Windows Mobile 6.5.3 details emerge

General

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With the introduction of the Sony Ericsson Aspen, Windows Mobile took a small jump forward to version 6.5.3. This latest version includes a few notable features, including capacitive touchscreen support which will cause all non-HD2 owners to toss their stylii into the air and jump for joy. Other changes include:

  • Platform to enable multitouch
  • Touch controls throughout system (no need for stylus)
  • Consistent Navigation
  • Horizontal scroll bar replaces tabs (think settings>system>about screen)
  • Magnifier to bring touch support to legacy applications
  • Simplified out-of-box experience with fewer steps
  • Drag and drop icons on Start Screen
  • Browser page load time decreased and memory management improved
  • Browser pan & flick gestures smoothed and zoom & rotation speed increased
  • Updated runtime tools (.NET CF 3.5, SQL CE 3.1)
  • Arabic read/write document support
  • Watson (error reporting) improvements and bug fixes

Thus far, the Aspen is the only handset to run this latest version of the Microsoft’s mobile operating system and we may have to wait until MWC 2010 for additional 6.5.3 handsets to emerge and updates for current handsets to be confirmed. Until then, Windows Mobile 6.5.3 is an SE exclusive.

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32 Comments
  • StevenGlansburg

    multitouch for an on screen keyboard is huge and I think many people on here don’t realize that it goes far beyond pinch to zoom functionality (though it is a nice feature). If makes the keyboard typing experience SO MUCH better. I think many of the people who claim “i need real keyboard” would change their minds if they weren’t referring to old technology they have tried out that was not truly multitouch.

    • Peter

      No, I need a real keyboard. I have used the iPhone keyboard and even the onscreen keyboard on my Touch Pro 2 is somewhat usable, but nothing can beat its hardware keyboard.

    • Killah kyle

      Some people just don’t see that not everyone lives in california or florida. Winters long… No way am I taking a glove off when it’s -5 degrees to type. Give me a physical keyboard+scroll ball for winter please.

      • StevenGlansburg

        gloves are for quiters

      • dinoSnake

        No…gloves are for MOTORCYCLE RIDERS.

        And since I am one I’ll take a REAL keyboard, NO glass capacitive touchscreen and a D-pad, please.

        Top it all off, now that I think about it…I can’t guarantee that the pretty-shiny-smooth glass touchscreen won’t implode itself when in my saddlebag as I go over rough roads, either.

        I was looking at a Pre but had to convince myself that I would simply have to deal with the absolute *inconvenience* of having a capacitive touchscreen. Then I looked at the WinMo Pro phones…and got happy again.

  • Jason Price

    ‘Until then, Windows Mobile 6.5.3 is an SE exclusive.’ … except for us custom ROM folks =) 6.5.3 is a VAST improvement over 6.1 and even a notable upgrade to 6.5.

    • Yeah

      Yup yup. Running 6.5.3 on my Sprint TP2 right now. Very sweet, especially threaded email (with snippet previews) in pocket outlook.

  • 3 Phones Jugglin

    Maybe Sprint wasnt B.S’n…then again…until they get this for my TP2..they still are

  • the doctor

    i hope my sprint tp2 gets it!

  • Superguy

    You want it for your TP2? Get a cooked ROM. It’s been out there for quite awhile and there are several good choices out there depending on what you like.

    • Peter

      Definitely. There is nothing to be worried about, it is not scary at all. You run one program on your computer and follow the directions (mainly next next next). Then you run the ROM update and DONE.

  • 1jaxstate1

    Wonder if there’s a ROM for a Touch Pro? Time to hit xda up!!!

    • Peter

      There has been for the past 6 months.

  • oakie

    “including capacitive touchscreen support which will cause all non-HD2 owners to toss their stylii into the air and jump for joy.”

    why?

    their screens are still resistive.

    • Peter

      I think saying it has capacitive touchscreen support is inaccurate. WM has always supported them, as long as the manufactures wrote the drivers. Multi touch in the native applications is another thing, but this does not have that.
      I think what they REALLY mean (though they have simplified it so the majority can understand) is they have made all the controls HUGE. This makes it more usable without a stylus or DPAD. This can be taken advantage of on a resistive screen, too.

      • Michel Merlin

        More precisely, IIUC (If I Understand Correctlly), Winmo 6.5.3 zooms the area being hovered so the buttons *IN THAT LOCAL AREA* are *MOMENTARILY* magnified, so that you more easily and reliabily click the one you want.

        Versailles, Sat 03 Jul 2010 12:51:35 +0200

  • rfarrah

    Been running 6.5.3 on a cooked ROM from Modaco/PPC Geeks since November. Good stuff!

    • suo.eno

      if that’s the case then hopefully MS can pull a HUGE one with the upcoming WinMo 7.

  • A.K.

    my Sprint Touch Pro 2 would like an OFFICIAL WM 6.5.3 update too…

    • Yeah

      Get over it and flash a custom ROM. You won’t look back

  • Bry

    Too late in the game Windows..

  • Killah kyle

    nice improvements winmo :D

  • capt

    do people actually still care or use winmo? I gave them up when I gave up my win machine years ago. so sad for all of you, come on, you know you want android or apple, just say it, even maemo. :D

    Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

  • miguel alvarez

    No! Apple is better in EVERY WAY! Period.

  • Triumph

    You have to wonder… with winmo 7 coming out at the end of the year, why would developers waste resources on such an antiquated POS? All 6.5 comprises of is a badly hacked together UI on top of an even more badly hacked together OS.

    For me to poop on.

  • Christopher Cox

    This is good for the few who love Windows Mobile. But for people who love good, modern systems there is Android, iPhone, and webos. It doesn’t matter how many features you add. The apps are crap, the interface is ugly and outdated, and it’s sluggish. It’s the one system where every manufacturer covers up as much of it as possible to shield people from the underlying os. HTC does a treat job of this. Ifnthey don’t want anyone to see it, why cover it up to hide it? That’s like some guy telling everyone his girl is hot wearing a supermodel mask to hide the ugliness.

  • A.K.

    Too be honest the only reason I am lugging my Sprint Touch Pro 2 is become of my amazingly cheap plan with Sprint. We are all in denial to think that Windows Mobile 6.1 or 6.5.3 can compete with the ingenuity of the Android and iPhone OS’s. I like my TP2 but its software is far inferior and outdated to its Google and Apple counterparts.
    Windows Mobile 7 better come with a bang, and soon! I will be stuck using WM until the day I part with Sprint.

  • Mrwirez
  • miguel alvarez

    “Only a spineless, cowardly child finds it necessary to masquerade as someone they are not.

    Fuck you, kid.”

    No….FUCK YOU, KID!

  • Hmmmmm

    damn, someone baitin’ ole’ backbea… oops! I mean miguel alverez? come on guys, he’s pretending to be someone new!

  • miguel alvarez

    Having -another- temper tantrum? Tsk … Tsk … Doesn’t your community college have a guidance counselor or Psych teacher who can help you get some therapy?

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