Pocket PC Magazine - First Look: Windows Mobile 5.0

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketpcmag.com/_archives/jul05/winmobile5.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketpcmag.com/_archive.../winmobile5.asp</a><br /><br /></div><i>"On May 10 of this year Microsoft formally announced their fifth major update, “Windows Mobile 5.0,” and there’s more to this new version than a name change. Microsoft’s goals for this release were threefold. First, they wanted to improve end user’s productivity by giving them faster access to information and better productivity tools. Second, they want to enhance the user’s multimedia experience and give them more options to use media to personalize their devices. Finally, they wanted to make it easier for manufacturers to build, brand, and differentiate the Windows Mobile devices they create."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050511-WM5.jpg" /><br /><br />If you haven't seen Pocket PC Magazine's article on Windows Mobile 5, then now is the time to do so. There is a quick breakdown of all of Windows Mobile 5's goodies - namely, the overall enhancements made to the user interface, the new Contacts view in Outlook Mobile, Voice Command integration, Pocket MSN integration, Internet Explorer Mobile, a new revision of Windows Media Player 10 Mobile, Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, persistent storage, phone-related enhancements, ActiveSync 4.0, and a lot more. Check it out!

[Techtoys]

Anyone else underwhelmed? :? I think that my hx4700 can do most of that already. WMP10 and the new IE Mobile offer some nice features, but not enough to actually pay for this.

[mr_Ray]

Anyone else underwhelmed? :? I think that my hx4700 can do most of that already. WMP10 and the new IE Mobile offer some nice features, but not enough to actually pay for this.I think the most obvious improvements are in Pocket Office, but other than that you're right, there isn't that much to be excited about for non-phone devices. The other less tangible benefits such as the new APIs will hopefully be worthwhile additions in the long run, but by the time they're taken advantage of most of us will have new PPCs anyway.

One thing I hadn't read about elsewhere that's mentioned in there though is the option for integrated voice control. That'd certainly be a useful addition to many (if only for showing off :wink: ).

[onepieceman]

Is the voice control integrated as in developers can use it, or is it just integrated in the sense that it is the same Voice Command but on the ROM?
I've held off buying Voice Command because while it does what it does very well, it is really crying out for proper integration with other apps. For example, I'd like to lookup a contact and see it in Pocket Informant etc. It would be nice to get text to speech for things other than appointments as well.

[sheik]

I wonder if the Pocket Office updates will be released as a software download?
If not (and I bet they aren't!), how feasible would it be to extract the relevant DLLs and applications from the Windows Mobile 5 ROM and hack together a version that would work on an older OS?

/\dam

[Darius Wey]

I wonder if the Pocket Office updates will be released as a software download?
If not (and I bet they aren't!), how feasible would it be to extract the relevant DLLs and applications from the Windows Mobile 5 ROM and hack together a version that would work on an older OS?

Two words: Unlikely and unfeasible.

Unlikely? You can't cut out a significant portion of Windows Mobile 5 and have it available as a separate download. You may as well get the Windows Mobile 5 upgrade itself. Unfeasible? The improvements seen in Office Mobile rely heavily on technologies within Windows Mobile 5 that previous versions of the OS lack. Grabbing a few DLLs and what not is far from a quick fix.

Everything in Windows Mobile 5 is centred around integration. The managed APIs allow for greater interaction between programs and the core Windows Mobile 5 technology. You can't copy a few system files over from a Windows Mobile 5 device to a Windows Mobile 2003 device and expect everything to be all fine and dandy.

[mr_Ray]

I wonder if the Pocket Office updates will be released as a software download?
If not (and I bet they aren't!), how feasible would it be to extract the relevant DLLs and applications from the Windows Mobile 5 ROM and hack together a version that would work on an older OS?

/\dam
I'm not sure, but it'd sure as heck be illegal.

[humayunl]

I posted this in another thread but I think it belongs here.. here goes:

Before the official release of WM5 information, the one thing everyone was talking about was PUSH email support in WM2005 and how it would kill BB...

but ever since yesterday there is almost no mention of this AT ALL.... or at least i have somehow managed to completely miss it... Its understandable if MS doesnt want to bring it up but why hasnt anyone else brought it up and asked what the deal is with push email support in WM 5?

Or did I really completely miss it? :)

[sralmas]

I have read on other forums that Activesync 4.0 no longer permits wifi syncing with a PC other than via an exchange sync. Has anyone else heard anything about this? This would be a tragic move on the part of MS.

[Darius Wey]

I have read on other forums that Activesync 4.0 no longer permits wifi syncing with a PC other than via an exchange sync. Has anyone else heard anything about this? This would be a tragic move on the part of MS.

