That's not true. Memory configurations have improved markedly. Back in WM 2003 SE, memory was limited to maybe 96 MB ROM and 64 MB RAM
Steve
Been disputed by others, so I won't belabor it, but my WM2003SE Dell X50 had a 624Mhz processor and 128M of RAM due to a PPCTechs upgrade. I think the battery limitation prior to the non-volitile RAM was only half the issue there. Back then Flash RAM was expensive, compared to today, and you couldn't build a competitavely priced PDA with the extra RAM. We've had the capability to build those devices for some time, and now that the technology is getting more affordable, we aren't seeing many 'high end' devices pushing the limits of anything new, even at premium prices. MS can't afford to build a new OS that requires cutting edge ($$$) technology, they would need to build for the norm, and the norm isn't much better than what was available for the same price 2-3 years ago.
It also occurs to me that if IE6 is bundled with WM6.5, and IE6 requires new hardware (according to that blog post) then there will be no WM6.5 upgrades made available, only new hardware can handle it.
That was one of the things that I asked about. The other possibility is that there will be a build of WM 6.5 that doesn't include IE Mobile 6 for older/slower devices. Remember the old Pocket PC Professional/Premium split?
Been disputed by others, so I won't belabor it, but my WM2003SE Dell X50 had a 624Mhz processor and 128M of RAM due to a PPCTechs upgrade.
Yes, I apparently got the 624 MHz time wrong (which is why I said that I don't remember what processors were the fastest when WM 2003 SE was released ), but saying you had 128 MB RAM thanks to a warranty-voiding upgrade hardly counts. That's like saying you overclock your CPU (which you could also d9 with Windows Mobile).
You also edited out where I said that some devices (like my iPAQ 5550) did have 128 MB RAM. However, that RAM was divided among storage and programs, so you couldn't really use most of the RAM for program execution.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sven
I think the battery limitation prior to the non-volitile RAM was only half the issue there. Back then Flash RAM was expensive, compared to today, and you couldn't build a competitavely priced PDA with the extra RAM.
I'm sure that's true, but economics is part of building a device. People complained about the $750 price of the old iPAQ 3970 or the high prices some unlocked phones debut at. OEMs have to perform a balancing act between power, battery life and cost. While some people might pay $1000 for the latest PDA phone, I certainly wouldn't, and I consider myself a gadget geek.
Sorry, but I can't agree that these devices have been evolving. I have to agree with the previous poster that WM hardware has been evolving at a snails pace compared to virtually ANY other computing technology we've seen in the last 20 years.
You contradict yourself. Evolving at a snail's pace is still evolving. Yes, things haven't evolved as fast as we'd like, but they are moving forward (although perhaps in different directions, like adding phones and high-speed data).
Quote:
Originally Posted by whydidnt
Palm and Microsoft share the blame for resting on their laurels. Thank goodness Apple and Nokia have decided to push the envelope. Without their prodding, we still be dealing with VGA or worse, 240 x 240 screens, 300- 400 Mhz processors and zilch in the way of accessible memory.
Oh, please. While I agree that Palm and Microsoft rested on their laurels, we had 624 MHz processors long before Apple entered the market and 320x240 screens were standard. Also, unless I'm badly mistaken, the iPhone doesn't even have VGA resolution.
Quote:
Originally Posted by whydidnt
The fact that MS now decides to try and port an old desktop browser to try and "compete" and then gives us the laughable "requires more advanced hardware" makes me want to scream! How stupid do they think we are??
Very funny. This has already been hacked out of a beta diamond ROM and is shipping in custom ROMs for many devices. lol. Does anyone still use the slow crap bloatware packed ROMs that these devices ship with?
Please - it's not Microsoft's fault? Who made the decision that the browser is part of the OS and can't be upgraded independently? There isn't a technical reason it has to be tied to the OS, it's a pure business decision made by MS to require that IE be part of the ROM instead of a separately installed application.
What I said was it isn't solely Microsoft's fault.
Microsoft has a part to play but unfortunately they have to make decisions that keep all of their Windows Mobile hardware manufacturers happy and if I am not mistaken they have a LOT of hardware manufacturers. I'm sure if the decision rested only on Microsoft's shoulders then we would all receive updates for our devices.
Heck, didn't Microsoft state a little over a year ago that they would offer free Windows Mobile updates to any hardware manufacture that wanted to release it for their clients?
Look at the Zune, a platform in which Microsoft controls both the hardware and software aspect of the environment. I am still receiving new firmware updates for my first generation Zune. Why? Because Microsoft isn't stupid, they understand that if you upgrade the products you will keep customers happy. In this situation though if Microsoft updates everyone's software than the hardware manufactuers do not make money selling new hardware. So yes, while we are getting screwed it is not because Microsoft hates us but because they most likely had to make a business decisions that keeps their customers (device makers) happy and making money so they can buy more products from Microsoft.
