Now before you think this “pink” reference is made to some popular womens lingerie store, I’ll come ahead and crush your dreams — it’s not. Instead this is a bit more sinister. Much like the Droid is having issues with it’s camera, it seems as if the HD2 (popular device this morning isn’t it…?) has problems of it’s own. While the Droid currently lacks the ability to focus because of a random, weird ass cycle because of a time stamp bug, the HD2 has a nasty case of the pink halo. This halo or “aurora” as it is being called leaves pictures taken with the HD2′s camera showing a pink aurora or halo in the middle of the image. Some units aren’t as pink’d with a small “disturbance” in the white balancing in the middle of the image being noticeable. Users are stating that newer units aren’t having this problem and that swapping out the defective units seems to fix the problem. So I guess the question is, is it a hardware or software problem? I would at first say hardware, you know, something with the lens. But after the Droid’s time stamp problem reared it’s ugly, digital head, anything is game now? What do you say? Hardware or software sickness?

Engadget Mobile > XDA

{http://gadgetsteria.com/?p=18098 The HTC HD2 is currently the top dog of the WinMo world. It has a massive 4.3″ screen which is gargantuan when compared to any other smartphone. Even considering the fact that it is hobbling along with WinMo 6.5 prettified with HTC’s Sense UI, the HTC HD2 is a hot phone. Not to mention, the snappy 1GHz processor tucked away within is another reason to gloat over this fine piece of gadgetry. So it comes as no surprise that HTC made a statement announcing a Windows Mobile 7 upgrade for the HTC HD2 whenever Microsoft comes clean with the update. I’ll admit, I’m not a Windows Mobile fan. If you’ve spend any time here it’s no revelation either. But Windows Mobile 7 does have me excited to see what Microsoft can do. At the very least, it can push Apple and the Android platform to constantly innovate and improve. With that said, Windows Mobile 7 isn’t supposed to be released until late 2010 but we’ve already seen rumors indicating it could come as soon as March 2010. What do you think? Is spring break going to be spent indoors, locked away playing with your new WinMo7 device, or are you on the long haul, waiting until winter of next year for your precious?

Phone Arena > Redmond Pie

It’s kind of disheartening really. No one should take care of WinMo except Microsoft. If they can’t get the OS in line in-house, there’s nothing a 3rd party manufacturer can do. No amount of lipstick and pretty UI skins can cover up what Microsoft has failed to do — truly innovate WinMo.

HTC, like many other hardware manufacturers, have struck deals with Microsoft to support Redmonds mobile OS. Contracts aside, why a company would willingly spend so much time, money, and marketing prowess on what is essentially a minor upgrade seems silly. Motorola whom is in the worst spot right now, clinging to life, finally realized what the market wanted and went all Android, declaring that they were skipping WinMo 6.5 because it wasn’t anything special and that they’d re-look at the Windows Mobile scene come version 7. It’s the first smart decision they’ve made in a long, long time.

I didn’t expect HTC to just cut off WinMo high and dry as they’ve had a rather length relationship. But HTC’s decision to push ahead with WinMo 6.5 and even possibly hold back on releasing certain Android versions of exclusive WinMo 6.5 handsets is a very poor decision. I can guarantee Android better serves the hardware than WinMo in it’s current form. Android is the face of new, modern mobile technology while WinMo is nothing more than a poster child for old, washed up, and un-innovative. I’m hopeful that Microsoft can bring something exciting to the table come 2010 with Windows Mobile 7. But that’s a long way from now and both Apple and Android are moving ahead quick. Can Microsoft anticipate the other guys’ next moves?

So I beg the question: “Does HTC really need to “take care of Microsoft”?

Coolsmartphone News > alibaba

That lifelong ambiguity hasn’t stopped C-montech however as their latest device titled the “Mangrove” is a 7″ behemoth and packs in quite the hardware punch:

• 7″ Touchscreen display

• 1GHz Snapdragon processor

• WiFi/3G/WiMAX

One shortcoming for some (myself included) is the use of Windows Mobile 6.5. Hardly the modern OS I would have chosen. But minor quibbles aside, the physical presence the tablet portrays is enough to leave me transfixed on it’s sleek lines. Would you be interested in such a device? Or is 7″ in that weird size category that as stated earlier is both too small and too big?

Mobility Site

And another nail in the Windows Mobile 6.5 coffin. As if it wasn’t bad enough already, Motorola, a major manufacturer who has supported Windows Mobile for ages is “waiting” to see Microsoft’s next move in the mobile market meaning 6.5 ain’t gonna cut it! This is in line with earlier statements of a “two, strategic mobile os approach” as Motorola’s Christy Wyat was quoted saying:

we (Motorola) are waiting for the next generation of platform software from Microsoft before it will begin making Windows Mobile devices again

Ouch….again. The two strategic platforms Mrs. Wyat mentions are obviously (1) Android, and (2) Windows Mobile 7? I can’t imaging them pumping out WinMo 6.1 devices for the next year alongside WinMo 6.5 while waiting for WinMo7. Though I’ve seen stranger things.

