Click each image for a larger view.

The big news, of course, was the show's opening keynote address in which Bill Gates announced the release of "Windows Mobile 5.0," formerly codenamed "Magneto." Gates pointed out that "Just five years ago, the first Windows Mobile-based Pocket PCs shipped from three hardware partners. Today 40 device-makers are shipping innovative Windows Mobile-based products with 68 mobile operators in 48 countries. These hardware and mobile operator partners have contributed to Windows Mobile revenue growth of 31 percent from 2003 to 2004 and phone license sales more than double those of the previous year."

The presentation included a demonstration by Ford Davidson, product manager for Windows Mobile, which included the HTC Universal, said to be the first UMTS device to run Windows Mobile (pictured at left), and the Samsung SGH-i300 (shown on the right). Davidson used the HTC Universal to demonstrate the new features of Office Mobile.

The Samsung SGH-i300 (pictured at right) was used to demonstrate some of the advanced multimedia capabilities of Windows Mobile 5.0.

The speech is available as a webcast here.


Slides from Bill Gates's keynote talk
(Click each to enlarge)

Read more about the Bill Gates keynote talk and the launch of Windows Mobile 5.0 here:

• Sparks fly as Magneto morphs into Windows Mobile 5.0
  
  
• Industry jumps on Windows Mobile 5.0 bandwagon

First official Microsoft podcast

Tune in to Mike Hall's MEDC 2005 Podcast series. Mike will be hosting interviews and demos with MVPs, speakers, and attendees. Mike told WindowsForDevices that this represents "the first official Microsoft Podcast."

Subscribe here (simply add this link as a "live bookmark," if you have yet to explore the world of podcatching software) and watch live from your desktop or favorite mobile device.

Several MSDN bloggers have also turned their attention to MEDC. Among them:

• MEDC 2005 Event Blog
  
• Mikehall's Embedded WebLog
  
• Visual Studio For Devices
  
• Windows Mobile Team Blog

Live radio broadcast

John Iasiuolo is recording his Computer Outlook Radio Talk Show live from the conference Tuesday through Thursday, 5:00 to 6:00pm. The program is being broadcast over KLAV AM 1230 in Las Vegas, and is also being streamed online.

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Related stories:

• Sparks fly as Magneto morphs into Windows Mobile 5.0
  
• Industry jumps on the Windows Mobile 5.0 bandwagon
  
• Windows mobile/embedded dev-con to be blogged, podcast, broadcast
  
• Windows Mobile "embedded music smartphone" boasts 3 GB hard drive