20 New Windows Mobile 6-Devices Expected Before the End of 2007?

[Pete Paxton]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=3960' target='_blank'>http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=3960</a><br /><br /></div><i>"According to sources at Microsoft Taiwan, additional 20 new Windows Mobile 6-based handsets (most likely most of them smartphones) are expected to be launched before the end of this year. With the recently launched Windows Mobile 6 platform, Microsoft's share in the global mobile devices market is expected to double to 20 % in 2008 from the current level of 10 %, said Eddie Wu, managing director of Microsoft ODM embedded devices, Asia. While most of the above mentioned devices might come from HTC, some other devices can be expected from other manufactures like Asustek, Gigabyte, E-Ten, Quanta, Arima, HP and Samsung sources told DigiTimes."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/paxton-07022007-WM6.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />So, with 20 new devices coming out, what would you like to see? Something like the iPhone perhaps? Something all together different? The one I'm still drooling over is the <a href="http://www.asus.com/news_show.aspx?id=7206">Asus m530w</a>. I'd love a 3G device with WiFi, a 400mhz processor, and a 2MP camera. But most of all I'd like a front facing video camera so we can video conference here in the US. So what are you hoping for? What would your perfect device be?

[Jerry Raia]

I'd like to see more clam shell phones myself.

[hylton]

My perfect phone would probably be an engineering challeng. Basically, the upcoming (rumored) S730 in a flip factor would be my perfect device, although, the specs as they stand are going to be pretty much exactly what I have always wanted in a WM device.

The challenge would be incorporating a dialpad, qwerty, both into a flip factor...not even sure I have an idea how that would work. But having a protected screen in addition to what the S730 brings to the table would be sweet.

I personally plan on picking up the S730, ATT branded if they choose to carry it, or unbranded if they don't. It'll bring all the things I need/want/prefer to a single form factor.

Chris

[SteveHoward999]

I thought the Toshiba G900 was going to be it for me, but sadly no since it's only tri-band. So here's a completly hopeless dream instead

1GHz processor (thought we would have had these 2 years ago!!!)
1Gb RAM
20Gb internal storage
Bluetooth 2 without any missing protocols &lt;hint>
Wi-Fi - 802.11g or better
GPS built in
HDSD or mini-SD or micro-SD
CF slot - yes I did say CF!!! Best, easiest, cheapest way to high-capacity storage without worrying about 2Gb or 4Gb limitations! I currently have a total of 12 Gb in my old Toshiba E830.
800x480 *or better* screen - 4 inches please
Slide-out keyboard
Native support for Blackberry/Exchange/other push email
Quad-band phone with good world-wide selection of 3G or better internet
Graphics co-processor
Multi-touch screen so we can pretend it's trying to get the same users as the iPhone.

OK what did I miss?

[Rocco Augusto]

id want something like this (http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/13/meizu-m8-minione-closer-to-production-litigation/)

Well, I don't really want that phone, but I would love for Microsoft or a third party partner to develop a Windows Mobile Device that had more power (CPU/RAM) as well as a fair amount of storage and a UI that didn't want to make me gorge my eyes out :)

[SteveHoward999]

probably what I'd like to see most are devices who give over more than 1/4 to 1/3 of the front of the machine to screen. All that 'chrome' etc robs us of valuable screen space. Take a look at things like the BlackJack. I'd happliy lose the keyboard for a screen that's 2 or 3 times larger.

[Hyer]

I'm looking forward to the S730, just for the processing power and 3G. I have an S710, but it is kind of flaky, I have to reboot a couple times a day and have been noticing more and more calls going straight to vmail. I think that I may have some setting problems but NO ONE seems to know what WM6 settings on Cingular/ATT should be.

Anyone know when the 730 is coming out?

[Stinger]

My dream device would be:

HTC S710 form-factor...
... but with improved keyboard layout
2100Mhz HSPDA/Quad-band GSM
A camera at least as good as the Sony Ericsson K800i (i.e 3.2MP, autofocus, xenon flash, lens cover)
Video recording at least as good as the Nokia N95 (i.e. VGA resolution at 30fps)
300Mhz+ ARM CPU
3.5mm headphone socket
2.2" QVGA screen
Built-in GPS
microSD with SDHC support
Available on T-Mobile UK

I don't want a touchscreen and I don't need WiFi when there's flat-rate HSDPA access.

Now who wants to make this device? HTC? Samsung? Please? :D

[nycsmartphone]

I want a flip phone. I like my 3125. Not sure why I am addicted to them, maybe watching too much The West Wing where everybody snapped their phone shut loudly after a very important phone call.

[jsnielsen]

There are two devices I could go for:

S710, with 3G, GPS (with TMC), a faster processor, and a 3.2mp autofocus camera, and a highres screen.

HTC Kaiser with a highres screen, but a lot slimmer and lighter.

Focus for me right now, are the connection abilities (quadband, 3G, Wifi), the camera (2 or 3.2 mp both with autofocus), the thumbkeyboard.

