Upgrade your HTC Windows Mobile phone to Windows Mobile 6.5!

HTC have announced that they plan on letting users of the three most recent WinMo phones upgrade to version 6.5 when it comes out. Let's check out the three phones the upgrade will be available for.

HTC Touch Diamond2

The HTC Touch Diamond2 actually does a very good job of making it so you don't have to go into standard Windows menus that often, as on top of the operating system, the interface is HTC's patented TouchFLO 3D setup, where everything is achieved through various finger swipes and sweeping gestures. It is truly intuitive, and it's the reason why the HTC Touch Diamond2 is such an unmitigated joy to use. Of course, it's not all about being pretty, a phone needs to have decent features and the HTC Touch Diamond2 has them in spades, from the 5 megapixel camera, through GPS, to incredibly fast HSDPA internet access (not to mention the superb Opera Mobile web browser). To many, the HTC Touch Diamond2 is the ultimate Windows Mobile phone and it's only set to get better when it becomes upgradable to Windows Mobile 6.5.

HTC Touch Pro2

Next up is the HTC Touch Pro2, and here, you get the added benefit of a QWERTY keyboard. However, like the previous TyTN II, with the HTC Touch Pro2, you can also tilt the screen up after sliding it open, putting it at a more natural viewing angle. In terms of other hardware, the HTC Touch Pro2 also gives you a 5 megapixel camera, HSDPA internet access (as well as WiFi), and GPS, putting it right up there in the top echelon of mobile phones. Software-wise, the HTC Touch Pro2 is powered by Windows Mobile, but, like an increasing number of Windows Mobile phones, it uses a proprietary interface on top (TouchFLO 3D, again, as with the Touch Diamond2), that takes the power of Windows Mobile, and makes it user-friendly. All in all, the HTC Touch Pro2 is one incredible mobile phone.

HTC Snap

So, both the HTC Touch Diamond2 and the QWERTY-enabled HTC Touch Pro2 will be upgradable to Windows Mobile 6.5 when it gets released. But HTC aren't stopping there; they're also letting non-touchscreen users upgrade, if they have the email-centric HTC Snap. Anyone who's used Windows Mobile before will know it's exceptionally good at emails and info management, and the HTC Snap is no exception to that rule. You get the same excellent POP3 and Exchange Server (for your corporate emails) support, but the HTC Snap also includes something new: Inner Circle. This is a new feature for the HTC Snap, that lets you set an Inner Circle of friends or important people, and automatically prioritises emails from them, to make sure you get the emails that matter the most, first.

A_C's S2P gets an update to v0.70 beta

I'm a fan of A_C's S2P. It is and will be my main media player for my Touch Pro and was also the main media player for my Prophet. The contender to this is Microfi Nitrogen.

I like the finger friendliness of it and also the simpleness. You don't have a lot of options, it just works.

It's been a long wait for a new version of S2P. The last version, 0.58 was out a long time ago, 9 months in waiting. The wait is now over since A_C has released a new version: 0.70 beta. He's calling it a beta since Album view and playlists are still "experimental".

I have not updated yet because my usual laptop is going back to the shop for repair. My motherboard was just replaced, managed to use it for a few days & now the problem is back again! Damn you hp and your crappy laptops!

v0.70 beta
- temporarily disabled the "Album View" & "Playlists".
- added option to set/refresh the music library.
- added more views to play or shuffle songs; an artist's songs or albums.
- added option to play album by album randomly - "Shuffle Albums".
- added support to MP4/AAC as long as the device already has the corresponding WMP decoder.
- faster startup.
- AVRCP no longer requires WMP running in the background on some HTC devices (read the FAQ for details).
- a lot of enhancements made on the user interface.
- a lot of minor bugs fixed.

Discuss it at xda-developers

Download at http://s2p.ac-s2.com/

Windows Mobile/Phone 6.5 out Oct. 6 2009!

