What to Expect from Microsoft in 2005

[Glohamar]

I just got this newsletter from Windows IT Pro and they are talking about what to expect from Microsoft in 2005. The one thing that caught my eye is the following...

Windows Mobile 2005 and ActiveSync 4.0
Microsoft will ship major new versions of Windows Mobile 2005,
code-named Magneto, and Microsoft ActiveSync 4.0 in 2005. Windows
Mobile 2005 will continue the enterprise focus of the two most recent
releases and add important new features, such as a persistent data
store, a cleaner looking UI, and new soft keys that replicate many
commonly needed choices in pop-up menus. Microsoft will even
dramatically update the Pocket Office applications in this release,
which it hasn't done in several years.


Activesync 4.0 8O I hope they have been listening to what everyone has been complaining about.

Has anyone heard of when this might be released?

[surur]

This sounds quite cool. Finally some UI work, instead of everything being "under the covers".

And this "persistent data store" Is this the Ram is for Ram thing we have been waiting for?

Surur

[PR.]

More info here... http://www.neowin.net/comments.php?id=26524

Interesting that one of the screenshots shows Tasks being set to sync to an Exchange server 8O

[pincman]

A lot of new information has been posted at:

http://www.neowin.net/comments.php?id=26524&category=main

It has screenshots as well as other information!

Microsoft is progressing well with Magneto and is currently running a Beta 2 (v5.0.1512 Build 14207) dogfood test internally. The first release candidate of Magneto is expected on the 16th February with an RTM following on the 13th April.

[Ripper014]

I might be wrong... new products might release before September afterall...

Now my question is what are the requirements for Magneto... and will it be made available to current devices that could support it.

[frankenbike]

It doesn't look like they've done anything about PPCs being recognized as a drive, no tabbing browser, no Usenet.

"Windows Mobile 2005 will continue the enterprise focus of the two most recent releases" sounds to me like they're not really interested in us consumers as customers.

[Menneisyys]

A lot of new information has been posted at:

http://www.neowin.net/comments.php?id=26524&category=main

It has screenshots as well as other information!

Microsoft is progressing well with Magneto and is currently running a Beta 2 (v5.0.1512 Build 14207) dogfood test internally. The first release candidate of Magneto is expected on the 16th February with an RTM following on the 13th April.

It has been removed; but the folks at http://discussion.brighthand.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=751405 have copied it to their thread.

[Steven Cedrone]

It is becoming obvious that all pictures are being removed at the request of Microsoft. Please, don't post any more links or copies of pictures in this thread. Thanks!

Steve

[frankenbike]

I figured out what's been bugging me about the announcement, and what it is that I really want to see, but don't.

I want the PPC to be utterly independent of a host PC. It's so close to that capability, that it's frustrating. I also want it to be able to inter-relate to any PC you plug the USB cord into, without having to first install ActiveSync on that PC.

Why can't MS see the PPC as a platform in its own right, instead of as an extension of a host, an almost parasitical relationship?

[MarcTGFG]

We are almost in skinning heaven :-) now that scroll bars are obviously skinnable. Hopefully buttons too...

I also love the look of the contacts view with nice icons and contact photo immediately in view.

As the owner of a T-Mobile MDA compact I cant wait to have the new UI for one handed use. It is really annoying to touch this sweat touch screen all the time and having to use a stylus a lot.

From a UI perspective I would love to change two more things:

1. Make the top bar with the start button bigger in height with a larger application icon and name and more place for critical status information.

2. Make the two soft menu keys smaller in height, its a waste of space. (Consequentially you could also make the drop down menus in Explorer, Excel etc. smaller)

If you would balance these two changes the net usable screen space for each application would stay the same. So this shouldnt be too hard for application designers to make their apps compatible...

[Darius Wey]

Why can't MS see the PPC as a platform in its own right, instead of as an extension of a host, an almost parasitical relationship?

