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Gates Releases Details on New Mobile OS

Posted by Zonk on from the little-blue-screens dept.

rjelks writes "Microsoft's Bill Gates released details about the company's new mobile operating system, code-named Magneto, at the Mobile & Embedded Developers Conference in Las Vegas today. There has been a lot of recent speculation about the new OS. People have been describing it as a possible 'Blackberry killer.' Windows Mobile 2005 will be released to hardware manufacturers immediately. The OS will integrate Smartphone, Pocket PC, and Pocket PC Phone Edition operating systems into one platform. It will also include updates to the mobile versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint." Relatedly, ZDNet has an interview with Gates about the initiative.

6 of 265 comments (clear)

  1. Screen Shots of Windows Mobile 5 by davidconger · · Score: 4, Informative

    For more about some of the new features and to see screenshots from Windows Mobile 5 (including ActiveSync 4.0, PowerPoint Mobile, Smartphone User Interface, One-Handed Interface for Pocket PC, Internet Explorer Mobile, Excel Mobile, Word Mobile, and Pocket MSN Client) here: http://www.davespda.com/special/wm5/ There is also improved WMP 10 Mobile DRM support, new photo and video API's for developers, 3G and UMTS support, and more.

  2. Re:Let me... by mattdev121 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Why, yes in fact. It does:
    http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2003/11/ 13/linux_pocket_pc.html

    --
    mattdev@server$ touch /dev/genitals
    cannot touch `/dev/genitals': Permission denied
  3. Why SmartPhone is crap by hirschma · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have one, won it in a contest, an Orange SPV-C500.

    They're going to have to make a whole lot of changes to make this dog hunt. Problems with the current SmartPhone:

    * Sync: you can sync with (just) one device. Don't ever try to unsync with that device, tho - in my case, you just can't. My notebook and phone are bonded forever.

    * Interface: One more time: the Windows Start button metaphor doesn't work on small devices. Other issues include that it can take several steps to get to common programs.

    * Non-intuitive/inconsistent UI: Sometimes, you can cancel out of something with the "red phone" button like on other phones. Sometimes you have to back out of things with the cursor button. Users of pretty much any other phone UI will go crazy.

    * Not invented here syndrome: MMS uses AMR encoding for audio. Smartphone (at least my version) just doesn't support it, period.

    * Crashes: It crashes a lot more than other phone OSes I've tried. Sometimes the crashes are partial - like losing networking ability.

    * LONG boot time: takes over a minute for my phone to come up.

    * Difficult to configure: the interface for configuring email and other internet apps is horrid and slow. Can't do it from a desktop app.

    * Web browser is just totally wonky: some things load. Some things don't. What loaded yesterday doesn't work today.

    * Slow: I believe that my device as a 200mhz processor in it, but screen updates and nav is really, really slow.

    * You get charged for everything: there is seemingly no community, but just software vendors. Folks that are spoiled by all the nice gadgety apps available on Palm and Symbian are going to be disappointed.

    Give me a Treo or Symbian device any day. I only use the thing because it was free, and I'm thinking seriously about ebaying it anyway.

    Microsoft has a lot of work here before they kill anything. I'm hating this thing so much that I'm about ready to go back to my "dumb" phone and PDA combo that I used before.

    jh

    1. Re:Why SmartPhone is crap by Zone-MR · · Score: 2, Informative

      However, I have moaned publicly about the lack of community in the OS in terms of software development. Some of the user groups, such as this one [modaco.com] do have a great and helpful community, it's just that the creators of the free apps don't embrace OSS at all. :-(

      Shameless plug: www.spv-developers.com

      Still small, but growing rapidly. We've worked on several interesting OSS projects, and have some revolutionary new stuff planned for the coming weeks :p

  4. Re:Personally... by Progman3K · · Score: 2, Informative

    >I never take advice from an opinionated source which does not do credible research, and hope to urge others to also make informed decisions.

    And well you should.

    I've used Windows since Windows/286 and I've written lots of software for Windows. I've also rolled-out lots of Microsoft products for various projects and work environments.

    I've made up my mind based on my own research and come to the conclusion that I have through logic.

    Sounds like you do the same. I can't argue that.

    --
    I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
  5. Re:Blackberry Killer? by praxis · · Score: 2, Informative

    From what you want:

    1. small as possible -- Got that, I have a Mpx200 which is 4 oz. and 1.90x3.5x1.06 in. Certainly a phone form factor first.
    2. best screen possible -- It's an old phone, so it's only 176x220 pixel display, but certainly works for my phone/PDA needs. Newer devices will have better displays I'm sure.
    3. blackberry/treo keyboard -- Nope, shortcoming here, but once again, it's an old device.
    4. push email -- EAS allows push email, calendar, etc.
    5. IM -- Has that too.

    Added things I like you didn't mention: over-the-air update, passthrough connection when connected via USB to a computer, use as a modem.