What do you think? Is the fact Microsoft royally screwed up their mobile os clearly apparent yet?

PhoneScoop

Image Source

• MobileCrunch (Sucks)

• Gizmodo (It sucks straight up)

• Tech Digest (Not as good as “others” [read: Android and iPhone])

• Engadget (Disappointment)

So what’s your early take? Regardless if you’ve actually “felt” WinMo 6.5 in your hands or are merely commenting on screenshots and videos, (I promise, it’s not that much better in real life), do you feel as if the wait until next year and Windows Mobile 7 is an eternal voyage with no end in sight?

Source: BGR

If you run with the WinMo crowd, you’re no doubt bored with Windows Mobile 6.5 already (because you’ve probably been using it for weeks to months now) and have already set your sights on Windows Mobile 7. To the uninformed general public, Windows Mobile 7 is something that they shouldn’t expect to see or touch until it’s time to kill a 2010 turkey. However, some speculating and bullet points put out by UX Evangelist builds a pretty solid case concerning Microsoft dropping some info and possibly hands on time with early beta builds of Windows Mobile 7.

The reasoning includes a history of big announcements at PDC as well as slip ups on Microsoft employee’s LinkdIn profiles to interpretation of Microsoft slides highlighting Windows Mobile roadmaps. As far as the history of big announcements go, Windows 7 is already out of the bag as is the Zune HD with Office 14 not exactly holding that “wow” factor I would choose to lead a keynote with.

Does the UX Evangelist have an weight to his claims or is he a mile from base?

WM Experts, UX Evangelist

While Steve Ballmer aka “The Balms” may be steadfast on his belief and assertion that Windows Mobile will always be a single OS in the sense that their won’t be several tiers like the desktop variant, new information that is coming out seems to suggest otherwise. With the recent leak of the HTC Leo ROM which incorporates the new TouchFlo 3D 2.6, we can see that the interface appears to be moving more towards the finger users in the world and eschewing the trusty but old stylus. Further adding fuel to the good ‘ol rumor fire comes by way of DigiTimes with new information that an actual “Touch Interface” update to Windows Mobile 6.5 is due out sometime around February 2010. Now, this upgrade won’t be a new OS, merely an update to the October 1st release of Windows Mobile 6.5. Windows Mobile 7 on the other hand isn’t slated for public consumption until long into next year — Q4 of 2010 to be exact. So why bring a touch interface update to 6.5 later in the game?

It seems to me at least that it would make more sense to either tie it into the official launch of 6.5 or wait until 7. Though I can understand that WinMo in it’s current form is grossly outdated when comparing it to Android and the iPhone OS in terms of appearance, usability, and features, launching in the middle of two larger releases seems odd. DigiTimes is conjuring up the possibility that Microsoft could be heading towards a two tiered mobile OS environment in which Windows Mobile 6.5 Happy Touch Edition and Windows Mobile 7 coexist in perceived harmony. The belief is that Microsoft will lower the price of WinMo 6.5 to compete with lower end Android handsets and keep Windows 7 as a more “professional”/higher end offering to compete with the iPhone. If that’s the case, from what I’ve seen so far, WinMo 7 has a loooong way to go. Not to mention, Microsoft so far hasn’t be able to do much innovating with Windows Mobile since…..ever. What they fail to do with one will simply end up as a double failure don’t you think? Still, it’s not like I’m not rooting for Microsoft to pleasantly surprise me. I love competition. And I love surprises. Wow me Microsoft. Wow me.

So what do you think? Does this hypothesis hold any real weight or is it merely wishful thinking?

Source: Engadget

Remember when you were a kid, the only kid with a funny last name (who am I kidding…the over weight kid that no one ever picked for their team) and everyone made fun of you. Then you were fortunate enough to move to a new town with a new school and new kids. You lied about your name (and your weight) and started to live out a somewhat normal life. You even become pretty popular since your new friends don’t know of your troubled past. This generalized story mold fits many things and instances in life. One of those instances is developing right before our very eyes in the tech world with Windows Mobile Windows Phone. Microsoft, in order to shed the bad image that has become attached to Windows Mobile is set to rebrand their mobile OS with the release of WinPho (sounds so weird doesn’t it) 6.5. The rebranding is supposed to give newcomers a fresh start with a “new” OS (not coming until WinPho 7) as Microsoft tries to distance themselves from the hell that Windows Mobile has become. While I’m all for product enhancement and hyping up your product, merely changing the name and slapping some new paint on a grossly outdated OS hardly seems like a service to your users. Oh well, to each his own. One thing’s for sure, in the world of mobile OS X and Android, heck even at times BlackBerry, Windows Mobile/Phone doesn’t even come close. Care to disagree?

