03-25-2008, 08:34 PM
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Managing Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,999
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Windows Mobile 6.1 to be Released on April 1st!
"Pocket-lint has learnt from sources close to the matter that Microsoft will announce the much-rumoured refresh to its mobile phone operating system, Windows Mobile, on 1 April 2008. An improvement over Windows Mobile 6 released in February 2007 the new version, unsurprisingly named 6.1, will be a stop-gap measure to keep both consumers and industry happy until the launch of Windows Mobile 7. Leaked screenshots of 6.1 have already done the rounds in the blogosphere, and show the system has been simplified with the screens displaying less mess than the Vista-inspired version 6. A new look with new fonts, new homescreen and new features such as a task manager and copying and pasting in Internet Explorer all bode well for users of Microsoft's OS for handhelds."
[Image courtesy of Boy Genius Review]
Late last year we brought you news and images from BGR's uncovering of a Motorola Q9h running Windows Mobile 6.1. It appears that Microsoft will finally be releasing this Windows Mobile upgrade on April 1st, 2008... Which also happens to be April Fools Day, so heres hoping this isn't some early Internet prank!
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03-25-2008, 08:42 PM
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Contributing Editor-in-Training
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 748
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I'll just mention that this will definitely be a worthwhile upgrade to any WM 6.0 (or previous) user.  Will it be available directly from Microsoft, or will users need to go through their carrier to obtain the upgrade? |
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03-25-2008, 09:10 PM
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Managing Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,999
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Williamson
I'll just mention that this will definitely be a worthwhile upgrade to any WM 6.0 (or previous) user. Will it be available directly from Microsoft, or will users need to go through their carrier to obtain the upgrade? |
No word at the moment. With Microsoft's/Carrier's previous upgrade track record, we can expect this update to come from the individual carriers... but just like the Samsung Blackjack, by the time the update comes out it might be a month or two before the release of Windows Mobile 7 |
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03-25-2008, 09:31 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 113
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Hmm.. I don't expect this to be available for the Treo 500v, as Vodafone (just as Samsung does) already packed some sweet special features into it.
BTW - Just noticed that the WM6.1 "homescreen menu" with all those settings and such looks quite similiar to the Vodafone main menu on the 500v.
Nevertheless, hope springs eternal  |
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03-25-2008, 10:29 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 69
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I don't know Rocco.
I don't think even Microsoft would want the karma of releasing the upgrade to Windows Mobile on April Fool's Day. Even they would see the potential sarcasm and endless opportunities for anti-Microsoft / Windows Mobile jokes and negative PR from the Ivory Tower of Redmond.
I'm leaning (heavily at the moment) towards an early April Fool's Day prank.
(I (really) hope I'm wrong though, we've all been waiting for this long enough.)
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03-26-2008, 12:33 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 283
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It's good to see MS stepping up again to keep improving WM OS. Unfortunately for people like me, I don't get excited anymore with this kinds of news since majority of people who currently owns WM smartphone cannot take advantage of this (I've own many smartphone and PDA. I even started in the WinCE era for my PPC). Many users are deemed to be in the "upgradeable" list because 1) the hardware doesn't support it or 2) the provider doesn't even care providing it to their subscribers. I think MS just wants people to keep buying new phones/PDA if they want to take advantage of this new OS. After Cingular 8125 (HTC Wizard / WM5), I haven't bought anymore new smartphone. I don't want to play catch-up anymore since it is costing me a lot.
Anyway, it's just my opinion. I'm really happy to whoever will be able to upgrade their phones with this new release.
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John Cruz
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03-26-2008, 12:58 AM
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Contributing Editor-in-Training
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 748
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Just a heads-up, the T-Mobile Dash/HTC S620/Excalibur/Whatever Else It's Called will for sure support WM 6.1. |
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03-26-2008, 02:01 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,179
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BlackJack II also has 6.1 in it's future. Or so I've been told.
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"I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious" - Albert Einstein |
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03-26-2008, 02:04 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,179
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Prosper
BTW - Just noticed that the WM6.1 "homescreen menu" with all those settings and such looks quite similiar to the Vodafone main menu on the 500v.
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The 500v has a very cool interface. But it won't be exactly the same as 6.1. 
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"I have no special talents, I am only passionately curious" - Albert Einstein |
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03-26-2008, 02:44 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 22
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uh... April 1st?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocco Augusto
It appears that Microsoft will finally be releasing this Windows Mobile upgrade on April 1st, 2008... Which also happens to be April Fools Day, so heres hoping this isn't some early Internet prank!
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I'm with you there, but I'm not holding my breath. |
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