Windows Mobile 6.5: a first look

Microsoft has officially unveiled the latest version of its mobile operating system at Mobile World Congress 2009. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer previewed Windows Mobile 6.5 during his keynote address, and as expected, the updated OS brings a handful of enhancements, including an application store, a backup and restore service, and an improved mobile web browser. Here's a full rundown of the new features:

My Phone service

My Phone is a free service that allows you to back up your phone's information to a password-protected web service. It offers automatic synching and backup so you can store your contacts, appointments, text messages and other information to the service and then easily restore the Show allinformation to your device if you happen to lose it or upgrade to a new smartphone.

In addition, My Phone lets you automatically upload photos and videos straight from your phone to the service. Currently, My Phone is only available as an invitation-only beta.

Windows Marketplace for Mobile

Windows Marketplace for Mobile will operate as the central hub for searching, browsing and purchasing mobile applications for your smartphone. It comes preloaded on all Windows Mobile 6.5 devices, where you'll be able to download applications over the air or from your PC simply by entering your Windows Live ID. Developers who have already created programs for Windows Mobile will be able to offer their products through the marketplace after a security and compatibility check from Microsoft.


Internet Explorer Mobile will support Flash and JavaScript — but not (yet) SilverLight.

Internet Explorer Mobile

With Windows Mobile 6.5, you'll get more features from Internet Explorer Mobile. Built on the Internet Explorer 6 engine, the mobile browser will support Flash and JavaScript and includes new tools for better page navigation, such as zoom in/out sliding scale and a breadcrumb feature that shows you where you are on a web page. In addition, Microsoft says that the browser allows for more transactions (checking flights, buying movie tickets, for example) than any other mobile browser.

Windows Mobile 6.5 has a new touch-screen-friendly 'honeycomb' interface for on-screen icons.

New user interface
The most noticeable difference you'll see in Windows Mobile 6.5 is the user interface. It is designed to be 'finger friendly' and 'people centric', bringing more important information up front and allowing for a better navigation experience.

The Start menu now features a honeycomb format so you can more easily tap on icons without hitting the wrong button. You can also move and rearrange the icons to your liking. From the lock screen, you'll be able to see any missed calls, voicemails, new messages and upcoming appointments, providing your most important information at a glance. The Home screen also uses Zune's interface. Our screenshot gallery better illustrates these features and how they work, so be sure to check it out.

Although these capabilities seem aimed at touch screens, Microsoft says it's still committed to non-touch devices and offering its customers a choice, so Windows Mobile 6.5 will also come in a Standard Edition.

Availability and partners

Now, here's some bad news. Microsoft doesn't plan to release Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrades or devices until the second half of 2009. There were a couple of handset announcements made in conjunction with the Windows Mobile 6.5 news (LG has committed to Windows Mobile as the primary operating system for its smartphones and will release a 6.5 device later this year, and HTC will offer Windows Mobile 6.5 upgrades for its new HTC Touch Pro2 and HTC Touch Diamond2 devices), you can bet that Microsoft's competition won't be sitting still during that time and will continue to develop their own operating systems.

The new enhancements promise to improve the usability of Windows Mobile, but they seem more like baby steps than giant leaps forward, so it will be interesting to see where Windows Mobile 6.5 will be in the game by the time it finally comes out.

Windows Mobile Device Center Trouble Shooting Steps/Guide

Description

Windows Mobile Device Center.

• Synchronize information, such as Outlook E-mail, Contacts, Calendar, or Tasks

on your device with your PC, as well as pictures, video, and music.

• Synchronize Outlook E-mail, Contacts, Calendar appointments, and Tasks on your

device directly with Exchange Server so that you can stay up to date even when your

PC is turned off.

• Copy files between your device and your PC without synchronizing.

Set up Windows Mobile Device Center on the computer.

1. Install WMDC on your PC.After Setup completes, the Synchronization Setup Wizard automatically starts when you connect your device to the PC.

2. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the wizard. In the Sync Setup Wizard, do one or both of the following:

• Create a synchronization relationship between your PC and your device or “Setup Your device”.

• “Connect without setting up your device”.

3. Choose the information types to synchronize.

When you finish the wizard, WMDC synchronizes your device automatically. Once

synchronization completes, you can disconnect your device from your PC.

Troubleshooting (1)

Check for Windows Mobile Device Center 6.1 according to bit version of Windows Vista 32/64 bit.. Download link is as below...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/help/synchronize/device-center-download.mspx

To find out whether your version of Windows Vista is 32-bit or 64-bit, click Start, right- click Computer, and then click Properties. The version is listed after System Type.

Troubleshooting (2)

1. Open Microsoft Windows Mobile Device Center 6.1

2. Click on Mobile Device Settings'.

3. Click on "Connection Settings".

4. 'Allow USB connections' is checked.

5. Uncheck the option 'Allow connections to one of the following'.

6. This computer is connected to : Automatic.

7. Click on OK.


Close the Windows Mobile Device Center and connect the imate phone to PC. Follow the steps to create a partnership and get the synchronization options.

Troubleshooting (3)

Check for the following settings on imate devices.

1) Click on Start>>Settings>>Connection>>USB to PC.

2) Uncheck the option "Enable Advanced Network Functionality". Please try changing these settings as an alternative in case you find problems connecting your device and PC through ActiveSync.

3) Click on OK.

4) Disconnect the Device and reconnect it.

Troubleshooting (4)

Delete the partnership on your computer in Windows Mobile Device Center. click on "Mobile Device Settings">> Click on "End a Partnership".

After this on your device go to start>programs>active sync>menu>options>select windows mobile and tap on delete, after deleting the partnership try connecting your device again and syncing your device.

Troubleshooting (5)

If that does not work in that case some personal firewalls may prevent WMDC from detecting your device, especially when using high security configurations.

Please follow the below mentioned URLs to disable respective Firewalls.

· Sygate Personal Firewall

· TrendMicro PC-cillin Internet Security 2005

· Norton Personal Firewall

· Zone Alarm Security Suite

· McAfee Personal Firewall

· Windows Firewall

· BlackICE Firewall

Troubleshooting (6)

If still that does not work, uninstall and reinstall Windows Mobile Device Center 6.1 and follow all the above troubleshooting steps.

Troubleshooting (7)

If the issue still persists then please backup all the data from phone memory and perform hard reset of the device as there may be problem with Active Sync on the device.

Troubleshooting (8)

Check by connecting to another USB port of the Computer. If the issue still persists or you get the error “USB not recognized”. In that case there may be problem with the USB connecter of the Device as well.

Refer to contact service center.