Microsoft Announces Windows Mobile 5

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/may05/05-10WindowsMobile5PR.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/...wsMobile5PR.asp</a><br /><br /></div>"In a packed hall of developers and industry partners at Microsoft® Mobile &amp; Embedded DevCon 2005, Microsoft Corp.'s annual mobile and embedded developers conference, Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft, announced the release to manufacturing (RTM) of Windows Mobile (TM) 5.0. This new version of the Windows Mobile software platform delivers on partner requests, including more platform flexibility to customize devices and solutions; productivity enhancements that include updated Microsoft Office software and persistent memory storage for more efficient data management; and a powerful multimedia experience with Windows Media® Player 10 Mobile and support for hard drives.<br /><br />Just five years ago, the first Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs shipped from three hardware partners. Today 40 device-makers are shipping innovative Windows Mobile-based products with 68 mobile operators in 48 countries. These hardware and mobile operator partners have contributed to Windows Mobile revenue growth of 31 percent from 2003 to 2004 and phone license sales more than double those of the previous year."<br /><br /><img src="http://i.microsoft.com/h/en-us/i/WinMobile50_4_10.jpg" /><br /><br />It's here, it's official: Windows Mobile 5, formerly known as Magneto, has been announced at MEDC. Lots to come today, so stay tuned!

[stevetooth]

Wow, this is cool!

Are there any screenshots? Any new prototypes running WM5 OS? Will there be updates available for existing users? When will new devices be available?

[Dave Conger]

Are there any screenshots?

Check out:
http://www.davespda.com/special/wm5/
http://www.pocketpc-club.nl/content.php?id=3343
http://www.mobile-review.com/pda/articles/wm2005-magneto-en.shtml

I am sure more will be posted through the day.

[Dave Conger]

Will there be updates available for existing users? When will new devices be available?

Oh, and on this, so far HP and Dell have stated they will offer upgrades. iPAQ hx2110, hx2410, hx 2750, and Axim x50 users are all in luck. The upgrades are supposed to be out Q3 2005.

On the front of new devices, so far HTC has announced the HTC Universal.

[David McNamee]

Wow, this is cool!

Are there any screenshots? Any new prototypes running WM5 OS? Will there be updates available for existing users? When will new devices be available?

Wow... you want it all and want it now, don't you? :D

The developers received kits this morning containing new emulators. It'll be a race to see who does screenshots from it first.

As for devices, they showed off the Samsung i300 Smartphone, and a device from HTC. No information yet as to when we'll see the little darlings, though.

[Boxster S]

This is even better news:

http://www.brighthand.com/article/WinMo5_Upgrade_Coming_for_X50_Series

[alex_kac]

Actually - PI 2005 is already ported to WM5.0 and supports the new Contact Picker, Picker Picker, new PIM fields, soft key support, and more.

http://www.PocketInformant.com/press/wm5.php

including screenshots.

[Zidane]

It's expected that Lakeridge Software will also be releasing a WM2005 version of WisBar Advance later this week as well. It would have been sooner, but Chris was having some difficulties with the emulator not working correctly in some areas.

[seaflipper]

Actually - PI 2005 is already ported to WM5.0 and supports the new Contact Picker, Picker Picker, new PIM fields, soft key support, and more.

http://www.PocketInformant.com/press/wm5.php

including screenshots.

VERY nice Alex, thanks for posting that.

Since you have obviously been using it for some time now, just how good is the 5 way navigation on a device that that has a 5 way rocker? Have you tried that yet?

For example, how "Treo-esque" would you say navigation is or will be on devices optimized for one handed operation?

Thanks for any info...

[PPCRules]

Okay. I'll acknowledge it. I was wrong on my "OS updates are over; get used to it" point I repeatedly made.

This makes it all the harder, though. I had been holding off on buying so I could get a new model with "5.0". Now I have to decide if I want to get a current model now and wait (and wait, and wait) for the upgrade, or wait for the new models. Things like USB 2.0 and "Persistent memory storage" are compelling.

[alex_kac]

VERY nice Alex, thanks for posting that.

Since you have obviously been using it for some time now, just how good is the 5 way navigation on a device that that has a 5 way rocker? Have you tried that yet?

For example, how "Treo-esque" would you say navigation is or will be on devices optimized for one handed operation?

Thanks for any info...

Honestly, until one has a device with hardware buttons for the soft keys, I don't think there will be much difference. But don't take my opinion for it because I don't like using hardware keys anyway. The only hardware key I love is a jog dial :)

[surur]

Alex, any information regarding the two main points

1) Memory usage: Is it different, and how?

