Windows Mobile 6.5

{{Infobox OS version

| name = Windows Mobile 6.5

| logo = Windows Mobile (2007).svg

| logo size = 128px

| screenshot = {{Switcher | 241px |6.5.3 Only few devices got the 6.5.3 update. One example would be the Sony Ericsson Aspen. | 241px |6.5 }}

| screenshot_size = 241px

| version of = Windows Mobile

| developer = Microsoft Corporation

| family = Microsoft Windows

| working state = No longer supported

| source model = Closed-source

| released =

| RTM date = {{Start date and age|2009|5|11}}

| supported platforms = ARM

| kernel type = Windows CE

| preceded by = Windows Mobile 6.1

| succeeded by = Windows Phone 7

| support status = Unsupported as of January 8, 2013{{cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-mobile-65|title=Windows Mobile 6.5|work=Microsoft Product Lifecycle|publisher=Microsoft Docs|access-date=April 11, 2022}}

| other articles =

}}

Windows Mobile 6.5 is a version of Windows Mobile released on May 11, 2009 to manufacturers and October 6, 2009 to consumers.{{Cite web |last=Protalinski |first=Emil |date=2009-09-01 |title=First Windows Mobile 6.5 phones arriving on October 6, 2009 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2009/09/first-windows-phones-arriving-on-october-6-2009/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=Ars Technica |language=en}} It was a stopgap update to Windows Mobile 6.1, and includes some significant new added features such as a revamped GUI, a new Today screen resembling that of Microsoft's Zune player with vertically scrollable labels (called 'Titanium').{{cite news |last1=Slattery |first1=Brennon |date=October 6, 2009 |title=Windows Mobile 6.5 Arrives, Mostly Disappoints |url=http://www.techhive.com/article/173186/windows_mobile_6_5_review.html |access-date=August 11, 2015 |work=TechHive}} WM6.5 also included the Internet Explorer Mobile 6 browser, with an improved interface.{{cite web |title=IE 6 for Windows phones: Interface improved |url=http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12261_7-10367686-10356022.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108051539/http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12261_7-10367686-10356022.html |archive-date=2010-11-08 |access-date=2012-06-24 |website=c:net}} It was the final major operating system under the Windows Mobile brand as it was succeeded in 2010 by the revamped Windows Phone 7.

History

Windows Mobile 6.5 was never part of Microsoft's original mobile phone roadmap, and has been described by its former chief executive Steve Ballmer as "not the full release Microsoft wanted" (which later became Windows Phone 7).{{cite news|title=Ballmer: Win Mobile 6.5 an unwanted stopgap|url=http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/03/05/ballmer.on.win.mobile.6.5/|access-date=August 11, 2015|work=MacNN|date=March 5, 2009}} Ballmer also indicated that the company "screwed up with Windows Mobile", lamenting that Windows Mobile 7 was not yet available and that the Windows Mobile team needed to try to recoup losses.{{cite news|date=September 25, 2009|title=Ballmer: We 'screwed up with Windows Mobile'|newspaper=Computerworld|url=http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=F2F7C35E-1A64-67EA-E4BC04F120F0B898|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001113618/http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=F2F7C35E-1A64-67EA-E4BC04F120F0B898|archive-date=October 1, 2009}} Microsoft unveiled this version at the 2009 Mobile World Congress in February,{{cite web|title=Windows Mobile 6.5 walkthrough with Engadget (now with video!)|url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/02/16/windows-mobile-6-5-walkthrough-with-engadget/|website=engadget}} and several devices were supplied with it.{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/devices/devices.mspx | title=Browse and Buy Windows Phones }} It was released to manufacturers on May 11, 2009; the first devices running the operating system appeared in late October 2009.{{cite web | url =http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1908 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090206010742/http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1908 | url-status =dead | archive-date =February 6, 2009 | title =Windows Mobile: What’s coming when - All about microsoft - ZDNet.com}} Several phones that officially shipped with Windows Mobile 6.1 can be officially updated to Windows Mobile 6.5.{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/en-us/meet/wm65-upgrade.mspx |title=Updating your phone to Windows Mobile 6.5 |publisher=Microsoft |date=March 4, 2010 |access-date=June 20, 2010}}

