Following the announced delay of Windows Mobile 7, an intermediary upgrade step has been confirmed. While visiting Australia for Liberation Day, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer spoke of the Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrade for next year in his roadmap.
In talking about Windows Mobile 6.5, Steve Ballmer did not go in to specifics but did hint at an improvement in the interface and flow of the software. It is believed, however, that this will be the first release to contain the reported Zune software integration instead of the much delayed Windows Mobile 7 release.
Though there was no specific date given for Windows Mobile 7, it was believed to be scheduled for as late as the third quarter of 2010, two years away.
Sources close to Microsoft have indicated to Neowin that Windows Mobile 6.5 is currently being readied for device partners who should receive copies within the next month. It's possible that 6.5 could be ready in 2009 Q1.
Source: Neowin.net
Microsoft reportedly plans to launch Windows Mobile 6.6 (codenamed Maldives) in February 2010 to strengthen its competitiveness against iPhone- and Android-based platforms, according to industry sources.
Sales of Windows Mobile 6.5 have been flat since the platform was launched in the fourth quarter of 2009, pushing Microsoft to bring forward Windows Mobile 6.6, which supports capacitive touchscreens, the sources noted.
However, Microsoft may now delay the launch of Windows Mobile 7 to 2011, instead of the end of 2010 as originally planned, the sources indicated.
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20100114PD216.html
I cannot imagine how good must WM 7 be, to compensate for all the delays... WM 6,5, even with all the HTC tweaks, is still far behind Android in terms of user-friendliness and usability. Microsoft really need to work hard on WM 7 if they want to remain a leader in mobile software industry.
Bad news
Thanks for this information, Bro
See you
Franky
Here's a great article that puts together all of the current rumors:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/01/14/urnidgns852573C400693880002576AC00211326.DTL
Never heard of WM 6.6, but I'm assuming it's either that or Windows Phone(WM7) that's going to be announced in February.
EDIT: Update! http://www.betanews.com/article/Microsoft-We-werent-talking-about-Windows-Mobile-7-at-CES/1263586701
Starting to have a bad feeling about WM 7 actually making it to our phones in 2010.
Am I the only one who thinks ms are trying to blow smoke up our collective bums? How can a ms rep say "we were not speaking specifically of Windows Mobile 7" about an interview they'd given and then follow it up by "not going into further detail as to which product the interview did concern.".....Wogan said it best..."Is it me?"
As it was to be expected.
Another incremental polish of a mobile os of the past.
Wasit it originally intended for those pda`s and low power mobile pc things.
But on the other hand .,. we do got the win mo 7 for the HD2. the bad thing is...
We dont know when.
And the HD2 being the first phone up to the standards of microsoft. If it would take another year for microsoft to do something and get going. Dont you thing HTC will have another range of phones ready by then ?? And moest of the customers I know got a one or two year post pay plan. and when they resign the plan contract for two years they get another phone.
Uhmm dont get me wrong here im trying to make this example.
I got the MDA vario then a tytn then a diamond and now im a happy HD2 user.
Most of the time a phone lasts about 1 or two years. .
So when the microsoft dudes are finally ready.. The HD2 will be obsolete.
And HTC told us there will be a free update available to win 7.
But after a year delay.. it seems stupid to take along HD2 in the update programm, after a year maybe more.
Or am i totally wrong here ??
Enonoid said:
So when the microsoft dudes are finally ready.. The HD2 will be obsolete.
And HTC told us there will be a free update available to win 7.
But after a year delay.. it seems stupid to take along HD2 in the update programm, after a year maybe more.
Or am i totally wrong here ??
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This is totally spot-on. Even if WM7 comes out at Q3/4 of this computer, there bound to be some faster and better spec phones around to utilize the new OS and our HD2 will probably be left in our houses as lab-rats for home cookings!
I also believed that by the time WM7 really comes out, most of us would have moved on to Android with our HD2 already!
I don't see why people are dragging WM7 into this. As far as I'm concern (and anyone with the least bit of common sense), WM7 is not coming out until the end of this year/early of next year. Until then, MS could release version 6.99999 and I wouldn't give a crap.
^^ Haha well said! I just dont believe people actually think WM7 will be released just 2 months after release of WM 6.5!!
true
Well we arnt dragging win 7 in,, Its already there.
Well i know it would be to much to ask of em. the microsoft guys.
dj_ghosie said:
I also believed that by the time WM7 really comes out, most of us would have moved on to Android with our HD2 already!