2) Utilization of VGA screens. Any difference?

Surur

[alex_kac]

Yes to both. I will say I don't want to be the fount of WM5 info just because I've got work to do and I know the questions on this will come flowing through like a dam burst :)

WM5 is a huge upgrade. The persistent store means that your FlashROM will be used like a hard drive and your RAM will be used as real RAM - just like on a desktop PC. For a lot of apps, very few changes have to be made. For an app like PI that uses the PIM databases, thousands of lines of code had to be changed.

PI 2005 R2 (the next release) is already ported to WM5. We're ready now. But even so, we're only providing the CAB files upon request because R2 is still being worked on for new features shared among WM05/03/02 versions.

So if you have a WM5 device (not pirated - legal copy only please), feel free to contact us for a CAB file :)

[surur]

The persistent store means that your FlashROM will be used like a hard drive and your RAM will be used as real RAM - just like on a desktop PC.

Brillaint. It sounds like MS is doing it right, unlike the treo-esque nightmare that is NVFS.

Surur

[Phillip Dyson]

Any information on ActiveSync 4.0?


If I'm not getting an upgrade to WM5.0 atleast I hope to get a better ActiveSync. :(

[rudolph]

How can developers of current PPC applications get the 2005 sdk and emulator, in order to test/fix their applications for 2005 compatibility?

Thanks!

[Dave Conger]

Any information on ActiveSync 4.0?


If I'm not getting an upgrade to WM5.0 atleast I hope to get a better ActiveSync. :(


You will be able to get it, but you won't really have any new features unless you have a Windows Mobile 5 devices. But I am running it with Windows Mobile 2003 SE devices and it works fine.

Details: http://www.davespda.com/index.php?itemid=367

[KTamas]

Yes to both. I will say I don't want to be the fount of WM5 info just because I've got work to do and I know the questions on this will come flowing through like a dam burst :)

WM5 is a huge upgrade. The persistent store means that your FlashROM will be used like a hard drive and your RAM will be used as real RAM - just like on a desktop PC. For a lot of apps, very few changes have to be made. For an app like PI that uses the PIM databases, thousands of lines of code had to be changed.

PI 2005 R2 (the next release) is already ported to WM5. We're ready now. But even so, we're only providing the CAB files upon request because R2 is still being worked on for new features shared among WM05/03/02 versions.

So if you have a WM5 device (not pirated - legal copy only please), feel free to contact us for a CAB file :)
Is the emulator images freely avaible?

[Dave Conger]

How can developers of current PPC applications get the 2005 sdk and emulator, in order to test/fix their applications for 2005 compatibility?

It looks like attendees at MEDC 2005 will get that, but the SDK and Emulator downloads do not seem to be public on the Microsoft website yet.

[Foo Fighter]

Any word on when vendors will roll out new hardware? I'm betting traditional Pocket PC hardware hardware design is going to change, especially button layouts.

[surur]

Also can people with Wm 5.0 devices confirm that it mounts as mass storage without activesync being installed?

Surur

[alex_kac]

AS 4.0 is brand new, but only for WM5 devices. For 03/02, its not much different.

As for the SDK, I have no idea - I'm sure MS will post it on MSDN or something soon.

[Dave Conger]

Any word on when vendors will roll out new hardware?

Sounds like Summer/Fall (Q3-ish) basic on HTC's earlier press release. Probably about the same time HP and Dell release updates.

[PPCRules]

There are going to be so many threads on 5.0; maybe this has already been answered:

Are office documents used in native file format now, or are they still converted by ActiveSync? (implications for the previous question about mounting as mass storage).

[PPCRules]

Interesting how the Office apps are all "Mobile" now, but "Pocket" MSN lives on,

[Dave Conger]

Are office documents used in native file format now, or are they still converted by ActiveSync? (implications for the previous question about mounting as mass storage).

Yes, I believe that is in place for both Word and Excel. PowerPoint does not do any file modifications, so things would be fine there.

[alex_kac]

Any word on when vendors will roll out new hardware?

Sounds like Summer/Fall (Q3-ish) basic on HTC's earlier press release. Probably about the same time HP and Del release updates.

Traditionally it takes about 3 months after RTM for new devices to be out.

[Foo Fighter]

This makes it all the harder, though. I had been holding off on buying so I could get a new model with "5.0". Now I have to decide if I want to get a current model now and wait (and wait, and wait) for the upgrade, or wait for the new models. Things like USB 2.0 and "Persistent memory storage" are compelling.

