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View Full Version : HP's Windows Mobile 5.0 Upgrade Tagged for a Late Summer Release


Darius Wey
06-02-2005, 08:00 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/pscmisc/vac/us/en/sm/pocketpc/MS5.0_coming_soon.html' target='_blank'>http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/pscm...oming_soon.html</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050602-HP.gif" /><br /><br />When Windows Mobile 5.0 was first announced, we <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,39971">posted</a> on HP's plans to release a platform upgrade for their hx2000 and hx4700 series Pocket PCs. Back then, HP announced that they expected it to be made available in summer. But the question was "when" - early summer or late summer?<br /><br />Just recently, HP updated their Handheld PCs page with official confirmation that Windows Mobile 5.0 will be made available in <b>late summer of this year</b>. So what will the new Windows Mobile 5.0 upgrade offer HP users? ActiveSync 4.0, improved productivity, integrated multimedia, persistent storage, Voice Command, Pocket MSN, and games. It looks like all you HP users have approximately 2-3 months to wait before you get your hands on the upgrade. We'll keep you posted with official release dates and language rollout dates as soon as they are made available.

Cybrid
06-02-2005, 08:46 AM
What about Dell? D'you think they'll be late summer too?

Darius Wey
06-02-2005, 08:57 AM
What about Dell? D'you think they'll be late summer too?

Dell are pushing for a Q3 release, so it could be anytime within this three month period.

Pixelnose
06-02-2005, 09:16 AM
I wish Microsoft had tighter control of what the manufacturers do, because on the one hand, Microsoft seems to imply that convergence is the way of the future.

However, what are consumers told by the manufacturers? We're told the opposite. People who have bought smartphones, no matter what it's branded under, will not be getting an upgrade. People who have bought non-convergent devices will mostly be getting upgrades.

Lesson: don't buy a convergence device.

See the difference of opinion here? The one hand doesn't know what the other's doing, and as long as devices sell it just doesn't matter.

Well anyway, I needed a convergence device, my husband needed a vga screen. So he will be getting his upgrade and I will not. I wish companies would take Hp's example here a little bit and stop screweing us over. I'm tired of buying a device every 9 months.

So to Hp and Dell - :way to go: and to the rest - 0X

Dalantech
06-02-2005, 11:58 AM
I own an hx2410 iPaq, and although news of an upgrade is welcome I bought my iPaq knowing that I was going to get a new device after WM5 comes out. Getting an upgrade to the OS just means I get to try it out, and I have time to wait for the PDA that I really want: One that has a high end GPU in it...

k1darkknight
06-02-2005, 12:15 PM
Lesson: don't buy a convergence device.

Ok, I know we're getting off-topic here, but in all honesty, I would never want a 'convergence device' myself. In a phone, the only functionality I need besides being able to place calls, is the ability to have a phone list, so that I don't have to look numbers up, then dial them manually, every time. (ok, voice dialing would be great, too...). But anyway, I don't want to be able to play games on a cell phone...text messaging would be nice, but if Yahoo ever comes out with a PPC version of their messenger, that won't be an issue either (granted, there's always Agile Messenger...), and fancy ringtones I certainly don't need.

My PPC can play any games, MP3's, and do virtually ANYthing anyone would want from a 'convergence device' other than actually placing calls. For that matter, if Sprint, Verizon, or someone (who offers decent coverage and decent rates in my area) would come out with an SD card to allow calls placed through a headset for my Axim X50v, I'd be on that in a heartbeat! (provided this additional card didn't cost some $400 or something outrageous) My biggest issue with 'convergence devices' is simply this: if you aren't using a headset, you have to put the other person on hold, to even look something up. With a PPC, that wouldn't be an issue, since you'd want to use a headset anyway, rather than holding this brick (yes I know some are sleek) to your head.

ANYway, back to the original post...I, for one, hope that Dell DOES release their upgrade for the X50 line in a much more timely fashion than the hardware itself originally debuted...I'd heard stories of people waiting literally 2-3 MONTHS after placing their orders (very early on), before getting their new Axims. (I got mine just a week or so after ordering, but that was in late March or early April) I do have to say, though, that it's about time the manufacturers started to support OS upgrades more consistently, seeing as their latest devices were clearly made with the future OS (WM 5.0) in mind (128MB ROM, for example). Maybe they finally figured out that their customers weren't going to keep upgrading hardware every 6-9 months, forever!