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I hope someone is able to port the latest Android to Leo. I just love the hardware specs of Leo (specifically the screen size) to go with Android OS. Winmo 6.6 or 6.9999 do not interest me.
Not that this helps, but I was in a Microsoft presentation and their own slides are still showing H1 2010 as the release date. The bad news is that the Microsoft person giving the presentation had betas of every product but didn't have or hasn't seen Win Mobile 7 yet
windows 6.5.3 = 6.6
And maybe for people who want Windows 8 tablets.
I've been thinking about this one. Windows 8 RC1 (or whatever the new name is supposed to be) is supposed to be out the first week of June.
A smart x86 chip manufacturer could begin shipping tablet computers at that point. They can't ship Windows 8, but according to reports from Paul Thurott and others the Windows 8 upgrade is cheap. Something like $15. http://www.winsupersite.com/blog/supersite-blog-39/windows8/windows-8-pro-pc-upgrade-cost-15-143077Windows 8 Pro PC Upgrade Cost is Just $15.
Eventually Microsoft will announce a free upgrade date as they always do. "Any purchase of Windows 7 after xx/xx/xxx will qualify for a free upgrade."
The big opportunity here is for x86 tablet makers to be able to bring their product to market 4+ months ahead of the ARM versions.
Buy a Win 7 tablet the first week of June, install the Win 8 RC1 for free and upgrade later for at most $15.
The ARM has to ship with the OS installed and has to wait until October.
If I was a vendor of x86 machines I'd be salivating at the opportunity to get ahead of the market. Nothing illegal going on. Still just selling a device that Microsoft says will be compatible (a Windows 7 PC will be compatible with the Windows 8 OS). Microsoft is making the OS available to the public in June, why wait to make the hardware available? The consumer preview was over 1,000,000 downloads on a quick search. People obviously aren't afraid to install the OS themselves.
Just a thought. Would you buy a x86 based Windows 7 tablet in June if the features were right and the price was right?
I don't want windows 8, personally, I think this would be great. A nice thin, light ivy bridge windows 7 tablet would be awesome for me.
Or maybe the lava xolo could run windows 7. I'm keeping an eye on the forums to see if any enterprising devs try this hehe.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
there is a fundamental flaw in your suggestion
you are wanting manufactures to ship Win 8 hardware now with win 7 on it to allow an upgrade at a later date?
ok but what you have forgotten is that right now, every OEM out there is scrambling to shift as much dead stock of older Win 7 generation as they can before it is completely devalued.
The only OEMs that would do as your suggesting is new starts without Win7 hardware, or OEMs that have already sold out, the latter is extremely unlikely.
But even then you need to take in to account devices already in the supply chain, Mega PC shop who still has 1000s of units wont want to push newer ones if the older ones will get left to gather dust, they have already paid for these devices and sure as hell wont want to waste that money.
So its a nice idea, but its a bit ideological.
Finally Microsoft announed Windows 8 RTM.
Steven Sinofsky:
Today marks an important milestone in the Windows 8 project.The Windows 8 team is proud to share with you that a short while ago we started releasing Windows 8 to PC OEM and manufacturing partners. This means our next milestone will be the availability of exciting new models of PCs loaded with Windows 8 and online availability of Windows 8 on October 26, 2012.
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Finally Windows 8 RTM is Annonced!
I can't wait to download... My PC is working hard with Win 8 RP so the RTM will be awesome. :laugh::laugh::laugh:
Few hours after Microsoft announced Windows 8 RTM, Windows 8 RTM leaked in wild on different torrent websites. While the leaked version is an N edition of Windows 8 and it doesn’t include the Windows Media Player.
Source: Windows 8 RTM Leaked Online!
Is it legal? I want to try it before I spend my 40 in October..... Mainly because, since I am young...THAT'S ALL THE MONEY I HAVE!
younggeek1 said:
Is it legal? I want to try it before I spend my 40 in October..... Mainly because, since I am young...THAT'S ALL THE MONEY I HAVE!
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Obviously not. If you download software using torrents et. al. make a good guess on whether this would be legal.
It's a 30 trial without a key, after 30 days it'll take to to the windows store and tell you to buy it (changed the vm date for shots and giggles to check). So I would say its pretty damn legal (aslong as the activation isn't hacked)
I have PRO installed and fully activated with my VLSC key. I am having grief mind with the AMD Catalyst drivers installing and for some reaosn i cant add more email aco****s like i could in the preview. That said though the pro leak at least seems ok.