Microsoft get's the bad rap because their name is on the operating system but the truth is that we are not Microsoft's Windows Mobile customers at all, companies like HTC and Motorola are Microsoft's customers in this field and we in turn are customers of the device makers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by whydidnt
WM 6.5 & 7 "right around the corner"? Please, we probably won't see 6.5 devices until 3rd quarter 2009 at the earliest, and mark my words it will be late 2010 before 7 is actually available on devices. Unless your corner is in the next city, I'm not sure I'd use those words.
Rumors have been flying around that Microsoft will announce Windows Mobile 6.5 during Q1 2009, which is right around the corner. If these rumors are true we should start to hear rumblings from either Microsoft or another one of their anxious partners anywhere between 1-4 months from now. Motorola has already stated that they have a team working with Microsoft to help make Windows Mobile 6.5 something to talk about. I'm sure other device makers are already working to bring Windows Mobile 6.5 to their upcoming lineup of handsets as well.
If you already have groups of people working on Windows Mobile 6.5, why pull them off the project to work on upgrade for the inferior, at least in version number, Windows Mobile 6.1.4?
Plus I don't see the big deal at all, we all know that Internet Explorer 6 was a disgusting excuse for a browser. We should be PRAISING Microsoft for not releasing this update to our devices (that was sarcasm for anyone that didn't pick up on it!)
Well for what is worth, like one poster above mentioned, IE6 is allready in some un-official ROMs that you can download for your devices, so the new HW part is a load of crap. But that was pretty obvious since they have to test both IE6 and WM 6.5 on some real HW anyway so of course it works on current HW...
In any case I'll be downloading a new ROM for my Advantage this weekend that includes IE6 and see for myself if it's usable at all.
I strongly believe that, thirty years from now, the way MS is killing its share in the mobile segment will be a case study for people attending Economic Courses in the Universities.
I am not sure if what we saw is a monument to ignorance, stupidity, arrogance or a mix of all of them.
I agree with this but dont believe it will take 30 years - in 3 years time windows mobile will be to smartphones what Palm became, obsolete and a foot note in gadget history.
Microsoft have really dropped the ball with Windows Mobile but the concerning thing is they dropped it two years ago and have been fumbling ever since. WM7 will likely be a huge improvement but by the time it is released the current versions of the Iphone, Android and Symbian will have developed even further.
Does anyone still use the slow crap bloatware packed ROMs that these devices ship with?
I do. Personally, I think cooked ROMs are basically pirated software.
It's one thing to strip the bloatware out of a ROM, because then the person isn't getting anything more than they've paid for. It's still a gray area, though, because they are technically still distributing software they don't own.
It's another thing completely when somebody takes something like WM 6.1 and makes it available for devices that don't have an official upgrade. That's software piracy pure and simple, and I'm surprised that Microsoft or the OEMs haven't tried to shut that down (or, if they have tried, that they've failed so far).
It strikes me as strange that sites that wouldn't allow discussion of where to find pirated music allow discussion of where to find pirated ROMs.
I do. Personally, I think cooked ROMs are basically pirated software.
It's one thing to strip the bloatware out of a ROM, because then the person isn't getting anything more than they've paid for. It's still a gray area, though, because they are technically still distributing software they don't own.
It's another thing completely when somebody takes something like WM 6.1 and makes it available for devices that don't have an official upgrade. That's software piracy pure and simple, and I'm surprised that Microsoft or the OEMs haven't tried to shut that down (or, if they have tried, that they've failed so far).
It strikes me as strange that sites that wouldn't allow discussion of where to find pirated music allow discussion of where to find pirated ROMs.
Steve
This is off topic but...
I guess you are right about that, but you see I use HTC and WM devices for two reasons.
One is XDA developes and the fact that I know I'll be getting support and new ROMs for my device, something you rearly if at all get from Microsoft and/or HTC/carrier. I also believe that both Microsoft and HTC know that such a community does much much more good in promoting and supporting the platform than all the companies together. That's probably the reason why they don't shut them down.
The other reason is software, both the one that I have bought and love to use and the fact that there is huge selection of applications for almost anything.
You take away one of these reasons and I'll have no reason to use WM.
And for what is worth, my current main device (Diamond) is still on default ROM since I haven't have the reason to do an upgrade yet.
LinkBack to this Thread: http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/f397/internet-explorer-6-windows-mobile-devices-no-upgrades-updates-new-devices-only-91373.html
IE 6 and WM 6.5
), but saying you had 128 MB RAM thanks to a warranty-voiding upgrade hardly counts. That's like saying you overclock your CPU (which you could also d9 with Windows Mobile). 
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