It is true. In fact, we posted on this some time ago. It seems to have scrolled off the front page due to the sheer number of items but here's a link if you're interested: http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=39975

Tragic is an understatement. ;)

[pivaska]

I bought textMaker because I write a lot and need the extra features. I use a bluetooth keyboard for input. Active Sync 4.0 doesn't with wifi and 5.0 uses the mail push. They haven't integrated any of the Pocket Informant/Agenda Fusion ideas into calendar, contact etc either. Memory will be the same. etc.etc. etc...... And again.. so why should I???? I guess the answer will be "if you need one very specific feature that you can't get anywhere else TODAY (not sometime in the "quarter" future) you might have a need."

[MPSmith]

I have read on other forums that Activesync 4.0 no longer permits wifi syncing with a PC other than via an exchange sync. Has anyone else heard anything about this? This would be a tragic move on the part of MS.

It is true. In fact, we posted on this some time ago. It seems to have scrolled off the front page due to the sheer number of items but here's a link if you're interested: http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=39975

Tragic is an understatement. ;)

Isn't it a bit ironic that the first PPC OS with the word "mobile" in it is less mobile for many users when syncing? :?

[alex_kac]

The same was said of Mac OS X's Tiger when just reading little snippets of its features. So far NONE of the articles have really extolled the huge number of improvements this release has. But actually use Tiger and you'll find its a huge improvement - and the best for Tiger isn't even here yet - it'll be found as developers use the new CoreVideo/CoreImage/CoreData and other new advances.

I'd say 75% of the improvements in WM5 are to the internal programming interfaces that developers use. You can be sure that Pocket Informant, for example, will have features available on WM5 that will not be available on WM2003 or before because of those new interfaces - and many other apps will too.

WM5 brings many great new user improvements in the notifications, persistent store, user interface improvements, ActiveSync engine improvements (though that's balanced by the loss of network sync) a ton of new Contacts Fields, full support of Task alarms that sync and contact pictures that sync. These are all non-Office/Phone features that will help everyone.

Then beyond that all the new APIs will provide great Windows Media Player 10 integration, camera integration, better PIM integrations, and on and on. And that's just scratching the surface of the new APIs that WM5 has.

[Darius Wey]

Alex, thanks for highlight that fundamental point that (I think) a lot of people are failing to see. Windows Mobile 5 is all about enhancing the development experience. Those at MEDC would have captured this key point during the Keynote and on-site demos. While on the exterior, Office has been polished up and the UI has been revamped, in the interior, there are a whole load of new technologies just waiting to be tapped on. The managed APIs will present great opportunities for developers to create better and more advanced programs, and at the end of the day, end-users will benefit from this with a greater range of applications with improved functionality. So yes, from one aspect (the base level), Windows Mobile 5 contains a flurry of neat features visible on the surface of the OS, but from a more wider aspect, the best has yet to come! I think that point cannot be stressed enough.

[myrampar]

Does anyone know what changes, if any, have been made to the Connection Manager and WZC in Windows Mobile 5.0?

Although I have a good handle on 'My Work Network' vs. 'My ISP' and connecting in different environments, I think a lot of people would agree that this element of the OS could be substantially improved.

[david291]

Does anyone know what changes, if any, have been made to the Connection Manager and WZC in Windows Mobile 5.0?

Although I have a good handle on 'My Work Network' vs. 'My ISP' and connecting in different environments, I think a lot of people would agree that this element of the OS could be substantially improved.
Is there an option to disable wifi profile roaming? I sure hope so. Every vertical market integrator has had to jump through hoops on WM2003 to disable WZC and some of its features. That was a big step backwards from PPC2002. Anyone know if they've addressed it with WM2005?

[Jordan Rosenwald]

Darius may be correct (and I hope he is), but this isn't sounding a whole lot different from what the Palm community went through with OS 4 and 5.
Everyone waited for a X.0 change in the OS and felt they got a 0.X instead. All the while, those that were developers pointed out just how much better or more powerful the development aspect was.
The improvements on the backend might be great, but given how SO many third parties have developed apps that vastly improve the experience of using the OS, itself, shouldn't they have looked to incorporate.
Better, more powerful, and easier application development is all well and good, but I think a lot more could have been said of an OS upgrade that gave us improved appointment entry, improved handwriting recognition, vastly improved Word implementation, and Access implementation, etc.

Honestly, I don't even use Powerpoint and rarely need graphs in Excel (although I use Excel pretty frequently), but I applaude that Microsoft improved that part of the OS. I just wish they had done more before worrying about some of the other aspects they focused on.