Along with Windows Mobile 6.5, Microsoft announced several cloud computing services codenamed "SkyBox", "SkyLine", "SkyMarket".{{cite web|title=Microsoft set to unveil MobileMe competitor next month|url=http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/01/19/microsoft-set-to-unveil-mobileme-competitor-next-month|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090120231534/http://www.neowin.net/news/main/09/01/19/microsoft-set-to-unveil-mobileme-competitor-next-month|archive-date=2009-01-20|access-date=2012-06-24|website=Neowin}} "SkyBox" has been confirmed as My Phone,{{cite web | url =http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/myphone/myphone.aspx | title =Microsoft My Phone beta – Microsoft}} while "SkyMarket" has been confirmed as Windows Marketplace for Mobile.{{cite web|title=Microsoft announces Windows Marketplace and My Phone for Windows Mobile|url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/02/16/microsoft-announces-windows-marketplace-for-windows-mobile/|website=engadget}} This version was designed mainly for easier finger usage.{{cite web|title=MWC: Your Definitive Windows Mobile 6.5 Post-Release Guide – Pocketnow|url=http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=news&id=6855|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217174140/http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=news&id=6855|archive-date=February 17, 2009|website=Pocketnow}} Some reviewers have noted interface inconsistencies, with some applications having small buttons making them harder to operate using only a finger.{{cite news |title=Windows Mobile 6.5 UI a big improvement; more work needed |url=https://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/02/ballmer-windows-mobile-65-phones-are-just-windows-phones.ars |newspaper=Ars Technica |date=February 16, 2009 |access-date=September 27, 2009}} Whilst this version of Windows Mobile does not natively support capacitive screens, mobile manufacturers have been able to use them on their devices.{{cite web|title=HTC HD2 Review on CNET UK|url=http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/0,39030107,49304197,00.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111132313/http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/0,39030107,49304197,00.htm|archive-date=November 11, 2009|website=cnet uk}}

Updates

In the months following the release of Windows Mobile 6.5, development shifted from Windows Mobile to its successor Windows Phone. As such no major upgrades were planned or released, although three minor updates; 6.5.1, 6.5.3 and 6.5.5; were made to satisfy consumers during the transition period. 6.5.1 brings larger user interface elements,{{cite web|author=WMPoweruser.com |url=http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=5849 |title=Windows Phone 6.5 build 21925 in video |publisher=Wmpoweruser.com |date=July 20, 2009 |access-date=April 27, 2010}} including icon based soft buttons (rather than text-based),{{cite web|author=WMPoweruser.com |url=http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=7508 |title=Latest Windows Mobile 6.5 build out |publisher=Wmpoweruser.com |access-date=April 27, 2010}} an updated contacts app,{{cite web|author=WMPoweruser.com |url=http://wmpoweruser.com/?tag=windows-mobile-65 |title=windows mobile 6.5 |publisher=Wmpoweruser.com |access-date=April 27, 2010}} native support for A-GPS, improved threaded text messaging,{{cite web|title=New Text Message Screen on Windows Phone 6.5.1|url=http://pocketnow.com/tech-news/new-text-message-screen-buttons-on-windows-mobile-651|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091020015441/http://pocketnow.com/tech-news/new-text-message-screen-buttons-on-windows-mobile-651|archive-date=October 20, 2009|access-date=April 27, 2010|website=Pocketnow|publisher=Pocketnow.com}} and performance improvements.{{cite web|author=WMPoweruser.com |url=http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=9670 |title=Windows Phone 6.5.1 just become smoother |publisher=Wmpoweruser.com |access-date=April 27, 2010}} It was unofficially ported to several Windows Mobile phones.{{cite web|title=Windows Mobile 6.5 Build 23409|url=http://www.wmexperts.com/windows-mobile-65-build-23409|access-date=April 27, 2010|website=Windows Central|publisher=WMExperts}}

