Windows Phone Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

Feeling like getting all crazy this weekend with Windows Mobile 6.5 on your Sprint Touch Pro 2? Then make a backup and have at it - the downloads are now available!

"Bad news, HTC HD2 owners: Microsoft has finally come right out and confirmed our suspicions that the mighty HTC HD2 won't be upgraded to Windows Phone 7 Series. Joe Belfiore just told us that the HD2 is "not compliant with the Windows Phone 7 Series hardware specifications," which should end any of the lingering doubt that's clouded this issue since MWC."

Well, it's official. The HD2 will forever remain a Windows Mobile 6.5 device. While it's a bummer, it really shouldn't be all that surprising. Microsoft wants to wipe the slate clean with Windows Phone 7 Series, and that means all-new software and hardware. What we're most interested in is that now that Microsoft has made it official this early in the year, will HD2 sales be negatively impacted? Only time will tell.

"For Diamond 2 firmware is not planned. Of the existing communicators on the market, only the HD2 firmware to get WM7."

That's a translated quote from HTC Russia's Twitter account, though as of right now the tweet has been deleted and the page Engadget linked to is now gone. Oh HTC, you should know better - you can't publish something, then try to un-do it after it's gotten out there. At any rate, I'm not sure which surprises me more: that the HD2 will be getting a Windows Mobile 7 upgrade, or that the almost-as-expensive Touch Pro2 and Touch Diamond2 won't. I'm not so sure I believe that the HD2 will get an upgrade to 7...it lacks some of the things that are part of the Chassis 1 spec we read about earlier this year. We can all hope though, right?

"The good news is that this isn't the 400th article this month talking about a potential Sprint/T-Mobile merger. The better news is that this rumor has a stronger chance of coming true than a Sprint/T-Mobile merger. One of my trusty ninjas hit me up tonight with information claiming that a Windows Mobile 6.5 update will see the light of day for the TouchPro2 and Dash 3G beginning January 6th, 2010"

It's a rumor reported by TMoNews, to be sure, however hopefully it's somewhat accurate. I mean when else will T-Mo finally get around to popping out the 6.5 updates for these two phones anyway? (Actually, if past track record is any indication, January 6th 2011 is probably just as likely). Hopefully though within a month us loyal T-mo users will have an official 6.5 upgrade - you know, the OS that was released on October 6 -- for those devices released in early and mid summer!

The I Started Something blog has run across a new job posting at MS that indicates Microsoft is getting serious about the Windows Update feature on a mobile device.

"Our goal is to enable customers to anticipate and enjoy a predictable stream of new and improved capabilities for their Windows Phone via a Device Update service that is worry-free and easy-to-use"

It is going to not only have to be as easy and worry free as the iPhone update mechanism, but as powerful as well. Apple has kept the iPhone users that originally purchased the device in 2007 up to date where the hardware allows, and the new 3.0 OS will still work on those original two year old iPhones with only minor limitations in capabilities. Contrast that today with a lot of Windows Mobile 6.1 devices that won't be upgraded to 6.5 due out this fall, giving their owners far less than even one year of having a device with the latest features.

The article indicates this feature won't be on 6.5, which may be true. 6.5 is probably too far along to have any major changes to it before the release date, so it may be 7.0 before we see this implemented.

HTC has posted a ROM update for the Touch HD, which, alongside the usual batch of bug fixes, improves the performance of GPS and emergency call connections, and updates the connection setup database. It's a free download, although you will need to provide your serial number in order to gain access to it.

I just received word back from an HTC representative that they are indeed going to be offering a free upgrade to Windows Mobile 6.5 on both their Touch Diamond2 and the Touch Pro2:

"What I can say on the matter is that HTC has committed to offer a free upgrade from Windows Mobile 6.1 to Windows Mobile 6.5 for both the Touch Diamond2 and Touch Pro2. I don't have details on timing by carrier or region - just that we will be offering the upgrade for free."

This fact had been assumed by some people, but every written comment I could find simply stated that these two phones were "upgradeable" to 6.5. As we all know, being technically upgradeable means nothing in this market - only a public comittment to actually do the upgrade is what matters. Now that HTC has made this comittment, you can go ahead with your Touch Pro2 and Touch Diamond2 purchases from our affiliate store. ;-)

Both the Samsung SGH-i780 (European version) and Verizon Wireless' XV6900 (HTC Touch) have finally been blessed with Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrades. Visit our Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrade thread for links to these upgrades, as well as many more.

There's no shortage of Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrades available for download, so we've compiled and linked to (hopefully) all of them to make searching for that device upgrade just a little bit easier. If you know of any we've missed, hit us with a link and we'll add it to the list.

• Alltel: HTC Touch, HTC PPC6800
• ASUS: P527, P750
• AT&T: Motorola Q9h, Pantech Duo, Tilt,
• Bell: HTC Touch, HTC PPC6800
• HTC: Touch Cruise, Touch Dual, HTC TyTN II,
• i-mate: Ultimate 6150, Ultimate 8150, Ultimate 8502, Ultimate 9502
• Intermec: CN3, CK3
• Motorola: MC7090 (requires a purchased license)
• O2: Xda Mantle, Xda Orbit 2, Xda Stellar
• Orange: HTC TyTN II
• Samsung: BlackJack II (XP, Vista), SCH-i760, SGH-i780 (Europe)
• Sprint: ACE (SPH-i325), Mogul, HTC Touch
• Telus: HTC Touch, HTC S720, HTC P4000
• US Cellular: HTC Touch
• Verizon Wireless: Motorola Q9c, XV6800, XV6900
• Vodafone: v1615

"The availability of updates that include Windows Mobile 6 for Treo 750 smartphones will expire as of 10/31/2008. Users of these devices who want this update must download it before the expiration date."

HTC isn't the only one pulling upgrades. If you have an AT&T-branded Treo 750 and want to upgrade to Windows Mobile 6, you have a little over a week to do so.