Deemo
06-02-2005, 02:10 PM
HP had also posted a ROM upgrade for my 2750 for May.
That time has come and gone with no release at all :bad-words:

caubeck
06-02-2005, 02:16 PM
I for one don't want a PDA-phone. I love to leave my mobile phone at home knowing I can sit somewhere and type away on the PDA without worrying about being interrupted, and it would be very annoying to waste a load of energy on some dumb call and then find your battery is too weak to do what you had in mind.

If convergence is the future of PDAs I'll have to scavenge for mine on ebay.

rudolph
06-02-2005, 02:34 PM
I really hope they put back wireless synching in ActiveSync before any updates are available. Otherwise I'll be installing the update just to see how it is, and then reverting back to 2003SE on my X50v. I can't live without wireless sync! :eek:

caubeck
06-02-2005, 02:46 PM
As the 2005 edition doesn't update Word Mobile in any remarkable way I am in no hurry to buy it. Apparently the great advance in Word for the PPC is that you can see tables with it, though not create them. Big deal! I am happy to stick with TextMaker and the 2003 OS for my own needs.

Leave me with my Ipaq 19xx and wake me up when we can have scratchproof screens and real Microsoft word processors.

Phillip Dyson
06-02-2005, 02:54 PM
[OFF-TOPIC]
I used to be against convergence, but managing the data on both my PDA and smartphone is a major pain. Especially since AS doesn't support multiple devices at the same time. Then there is the bulk of carrying them both.
As for interruptions, I don't understand this concern at all though it all the time. There is not law that you have to answer the phone. Turn it on silent. Let voicemail pick it up.
[/OFF-TOPIC]

I'm glad to hear that HP and Dell are providing upgrades, perhaps this will be a trend. Or perhaps WM5.0 will break the hold OEMs have on the OS.

I will probably be upgrading sometime late this summer depending on what comes out, but I'm pretty happy with what I have for now.

Jonathan1
06-02-2005, 04:33 PM
Guess I made the right call on updating my system with the recent 4705 ROM update. Wonder how much the update is going to be. :?:

whydidnt
06-02-2005, 04:41 PM
Guess I made the right call on updating my system with the recent 4705 ROM update.

My thoughts exactly. I'm sitting here thinking that since the ROM upgrade gave me WMP10 and fixed a couple of annoying bugs, I many not want to upgrade to WM5, especially considering the missing WiFi sync option.

Then again, it would be very nice to have most of my 64 MB RAM available for program execution.

disconnected
06-02-2005, 05:11 PM
I don't want to lose wireless synch, and so far I haven't read about any new features that are important to me. The only thing that would tempt me would be a big improvement in PIE, and I haven't seen anything about that yet.

In the past, I think they've always released new devices before OS upgrades for old devices. There's usually something about the new ones that I think I have to have anyway; I think I've only done one upgrade.

ricksfiona
06-02-2005, 05:19 PM
I wonder if they'll release WM5 for the iPAQs 5550.. Not too big a deal, but it would be nice.

tthiel
06-02-2005, 05:25 PM
I assume we will see new Pocket PC's in this time frame too then. I want an HP 24XX with VGA screen.

alex_kac
06-02-2005, 07:18 PM
As the 2005 edition doesn't update Word Mobile in any remarkable way I am in no hurry to buy it. Apparently the great advance in Word for the PPC is that you can see tables with it, though not create them. Big deal! I am happy to stick with TextMaker and the 2003 OS for my own needs.

Leave me with my Ipaq 19xx and wake me up when we can have scratchproof screens and real Microsoft word processors.

You'll never see a "real" word processor coming from MS for these mobile devices. What WM5 Word Mobile provides, however, is far greater support for round-tripping of the document between the desktop and the device and that's probably the best compromise.

caubeck
06-02-2005, 11:19 PM
I think it's just a matter of time, but I take your point.

As far as convergence is concerned, I still don't like the idea of word processing on a mobile phone. Oh well, we'll have to see.

Warwick
06-02-2005, 11:25 PM
What we need is some freak code company to start producing upgrades for all those devices that have been forgotten by the manufacturer but not by the people. Im sure it wouldnt be to hard for a group of smart people.
Wouldnt need all the bells and whistles, and Im sure would need to be chopped up to fit in some devices, but Windows CE is modular and should fit in any device that was built to run older versions (I dont care about manufacturer excuses), Im sure its possible.

Imagine that, getting your old 3870 out of the draw and loading it up with WM2k5.... 8O
Im sure they would sell too, as long as they were reasonably priced, not like XP is here at $600, but more like $10 or $20 per device.