Just my opinion. Milage may vary.

[OneAngryDwarf]

So is this new MSN Mobile going to be free?

[BrotherDave]

Any word on whether the close button actually closes applications or if we still have to go through the insane silliness of installing custom apps or going through the task manager to be able to close an application?

[alex_kac]

Same silliness.

[ch_thom]

Anyone else underwhelmed? I think that my hx4700 can do most of that already. WMP10 and the new IE Mobile offer some nice features, but not enough to actually pay for this.

Personally I think the best thing about the new OS, which nobody here seems to be focusing on, is that all programs will now install in ROM - leaving the RAM free.

I too have an hx4700 and after installing all the programs I use, to filestore where possible, I'm left with under 30Mb of space. As at least 5Mb has to be left to storage, or the memory slider resets itself, I'm left with around 22Mb to run things. With the way memory leaks in WM200SE after running Activesync, TomTom, PI etc. during the day it pretty soon drops to around 12Mb and I need to soft reset. Also Bluetooth plays up pretty badly all the time due to memory restrictions. So I for one will buy the upgrade purely for this feature - if it works.

One other thought on this issue. What happens to programs that insist on being installed to RAM if the developers don't update them? Will there be a legacy install mode or even better some way to force an install into ROM and make the program think it's in RAM, a bit like the compatability mode in XP.

Hopefully PPCThoughts will review the new OS on a real device as soon as possible and report on it's memory handling features.

I also agree about the removal of wireless syncing, a strange decision indeed :?

[alex_kac]

No app can be installed in RAM. Its impossible. Apps have no idea where they are being installed. In WM2003 the path "\" was to the RAM. In WM5, the path "\" is in the persistent store.

[alex_kac]

BTW, has anyone noticed that Direct 3D is now in the OS proper?

[Darius Wey]

Any word on whether the close button actually closes applications or if we still have to go through the insane silliness of installing custom apps or going through the task manager to be able to close an application?

It doesn't actually close, although the way the OS handles the program memory allocation appears to be improved on, so we may encounter less botch-ups in that department. But the bottom line is - it still doesn't close.

[Darius Wey]

BTW, has anyone noticed that Direct 3D is now in the OS proper?

Yes. It's a bundle of joy, isn't it? ;)

[Darius Wey]

Personally I think the best thing about the new OS, which nobody here seems to be focusing on, is that all programs will now install in ROM - leaving the RAM free.

There's quite a large discussion on this. This thread may be of interest: http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=39977

[jlp]

...
WM5 brings many great new user improvements in the notifications, persistent store, user interface improvements, ...

Notifications like email, SMS, MSN contacts, etc. that blocks your device and line fo thought until you read them... I DON'T think this is an improvement. The 10 years old NewtonOS 2.x way WAS efficient: display a flashing icon out of the way and reminds you from time to time if you don't acknowledge it, THAT'S a smart way of doing things; a beep/vibration should be optionally linked for further efficiency.

On user interface improvements: likewise I think that while the "softkeys" are fine on a WM smartphone, they are a regression in a PPC device:
1) I don't know about you 8) but my thumb is of a normal size and couldn't reach those buttons (softkeys are supposed to allow for onehanded operation); none of my fingers from my hand holding my PPC in a normal manner could reach ANY button below the screen or at the bottom thereof :?
2) NONE of the current PPCs and even NOT the forthcoming HTC Universal offer hardware keys mapped to those buttons :?
3) you have to press a specific Menu button 8O in order to access the menu list and items, obviously a regression. Unless you can disable those softkeys on a PPC and revert to normal multiple menu lists...

[alex_kac]

...
WM5 brings many great new user improvements in the notifications, persistent store, user interface improvements, ...

Notifications like email, SMS, MSN contacts, etc. that blocks your device and line fo thought until you read them... I DON'T think this is an improvement. The 10 years old NewtonOS 2.x way WAS efficient: display a flashing icon out of the way and reminds you from time to time if you don't acknowledge it, THAT'S a smart way of doing things; a beep/vibration should be optionally linked for further efficiency. Likewise I think that while the "softkeys" are fine on a WM smartphone, they are a regression in a PPC device:
1) I don't know about you 8) but my thumb is of a normal size and couldn't reach those buttons; none of my fingers from my hand holding my PPC in a normal manner could reach ANY button below the screen or at the bottom thereof :?
2) NONE of the current PPCs and even NOT the forthcoming HTC Universal offer hardware keys mapped to those buttons :?
3) you have to press a specific Menu button 8O in order to access the menu list and items, obviously a regression. Unless you can disable those softkeys on a PPC and revert to normal multiple menu lists...

