Due to some other work commitments, I almost missed this, but Windows Mobile 6.1 was announced last week.
Some of the headline Windows Mobile 6.1 features are as follows:
- Provides a lot of usability improvements due to new UI screens and plug-ins. There are new transparency effects and plug-ins for Windows Media and Live Search amongst others.
- Performance improvements over 6.0
- Simplified WiFi connection via a single screen rather than the myriad screens currently.
- SMS threading (makes related SMS messages look like an instant messaging conversation). You can now also embed and use hyperlinks in SMS messages.
- New version of Mobile Internet Explorer.
- Other miscellaneous improvements.
From what I've seen it looks to be more evolution rather than revolution but definitely very welcome and well worth a look.
Product Videos
I found find two useful videos on Windows Mobile 6.1 both of which give a run down of some of the features. The first is much longer at 40 minutes but is a presentation by the Windows Mobile team on some of the new features and gives some of their origins. You can find it on the MSN Video site here.
The second is more cut down and polished and is on the official Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 site along with other info about Windows Mobile 6.1.
Enterprise Benefits - Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008
One of the key elements for enterprises, will be the inclusion of a client for the new Microsoft System Center 2008 Mobile Device Manager server technology. You'd have to look hard to find a longer product name! This allows an enterprise to centrally manage and deploy windows mobile devices and applications as well as providing a Mobile VPN for secure mobile access to corporate resources. Microsoft System Center 2008 Mobile Device Manager was officially announced on April 1 (yes I know - great date choice!). You can find more details here.
Device Upgrades
Windows Mobile 6.1 is likely to be offered as standard on many new Windows Mobile devices. It has already been shown on devices from a number of US cellular operators. As for existing devices, one of the videos shows Windows Mobile 6.1 being demonstrated running on the US Htc Tilt model, which has a broadly equivalent European model in the Htc TynTyn II. As ever, precise availability will depend on the desire of the relevant mobile operators to release it, but at least we know its possible.
Windows Mobile 6.1 Device Emulators
For developers interested in understanding what's changed in the latest versions and how to develop applications for Windows Mobile 6.1, you can now get the latest emulators to try things out. I've only just started to download and install these, so haven't really found out whether 6.0 applications will run unaltered yet.
The emulators for Professional and Standard version of 6.1 are available at:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3D6F581E-C093-4B15-AB0C-A2CE5BFFDB47&displaylang=en
Unfortunately they are currently only in USA English. I'm assuming localised emulators will follow shortly.
Comparing Versions Of Windows Mobile
Its often difficult to keep up with the differences between Windows Mobile 5.0, 6.0 and 6.1 but I found this useful comparison chart which neatly differentiates them.