I share your sentiments. I just auctioned off my X50v and I find myself regretting that decision already. :dilemma: What I really find compelling would be a Pocket PC-ish Smartphone with a VGA display. Just having WM5 on an X50v doesn't sound too terribly compelling to me. Hardware that is designed from the ground up to exploit the next WinMobile is more to my liking.

[Foo Fighter]

Any word on when vendors will roll out new hardware?

Sounds like Summer/Fall (Q3-ish) basic on HTC's earlier press release. Probably about the same time HP and Del release updates.

Traditionally it takes about 3 months after RTM for new devices to be out.

Yep, we'll probably be seeing new hardware in time for the Back-to-school season.

[Phillip Dyson]

Any information on ActiveSync 4.0?


If I'm not getting an upgrade to WM5.0 atleast I hope to get a better ActiveSync. :(


You will be able to get it, but you won't really have any new features unless you have a Windows Mobile 5 devices. But I am running it with Windows Mobile 2003 SE devices and it works fine.

Details: http://www.davespda.com/index.php?itemid=367

That stinks. All I want is better category filtering. :roll:

[disconnected]

Unless I read it wrong, the review on davespda says you can't sync with WiFi or ethernet? That seems like a pain, especially if you don't have a USB2 device (or PC).

Nothing I've read so far claims any major speed increases for IE (and still no multiple pages). :cry:

I wonder if any existing apps will be able to run with no changes.

The HP news release says 5.0 updates will be available in the summer. In the past, haven't they released new devices well before making updates available for existing devices (presumably so impatient people will rush out and buy the new ones)?

[alex_kac]

Network synching has been disabled permanently until they come up with a new security mechanism for it.

[disconnected]

On the other hand, the geekzone review mentions that you CAN sync via bluetooth. I guess that's because you have to be somewhat close to the PC. I may have to figure out how to add bluetooth to my PC.

[surur]

Alex, I know you don't want to be the font of knowledge, but since you are still here and no-one else is answering:

Have you tried using your device as USB mass storage?
Have you tried true VGA mode?

Surur

[alex_kac]

Alex, I know you don't want to be the font of knowledge, but since you are still here and no-one else is answering:

Have you tried using your device as USB mass storage?
Have you tried true VGA mode?

Surur

No, I haven't tried the device as a USB mass storage device. Honestly, I have no idea how one would set that up. I thought I remember something about this being mentioned somewhere at some point, but I think if the OS is capable of it, the OEM has to enable it and I see no obvious way to enable it.

As for VGA - the device I have is not a VGA device. And if it was, I'm not a proponent for True VGA so I haven't ever run it even on my VGA devices. Not saying that I don't think anyone should run that - just that I don't.

[Dave Conger]

Have you tried true VGA mode?

What do you want to know about VGA mode?

[surur]

Have you tried true VGA mode?

What do you want to know about VGA mode?

Is there native support for shrinking the UI/icons/task bars, instead of just making everything double the resolution? Can it still be hacked to display real 640x480 vs (320x240)*4

Surur

[whydidnt]

I know we don't have all the details on this yet, but I'm pretty disappointed that PocketIE was given a bigger facelift. Why not upgrade to a newer rendering engine and give support for multiple windows at the same time?

Like Surur, I'd also like to hear if there are any improvements in handling of VGA devices, the current solution is pretty lousy IMO. I use OzVGA for a lot of what I do, but it breaks almost every game out there (since they are QVGA), so I end up having to reset and wait, sometimes I only have a spare minute or two to play as it is. It would be great to switch to True VGA mode without having to reset the device.

[alex_kac]

I can say that nothing in High DPI has changed, because it really doesn't need it.

High DPI, as designed, is a very very good design for the problem of putting a VGA screen on the same screen size as QVGA. The purpose of HighDPI is to keep the same size UI elements on VGA as on QVGA - physically. And that's a good thing. So as an operating system feature - High DPI is perfect as is.

Whats NOT a good thing and what I totally agree with critics of HighDPI is that the Windows Mobile apps that come with the OS are NOT designed to take advantage of the resolution. Things like using a 2 pixel line in Excel's grid are stupid. Things like PIE doubling the sizes of images is stupid. The apps are High DPI compatible, but in no way High DPI optimized and that's sad.

That is why PI provides so many options to work so well on VGA. We use 1 pixel line widths on our Month Grid and smaller text by default, and so on and so on. PI is High DPI optimized.

Anyhow, that's my little spiel.

[huangzhinong]

Have you tried true VGA mode?