Connectivity is the ultimate aim. It takes time, so you won't see these developments overnight. While it may seem somewhat dependent on a PC at this stage, it can still exist fine as a sole device. We may see changes to this in the future though - time will tell.

[frankenbike]

Why can't MS see the PPC as a platform in its own right, instead of as an extension of a host, an almost parasitical relationship?

Connectivity is the ultimate aim. It takes time, so you won't see these developments overnight. While it may seem somewhat dependent on a PC at this stage, it can still exist fine as a sole device. We may see changes to this in the future though - time will tell.

When you say, "It takes time" how long are you talking about? It's already been 6 or more years since the PPC came out. You see fully functional XP machines approaching PPC size even now, and those have full PC style connectivity (oqo.com).

Some machines have USB host capability as it is, though not enough. But AFAIK none are recognized as USB storage devices just plugging them into a USB port on an unfamiliar machine. That's a major drawback, and a minor tweak to existing designs.

Connectivity doesn't take time. It's just that PPC manufacturers have to get their heads out of their butts and stop thinking that standard connectivity imposes on their captive market, and start thinking that standard connectivity means that they can have more features to sell on and they can OEM all sorts of devices that give their devices impressive ranges of features. SDIO and CF are already like that to some extent, but unfortunately on the SD only machines, that space is usually being used to compensate for the stingy storage that all PPCs come with.

[Stephen Beesley]

Why can't MS see the PPC as a platform in its own right, instead of as an extension of a host, an almost parasitical relationship?

Connectivity is the ultimate aim. It takes time, so you won't see these developments overnight. While it may seem somewhat dependent on a PC at this stage, it can still exist fine as a sole device. We may see changes to this in the future though - time will tell.

Have to agree that the Pocket PC can be used as a very functional stand alone computer in a lot of circumstances. When I first moved to Ireland the only "computer" I had was my Jornada 568, a Stowaway Keyboard and a 56k modem card. With that I managed to do an awful lot of stuff.

[Darius Wey]

When you say, "It takes time" how long are you talking about? It's already been 6 or more years since the PPC came out. You see fully functional XP machines approaching PPC size even now, and those have full PC style connectivity (oqo.com). Connectivity doesn't take time. It's just that PPC manufacturers have to get their heads out of their butts and stop thinking that standard connectivity imposes on their captive market, and start thinking that standard connectivity means that they can have more features to sell on and they can OEM all sorts of devices that give their devices impressive ranges of features. SDIO and CF are already like that to some extent, but unfortunately on the SD only machines, that space is usually being used to compensate for the stingy storage that all PPCs come with.

Sure. Connectivity as a concept has existed for a while, but only recently have wireless technologies really exploded into the market. From the end-user perspective, it's easy to say, "why is it taking so long", but developmentally, it's not that simple. Everything must undergo strict testing, conform to standards, etc - that itself is the process which takes time. Granted - for the standard consumer, a few months or even a year is a significant wait, but nothing changes overnight. Personally, I could also say that the Pocket PC could certainly be at a more developed stage than it is now, but I'd be thinking it wouldn't be *that* much more advanced.

[frankenbike]

Wireless technology is expensive, connection issues are still profound, there are places, like airlines, where they have policies against wireless use. A single USB host connection allows use of inexpensive peripheral devices through a USB hub. A practical infinitude of device variability.

Stereo audio input, video output (and maybe input), firewire, and ethernet would all be hugely welcome additions. All could be provided with a single breakout connector. It's being done on other, similar sized devices (such as MM devices).

Just a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and portable access point cost as much as a Dell Axim X-30m with BT and WiFi. With USB and ethernet, the equivalent functionality could be had for under $20. Not to mention direct hard drive connection to a large disk through USB for under $80. Use it with a large monitor.

Sure, wireless might catch up some day. But in the meantime, it is nowhere near equal in capability or economy.

[fostermom2]

I would like to know if it true oh or is it a rumor and will it be expenisive to buy and when will it come out