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

There have been attempts over the years for devices with larger screens running energy-sipping processors and OSs, with varying degrees of (non)success, like the hybrid HTC Shift. One of the biggest problems was that for many years the ARM architecture just couldn't provide the necessary power to run applications at a level people expect, to compete with their desktop experience. Now with the advances in both power and graphics, and support for Web2.0 enablers like Adobe's Flash, there's a better argument in favour of putting Win CE/Win Mobile on bigger devices, like the one featured here, which has a 1HGz Snapdragon processor and every radio bar the phone (and we can hope on that score). Would I get one? If the price was competitive enough, I'd certainly consider it.

"Microsoft may not have gobs of Windows Mobile 6.5 demo units out at MWC09, but that doesn't mean your intrepid friends at WMExperts weren't scouring the floor trying to find one. Find one we did, at Texas Instruments' booth. It's running on a development platform (the OMAP34x-II) they've created to help manufacturers use their new OMAP3430 processor."

The article features a run through of WM6.5, but hey, there's plenty of news on Microsoft's new OS isn't there? What's really interesting here is the new processor and reference platform Texas Instruments is pushing. While I'd agree with WMExpert's comments on the viability of the prototype (that's a 4.1" WVGA landscape screen you're looking at there), it's a great vehicle for showing off the capabilities of the new platform. Get this: capacitive touch screen, USB OTG, 6-in-1 card slot, and HDMI out - the beastie actually runs 720p video! Will we see all these features on a production device? Hope springs eternal! Along with the recent unveiling of the Toshiba TG01, for the first time in years I'm actually getting excited about all the hardware advances coming out for Windows Mobile.