What do you want to know about VGA mode?

Is there native support for shrinking the UI/icons/task bars, instead of just making everything double the resolution? Can it still be hacked to display real 640x480 vs (320x240)*4

Surur

You will never see the so called "real" VGA in wm5 and later. I don't speak for you, but I don't need it. The software compatiability is more important for both MS and consumers.

[alex_kac]

One major thing I wanted to let people know about - WM5 now uses signing for application, much like Smart Phones.

[gibson042]

No, I haven't tried the device as a USB mass storage device. Honestly, I have no idea how one would set that up. I thought I remember something about this being mentioned somewhere at some point, but I think if the OS is capable of it, the OEM has to enable it and I see no obvious way to enable it.
This one's easy. Plug the unit into a PC running a recent OS (Windows 2000/XP; Mac OS X; Linux kernel 2.6+) that does not have ActiveSync or compatible synchronization software. Is the PPC recognized? Are any of its contents browseable? Or does the OS just complain about not having a driver?

I too am very interested in the answers to these questions, and in the prospect of using a Pocket PC as removable storage that can interface with other computers even in the absence of a network.

[huangzhinong]

No, I haven't tried the device as a USB mass storage device. Honestly, I have no idea how one would set that up. I thought I remember something about this being mentioned somewhere at some point, but I think if the OS is capable of it, the OEM has to enable it and I see no obvious way to enable it.
This one's easy. Plug the unit into a PC running a recent OS (Windows 2000/XP; Mac OS X; Linux kernel 2.6+) that does not have ActiveSync or compatible synchronization software. Is the PPC recognized? Are any of its contents browseable? Or does the OS just complain about not having a driver?

I too am very interested in the answers to these questions, and in the prospect of using a Pocket PC as removable storage that can interface with other computers even in the absence of a network.

It's impossible for MS implementing it. It's OEM's responsiblity to implement it. From the hardware, the device must comply with the drivers which MS provided in the desktop system.

[gibson042]

It's impossible for MS implementing it. It's OEM's responsiblity to implement it. From the hardware, the device must comply with the drivers which MS provided in the desktop system.
Even if this is true, Microsoft still controls the definition of both Pocket PC® and Smartphone® (an ODM can't pick, for instance, an arbitrary screen resolution or processor architecture), so there is nothing stopping them from requiring that all units present themselves as USB Mass Storage devices to computers without synchronization software.

But that said, I don't think your statement is completely accurate. Hardware is certainly required, but the hardware requirement is minimal and already present. I know this because current devices can, in fact, communicate over USB. The details of that communication are controlled by software... Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating systems. In devices that would be USB Mass Storage clients, the OS would be responsible for context switches to and from ActiveSync.

[surur]

Yes huangzhinong, unless you have an actual device dont make definative statements.

Regarding UI size, I can only note on the desktop these items can be switched between big and small icons etc, and it was not the end of the world. Ive grown used to having my screen taken up by content, especially as the taskbar/menu bar on the pocketpc does so little.

Anyways, no need to start a flamewar. 25% of responders at Firstloox.org run, like me, exclusively in True VGA, and I appreciate how well PI works AND looks in that mode. Thanks Alex, for being so flexible.

Surur

[alex_kac]

It's impossible for MS implementing it. It's OEM's responsiblity to implement it. From the hardware, the device must comply with the drivers which MS provided in the desktop system.
Even if this is true, Microsoft still controls the definition of both Pocket PC® and Smartphone® (an ODM can't pick, for instance, an arbitrary screen resolution or processor architecture), so there is nothing stopping them from requiring that all units present themselves as USB Mass Storage devices to computers without synchronization software.

But that said, I don't think your statement is completely accurate. Hardware is certainly required, but the hardware requirement is minimal and already present. I know this because current devices can, in fact, communicate over USB. The details of that communication are controlled by software... Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating systems. In devices that would be USB Mass Storage clients, the OS would be responsible for context switches to and from ActiveSync.

That may all be true, but remember that right now nobody has REAL WM5 devices, as in the same ones that you will be buying in 3 months. For any that has a WM5 device, its going to be a current device suited for development/testing. In fact, the devices we are testing from are 2 years old hardware wise.

[whydidnt]

You will never see the so called "real" VGA in wm5 and later. I don't speak for you, but I don't need it. The software compatiability is more important for both MS and consumers.

I think this is an extreme overstatement. I'm sure at some point in the past, someone would have said - you'll never see anything but 160 x 160 in a Palm device for the very reasons you quote.

