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View Full Version : Windows Mobile 6.5.3 Makes a Quiet Appearance at CES


Darius Wey
01-11-2010, 06:30 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/09/microsoft-windows-mobile-6-5-3-shown-off-very-very-quietly/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/09/...y-very-quietly/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Say, for a moment, that you're Microsoft and you're on the cusp of releasing a version of the much-maligned Windows Mobile 6.5 that actually made it touch-friendly for once -- but like all WinMo versions before it, you're relying on carriers and manufacturers to wage an inexcusably slow, arbitrary, incomplete upgrade campaign. Wouldn't you think that quietly burying its launch amongst a sea of more interesting (and less controversial) products might be a good idea?"</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1263222962.usr2.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>The folks at Engadget, in their quest to report the weird and wonderful at CES, <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/09/microsoft-windows-mobile-6-5-3-shown-off-very-very-quietly/" target="_blank">discovered</a> Windows Mobile 6.5.3 running on a TG01 and Traveler, which more or less confirms its existence. When it'll officially be released as an upgrade for said devices is anyone's guess. It is, after all, in the hands of the related manufacturers and carriers. But what's so great about v6.5.3, anyway? More touch-friendly adjustments throughout the UI. Less great is the fact that they're somewhat of <a href="http://www.engadget.com/photos/microsoft-windows-mobile-6-5-3-shown-off-very-very-quietly/2603101" target="_blank">an eyesore</a>. One can only hope that's something that the much-anticipated Windows Mobile 7 will rectify.</p>

Djblois
01-11-2010, 09:05 PM
Wondering what part of the UI do you consider an eye sore?

Darius Wey
01-12-2010, 01:43 AM
Wondering what part of the UI do you consider an eye sore?

The touch-friendly bottom bar. Many designers I've spoken to agree that the buttons could use work, and the bar itself could blend into the rest of the UI better. It currently seems tacked on, which actually isn't that far from the truth.

In fact, the UI of v6.5 still reeks of its predecessors. Shade effects do little to mask the archaic design of the tap-and-hold menus and notification bubbles. Appearance is just one of the many reasons why a lot of people are looking forward to v7.

griph
01-12-2010, 01:56 AM
Its nice to see WP finally cluing up to being more thumb friendly. I'm not sure I agree about the bottom bar - it looks fairly good from this distance ;) However the general screen views whilst being more touch friendly appear very basic - it could do with the touch of someone with a good graphic design eye. Hopefully with capacitive screen's these new generation devices will start to give the iPhone interface a bit of competition! Will be interesting as to which surfaces first - WP7 of iPhone4! Roll up, roll up place your bets! :)

mbranscum
01-12-2010, 10:16 PM
I was running a 6.5.3 test version on my HTC Pure. It took all of about 60 minutes before I took it off. It is very ugly and distracting. It is also not compatible with some shell programs.

Fritzly
01-12-2010, 11:49 PM
I was running a 6.5.3 test version on my HTC Pure. It took all of about 60 minutes before I took it off. It is very ugly and distracting. It is also not compatible with some shell programs.

Well I guess this is just a matter of personal preferences; I have 6.3 in my HTC HD II and I could not imagine to go back to 6.5.
Btw I do not use "Sense" just the standard MS UI.

Joel Crane
01-14-2010, 05:03 PM
What I hate about it is what they don't show: I guarantee that as soon as you dig down into a menu (settings for example), it's going to look exactly like it did 9 years ago, complete with little white tabs on the bottom and tiny check boxes.