Im guessing that Im dreaming though cause there is going to be some licence restriction that says you cant build Os's for devices you didnt make or something..

MitchellO
06-03-2005, 02:41 AM
With a PPC, that wouldn't be an issue, since you'd want to use a headset anyway, rather than holding this brick (yes I know some are sleek) to your head.

My XDA II mini is very small for a PDA, and only slightly bigger that a normal candybar-style phone. It doesn't look funny holding to your ear at all, and is no way a brick.

A BT or Wired headset (wired included in package) fixes the "I can't talk and type" problem, or even the speakerphone.

I really hope that they come out with an update for the mini, but I fear they may not as the mini/HTC Magician has only 64Mb ROM, and would have less than half available to the user after the update. :cry:

I would really love a VGA device. I am thinking that the HTC Universal my be next on my list of PDAs. Wifi, GPRS, BT, VGA and keyboard in the one device!! And, you can flip it around to be a tablet pda too! Now that one may be a big of a brick compared to a standard phone, but boy would it be worth it!!!

MitchellO
06-03-2005, 02:45 AM
Im sure they would sell too, as long as they were reasonably priced, not like XP is here at $600, but more like $10 or $20 per device.

Im guessing that Im dreaming though cause there is going to be some licence restriction that says you cant build Os's for devices you didnt make or something..

MS would be on your back in a second if you started selling ROMz (a z is appropriate, like in serialz). Windows Mobile is licenced just like XP/2000/98/ME/95..........you can't go selling it. Shame though :wink:

Warwick
06-03-2005, 06:07 AM
Ahh no, they would have to be licenced and legal. Im sure it could be done but Im not sure it would be finacialy viable. Platform Builder costs a small country Im sure, and then there is the logistics.

Hey it was a thought, would be nice to see though, instead of waiting for HP to announce there will be no upgrade for your current device, this hypothetical company would have an upgrade already released.

Start Praying.

Darius Wey
06-03-2005, 12:24 PM
Wonder how much the update is going to be. :?:

I can't remember where I heard this from since it was a while back, but I remember being told CDN$49.99. It's a little high in my opinion, but it's still early days and I don't know if that's fact or fiction. We'll just have to wait and see what HP decides at the end of the day.

MitchellO
06-03-2005, 02:00 PM
[URL removed]

Look at this guy selling the beta WM2005 upgrade for the XDAII. All of this info is available for FREE from the xda-developers website, including instructions, the rom and a full bank of people who have done it if you get into trouble.

Also being discussed on [URL removed]

Please do not post links to unofficial ROMs. Post edited. -DW

ctmagnus
06-03-2005, 10:24 PM
Wonder how much the update is going to be. :?:

I can't remember where I heard this from since it was a while back, but I remember being told CDN$49.99. It's a little high in my opinion, but it's still early days and I don't know if that's fact or fiction. We'll just have to wait and see what HP decides at the end of the day.

iirc, I paid less than half that for the 2002 upgrade. And the devices that are getting the upgrade all cost less than my (upgradable) iPaq 3670 did, so I'd expect ~$20CAD/$15USD for this.

mw22
06-04-2005, 10:20 AM
Hi

I am a palm nut but amusing the i-mate pda2k from HTC

You can get styletap from www.styletap.com and there is a list of "plam programs" it will support.

One of them is "documents to Go" which will give you FULL NATIVE WORD, FULL NATIVE EXCEL, and POWERPOINT SLIDE VIEWS

Why wait

Cheers

[email protected]

caubeck
06-04-2005, 12:36 PM
Hi

I am a palm nut but amusing the i-mate pda2k from HTC

You can get styletap from www.styletap.com and there is a list of "plam programs" it will support.

One of them is "documents to Go" which will give you FULL NATIVE WORD, FULL NATIVE EXCEL, and POWERPOINT SLIDE VIEWS

Why wait

Cheers

[email protected]


Would you say, as an amuser of the i-mate pda2k, that Documents to Go is superior to TextMaker? Finding suitable substitutes to Word is not so difficult, I'd just prefer software that I didn't have to install myself.

I believe Microsoft will finally come round, though not until they consider it strategically a good idea. They've certainly lost a Word user in me, as I now use TextMaker even on the laptop, but I may be in a minority within a minority.

Meanwhile, I'll definitely have a look at Styletap, so thanks for pointing it out.

mw22
06-05-2005, 05:47 AM
Hi

I am aware of the Planmaker and Textmaker but am using the styletap launcher to run documents to go for the following reasons:

1. Doct to go came free with my Palm T3
2. Planmaker costs $72.95
3. Textmaker costs another $72.95

Now Styletap costs $29.95 and I can run docs to go which now gives me
Word, Excel + powerpoint in full

Remember that you loan styletap onto the pda via its conduit and thereafter whatever palm program you want to run on the pda you just drag and drop it on the styletap conduit window on the pc and its conduit does the rest for you.

