With the announcement that the release of the new version of Windows CE had slipped into some time in the first half of 2007 (with its Windows Mobile variant to follow a few months later), most mobile Windows enthusiasts had resigned themselves to sticking with Version 5. However, the delays were overstated and the new version of Windows CE, 6.0, has been released to manufacturing and is on schedule to ship before the end of this year. New screenshots of the upcoming Version 6 have come to light, and they provide a glimpse into Microsoft's roadmap for its mobile operating systems.
The new version takes its visual cues from Windows Vista, although without that operating system's translucent effects. The titlebars and icons have been subtly tweaked to evoke familiarity from Vista users. However, there are changes under the hood as well. The OS features increased resource limits and a large jump in the maximum number of simultaneous processes.
According to Pieter Knook, a senior vice president at Microsoft, the OS will include strong connectivity features with Office 2007 and Exchange 12, as well as the mobile version of Microsoft's enterprise-level instant messaging program, Office Communicator.
Screenshot courtesy of MSMobileNews.com
Knook also indicated that Microsoft was planning to change the page of upgrades for Windows CE and Windows Mobile to a yearly schedule. This would neatly tie in with mobile phone users' yearly contracts, and offer both Microsoft and mobile phone networks an incentive for customers to renew their contracts.
Windows CE and Windows Mobile have come a long way from the first release of CE 1.0 in 1996. Back then, the OS was criticized for its poor user interface and spotty connectivity features, compared to the then-dominant Palm OS. How times have changed! The classic Palm OS's latest version, Cobalt, has not been taken up by any mobile device manufacturers, including the hardware arm of Palm itself. PalmSource, the software half of Palm, is chasing a Linux-powered future on handhelds. Meanwhile, Microsoft continues to work away at Windows CE/Windows Mobile. Are the handheld device OS wars over? Or is there still room in this space for another contender?
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