[Kirkaiya]

I don't blame HTC at all for "breaking" WinMo. I just recently bought a Touch Diamond, and (after updating the ROM to 1.37.456.2), it's an amazing device. My only complaint, in fact, is that the ugly, difficult and annoying Windows Mobile 6.1 interface is not more completely hidden. Every time I drop from TouchFlo 3D into Windows (to answer an email, or change my alarm, etc), it's a reminder of the ugly beast that still lurks beneath the slick, fast, and finger-friendly interface that HTC grafted on top of it.

However, since it's not really ideal having a great interface that isn't used for any programs I install, the solution is simple:

Microsoft needs to completely re-think, re-design and re-create the GUI for Windows Mobile. Not just another point-release, not yet another evolutionary change.

Far too many functions have been added to Windows Mobile devices since my Cassiopeia E-11, and my iPaq 3650 (the original Pocket PC shell) to be easily accessible thru that interface. My Diamond has a phone, sms, MMS, email, instant-messaging client, GPS, multiple network settings (3G, EDGE, WiFI, Bluetooth, etc), mobile versions of office apps, pocket Outlook for contacts and calendar...

That requires a different kind of interface. All I can say is, Microsoft better have *something* that seriously learns, and adopts where appropriate, from the iPhone, which has a very fluid and intuitive (but not perfect) user interface.

Having so many functions is pointless if they're difficult for people to get to, to change, and to configure, and Windows Mobile - even 6.1, which my Diamond has - looks not much different than my very first iPaq did back in 2000.

Windows Mobile 7 needs to provide the kind of interface natively that HTC and other companies - Samsung, etc - are being forced to put on top of WM 6.x. If Microsoft's UI was compelling, simple, attractive, and flexible (not an easy thing I know, but ****, they have BILLIONS to invest in this ), then HTC and others would not be forced to hide the beast under a pretty custom interface.

That's my 2 cents. I really like TouchFlo 3D, since at least *somebody* is trying to improve the user experience, and it sure as heck doesn't seem to be Microsoft lately. Maybe they should buy HTC, and learn a bit about aesthetics.