05-16-2005, 03:00 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,074
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My First Look at Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone
It has been a hectic week in the Windows Mobile world. Lots of announcements from Microsoft and their partners. Lots of excitement. Everyone is eagerly waiting to get their hands on a Windows Mobile 5.0 based Smartphone, which is still months away from its formal market launch. I couldn't wait, so I decided to get my hands on one. ;-) So last night I got one to play with. Spent a long time fiddling with the menus, trying to figure out the changes.
I am sure by now you must have seen tons of screen shots, so I have tried my best to minimize the repetitions. And in case you are wondering "How on earth did Kris get his hands on the unreleased Smartphone?" Well I have my sources. And the source in this case is the Microsoft Device Emulator. :lol: Here is my report in pictures...
Lets Click "Start"
Before I begin I would like to mention that I have added the Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition screen shots for comparison purposes. ;-) The larger (QVGA) image to the left will always be Windows Mobile 5.0 based and the image on the right shows the current WM2003 SE screens.
The Home Screen looks the same
I could not find any support for themes. The Settings applet for changing Home Screens is the same as the one in WM2003 SE. Microsoft has added a MSN Default home screen to the layout collection. More on that in the Pocket MSN section.
 
The new Start menu
Windows Mobile 5.0 (image on the left) sports an icon based Start menu. Definitely makes the menu look more pretty. I have heard there is a way to switch the icon based Start menu into the list based one, but haven't figured it out. :-(
The icons change when selected 8)
 
Call History details view
I was hoping that Microsoft would have fixed one of the most annoying things in WM2003SE. To view the call time you have to scroll down. It is not immediately visible. :evil: Am I the only one annoyed by this? :?
 
In-call screen simplified...something is missing
The missing items have been found
The View Contact and View Calendar links have now been moved into the Menu.
ActiveSync
 
ActiveSync menu options
ActiveSync has been improved quite a bit, but more in terms of the under-the-hood plumbing than in the user interface. ActiveSync will now be able to sync contact caller ID photos also. Anyone know what "Connect via DMA" means? :?
Internet Explorer
Download progress bar in the Internet Explorer
This is a welcome addition. :-)
 
The new Menu options in the Internet Explorer
Full Screen mode
The View menu option enables you to switch into Full Screen mode. And now you can quickly remove the pictures from the web page. 
Full Screen mode in action
Having trouble reading the text?
The new Internet Explorer Zoom menu option lets you change the text size quickly.
Send Link via E-Mail
Want to share a web page link with someone? Now you can do it with the Windows Mobile 5.0 Internet Explorer.
Pocket MSN
Pocket MSN is bundled along with the Windows Mobile OS
Pocket MSN enables access to MSN Messenger, Hotmail and MSN Mobile. Microsoft seems to have put in a lot of effort into this application.
Options menu lets you configure the Pocket MSN experience
I was intrigued by the SMS option.
Pocket MSN can use SMS for transferring data instead of the GPRS or cellular data network
Out of luck!
I was unable to connect to the MSN server. Don't know if it was a user error or server error. :-( So I cannot provide anymore screen shots for Pocket MSN.
Pocket MSN integrated into the home screen
I found a home screen layout named MSN Default. It adds a section for Pocket MSN to the home screen. Since I could not sign into the MSN server, I don't know what the overall experience is like. I am guessing that the Pocket MSN home screen section will show the Hotmail new E-Mail count and MSN Messenger status.
Messaging
 
Messaging application undergoes a face lift
Notice the highlighted sender's name and subject? The QVGA screen will definitely pack more message text. :-)
 
The new Menu options for the compose message screen
The Check Names menu option looks interesting. And why is Cancel Message at position number 6 in the menu instead of being the last one at number 7?
Insert a picture or voice note into the mail message
 
Message Options now lets you mark the mail as important
I wonder where the Request message delivery notification option went? :?
 
SMS Text Message size counter has a new location
The thing that I was hoping to find in Windows Mobile 5.0 was improved message folder management. The ability to clear out folders or mail accounts, but I could not find any option for that. 
Pictures and Videos
Pictures and Videos application
Now that the camera is almost standard on the Smartphones, this new application provides the handy album functionality.
Some of the options provided by this application
The menu options when viewing a picture
Screensaver?
I think this is a pretty neat feature. When the Smartphone is in the cradle, the phone's display will show a screensaver with the photos in your album. :-)
Settings
 
 
Settings menu has been re-organized
Some of the options have been renamed and the order has been changed. The most frequently used options are on the first screen. :-)
Connections setting
The Data Connections settings applet is now called Connections. The Beam (Infrared) and Bluetooth configuration options are now inside the new Connections settings applet. The new location makes more sense. :-)
Alarm is now a separate setting
When I first saw the listing and saw the Alarm as a separate option. I thought WooHoo, Microsoft is now providing multiple alarms for the Smartphone.
Shortest dream ever..
Alarm does not support multiple alarms. :-(
Dr. Watson?
In an attempt to improve the product, Microsoft is introducing Error Reporting and Download Agent. I don't have much details on what they really do. :-)
 
Power Management has a new option
Power Management offers the Backlight time out on AC. And notice how my Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone is running on zero battery power. :lol:
Contacts
 
Contacts receives a face-lift too
The new Picture option
Windows Mobile 5.0 and ActiveSync 4.0 enables the sync'ing of the caller ID photo specified in the picture option.
The End
I hope you enjoyed viewing my report. And found some new interesting facts about the new Smartphone. Overall, I feel that in terms of the user interface most of the changes are cosmetic, with a couple of features here and there. The real change has been under-the-hood and the developer tools, which will enable the mobile application developers to write powerful next generation Smartphone apps. That is what I am looking forward to. And that is the reason why I would be upgrading my Smartphone. ;-)
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