Windows Mobile 6.1 to be Released on April 1st!

[Rocco Augusto]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/13612/14636/windows-mobile-61-coming-april.phtml' target='_blank'>http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/n...ing-april.phtml</a><br /><br /></div><em>&quot;Pocket-lint has learnt from sources close to the matter that Microsoft will announce the much-rumoured refresh to its mobile phone operating system, Windows Mobile, on 1 April 2008. An improvement over Windows Mobile 6 released in February 2007 the new version, unsurprisingly named 6.1, will be a stop-gap measure to keep both consumers and industry happy until the launch of Windows Mobile 7. Leaked screenshots of 6.1 have already done the rounds in the blogosphere, and show the system has been simplified with the screens displaying less mess than the Vista-inspired version 6. A new look with new fonts, new homescreen and new features such as a task manager and copying and pasting in Internet Explorer all bode well for users of Microsoft's OS for handhelds.&quot;<br /><br /><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/spt/auto/1196728527.usr266.jpg" alt="" /><br /><font size="1">[Image courtesy of Boy Genius Review]</font><br /><br /></em>Late last year we brought you news and images from BGR's uncovering of a <a href="http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/showthread.php?t=23699&amp;highlight=boy+genius">Motorola Q9h running Windows Mobile 6.1</a>. It appears that Microsoft will finally be releasing this Windows Mobile upgrade on April 1st, 2008... Which also happens to be April Fools Day, so heres hoping this isn't some early Internet prank!<br /><em> </em>

[Tim Williamson]

I'll just mention that this will definitely be a worthwhile upgrade to any WM 6.0 (or previous) user. ;) Will it be available directly from Microsoft, or will users need to go through their carrier to obtain the upgrade?

[Rocco Augusto]

I'll just mention that this will definitely be a worthwhile upgrade to any WM 6.0 (or previous) user. ;) Will it be available directly from Microsoft, or will users need to go through their carrier to obtain the upgrade?

No word at the moment. With Microsoft's/Carrier's previous upgrade track record, we can expect this update to come from the individual carriers... but just like the Samsung Blackjack, by the time the update comes out it might be a month or two before the release of Windows Mobile 7 ;)

[Prosper]

Hmm.. I don't expect this to be available for the Treo 500v, as Vodafone (just as Samsung does) already packed some sweet special features into it.

BTW - Just noticed that the WM6.1 "homescreen menu" with all those settings and such looks quite similiar to the Vodafone main menu on the 500v.

Nevertheless, hope springs eternal :)

[ajwalker]

I don't know Rocco.

I don't think even Microsoft would want the karma of releasing the upgrade to Windows Mobile on April Fool's Day. Even they would see the potential sarcasm and endless opportunities for anti-Microsoft / Windows Mobile jokes and negative PR from the Ivory Tower of Redmond.

I'm leaning (heavily at the moment) towards an early April Fool's Day prank.

(I (really) hope I'm wrong though, we've all been waiting for this long enough.)

[johncruise]

It's good to see MS stepping up again to keep improving WM OS. Unfortunately for people like me, I don't get excited anymore with this kinds of news since majority of people who currently owns WM smartphone cannot take advantage of this (I've own many smartphone and PDA. I even started in the WinCE era for my PPC). Many users are deemed to be in the "upgradeable" list because 1) the hardware doesn't support it or 2) the provider doesn't even care providing it to their subscribers. I think MS just wants people to keep buying new phones/PDA if they want to take advantage of this new OS. After Cingular 8125 (HTC Wizard / WM5), I haven't bought anymore new smartphone. I don't want to play catch-up anymore since it is costing me a lot.

Anyway, it's just my opinion. I'm really happy to whoever will be able to upgrade their phones with this new release.