On the pda you can run the styletap program to get what looks like a palm interface to see the all the palm programs on a menu - but you can also create a shortcut to documents program and run it direct without running the styletap launcher on the pda.

For me it was just the most cost effective method of getting to word excel and powerpoint natively.

I know of planmaker and textmaker and used it on my pda but the storage requirements for it are massive (4-6 MB) compared to the small size of docs to go less than a MB.

As far as Msoft bringing true word and excel + powerpoint to mobile platforms - the reason they hamstrung these versions was not to hurt their desktop sales - and for that reason I doubt that you will ever see native file support in full from Msoft in your lifetime -

if u do I will be very surprised as it will hurt their desktop sales.

Regards

mw22
[email protected]

caubeck
06-05-2005, 02:44 PM
Yes, it's TextMaker's large storage requirement that initially put me off. I will stick with it for a while but I'll bear in mind the D2Go alternative. I notice that several companies producing for Palm OS are now selling PPC versions, too, so I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Cheers,

Chris

SoftMaker
06-08-2005, 12:44 PM
Hi

I am aware of the Planmaker and Textmaker but am using the styletap launcher to run documents to go for the following reasons:

1. Doct to go came free with my Palm T3
2. Planmaker costs $72.95
3. Textmaker costs another $72.95

Now Styletap costs $29.95 and I can run docs to go which now gives me
Word, Excel + powerpoint in full


TextMaker costs $49.95, PlanMaker costs $49.95, and the bundled package (SoftMaker Office) is available at Handango for $69.95.

Also, both apps are about 10 times as capable as Documents-To-Go. D2G isn't much of an improvement over Pocket Word and Pocket Excel. If your demands are not higher than what D2G can do, you can stay with the built-in apps of the Pocket PC and don't have to spend any money.

Martin Kotulla
SoftMaker Software GmbH

caubeck
06-08-2005, 06:31 PM
Hello Martin,

Having not read too much about D2Go I'll take your word for it. TM packs so much in that I can't imagine it being beaten by anything other than a full-content version of Word for the Pocket.

(It makes me wonder what Gates uses on his PDA.)

TextMaker was the Holy Grail that restored my faith in PPCs for writing. I use it all the time. If it were possible to convert TM docs into Microsoft Reader eBooks I might never use Word at all for personal use.

It would be nice if you could make TM a little faster on the PPC in future versions. I know it's not just an issue with my old iPAQ 1935. Is there anything I can do to make switching back and forth between TM documents quicker?

Chris

SoftMaker
06-08-2005, 07:42 PM
Hello Martin,

Having not read too much about D2Go I'll take your word for it. TM packs so much in that I can't imagine it being beaten by anything other than a full-content version of Word for the Pocket.

(It makes me wonder what Gates uses on his PDA.)

TextMaker was the Holy Grail that restored my faith in PPCs for writing. I use it all the time. If it were possible to convert TM docs into Microsoft Reader eBooks I might never use Word at all for personal use.

It would be nice if you could make TM a little faster on the PPC in future versions. I know it's not just an issue with my old iPAQ 1935. Is there anything I can do to make switching back and forth between TM documents quicker?

Chris

We can't do much to make TextMaker launch quicker (it's a huge application for Pocket PCs, yet tiny for a PC-type word processor), but TextMaker 2005 will load and save complicated Microsoft Word files *much* faster. Also, you can keep multiple documents open in TextMaker 2005.

Martin Kotulla
SoftMaker Software GmbH

caubeck
06-08-2005, 07:45 PM
I'm already looking forward to it! Is a launch date set yet?

SoftMaker
06-08-2005, 07:57 PM
I'm already looking forward to it! Is a launch date set yet?
For Windows, we'll have a public beta next week. After that, we have to squeeze some dialogs for the Pocket PCs, then we can do a Pocket PC beta.

Martin Kotulla
SoftMaker Software GmbH

k1darkknight
10-09-2005, 06:06 AM
(It makes me wonder what Gates uses on his PDA.)Bill "Money" Gates doesn't USE a PDA, he hires people to follow him around, with THEIR PDAs...

BG: "What time is my 11 o'clock appointment?"
Cronie: "Uhhh...11 o'clock, sir."

:p