Microsoft has announced that Windows Mobile will now be called Windows Phone. Why can't it just be Windows Mobile? Apparently a lot of people do not know that their PPC devices run Windows Mobile. So it makes sense to change the name to Windows Phone? I don't think it will make a difference but only if Microsoft made the hardware for it. Oh wait, if that was the case, then maybe change the name to Mirosoft Phone?



Anyhow, Windows Mobile/Phone 6.5 will officially be released on Oct. 6. What devices will come out with them? Nothing yet as far as I know. But check out xda-developers for WinMo 6.5 Roms for your device to get a taste.

Microsoft to Deliver New Generation of Windows Phones on Oct. 6


REDMOND, Wash. — Sept. 1, 2009 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Windows^® phones will be widely available at retail stores worldwide on Oct. 6, 2009. The new phones will be the first to feature Windows Mobile 6.5, the latest version of Microsoft’s mobile phone software, and will deliver new customer experiences through an improved, easy-to-use user interface, better browsing capabilities and access to valuable services, including Windows Marketplace for Mobile and Microsoft My Phone.

“A Windows phone gives people a single phone that works for their whole life, keeping them connected to the people and information they care most about by harnessing the power of the PC, phone and Web,” said Todd Peters, corporate vice president of the Mobile Communications Marketing Group at Microsoft.

Industry Players Rally Behind Windows Phones

Partners from around the globe are committed to updating or expanding their portfolios to include phones with Windows Mobile 6.5.

•	In North America: Mobile operators AT&T, Bell Mobility, Sprint, TELUS and Verizon Wireless, and phone manufacturers HP, HTC Corp., LG Electronics, Samsung and Toshiba Corp.
•	In Europe: Mobile operators Orange, Deutsche Telekom AG and Vodafone Group Plc, and phone manufacturers Acer, HTC, LG Electronics, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Toshiba
•	In Latin America: Mobile operator TIM Brazil, and phone manufacturers HTC, LG Electronics and Samsung
•	In Asia Pacific: Mobile operators NTT DOCOMO Inc., SOFTBANK Mobile Corp., SK Telecom, Telstra and WILLCOM Inc., and phone manufacturers Acer Inc., HTC, LG Electronics, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Toshiba

One Phone for Work and Play

Windows phones are ideal devices for work and play, giving consumers the confidence to get things done with mobile versions of the software they recognize and expect from their PCs. The redesigned Internet Explorer Mobile browser includes a new engine and built-in Adobe Flash Lite support for better rendering and completion of tasks, so it’s easy to do more from a phone, such as check in for a flight, get directions or pay bills while on the go. Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile delivers a familiar, consistent e-mail experience across the PC, phone and browser, while Microsoft Office Mobile allows customers to open and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents right from their phone. With Windows Live on their phones, users can keep track of friends in one place, no matter which social networking sites they belong to — Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or Windows Live.

Powerful Mobile Services

Windows phones will debut with two new powerful mobile services so that the information, contacts and applications customers want are always at their fingertips. A wide variety of approved and certified applications will be available for direct download to Windows phones from Windows Marketplace for Mobile, and an easy return policy lets customers buy with confidence. The free My Phone service allows customers to automatically back up and sync photos, music, contacts and text messages from their phone to the Web, making it easy to access and manage them from their phone or PC or restore the information in the event of a lost phone.

A Customized Experience, From Keyboards to Widgets

Windows phones give consumers the choice of a broad selection of form factors from sleek, touch-screen devices to full QWERTY keyboards to make it easy to find a phone that fits their needs. Windows Mobile 6.5 provides easy access to third-party applications such as Facebook, Netflix and Zagat, and an improved, touch-friendly user interface that allows customers to tailor their phone to suit their individual style. With the new version, users can change the look and feel of their phones with designer themes or a personal background and customize their home screen with widgets so the information they need is always easy to find.

From Microsoft and Windows Mobile Blog