However, as we've seen in desktop PC's, it certainly is "possible" to build an OS and accompaning applications that allow for different resolutions. Certainly in the mobile device space their are constraits on storage space, processor speed, etc that cause this sort of feature to be left out of the OS at present, but as those issues are crushed by new technology you can bet there will be a day when most apps are resolution independent in the PDA world as well.

In the mean time, I doubt it would take a huge amount of effort for MS to incorporate TrueVGA in the OS, in much the same way Landscape is currently supported. This would allow those of us that have a disdain for the high DPI implementation to use the hi-res screens we paid for without having reset our devices every time we want to change apps.

[alex_kac]

Anyways, no need to start a flamewar. 25% of responders at Firstloox.org run, like me, exclusively in True VGA, and I appreciate how well PI works AND looks in that mode. Thanks Alex, for being so flexible.

Surur

Yes, I do not want to start a flamewar. I think that for those people who like TrueVGA mode - more power to them and I have no desire to see MS squash that capability. I think its an important feature. However, I also don't think it should be the default or even a simple option for the vast majority of users. Why? Simple - memory. Right now when you install PI and 99% of other High DPI compatible software, at install time it figures out what device you're using and installs ONLY the High DPI or QVGA resources. If there was a simple switch, users would have to dedicate 50% more resource space for each app to include both VGA and QVGA resources in memory.

But I'm glad you like it and I do hope it works in WM5. The only reason I could think that it won't may be due to the new security system.

[gibson042]

That may all be true, but remember that right now nobody has REAL WM5 devices, as in the same ones that you will be buying in 3 months. For any that has a WM5 device, its going to be a current device suited for development/testing. In fact, the devices we are testing from are 2 years old hardware wise.
I didn't know that. Thank you very much for the information; it answers my questions for now. I'll cross my fingers and wait for hardware reviews.

[alex_kac]

Let me just have my comments on WM5 put this way - I think its the biggest jump in Windows Mobile since WCE 2.1 to Pocket PC 2000. Bigger perhaps.

Will it be worth it to upgrade? I don't know, because it depends on your needs/wants. A lot of things are fixed. A lot of things are redesigned. A lot of things are finally done right. Not everything...but a lot. There are design problems and its not perfect, but on the whole its a lot better than Wm2003.

My only concern is around an element that I cannot quantify well until I get it running on a 4700, Dell X50v - or some other current device with it and not antiquated hardware not designed for it.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Are office documents used in native file format now, or are they still converted by ActiveSync? (implications for the previous question about mounting as mass storage).

Yes, I believe that is in place for both Word and Excel. PowerPoint does not do any file modifications, so things would be fine there.

:clap: More good news.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Let me just have my comments on WM5 put this way - I think its the biggest jump in Windows Mobile since WCE 2.1 to Pocket PC 2000. Bigger perhaps.

:alfdance: I've been looking forward to it. Do keep letting us know what you can about the new design etc. Cheers.

[Jonathon Watkins]

One major thing I wanted to let people know about - WM5 now uses signing for application, much like Smart Phones.

Ah. What more can you tell us about this? Does this mean that carriers etc. who will be giving out PPCs and smartphones with contracts can stop people installing applications that don't come from them? Can you unpack this for us a bit?

[Cheetah]

Word, Excel and Powerpoint upgrade, but how about Outlook?

Outlook should be upgraded to more closely match PC client version, especially when operating on an Exchange Server.

Any word on "Mobile Outlook"?

[Darius Wey]

Word, Excel and Powerpoint upgrade, but how about Outlook?

Of course there is. The enhancements in email handling and the Contacts interface are all a part of Outlook Mobile. MSN services will be well-integrated in Outlook, and there will be more fields available for contact information.

[Cheetah]

Of course there is. The enhancements in email handling and the Contacts interface are all a part of Outlook Mobile. MSN services will be well-integrated in Outlook, and there will be more fields available for contact information.

Great to hear there will be improvements to some of the basic app functions....but WHERE is there info that there will be any changes to Calendar/Contacts/Email etc.?

I didn't see any mention of these changes anywhere I read.

Thanks in advance.

[Darius Wey]

Great to hear there will be improvements to some of the basic app functions....but WHERE is there info that there will be any changes to Calendar/Contacts/Email etc.? I didn't see any mention of these changes anywhere I read.

The Keynote is a great place to start. Here's (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/_archives/jul05/winmobile5.asp) a nice article if you want a bit of an overview at Contacts and Pocket MSN. This is by no means a complete look at all the changes. More will be revealed as time goes on - reviews will begin to surface, etc.