I think the notification system is going to be a user preference. I own a Newton 2100 today and owned two Newton 10 years ago. I never liked its notifications. I didn't care for the bubbles in WM2003/2002. I much prefer the Windows Mobile 5 method.

On the soft keys - I HATED them when I first saw them a year or two ago. I hated them even more when I used them in the emulator. Now that I'm using it in real life, I've grown to really like them for the OS and simpler apps. Navigating the OS itself is great with them. Now the great part is that third party apps have a choice whether to use Soft Keys or a full menu bar, depending on if it makes sense.

As for current hardware not having the buttons for them - you're right. But what does that matter? You can assign current hardware buttons to them and you know that even newer hardware will have new hardware buttons to support the soft keys. The fact is I'm using them on hardware that has no actual hardware for them and I'm really liking them in many places (though not all).

And for point #3. For certain apps - and for the OS in general - they are GREAT. For more complex apps like Inbox, PI, Mail, etc... - it depends on your usage. I would prefer to use normal menus for PI and Mail, which is why you'll be able to choose between the two types. But for File Explorer, Today Screen, Camera, and Notes - I prefer the soft keys.

The one thing I do NOT like is the SIP button. I really dislike it in the middle and that it moves around depending on the menu type. I think it should ALWAYS be on the right side.

[gibson042]

2) NONE of the current PPCs and even NOT the forthcoming HTC Universal offer hardware keys mapped to those buttons :?
This has already been pointed out, but soft key actions will be assignable to programmable hardware buttons on pre-WM5 PPCs (the X50, HTC Magician and Blue Angel, and all iPAQs getting an upgrade have buttons perfectly placed to become soft keys).

Also, not only does the Universal have dedicated soft keys, it has two sets. Watching the MEDC keynote, you can directly see one pair at the top of the keyboard. The other seems to be on the top of the device in slate mode (right side in laptop mode), and is used during the presentation.

[petvas]

I posted this in another thread but I think it belongs here.. here goes:

Before the official release of WM5 information, the one thing everyone was talking about was PUSH email support in WM2005 and how it would kill BB...

but ever since yesterday there is almost no mention of this AT ALL.... or at least i have somehow managed to completely miss it... Its understandable if MS doesnt want to bring it up but why hasnt anyone else brought it up and asked what the deal is with push email support in WM 5?

Or did I really completely miss it? :)
This is something to be offered from Exchange Active Sync, an Exchange Server technology. Windows Mobile 5 is ready to use that functionality...
Exchange Active Sync will be updated to support this with Service Pack 2 of Exchange Server 2003.

[pradike]

Remember when you bought you PocketPC that was advertised as "upgradable" 2 or more years ago?
Windows Mobile 5 - Whoopee.

It looks like this new version accomplishes 4 basic things:

1) Forces many to have to buy new hardware to "keep up"
2) Renders all hardware older than about 18 months "obsolete", in terms of current feature/function
3) Takes us a step backwards by eliminating wireless Activsync use
4) Alienates owners of PocketPCs in general

Since we all chose to spend more money than Palm solutions to get a better product (at the time), and theoretically got units with upgradable memory for "future operating system upgrades" - THIS IS CLEARLY ANOTHER RIPOFF JOINTLY PROPOGATED BY MICROSOFT AND THE EOMs

[surur]

Remember when you bought you PocketPC that was advertised as "upgradable" 2 or more years ago?
Windows Mobile 5 - Whoopee.

It looks like this new version accomplishes 4 basic things:

1) Forces many to have to buy new hardware to "keep up"
2) Renders all hardware older than about 18 months "obsolete", in terms of current feature/function
3) Takes us a step backwards by eliminating wireless Activsync use
4) Alienates owners of PocketPCs in general

Since we all chose to spend more money than Palm solutions to get a better product (at the time), and theoretically got units with upgradable memory for "future operating system upgrades" - THIS IS CLEARLY ANOTHER RIPOFF JOINTLY PROPOGATED BY MICROSOFT AND THE EOMs

I disagree about many points, but that may be because I have a device that will get the upgrade (Loox 720)

The main thing though is what people always say: Your device wont stop doing all the things it did before now that a new OS is out.

Surur

[alex_kac]

Don't feed the troll. Also remember, nobody forces upgrades. I used Office XP for almost 2 years after Office 2003 was released. I still use Windows 2000 Server on one of my servers. I used Photoshop 5.5 for years until Photoshop CS (8). I only upgraded when the new features were worth the money to me.