Wednesday, June 28, 2006
A Look at Windows Vista's Windows Mobile Device Center
Posted by Darius Wey in "ARTICLE" @ 06:00 AM
"Windows Mobile Device Center is the new name for the interface that enables mobile device synchronization in Windows Vista. In my last article "Inside Windows Vista: Windows Mobile Device Center and Sync Center," I had offered a quick look at the feature as it was implemented in the Windows Vista Beta Build 5308. Our readers will remember that I had concluded the article saying that the feature has not been implemented completely and the critical pieces that enable synchronization of Outlook information like contacts, calendar and tasks etc, the most important pieces of device synchronization, are not enabled. Meanwhile Microsoft was claiming that Windows Vista will have the ActiveSync functionality baked into the core operating system but Vista testers, including myself, could not find any proof to verify that claim. Even after Windows Vista Beta 2 Build 5384 (a major milestone) was released in May, the mobile device synchronization was not supported. This made me believe that Microsoft had shelved the plans to improve the mobile device support in Windows Vista because of all the delays associated with the product launch. The situation changed recently after I received a tip from one of our readers, mzh, who informed us about an update that has been made available to Beta 2 testers. I booted my test system into Windows Vista and ran Windows Update. Sure enough there was an update waiting to be installed and it enabled the missing feature. Smile After looking at the updated Windows Mobile Device Center, I can confidently say - "Goodbye ActiveSync!"
Kris Kumar, over at Smartphone Thoughts, has written an excellent article on the new (and updated) Windows Mobile Device Center in Windows Vista. Overall, I would say that the Device Center is a step in the right direction. It has a new look, and is well integrated in Windows Vista, but at the end of the day, it's still similar to ActiveSync in many ways. I certainly hope that as time goes on, we begin to see some updates that transform the way we sync our devices with our computers. You know, something that always works without a hitch. ;)
Kris Kumar, over at Smartphone Thoughts, has written an excellent article on the new (and updated) Windows Mobile Device Center in Windows Vista. Overall, I would say that the Device Center is a step in the right direction. It has a new look, and is well integrated in Windows Vista, but at the end of the day, it's still similar to ActiveSync in many ways. I certainly hope that as time goes on, we begin to see some updates that transform the way we sync our devices with our computers. You know, something that always works without a hitch. ;)
