Windows Mobile Marketplace Will App-ify 6.x Handsets, Not Just 6.5
Good news for the scores of Windows Mobile users who’ll never upgrade to version 6.5: Windows Marketplace for Mobile, Microsoft’s forthcoming app store, will work on 6.0 and 6.1 handsets as well. When? Still a cryptic “later this year,” unfortunately.
Developers will be able to submit applications to get started on the vetting process as soon as July 27th, giving Microsoft a little lead time to ensure a healthy selection at launch.
If Microsoft didn’t explicitly state that the Marketplace would be exclusively available on Windows Mobile 6.5, they certainly implied it, touting the service as one of the great new features of the OS. Wider availability makes sense, since the core components of the OS are largely unchanged, and apps will generally be cross compatible, and it’s great news for Windows Mobile users who can’t—or don’t want to—upgrade.
That said, it leaves Microsoft, and 6.5, in an awkward position. Without the draw of the Marketplace, there really isn’t much left to be excited about in 6.5. Intertial scrolling? A new Start menu and home screen? As someone who’s been using a late build of the OS for quite some time, I can say that it’s a welcome upgrade, but improves things to a degree you’d expect from a third-party shell replacement like Touchflo 3D or Touchwiz, not a proper OS upgrade. [PCWorld]
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
"A new Start menu and home screen? As someone who's been using a late build of the OS for quite some time, I can say that it's a welcome upgrade, but improves things to a degree you'd expect from a third-party shell replacement like Touchflo 3D or Touchwiz, not a proper OS upgrade."
Balanced statement, but then I guess it's not quite a proper OS upgrade. All I know is that I absolutely love the new home screen
burnblue
@IN THE FACE!: True, but those same numbers exist in a paid app environment as well... Stuff that used to be free will just be ported over to the app store. Some of the stuff will rock while other stuff will be like you said: crap. Except now you're paying for it. Happened to me once with a dumb phone when I thought buying a 7 dollar golf game from my carriers site would be a good idea. It wasn't.
Skeetz
@Skeetz: Agreed, but the downside of "free everything" is that about 40% of WinMo aps (in my experience anyway) are complete crap, hopefully this vetting process & ap store will improve the general quality somewhat.
winmo-bla bla isn't it time for the Neeswood building to be destroyed? Right NOW!
I hope the magnanimous amount of free apps out there won't start to dwindle. I don't want an app store to ruin the best thing about having a WinMo device (for me at least).. free everything!
Skeetz
After my experience with WinMo (HTC Touch), I would rather be gang raped by a herd of well endowed rhinos than use it again. I hope WinMo 7 is better, but I'll have to see it for myself before I'm suckered again.
"Basically, this is great for the scores of Windows Mobile users who can't—or don't want to—upgrade."
Oh... go ahead and say... it's "can't". One of the biggest problems with WiMo (currently) is that we're at the mercy of the device maker to upgrade the OS - and they have almost NO motivation to do that since they would rather you buy a whole new device.
Rumours are that WM7 will finally fix this (and there's big hints in the 6.1 and 6.5 upgrade installer that it's true, since now 'upgrade just the OS' is a feature) and we'll be able to finally get OS upgrades directly from Microsoft.
But until then - EPIC FAIL.