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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.

4 of 265 comments (clear)

  1. Magneto? by neuro.slug · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Is it just me, or is Microsoft attempting to re-invent their image? "Magneto", like "Underdog" (the new search engine) is definitely a far cry from "Longhorn" in terms of target audience.

    Microsoft: The new Apple wannabe? I dunno.

    -- n

  2. Well by Sv-Manowar · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It's good to see that they are targetting the Blackberry domination of the market, hopefully it will lead to manufacturers battling to achieve market share, which would mean better products for us, the consumer.

    I just wouldn't want to be beta testing that ;)

    --
    Business Voyeur
  3. Why spend hundreds of dollars on a phone? by mcho · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Personally, I don't think an all-in-one phone is practical.

    Computers are overly complex as it, why make phones the same way? For example, a friend of mine asked me to help him export/import his contact list from Outlook. He couldn't figure it out even though this is a feature that's been around for a good, long time, but probably a majority of users don't know how to use it.

    That's why I've started messagingreminder.com so you can automatically recieve reminders on your appointments (which are stored in Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Sunbird) -- you don't have to do anything but run the software!

    I rather have a $50 with a good battery life and reception than a +$300 phone that I can't figure out how to use and quickly drains its battery.

    --
    Synchronize your calendar and mobile phone via text messaging.
  4. Blackberry Killer? by CynicalGuy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    People dont use blackberries because of the OS. They use them because of the small form factor (new ones are even better) and the push email.

    Hell, I think PalmOne's Treo could kill the blackberry if it offered REAL push email and instant messanger applications.

    But knowing Microsoft, this thing is going to end up bundled with Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer, the entire Microsoft Office suite, and be just slightly too big for my pocket.

    I want: 1. small as possible 2. best screen possible 3. blackberry/treo keyboard 4. push email 5. IM

    That's it.