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eWEEK Labs Takes a First Look at Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5
by Andrew Garcia
Start Menu
Gone is the drop-down Start Menu from previous versions of Windows Mobile, replaced by a full-screen, scrollable display.
Honeycomb
The on-screen icons are designed to be manipulated with the finger—not a stylus—so Microsoft architected the touch zones as wide hexagons (rather than small squares) to compensate for frequent fat fingering.
Scrolling
The Start Menu extends downward from what you see right off the bat, accessible with an upward flick of the finger. In the alpha version we saw, on-screen scrolling was sluggish.
Lock Screen
Windows Mobile 6.5 delivers more information to locked devices. For instance, users can now see their next appointment without having to unlock the unit.
Direct Access
From the lock screen, users can get a sense of what is new on the device. On-screen displays indicate new incoming voicemails, e-mails or text messages. Therefore, users can go directly to the application with new content from the lock screen rather than having to navigate a menu first.
Unlock
Of course, if the users want to create an unlock PIN, they can do so. The device will then require a log-in attempt before diplaying the status-enabled lock screen.
Full Internet
Users can choose between full Web mode (including integrated Flash support) or a mobile-optimized view. To zoom, users need simply to adjust the slider bar on the right, then follow the on-screen markers to finger-navigate to the desired location on the page.
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Windows Mobile 6.5, due in the second half of 2009, brings some welcome changes to Microsoft's mobile interface. According to a quick look at the alpha version, Windows Mobile 6.5 is now designed for finger manipulation, the updated UI appears to obviate the need for a stylus. Plus, it will offer a full Web browser with built-in Flash support.