Does size matter ? Yes. But if the device has a LOT of great functionality, I'm willing to carry a heavier device than normal.

Right now I'm looking at the HTC Kaiser as my next phone. BUT... and I'm sorry to say, I'm reeeeally looking into the forthcoming Sony Ericsson P1(i ?). It has all the goodness in a small formfactor.

So in conclusion:

- Storage. I could live with miniSD or SD. That'd be fine.
- Highres screens among others for taking notes at meetings etc.
- GPS with TMC
- Thumbkeyboard
- 2/3.2 mp autofocus cam with lowres frontcam for conferencing
- Quadband GSM, 3G and WiFi
- FM Radio would be nice
- Slim and lightweight (I guess even 140g would be great.
- Long batterylife

The dream device I could use for everything :)

[SteveHoward999]

I want a flip phone. I like my 3125. Not sure why I am addicted to them, maybe watching too much The West Wing where everybody snapped their phone shut loudly after a very important phone call.

It's all because of Captain Kirk ...

[PantherShade]

I love my 3125, but it could be better. :roll:

Using it as a base device, here's what I would change/add:
- WM6, upgradeable
- 3.0 camera
- Increased display customization
- 2 full size screens, both touch sensitive 8O

Yeah, you heard me. I want both sides of the flip phone to be a touch screen. I don't need to have one big screen, and it be even better if they could display two different things. Can you say "Nintendo DS Phone"? I knew you could. :twisted:

[zeke009]

My ideal device would be very simplistic...
- WM6 or current
- Syncs with Outlook
- Candy bar (2125) or flip (3125) form factor, no CrackBerry designs!
- Current specs that the networks in North America support, in other words up-to-date with today and ready for emerging technology
- Affordable, the iPhone is not affordable and CrackBerry Windows Mobile devices are not something I budget for or will.

[baralong]

I've got to say I've got what is close to my ideal device now, Dopod C730 (HTC Cavalier). Yes there are a few changes I'd like to make: more battery life, GPS, HCSD, front camera. But they are all just nice to haves.

But on the whole I love it.

My only real issues are WM6 related:
I'd like to be able to change the DPI, let me set the font size like I can on WM6 Pro, but give me back my screen real estate. I feel like I need a "true QVGA" hack like the "true VGA" hacks out there.
Let me customise the buttons&lt;
When I start typing in a "to" field (eg on an email) start resolving the name to an address.
better font formatting in editing word and emails, also let me create a new doccument in word
Oh and make the keyboard back light stay on longer :)

[Kirkaiya]

id want something like this (http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/13/meizu-m8-minione-closer-to-production-litigation/)

Well, I don't really want that phone, but...

Hey, I think I *would* want that phone - it's even more "iPhone" than the iPhone: smaller, sleeker, and with a higher-resolution screen.

The one big "gotcha" is that the forums on the Meizu site say the M8 / miniOne will run Windows CE 6.0, not Windows Mobile. Having owned a WinCE phone before (the Axia A108 ran WinCE 4.2, aka "WinCE.Net"), I already know that it's hit-or-miss whether apps written for either PocketPC or SmartPhone can be made to run on raw WinCE with a custom shell. If they really can do that hardware in that form-factor, though, I'd think about it anyway.

Why on Earth wouldn't Meizu plan on WM6 (or whatever update is out by the end of this year)? Also, it looks like it might be just vaporware, as all they have are (very well-done) computer mockups, I think (none of those pics actually looked "real").

Anyway - thanks for the link. If I get to China in the next few months, and I'm anywhere near their factory, maybe I'll stop by and, based on my being a "SmartPhoneThoughts Contributor", ask if I can play with a prototype or something :wink:

[andrewbadera]

Fullsize keyboard -- however a numeric keypad for dialing is a must!!! I'm quite tired of fumbling with my 8125, trying to make a call. I like the S710 quite a bit for that reason.

Quad Band GSM + 3G -- enough EDGE BS.

A high-resolution, autofocusing camera that I don't need to put on a tripod in order to get a decent, shake-free picture out of. And a camera I can USE, at that -- the camera action button on my 8125 (Wizard) makes it too easy to hit the hangup button at the same time, killing the photo.

WiFi is debatable -- but with 3G coverage lacking, I'm not sure I'd forego WiFi just yet.

GPS -- why isn't this standard yet? Funk the carriers and their RIL-based pseudo-GPS services.

A beefy processor -- I don't understand this 20x nonsense in the S710. Yes, battery life is good, but I want something that serves as a platform for relatively rich applications. And image stabilization for the onboard camera would be key.

I can probably live without a touch screen ... as long as the GUI is directional-friendly. A lot of apps aren't. I'm sick of whipping out my stylus, and 2.2" or 2.4" of screen doesn't really call for it, to begin with.

Robust MP3 capabilities, FM radio, voice record -- I don't want to carry both a phone AND an MP3 player, enough is enough already! Give me a phone that IS my MP3 player, without any over-hyped over-priced carrier's store behind it. Give me iRiver Clix- or iPod Nano-like MP3 player features, I'd be a happy man.