We’ve seen Windows Mobile Standard get quite a significant upgrade in version 6.1, while Windows Mobile Pro only gained a few minor enhancements. The leaked Windows Mobile 7 screenshots seem to indicate the new OS will be primarily based on Windows Mobile Standard. Fans of Windows Mobile Pro’s flexibility and power may have some concerns about this.
As seen in this post 4 years ago, we know that Microsoft had been working on a Today Screen type interface as well as an interface for phone enabled devices for Windows Longhorn. Those prototype designs never made it to a shipping product, but could Microsoft still be working on this?
As you can see here and here, the next version of full Windows is rumored to have much-improved touch screen user interface support.
Is it possible that Microsoft is developing a new Windows OS version that combines the functions of the Ultra-Mobile PC’s Origami with the functions of Windows Mobile Pro? How long do you think we’ll have to wait for hardware the size of the HTC Touch Diamond to be capable of running such an OS based on the NT kernel?
Originally published on Pocketnow on May 27, 2008. More Thought articles from the Pocketnow archive.