The second minor update was announced on February 2, 2010, along with the Sony Ericsson Aspen which was the first phone to use this version.{{cite web|title=the::unwired – RELEASE: Microsoft introduces Windows Mobile 6.5.3 Professional for Windows Phones|url=http://www.theunwired.net/?item=release-microsoft-introduces-windows-mobile-6-5-3-professional-for-windows-phones|access-date=April 27, 2010|website=the unwired|publisher=unwired|archive-date=May 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523105516/http://www.theunwired.net/?item=release-microsoft-introduces-windows-mobile-6-5-3-professional-for-windows-phones|url-status=dead}} 6.5.3 continues the trend of attempting to provide a more finger-friendly user interface with several new usability features such as native support for multitouch; although device maker HTC Corporation created proprietary workarounds to allow multi-touch to work on some applications it installed on its HD2 handset (However, Microsoft applications on this handset, such as the Internet Explorer web browser, did not support multi-touch.{{cite news|date=September 25, 2009|title=HTC HD2 Leo lacks universal multi-touch|newspaper=KnowYourMobile|url=http://www.knowyourmobile.com/blog/326530/htc_hd2_leo_lacks_universal_multitouch.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103091621/http://www.knowyourmobile.com/blog/326530/htc_hd2_leo_lacks_universal_multitouch.html|archive-date=January 3, 2010}}) and drag-and-drop start menu icons. Touchable tiles replaced soft keys.{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd721906.aspx#CreatingWidgetMenus |title=Developing Widgets for Windows Phone 6.5 |publisher=Msdn.microsoft.com |access-date=April 27, 2010}} Internet Explorer Mobile 6 also received some major updates including decreased page load time, improved memory management and gesture smoothing.{{cite web|title=What's new in Windows Phone 6.5.3|url=http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=5111|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204212205/http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=5111|archive-date=February 4, 2010|website=ZDnet}} As with other updates it was unofficially ported to some other devices. Additional features include threaded email and Office Mobile 2010.{{cite web|title=Threaded Emails Demoed on Outlook Mobile in Windows Phone 6.5.3|url=http://pocketnow.com/software-1/threaded-emails-demoed-on-outlook-mobile-in-windows-mobile-653|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110011111/http://pocketnow.com/software-1/threaded-emails-demoed-on-outlook-mobile-in-windows-mobile-653|archive-date=January 10, 2010|website=Pocketnow}}

The last minor update and the last released version is 6.5.5. It first leaked in January 2010, and was unofficially ported to some Windows Mobile phones.{{cite web |url=http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=567850 | title=WM6.5.5|101m|6.5 kernel|Full Roms By jjblaster3|upd 23529|translatable|16/Feb/2010 |access-date=June 20, 2010}} The name Windows Mobile 6.5.5 has been applied to these newer builds, although this name remains unconfirmed by Microsoft.

Reception

Windows Mobile 6.5 has received negative reviews. Gizmodo criticized it for being a superficial upgrade from Windows Mobile 6.1 and noted that it is "just not enough".{{Cite web|last=Herrman|first=John|title=Windows Mobile 6.5 Review: There's No Excuse For This|url=https://gizmodo.com/5374876/windows-mobile-65-review-theres-no-excuse-for-this|website=Gizmodo}} TechCrunch described typing with the keyboard on the OS as an "absolute miserable chore" due to it being laggy and clunky.{{Cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/10/06/windows-mobile-6-5-review-it-still-sucks/ |title=Windows Mobile 6.5 Review: It Still Sucks. |last=Kumparak |first=Greg}}

References

Category:Windows Mobile

Category:Discontinued versions of Microsoft Windows

Windows Mobile 6.5

History

Updates

Reception

See also

References