Some more news has come to light today, about the newest version of Windows Mobile, version 6.5, courtesy of Engadget Mobile. It seems that Microsoft may well have been listening to the things people have been saying online, because two of the three important bits of info are nice, big updates that’ll make WinMo users and developers happy.
And the other one of the three will make the fashion conscious very happy.
Let’s start with that one, as it seems Microsoft have partnered themselves up with the Design Museum London and the Council of Fashion Designers of America, to offer designer label themes for Windows Mobile 6.5, with the first one being from designer Isaac Mizrahi (whoever he is… can you tell I’m not very fashionable?). Presumably, it’s that gaudy pink theme you see in the pictures that’ve been released.
Not my cup of tea, really, but if it makes fashionistas happy, then it’s a big plus for WinMo 6.5, as is the fact that they plan on releasing a theme editor to the general public, so you can make your own themes.
Now, onto the more important info updates…
First up is more news about Windows Marketplace, and you may remember I did a post, not long ago, about the Marketplace’s pricing structure, which I reckoned would put devs off. You know, with fees to send out updates etc. Well, it seems developers have been saying the same thing, because Microsoft have tweaked the agreement, so that now, developers can send out unlimited updates to their apps, for free. Oh, and from a user point of view, you now have 24 hours to return an app, if you get it and decide you don’t like it.
Ooh, good stuff, that… and with support from lots of software partners (expected to include EA Mobile, Facebook, Gameloft, MySpace, Namco, Pandora, and Sling Media), looks like us WinMo users are catching up in the apps race.
Tell ya what, I can’t wait to see some proper, full-on games getting tried out on the big screen of Matt’s HTC Touch HD. Hmm, think I might have to badger him to buy some when the Marketplace goes live…
Finally, though, there’s the big news, and it’s something a LOT of people have asked: whether WinMo 6.1 devices like the aforementioned Touch HD will be upgradeable to 6.5… and yes, they will! Provided the phone has at least 128Mb of memory, and at least a 400MHz processor, it’ll be capable of running Windows Mobile 6.5. Microsoft are saying it’s down to individual manufacturers, though, whether they want to punt out updates to their phones.
So, I close this post with a plea to my favourite manufacturer; my Sony Ericsson X1 has 256Mb of RAM, and a 528MHz processor, so… Sony Ericsson, please get WinMo6.5 punted out to us X1 users over your update service!
You know it makes sense…
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