[Tim Williamson]

Just a heads-up, the T-Mobile Dash/HTC S620/Excalibur/Whatever Else It's Called will for sure support WM 6.1. ;)

[Mike Temporale]

BlackJack II also has 6.1 in it's future. Or so I've been told. ;)

[Mike Temporale]

BTW - Just noticed that the WM6.1 "homescreen menu" with all those settings and such looks quite similiar to the Vodafone main menu on the 500v.


The 500v has a very cool interface. But it won't be exactly the same as 6.1. :cool:

[oldan]

It appears that Microsoft will finally be releasing this Windows Mobile upgrade on April 1st, 2008... Which also happens to be April Fools Day, so heres hoping this isn't some early Internet prank!<br /><em> </em>

I'm with you there, but I'm not holding my breath.

[stevew]

Just like every upgrade...........will my smartphone be one that get's it? Will my carrier even put out the upgrade? And oh boy I get to wipe everything off my phone to upggrade. What a deal.

[Prosper]

The 500v has a very cool interface. But it won't be exactly the same as 6.1. :cool:

Of course it won't - it's not WM500v *lol*

You better get the DLL for the 500v start menu as it has all those things included (message center, list of recently used programs, contact favourits, recently played music, recently opened pictures ...).
Only thing I'm missing is copy/paste (can be added with bunch of extra apps) and threaded SMS (can also be added).

About the so much praised homescreen - it's just one petty DLL. I think it will be available for all devices after a few weeks, just as with the Samsung Carousel homescreen and all those interface things.

So ... not sure if WM6.1 will be really as great as praised.

[alese]

I allready have WM6.1 on my HTC Trinity - via XDA Developers. It's the Professional version (Touchscreen) and it doesn't really look any different than WM6. But I do have to say it's faster and looks like it uses less memory and these are the only things worth anything to me.
As for the other improvements, well there is Task Manager and PIE has zoom function (but it's still lame) and SMS application is showing the conversation - nothing really exciting.

[Twain]

Does anyone know whether or not Samsung will be releasing an update to their sch-i760 phone with Windows Mobile 6.1?

I've been looking at that phone as a replacement for my Treo 700w, which is getting long in the tooth and I haven't heard any Treo rumors lately for 700w replacements. Ideally, an upgrade to the i760 would include WM 6.1, 128 MB of RAM, instant messaging capability (if it doesn't already have it), user accessible GPS, EVDO Rev. A (or whatever is the latest, fastest version) and a 2.0 or greater megapixel camera. I'm not asking for much!!

[zeke009]

Just a heads-up, the T-Mobile Dash/HTC S620/Excalibur/Whatever Else It's Called will for sure support WM 6.1. ;)
If you're right, you just made the 2nd best post in this thread! ;)

The first best has to be the one announcing WM 6.1!!

[Rocco Augusto]

I don't know Rocco.

I don't think even Microsoft would want the karma of releasing the upgrade to Windows Mobile on April Fool's Day. Even they would see the potential sarcasm and endless opportunities for anti-Microsoft / Windows Mobile jokes and negative PR from the Ivory Tower of Redmond.

I'm leaning (heavily at the moment) towards an early April Fool's Day prank.

(I (really) hope I'm wrong though, we've all been waiting for this long enough.)

There is no bad publicity! ;)

I'm a little skeptical by this as well and sat on it for a few hours wondering if we should even post it. When I finally did decide to run with it I figured "Worse case scenario, no WM6.1 - best case scenario, we have something fun to play with very soon :D"

[Rocco Augusto]

Just like every upgrade...........will my smartphone be one that get's it? Will my carrier even put out the upgrade? And oh boy I get to wipe everything off my phone to upggrade. What a deal.

Kind of makes you want to start a "How soon till I have to wipe my data again" club, doesn't it? ;)

[Rocco Augusto]

So ... not sure if WM6.1 will be really as great as praised.

I have come to the conclusion that WM6.1 will be the Windows ME of it's day. Small tweaks here and there and a few pretty new features and icons to keep us happy until we can finally get Photon or WM7 or whatever new codename the Powers That Be from Redmond are nice enough to give us.