Source: Gizmodo, The Inquirer

If you have ever done any type of computer programing, graphic design, or picture/video editing among other things, you will know time consuming and frustrating working on and with computers can be. While everything often goes to plan with man and machine working in perfect harmony, there are times when the two refuse to coroporate causing great pain and grief. Since WinMo 6.5′s interface was leaked what seems like years ago now, the world reacted with a collective “that’s it?” – not exactly the reaction Redmond was looking for though, after hearing the latest bit of news surrounding Microsoft’s mobile OS, is now more easily understood. So, why exactly does Windows Mobile 6.5 look so…old?

During an ungodly boring TechED conference panel highlighting the various bumps, bruises and few happy spots along the WinMo 6.5 development cycle, Senior Project Manager Loke Uei Tan revealed a bit of information that while catching me by surprise, doesn’t really surprise me at the same time. Confused? Read on. Apparently the development schedule for WinMo 6.5 was an extremely fast paced 8-9 month from the ground up “restoration” of the mobile OS. With only 8-9 months, features had to be cut and prioritizations had to be re-evaluated.

Loke Uei Tan himself:

The reason why we couldn’t complete the interface on Windows Mobile 6.5 is because of time. We only spend what, eight months, nine months, to build 6.5 from ground up and it’s actually an amazing engineering feat. But, in order to do that, we had to do some prioritization and we had to cut certain features. Eventually, we will make sure that the UI capabilities are carried out throughout the whole platform.

So now that we know WinMo 6.5 was rushed, and I mean rushed, we can see now why such “superficial elements” (according to Microsoft’s business first happiness later mentality) as a completely new and refreshing UI design was shelved more or less. While the homescreen is different enough from pre-6.5 versions, it coupled with the rather unpolished look throughout still gives off an unfinished 2003 look. So, heres to hoping that Windows Mobile 7 brings some much needed TLC to Microsoft’s mobile baby such that we can actually consider it when choosing a smartphone.

Source: Gizmodo, Ars Technica

WinMo users who were preparing for May 11th by stocking up on certain party supplies in anticipation for a WinMo 6.5 launch will sadly have to keep their goods in the cellar a bit longer as Microsoft has annouced that some information from a recent blog posting (below) was misinterpruted (and has now since been corrected) and WinMo 6.5 will not be launching on May 11th.  Sorry WinMo users, looks as if May 11th is not your day to shine after all.  Oh well, look on the bright side – by the time Windows Mobile 6.5 is released, the wait for Windows Mobile 7 will be a cake walk compared to this disaster.

Source: Boy Genius

While I myself am far from a Windows Mobile fan, I can appreciate the enthusiasm and devotion the WinMo crowd have for their workhorse OS.  Even though many if not most of the mobile world has already moved on from 6.5 and is now focused on Windows Mobile 7, we’ll take what we can get as WinMo isn’t a platform known for speedy or frequent updates.  If you are a WinMo follower and devoted fan for life, May 11th is your day to shine…kind of.  After Microsoft releases it on the 11th of May, it is then up to manufacturers and carriers to push the update love down to us inviduals.  Hopefully they don’t wait too long or else we’ll be celebrating the release of 6.5 from the carriers and manufacturers as we start talking about WinMo 7′s launch date.

*Update*

The info that the May 11th release date was based off of was “misinterpruted” according to Microsoft.  Sorry guys, May 11th won’t be anything special after all.

Source: Engadget, Electronista, *Image Source: Phone Mag*

WinMo users…this announcement is just for you.  If you are a themer and customizer and like to mix things up from time to time, gone are the old days of having to jump through fifty different hoops just to change your stupid wallpaper and a few icons in Windows Mobile OS’s of yore as Microsoft has announced that it is commited to making Windows Mobile more personal.  Helping with that quest will be several prominent designers and design houses including the Design Museum London and the Council of Fashion Designers of America.  The lucky first designer to be showcased by Microsoft on Windows Mobile 6.5 will be Isaac Mizrahi, fashion designer and television personality.  Don’t worry he isn’t the only guy who signed up, more will come around in the next few months ensuring you have an ample selection to choose from.

Also of interest for the change loving generation is a new theme generator that will allow users to change the wallpaper image, navigation bar color, scroll bar color, and selected text color.  It is a basic theming solution not meant to replace the all out theme design and creation that users currently use, however, for the quick day to day changes it is certainly more than most other manufacturers are doing.  +1 Microsoft.  Customization will hopefully gain more of a following and support from the device manufacturers.  It doesn’t help performance or reliability at all, but it makes our lives with our gadgets that match better.
Source: Mobile Burn

Windows Mobile 6.5 not coming until this summer and the design still up in the air, many have kind of almost forgotten about Windows Mobile 7.  Ok, maybe not forgotten, but it has been shoved from the forefront of their minds.  Above is an awesome screenshot of a “claimed” Windows Mobile 7 in action captured by “a kind tipster” who sent the image above to WM Power User.  Is it real?  For all we know it could be a really nice theme or shell on top of WinMo.  If it does in fact turn out to be anything close to how WinMo 7 will look once released I can honestly say I would be excited to see what it looks like.  Anything would be an improvement over the current Windows 98 look of WinMo 6 and 6.1.

Source: WM Experts