New Native Keyboard Comes to WinMo 6.5.3

[Pete Paxton]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://pocketnow.com/software-1/new-native-keyboard-comes-to-winmo-653' target='_blank'>http://pocketnow.com/software-1/new...es-to-winmo-653</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Over at XDA, they've gotten their hands on Windows Mobile 6.5 build 28002, which they're calling 6.5.3. One of the more significant changes in the new build is the addition of a more refined on-screen keyboard. The default on-screen keyboard of Windows Mobile versions of the past wasn't particularly well suited towards finger-friendly operation. Thankfully, HTC and other OEM have been there to provide better solutions, although it seems that going forward, there will be this better native keyboard options."</em></p><p><img height="314" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1259339530.usr11642.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" width="390" /></p><p>Well looky here! The fine folks over at PocketNow have provided a screenshot of a new keyboard design for 6.5.3. I like it. It's about time Windows Mobile came out with a cool usable touch screen keyboard. I hope it's as good in person as it seems hear. I know there are other options but it just seems a comfortable user friendly keyboard should just be part of the OS. What do you think? Does the design appear to be heading in the right direction?</p>

[Sven Johannsen]

Will surprise the heck out of me if anyone in the US gets this legitimately on a current device. With Windows Update not even appearing on my 6.5 device, (it was there on 5, 6, 6.1) I don't hold out much hope for MS providing it. As far as the carriers providing an update to current users on WinMo, ha, like that is going to happen. I have a better chance getting this on my Epix, which is supposed to be getting a 6.5 upgrade, someday. Maybe if they put it off long enough, it might include it.

Unbelievable that no one at MS, while they were struggling to iPhonize WM, didn't say, 'Gee, maybe we should do something about the keyboard, and get it in there on day one.'

[Bob Anderson]

I have a hunch, that WinPhone 6.5.3 is something being developed to better support some type of new hardware/platform that will arrive prior to WinPhone 7. For Microsoft to do such an "upgrade" when most hardware manufacturers probably will not upgrade all 6.5 devices seems to indicate that they have some sort of reason to do so. New hardware seems to be the only logical conclusion that I can think of. (What major reason could you possibly have when you really need to focus your resources on 7?)

I'm glad that they deleted the "Windows Update" application if all it was going to do was be an extra icon! Tell it like it is - updates are at the mercy of the carriers - and they don't have much appetite to do anything that would prevent you from buying a new device and continuing to extend your contract by 2 years each time you do it :)

[Jerry Raia]

The hackers do a better job of keeping things up to date than MS. Sad. :mad: