Windows Mobile 5.0 - the official unveiling

[Alexander Turcic]

Ladies and gentlemen, the wait is over. Microsoft has finally announced Windows Mobile 5.0. You heard that right, we are not talking about Windows Mobile 2005 or even Windows Magneto anymore. Somehow I've always felt that 5.0 sounds more professional. Anyways, among the new features are:

• Enhanced network support: Support for higher-bandwidth 3G networks, Wi-Fi for the Smartphone platform and improvements to existing Bluetooth support enable more flexibility to integrate mobile phone services across a variety of networks
• Persistent memory storage (retains information even when the device's battery is depleted)
• Upgraded Microsoft Office software
• Enhanced security
• Push-to-talk and video calling support
• Windows Media Player 10 Mobile
• USB 2.0 support (allowing to connect to external hard-drives)

The Unwired has screenshots of Microsoft's WM 5.0 presentation online.

The second news of the day is that according to various sources Dell has announced at MEDC that the Axim X50v is going to have a free upgrade to WM 5.0 sometime around Q3 2005.

Thanks to Engadget and PalmAddicts for bringing the news to me.

[Bob Russell]

Very interesting.

I haven't had time to look at any of the information other than what you have posted here, but I'd have to say that the only really interesting items for the traditional pda user are:
-- WMP10 (allows access to more DRM'd content, but probably in the less compressed wmv format), and
-- USB 2.0 support (which is especially interesting if it means it can be a USB host for other devices besides hard-drives).

Can't wait to read all the rest of the scoop and reaction. This is an exciting time.

[gadgetguru]

Just wondering if Microsoft finally makes the 'X' icon closes instead of minimizing the running app. This has been something everyone has been asking for since a few versions ago...