LAS VEGAS - Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates released details about the company's new mobile operating system code-named "Magneto" during his keynote speech for the Mobile & Embedded Developers Conference.
"In the past five years, there's been a profound shift in the kind of data and services people access on their mobile devices -- from multimedia to business applications," Gates said. "Windows Mobile 5.0 enables our industry partners to develop exciting new hardware designs and solutions that will revolutionize how customers use mobile devices."
"Windows Mobile 5.0 is an important evolutionary step for the Windows Mobile platform, which continues to gain traction worldwide," said John Jackson, Yankee Group senior analyst. "Enhancements in the platform give wireless network operators and mobile device vendors the ability to deliver customized, differentiated services and devices, while meeting the market's demand for robust, scalable, segmented offerings."
Windows Mobile 2005, "Magneto" Details
This new version of the Windows Mobile software platform delivers on partner requests, including more platform flexibility to customize devices and solutions; productivity enhancements that include updated Microsoft Office software and persistent memory storage for more efficient data management; and a powerful multimedia experience with Windows Media(R) Player 10 Mobile and support for hard drives.
Enhancements to Windows Mobile 5.0 will include:
Persistent memory storage. The most requested productivity feature from partners and customers alike, persistent memory storage retains information even when the device's battery is depleted.
Microsoft Office software for Windows Mobile. Users will be able to view and create charts in Excel Mobile, and edit documents with graphics using Word Mobile while maintaining document formatting with files created on a PC. A new PowerPoint(R) Mobile application has been included for Pocket PC, giving road warriors the ability to view and rehearse presentations.
Security. Complementing a number of security features already included in the Windows Mobile platform, such as Bluetooth authorization and end-to-end encryption over a virtual private network, Windows Mobile 5.0 has gone through extensive threat-modeling testing and completed the rigorous Microsoft Trustworthy Computing full security review. The platform is also FIPS-140-2-certified, meaning it meets the stringent U.S. government security requirements for IT products.
Enhanced Multimedia Capabilities
Windows Media Player 10 Mobile. Customers can enjoy a larger number of protected digital music, video and recorded television files that can be synchronized easily from a PC or downloaded from many Internet-based services and mobile operators' music stores with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile. The updated player also enables synchronization of users' playlists, album art and song ratings. Partners can plug in additional digital rights management (DRM) technologies to help advance their specific media business models.
Pictures and video. A new pictures and video application will add advanced features such as burst mode and timer function previously found only on high-end digital cameras.
Extended storage. Additional support for hard drives and Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 will enable people to easily and quickly store large amounts of information -- such as entire digital picture and music libraries -- on a mobile device and synchronize this content with a PC.
Shoring up the Leaks
Up until now, details about "Magneto" have been scarce. Microsoft has been busy trying to quiet rumors that have been buzzing around the web. Neowin.com, Engadget.com and Modaco.com all posted leaked information about the new mobile OS.
Microsoft sent letters to silence the Web sites, claiming that posting screen shots and details of unreleased software violated the company's intellectual property rights. Engadget was the only site that lef
Slashdot Mirror
Hey mods-
How is this redundant? Overrated, perhaps, but no one had posted the text of the article when I put this up.
LAS VEGAS - Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates released details about the company's new mobile operating system code-named "Magneto" during his keynote speech for the Mobile & Embedded Developers Conference.
"In the past five years, there's been a profound shift in the kind of data and services people access on their mobile devices -- from multimedia to business applications," Gates said. "Windows Mobile 5.0 enables our industry partners to develop exciting new hardware designs and solutions that will revolutionize how customers use mobile devices."
"Windows Mobile 5.0 is an important evolutionary step for the Windows Mobile platform, which continues to gain traction worldwide," said John Jackson, Yankee Group senior analyst. "Enhancements in the platform give wireless network operators and mobile device vendors the ability to deliver customized, differentiated services and devices, while meeting the market's demand for robust, scalable, segmented offerings."
Windows Mobile 2005, "Magneto" Details
This new version of the Windows Mobile software platform delivers on partner requests, including more platform flexibility to customize devices and solutions; productivity enhancements that include updated Microsoft Office software and persistent memory storage for more efficient data management; and a powerful multimedia experience with Windows Media(R) Player 10 Mobile and support for hard drives.
Enhancements to Windows Mobile 5.0 will include:
Persistent memory storage. The most requested productivity feature from partners and customers alike, persistent memory storage retains information even when the device's battery is depleted.
Microsoft Office software for Windows Mobile. Users will be able to view and create charts in Excel Mobile, and edit documents with graphics using Word Mobile while maintaining document formatting with files created on a PC. A new PowerPoint(R) Mobile application has been included for Pocket PC, giving road warriors the ability to view and rehearse presentations.
Security. Complementing a number of security features already included in the Windows Mobile platform, such as Bluetooth authorization and end-to-end encryption over a virtual private network, Windows Mobile 5.0 has gone through extensive threat-modeling testing and completed the rigorous Microsoft Trustworthy Computing full security review. The platform is also FIPS-140-2-certified, meaning it meets the stringent U.S. government security requirements for IT products.
Enhanced Multimedia Capabilities
Windows Media Player 10 Mobile. Customers can enjoy a larger number of protected digital music, video and recorded television files that can be synchronized easily from a PC or downloaded from many Internet-based services and mobile operators' music stores with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile. The updated player also enables synchronization of users' playlists, album art and song ratings. Partners can plug in additional digital rights management (DRM) technologies to help advance their specific media business models.
Pictures and video. A new pictures and video application will add advanced features such as burst mode and timer function previously found only on high-end digital cameras.
Extended storage. Additional support for hard drives and Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 will enable people to easily and quickly store large amounts of information -- such as entire digital picture and music libraries -- on a mobile device and synchronize this content with a PC.
Shoring up the Leaks
Up until now, details about "Magneto" have been scarce. Microsoft has been busy trying to quiet rumors that have been buzzing around the web. Neowin.com, Engadget.com and Modaco.com all posted leaked information about the new mobile OS.
Microsoft sent letters to silence the Web sites, claiming that posting screen shots and details of unreleased software violated the company's intellectual property rights. Engadget was the only site that lef