I’ve been talking my way around Tech.Ed for the past few days, and decided to interrogate some of the guys about Windows Mobile 6.5.  Unfortunately they are all very tight lipped guys, but I did receive a few stares with raised eyebrows when I started asking questions from Windows Mobile 6.5.1.

What they will give out is the basic information that can be found on the web, Global Release date is October and all the OEMs supposedly already have WM 6.5.  The problem with WM 6.5 is that anyone following the builds that are almost being leaked daily look very different to the stock marketing images.

The enthusiast named “Windows Mobile 6.5.1” looks like Microsoft are going the way of both Apple and Google and giving users OS updates outside of a normal major release.  The new release moves the start and close/ok buttons to a redesigned bottom button bar, where the bottom of the screen has up to 5 buttons across the bottom (Start, Left Function, Keyboard, Right Function and Close/Ok).

While no one would confirm anything with words, there were plenty of looks as we played some kind of software release charades with facial expressions.

Hopefully OEMs can’t block these kind of updates from Microsoft to help make any new 6.5 phones even better as 6.5 evolves on the way to Windows Mobile 7.

There have been a few reports around the net about new features making their way into Windows Mobile 6.5.  Features such as cursor magnification, larger UI Controls and some new ‘good lookin’ button bars.  I decided I had better see what the fuss was about so I’ve now got the new build of Windows Mobile 6.5 running on a device to check out these new features.

When you first boot into Windows Mobile 6.5 you are greeted with the new button bar at the bottom.  From what I can tell the button bar is an unfinished version of the IE Button bar for all of Windows Mobile 6.5.

Welcome screen of Windows Mobile 6.5 with the new buttons.	Mobile IE button bar
New position of the close/ok button.	New tab control slider

It seems that almost all of the default controls have been modified, tab controls are now some kind of flying slide control.

There is also a new magnifier cursor box that seems to pop up at the moment, always when you don’t need it and jumps around your finger like a small energetic dog.  Unfortunately I could get it sit still when I was trying to take a screenshot of it.  I can see it being a good feature, once it settles down.

It’s good to see some more underlying UI controls getting a facelift in Windows Mobile 6.5 but when on earth is this product going to market?  Hopefully over the next few builds the UI receives the fit and finish it deserves and some of the new stability problems are fixed (although that could be the particular build I had).