| Microsoft unveils Windows Mobile 6.1 |
Apr. 01, 2008
 Microsoft has announced an upgrade to its embedded operating system for smartphones and PDAs. Windows Mobile 6.1 includes a "sliding panel" home screen, a new task manager, enhanced cut-and-paste, threaded SMS, improved Direct Push technology, and the ability to zoom out on web pages, Microsoft says.
(Click here for a larger view of Windows Mobile 6.1's home screen)
A new home screen was the most widely expected feature in version 6.1 of Windows Mobile, since Microsoft previously created home screen replacements for version 6.0 at the request of several carriers. (See our earlier coverage for details of T-Mobile's "Neo" and Vodafone's "carousel" interfaces, here.)
The new "sliding panel" screen (shown above) is dominated by a digital clock but also is said to offer "quick, at-a-glance" notifications of missed calls, voice mail, email, and, optionally, Windows Live for Windows Mobile information. A new Music category now allows playing tunes directly from the home screen as well.
The Start menu button has migrated to the bottom of the screen, increasing Windows Mobile 6.1's resemblance to its desktop cousins. Pressing the button reveals a list of programs that is now reordered to display those that were most recently used at the top. This feature can be defeated, Microsoft says, adding that users can also revert to the Windows Mobile 6.0-style home screen if they wish.
 For novice users, Windows Mobile 6.1 includes a new "Getting Started" menu option (right). Selecting the option opens up a set of HTML-based help files that provide tips on setting up date and time, personal and work e-mail accounts, security passwords, Bluetooth headsets, ring tones, and music transfered from a PC, according to Microsoft.
Microsoft has also addressed a Windows Mobile omission that inspired at least half a dozen third-party utilities, most recently from Implicit Software Solutions. Microsoft now at last provides an in-house Task Manager application, letting users view the amount of free memory and close unneeded applications. The feature was apparently omitted early on in order to mimic the behavior of Palm OS -- seen as an important competitor when Windows Mobile was first designed.
 A final improvement on the user interface front is the ability to select, cut, copy, and paste text on non-touchscreen devices (right). Available within Outlook and Internet Explorer, though apparently not in Notes or the other Office applications, this feature provides functionality that was previously available only on touchscreen smartphones.
Messaging enhancements
Microsoft touts a variety of messaging enhancements in Windows Mobile 6.1. For example, it is finally possible to select multiple e-mail or text messages from a list view, then perform bulk operations such as deleting, moving, and marking as read or unread. Users can also now delete multiple contacts at once.
 In addition, the operating system's threaded SMS (short message service) capabilities (pictured, right) now allow an instant messaging-like view of a conversation's history. Contact details and contact names are hyperlinked, making it easier to respond to SMS messages by phone or email.
Windows Mobile 6.1 also boasts a redesigned synchronization architecture for its Direct Push email technology, said to work more efficiently with Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Compared to Windows Mobile 6, Windows Mobile 6.1's Direct Push cuts bandwidth consumption by up to 60 percent, and improves battery life by up to 33 percent, Microsoft claims.
Windows Mobile 6.1 is said to offer simpler WiFi and Bluetooth setup, and compatibility with Microsoft's System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008. Announced earlier but available now, Mobile Device Manager makes it easier for administrators to provision and manage smartphones, and lets users access enterprise applications residing behind the firewall, Microsoft says. For more details, see our earlier coverage, here.
Improved web browsing
Windows Mobile's obsolescent Internet Explorer (IE) web browser has been under attack by a multitude of competitors, including Torch Mobile's Iris Browser, Access's NetFront, and Opera's Opera Mobile 9.5. With Windows Mobile 6.1, however, Microsoft begins to address some of IE's limitations.
On Windows Mobile 6.1 devices, IE will now include a Zoom Out button. This lets users see the overall layout of a web page, then zoom in to a desired portion of it. IE also now loads web pages more quickly, Microsoft claims.
Additional significant IE improvements will be available to mobile phone partners in the third quarter of 2008, and to the public by the end of the year, Microsoft said. These promised improvements include:- The ability to view web pages full-screen, without menu bars and other "chrome"
- Adobe Flash support
- Support for Microsoft Silverlight
- H.264 video compatibility
Further information
Phones with Windows Mobile 6.1 will become available during the second quarter, and will include the following new or upgraded devices, according to a list released by Microsoft.
                  
Phones slated for an upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.1
(L-R) Asus P-527, P750; AT&T Tilt; HTC Mogul, Touch, Touch Dual; iMate 8150, 8502, 9502; Intermec CN3; Motorola Q9c, Q, MC70, MC9000; Pantech Duo; Samsung Ace, Blackjack II; T-Mobile Ameo; Toshiba G910
(Click any device for details)
- Asus:
- AT&T -- Tilt
- HTC:
- i-mate:
- Intermec -- CN3
- Motorola:
- Pantech -- Duo
- Samsung:
- T-Mobile -- Ameo
- Toshiba:
Pricing and availability will be set by carriers or phone manufacturers, according to Microsoft.
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