Windows Mobile 6.5 will have a lot of new apps, features and technologies that will be included and introduced. Just to name a few: internet explorer mobile, live mesh for mobile, windows media player mobile, windows mobile marketplace,.NET compact framework, .NET mobile, compact framework, and SQL server compact. The Windows Mobile contact list will get a huge visual boost and be more touch-friendly as well, with larger menu items and an updated look. Microsoft has officially confirmed a new web browser for Windows Mobile, Internet Explorer 6. The hottest new features and apps include: My Phone--a backup and recovery service for contacts, photos and other data stored on a mobile device. My Phone will also be available for phones running Windows Mobile 6.0 and 6.1. The new Windows Marketplace for Mobile is a centralized place to buy increasingly popular mobile applications. Windows Mobile 6.5 features a new user interface and "honeycomb". A customizable start screen with hexagonal tiles for each program that are designed to be easier to use on touch-screen phones. The Windows Mobile start menu can be customized with Internet applications like weather or stock reports, that are automatically updated. The new Windows Mobile 6.5 user interface is designed to be more "finger friendly," You can also move icons up or down in the new layout. In addition, the new Windows Mobile Home screen will support special widgets, which will give status information like missed calls, new messages, etc. Another new feature of Windows Mobile 6.5 allows people to go directly to waiting voice mail, text messages or other information when unlocking their phones. Microsoft Recite, came out of the company's research group. It allows people to record voice notes or other audio files on Windows Mobile phones and then search for keywords using their voice. LG is set to launch 50 new Windows Mobile devices over the next 4 years. And to boot you will get widgets in windows mobile 6.5. The widgets will appear to function just as full applications do, and will have their own icons in Windows Mobile menus and access to web content. The widgets will be powered, in part, by the new Mobile Internet Explorer 6, which will give them access to Flash and ActiveX controls. The widgets will also have control of the SK menu bar. According to Microsoft, the widgets can be written with standard web technologies, such as HTML, CSS, AJAX, and JavaScript.

I'm still using Windows Mobile on a Dell Axim X51v. Although I still use it - I'm always amazed at how unstable the OS is and how often I need to re-boot. Now I'm considering an HTC Touch Pro 2 when it comes out - but the thought of having to repeatedly re-boot my phone just takes the wind out of my sails. Can someone say if the latest versions of Window Mobile is any more stable than the 5.x versions?

Is there any plan for a Linux based phone with a 3.5+ inch VGA (or better)?

Steve - I think you are right - certainly not all of the lag is on Microsoft's end.
However, I am, like Keisha, very impressed with the speed at which HTC is upping the ante with cool devices AND software enhancements, the latest of which are the Diamond2 and Touch Pro2.

The GOOD news is that third party products like touch flo 3D and SPB Mobile Shell owe their success in part to the speed at which Microsoft turns around its mobile OS. The BAD news is that we need these third party products because of the wait between much needed updates for features which phone users are coming to expect.

I am not sure what I would do without tweaks, hacks and third party apps. It just wouldn't be Microsoft! That flexibility has traditionally been part of the Microsoft charm. However, it is also part of the ball-and-chain that Microsoft carries. And...sometimes you just want a computer/phone to work the way you expect it to work...right out of the box.

Why does it take 6-9 months for devices to appear?

First, OEMs need to take the OS, put it in their devices, tune it with their device drivers and power settings and build a ROM with any extras they have (like TouchFlo).

Second, the OEMs then have to send the prototype devices to Microsoft to certify them.

Third, for phones (or PDAs with Bluetooth or WiFi), the OEMs need FCC certification.

Fourth, again for phones, the OEMs need to get a carrier interested and do any carrier-requested customization.

Finally, the carrier needs to certify the device on their network.

I'm not sure if that's the exact order, or whether some things are done in parallel, but that sounds like it could take 6+ months to me. :D

Yes, it's disappointing when we want it NOW, but getting phones out takes longer than getting PDAs out. Remember that it took Apple about a year to get the iPhone 3g out, too.

Steve

It is disappointing how long Microsoft is taking to release the OS. And you've acknowledged that things work slowly at Microsoft the question is WHY. This is not a new OS, its a GUI facelift for wm 6.1, let's be real.

Why is it going to take until the end of the year to release? MS needs to take a page from HTC's book. MS is playing catchup to the other OS's and the threats are there, Palm is set to release July-ish, you know Apple is brewing something, and you know it will be good.
By the time 6.5 is released everyone will be on to bigger and better things.

Something needs to be done about the pace at which things are done at MS, there is obviously too much of a bureaucracy there.

That said what i've seen so far has been a nice surprise after the non update of 6.0 to 6.1 (for pro devices), what's been released has been more than i expected...(not that that says much b/c i've honestly lost all faith in MS)

There is no free upgrade.
The responsiveness is laggy.
New IE for Windows Mobile 6.5 only.
The Zune inspired interface should be all over.
It took this long to finally introduce single-touch?

I'm still sticking with Windows Mobile because of its versatility and I see much potential in the future, but for those who have suffered through WM 5&6, throw us a bone MS!

I think some of the features will make a big difference in usability (new sliding panel today screen, new locking screen...)but evolution is taking far too long.

Just like 6.1, wasn't a big change but there were a couple good nuggets in it ... like Threaded SMS.

No media player upgrade is unforgivable though. Since MS seems to like breaking things into components lately ... maybe the Zune Player upgrade that everyone was expecting will be a stand alone product they will release before 6.5 even hits retail? One can hope.

Considering the pressure that the iphone and other such devices have put on the market to make phones finger-friendly, it is disappointing that it has taken Microsoft so long to respond. At the same time, I like what I am seeing, and think this is the right direction. while I enjoy TouchFlo 3D on my Fuze, it would be great to have gestures and better ease of use supported seamlessly across the OS. I think MS will be in a rough spot if they don't deliver that with WM7.