APRIL FOOLS: Dell Readying Windows Mobile 6 for the Axim X50/X51

[Darius Wey]

A new month is upon us and we're kicking it off with some hot news.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070401-aximwm6a.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070401-aximwm6ath.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Dell <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,54036">may be out of the PDA market</a>, but they're not done with updates, so don't throw that aging Axim out the door just yet. An insider dropped us a note and a few pictures to let us know that Windows Mobile 6 for the Axim X50/X51 series is on its way - and yes, following in the footsteps of several other manufacturers and carriers, it will be a <b>free</b> update, although X50/X50v devices will need to be running Windows Mobile 5.0 in order for installation to take place. Based on what's visible in the pictures above and after the break, all of Windows Mobile 6's goodies (Windows Live, Windows Update, etc.) and Dell's usual enhancements (Home, Switcher Bar, WLAN Utility, etc.) are present. Don't get too excited, though. Dell is still in the early stages of customizing the update, so an official release isn't expected until June or July.<br /><br /><b>Update:</b> Kudos to anyone who spotted the easter egg (signal strength status icon) in all five pictures. <!><br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070401-aximwm6b.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070401-aximwm6bth.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070401-aximwm6c.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070401-aximwm6cth.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070401-aximwm6d.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070401-aximwm6dth.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070401-aximwm6e.jpg"><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20070401-aximwm6eth.jpg" /></a>

[pocketpcadmirer]

Wow !! I had not expected this from Dell at all.

It is still, undoubtably, the best non-PPCPE device in the market

[Jfenix]

A new month has begun indeed...April 1st...
My axim is still in the closet, gathering dust, unfortunately, I don't think I'll be taking it out to update it to Windows Mobile 6, EVER! Damn April Fool's...

[pocketpcadmirer]

:bad-words: I dont want this to come out as an April Fool joke.

Hope the Axim in the above pics is not running WA2 with Crossbow theme :(

On the brighter side, many devices have been spotted using WM6 at CTIA,07(like imate PDAL, htc hermes, htc excalibur, imate spl etc). So, if 'old' devices can get 'official' WM6, then, may be, Dell may also surprise us :roll:

[Cybrid]

Ok. For a minute I thought. "Yes! Thank You Dell!" then like jfenix suggested I'm now convinced that this is Darius' photoshopping skills at work. :devilboy: :devilboy: You got me. :oops:

[alexnvidia]

Is this a CON? i hope you are not getting the millions of axim users out there excited for nothing. havent seen this news at aximsite either. but i do hope it's real

[pocketpcadmirer]

Is this a CON? i hope you are not getting the millions of axim users out there excited for nothing. havent seen this news at aximsite either. but i do hope it's real

I dont think so that its real. Had it been a real, it would have been on the frontpage of Aximsite

[bspline]

This one was a cruel prank on the feeling-like-leftover Axim users.

[renzokuken]

....hu hu hu hu........this is rude.......hu hu hu hu.............

[sesummers]

A new month is upon us and we're kicking it off with some hot news.

This is just not funny.

[Foo Fighter]

Oh this is just cruel, Darius! :lol:

[Paragon]

While this is a joke, it seems everyone has missed the real announcement Dell made concerning the x50 platform. They have officially announce that they are no longer producing x51's with Windows Mobile. The reason for this is that they have reached a deal with Apple to use the iPhone platform on future Axim models, beginning with an upgrade for existing x51's. More details are apparently on the way.

Dave

[HandyMedAdmin]

Special lump of coal in your Christmas stocking for this April Fools joke!

[sesummers]

While this is a joke, it seems everyone has missed the real announcement Dell made concerning the x50 platform. They have officially announce that they are no longer producing x51's with Windows Mobile. The reason for this is that they have reached a deal with Apple to use the iPhone platform on future Axim models, beginning with an upgrade for existing x51's. More details are apparently on the way.


This is even LESS funny!

[Darius Wey]

This is just not funny.

This is even LESS funny!

Lighten up. It's April 1st - you know how the day works. ;)

As an Axim owner myself, I can certainly understand the grief you may be feeling, but sooner or later, you have to realize that any piece of technology you purchase today is outdated tomorrow. Expecting a company to offer endless support and updates for a product is a little far-fetched. At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself whether or not Windows Mobile 6 is a must-have for the Axim. If the answer is "no", stick to Windows Mobile 5.0. If the answer is "yes", consider jumping ship.

[Darius Wey]

Special lump of coal in your Christmas stocking for this April Fools joke!

Well, if it's a special one, I admit to being intrigued and welcome it with open arms. :mrgreen:

[Jason Dunn]

Nice one Darius! :lol: I certainly knew this was going to trick a lot of people...the jokes that are close to being the truth are the ones that always get people. It is sad though that Dell won't be offering the upgrade...

(and to people in the thread that are getting upset...lighten up, have a sense of humour - life is too short not to have fun now and then!)

[Joelacrane]

*sigh

I guess it was pretty funny, but a little sad at the same time. No true harm done.

[bluevolume]

Nice one Darius! :lol: I certainly knew this was going to trick a lot of people...the jokes that are close to being the truth are the ones that always get people. It is sad though that Dell won't be offering the upgrade...

(and to people in the thread that are getting upset...lighten up, have a sense of humour - life is too short not to have fun now and then!)

As important as it is to have a sense of humor, there's a difference between "funny" and "mean." This one just isn't funny, its way too obvious not creative enough to be an April fools joke. There are a LOT of Axim owners who have been really hoping that Dell will come through with this, hoping that their $400 investment will be relevant for a couple more years. So it picks them up then slams them down.

For anyone who doesn't have an Axim or doesn't care, this is probably funny to them. To those who were taken by it, it really is just mean. I'm not saying it shouldn't have been posted or anything like that, but understand that a lot of people aren't going to find it funny, and they are justified in that.

[Joelacrane]

*Raises hand slowly

Excuse me but... I own an Axim x51v and i thought it was funny... There shouldn't be any greif about this, it was a joke, and i thought it was very creative. A bit of a letdown, yes, but it was april fools day. Come on. I challenge you to think of something funnier. This argument should cease right here and now. The mods would do well to lock this thread.

Keep up the excellent work Darius.

[foresscum]

It would have been funny if my 2 months old X51v works with WM5!

I had to reset my ROM countless times after it slows down to a crawl after only one single important application installed (eReader).

The X51V as it is now is unusable and Dell owe it to us to have it fixed. I own an old X50 and it never had problems like that after years of use.

[Joelacrane]

Um... what?

The latest ROM (A12) for the x51v is just fine, I've been using it for months. The latest WM5 ROM for the x50v is, last time i heard, just fine.

[foresscum]

My X51V is near new and I checked with Dell Support that it is the latest.

I have re-zapped the firmware a few times, but after I installed eReader on it it slowed to a crawl and sometimes just hung.

Dell has shipped me a replacement, I have yet to try to install anything on it yet for fear of it acting up again.

[Joelacrane]

Sounds like eReader is your problem. On your new unit, do not install eReader, but find something similar to use. That may solve your problem.

Besides some of the little quirks with WiFi and the occasional video corruption in internet explorer, my x51v has worked very well. I'm quite happy with it.