Some
weeks ago,
I wrote about an expected upcoming Windows Mobile 6.5 version which I called
that time "Windows
Mobile 6.5 Second Edition". And so far, everything was completely
unconfirmed, but now it seems that Microsoft is indeed working on an update of
its recently launched
Windows Mobile 6.5 Windows phone operating system. Mordy Gilden from
mopocket just had a rare opportunity to speak with a Microsoft representative
while visiting a Microsoft booth at a tech showcase event. When the Microsoft
representative was asked about "Windows Mobile 6.5.1" he answered many of Mordy's questions, although he politely asked not to print his name.
According to the representative, "Windows Mobile 6.5.1" or "Windows Mobile
6.5 Second Edition" is somewhat real, the leaked new UI is indeed from
Microsoft, and not from one of the many ODMs. However the name 6.5.1 is a
rumored name from the forums only. According to mopocket's info, the new UI
wasn't necessarily designed to be the next version of Windows Mobile, however
it's said to be a proposed solution to the problem of using Windows Mobile with
capacitive touchscreens.
Since Windows Mobile was never designed to feature capacitive displays (the
basic user interface design, which never changed, goes back to the Pocket PC from 2000)
but resistive displays only. However, with new devices being proposed to use
capacitive touchscreens, Microsoft seemed to realize that there's problem with
the current user interface design and therefore Microsoft decided to work on an
overhauled "Windows Mobile 6.5.1"/"Windows Mobile 6.5 Second Edition" UI.
And while the Microsoft representative admitted that it won't be called
6.5.1, he also admitted that it may not be called anything. That is, it may not
necessarily be an "upgrade" but rather an alternative version (for ODMs) of
Windows Mobile 6.5 to be used with different types of displays (in this case
most likely capacitive touchscreens).
While this a kind of "semi-official" statement from Microsoft only (at least
it came from a Microsoft representative) it seems to make sense. However, as
long as we haven't heard anything official from Microsoft, it's pure
speculation.
Cheers ~ Arne
