glass faced frontal beauty — is a drop dead gorgeous phone. Currently however, US citizens are left without any official channels to pick up a subsidized or even a US version of the device. That’s all set to change in the not too distant future.
A video (below) showing a new “2.0.1″ ROM showcases among other things, a very familiar magenta boot image that goes “Stick Together” — a TMO slogan. And this isn’t the Euro-TMO slogan mind you, but the burly chested American verison.
Without any official confirmation from TMO or HTC, this technically is still nothing more than a rumor. But with a boot image showing a US based GSM carrier in full garb as well as countless other murmurings and rumors that have centered around this very same device and carrier pairing make it a rumor that is hard to discredit.
We can pretty much bet on seeing this soon, 1H 2010 for sure.
“Windows Mobile 7 is being pushed further back into the tail end of 2010″ — not exactly the words Microsoft wants to speak nor the words WinMo hopefuls want to hear. Head of Microsoft’s UK Mobility Division, Phil Moore, had those bleak words to share today. Windows Mobile 7 should have been released this summer, plain and simple. A 2010 date is bad enough. But quoting Microsoft themselves saying who are publicly announcing “late 2010″ makes us wonder how much longer they’re going to be relevant in the mobile world.
Anyone want to start taking bets on the date in which Windows Mobile claims it’s last victim? If Windows Mobile 7 looks like leaked shots we’ve seen (and those shots look pretty damn good), Microsoft is in a world of trouble. Why did I just say the leaked pictures were good while simultaneously saying Microsoft would be stupid to mimc them?
Windows Mobile 7 in current garb is in fact way better than 6.5. But that’s now in 2009. By late 2010 of next year, we’re going to be well into half a year with the iPhone 4G as well as numerous Android devices and BlackBerries which are all fundamentally more versatile. Does Microsoft even stand a chance anymore?
You would think that after numerous missed deadlines and broken promises, a company such as Garmin who has been hyping up their Nuvifone offerings for well over a year now would have something that would truly drop our collective jaws. Sadly, with the latest announcement of all new Nuvifone M20′s dropping Garmin’s proprietary OS in favor of WinMo 6.5, a grim painting is starting to form on this once great concept. This is but one example of how a perfect idea on paper can falter and become a sad disappointment once it materializes.
Those of you who picked up an M20 before this decree went out can will be able to pick up the WinMo 6.5 download for free (some saving grace I guess.) The countries named that are to receive the new Windows love include Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech, Turkey as well as “elsewhere by the close of 2009″. Strange that the western world is left out of the loop though not the first time we’ve had to sit back and watch our fellow Eastern geeks receive such lavish attention.
It may seem sad that some will miss out on the 6.5 love fest. But if you’re like me, an “upgrade” to WinMo 6.5 is anything but. Where do you stand?
Only an idiot blindingly defending his company after he knows he and those under him failed would claim such a thing. The overall consensus on WinMo 6.5 is it still sucks while looking a tad prettier. In Gizmodo’s multi-part interview with Microsoft’s captain, Ballmer defends Windows Mobile saying he’s “happy with where 6.5 is at now”. But that isn’t the only laugh inducing comment. No sir. Not by a long shot. Even more surprising if not ridiculous, he goes on to say that “at the end of the day…the critics and their reviews don’t matter…it’s what the people say”. Ok, so you’re more or less admitting it sucks. The very people Ballmer claims are the true voices of WinMo 6.5 are the ones lambasting it over the hot coals. Even more comical is his comparison to Nokia. Nokia is tanking. The last few quarters have been the worst quarters in Nokia’s existence. Yet Ballmer thinks comparing Windows Mobile to such an poor example of modern mobile computing is a plus? It astounds me how this guy runs the place and has manged to keep it from imploding thus far.
The real fact of the matter is, the only two platforms that matter in the current mobile market are Apple/iPhone OS and Android. They’re gaining. Android could even be described as the new Windows Mobile in that many different hardware manufacturers can take advantage of it. Maybe Ballmer should take a simple stroll through Google Bing or spend 5 minutes watching/reading some Windows Mobile 6.5 reviews from highly respected tech blogs and tech journalists. Windows Mobile? Ya, not exactly the “image” of modern or oozing with customer lust their Mr. B.
Does anyone think it’s time for The Balms to go in order for more youthful, forward thinking individuals a chance? Image Source
Windows Mobile fans sit back and hold on to your seat. According to DigiTimes and SlashPhone, Microsoft will supposedly unveil WinMo 6.5 at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, release it to handset manufacturers mid-year which will then trickle down to consumers by Q3, and more so in Q4 in order to attract as many holiday shoppers as possible. With Apple and Google focusing more on single and very few different devices respectively, Microsoft is continuing its mass market distribution and leaving it up to many different hardware vendors to build handsets that cater to various types of people. I’m looking forward to the release as it’s been needed for a long time coming.
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“Windows Mobile 7 is being pushed further back into the tail end of 2010″ — not exactly the words Microsoft wants to speak nor the words WinMo hopefuls want to hear. Head of Microsoft’s UK Mobility Division, Phil Moore, had those bleak words to share today. Windows Mobile 7 should have been released this summer, plain and simple. A 2010 date is bad enough. But quoting Microsoft themselves saying who are publicly announcing “late 2010″ makes us wonder how much longer they’re going to be relevant in the mobile world. 
You would think that after numerous missed deadlines and broken promises, a company such as Garmin who has been hyping up their Nuvifone offerings for well over a year now would have something that would truly drop our collective jaws. Sadly, with the latest announcement of all new Nuvifone M20′s dropping Garmin’s proprietary OS in favor of WinMo 6.5, a grim painting is starting to form on this once great concept. This is but one example of how a perfect idea on paper can falter and become a sad disappointment once it materializes. 
