Windows Mobile 5 Screenshot Gallery

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/press/imagegallery/default.mspx' target='_blank'>http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmob...ry/default.mspx</a><br /><br /></div>Looking for screenshots of what this new operating system looks like? Check out the Screenshot Gallery on Microsoft's Windows Mobile site. Here's a screenshot of the new charting tool in Pocket Excel:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/_assets/images/press/Office/ExcelGraph3.jpg" />

[dangerwit]

:drool: Love the screenshots, though it'd be weird to have softkeys on a non-phone PDA. Still, makes a smartphone that much more interesting. I hope someone nails down the push email quickly, then I can give up my BB!

Let the "I want WM5" whining begin! ;)

[Foo Fighter]

I have mixed feelings about the new "look". The blue doesn't carry well in terms of contrast, I can see this being a problem on mobile devices in real-world use. Especially in bright sunlight. The new "close" widget in particular looks very disturbing; a tiny square vaguely visible button. The current plain white circle has more visibility and contrast.

Naturally you can't tell how well the new design will work until you see it up close and in person. But so far I'm not left speechless.

On the other hand, I absolutely LOVE the new phone interface!!!

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/_assets/images/press/customization/CustomIncomingCall.jpg

[Wiggster]

On the other hand, I absolutely LOVE the new phone interface!!!


I'm guessing you don't have unattractive people whom you'd rather look at in your phone book :mrgreen:

[OSUKid7]

On the other hand, I absolutely LOVE the new phone interface!!!
WOW! :drool: I haven't even looked at the other screenshots yet, but that is one of the best interfaces I've seen in a long time. Keep up the good work WinMobile design team. :-D

[NeilE]

Keep in mind that phone screenshot is an example of a potential operator or hardware partner customization. It's not the actual phone UI that ships from Microsoft as default.

Having said that, it is super sweet and I can't wait to see people start offering screens like that!

Neil

[njl2016]

What about programs that have several items in the menu bar?

[alex_kac]

What about programs that have several items in the menu bar?

The OS supports old style menus or soft keys. An app has to support either or both. For example, take a look here:

http://www.webis.net/press/wm5.php#Graphics

and you'll see PI 2005 running with either soft keys or with the normal menu bar.

[yankeejeep]

Well, my own preference is to keep my PPC and phone as two rather than converge them into one. The new interface doesn't do anything for me and the Word and Excel apps are still a far cry from the real word processor and spreadsheet that SoftMaker puts out. For a change, I'm not going to be tempted to pick up a device that runs the new OS right away. Maybe next year.

[alex_kac]

There is a lot more to an OS than the apps it comes with. Also important is what the OS does to enable third party apps to do more, more quickly. And out of all the Windows Mobile releases Microsoft has had in the last 5 years this is the one that makes the biggest difference to third party developers.

[SteveHoward999]

Does anyone know of a list of "**could be** Windows Mobile 5-compatible" devices on the market now? I'd like to at least know what coulod be upgraded, and/or what existing machines might start appearing with the new OS.

[alex_kac]

Any device CAN be upgraded if it runs XScale/ARM. But its like saying that you CAN put a train engine into a car. It won't work very well, but it can be done.

The devices which make sense to upgrade to WM5 are those with very large and very fast FlashROMs of 64MB or more at the very least.

[Raphael Salgado]

Perhaps this comes out of the mouth of a single Level 1 tech support individual over at i-mate, but this thread (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=631899) is from a guy who received word from such a representative at i-mate, telling him with such assurance that there will be no Windows Mobile 2005 upgrade for their flagship product that happens to have more features combined than any other PocketPC device currently out on the market.

Let's pray that this individual is wrong and gets fired, but if after spending nearly $900 on a PocketPC Phone Edition device, you'd think you'd get a little more respect.

[alex_kac]

Why would you want to shoot the messenger and get the rep fired? He wouldn't be the one who makes the decision. Complain to the OEMs. It may just be that they don't feel device would work well for WM5. Maybe the 64MB ROM size just isn't enough. Maybe its a slow FlashROM (I know it is on my XDA II - I wouldn't want WM5 on that) which would make the device very slow.

I don't really know why they won't release WM5 on that device or even if the rep is right, but it just seems wrong to want to fire a rep when he's not the one deciding - and it may just not be suitable for the device anyway.

[Janak Parekh]

Well, my own preference is to keep my PPC and phone as two rather than converge them into one. The new interface doesn't do anything for me and the Word and Excel apps are still a far cry from the real word processor and spreadsheet that SoftMaker puts out. For a change, I'm not going to be tempted to pick up a device that runs the new OS right away. Maybe next year.
Well, yeah, Microsoft's not going to trip on SoftMaker's shoes -- it doesn't help developers if the platform developer kills the market. But from what I've heard from Microsoft, they've put insane amounts of work into Word Mobile to make it handle desktop formats better.

--janak

[Darius Wey]

On the other hand, I absolutely LOVE the new phone interface!!!

Directly skinnable too. Windows Mobile 5 has done great things for the GUI, oh... and for developers too!