Posts Tagged ‘Windows Mobile 7’

*Thanks to Tom Warren for the heads-up.

On Microsoft’s Office 2010 for Mobile website, they have posted an image of the mock-up UI I first discovered in a presentation back in October of this year. Though I’m sure the image may very well be pulled soon (I’m always amazed how this stuff just randomly happens for them), here is how it currently looks:

Although I initially discovered this image in a presentation residing on Microsoft’s download center, this marks the first time they have placed this UI on their site, front-and-center.

-Stephen
http://msftkitchen.com

It’s been a while since I’ve done the good ol’ scouring of LinkedIn to find Windows Mobile 7 content, so I figured I would snap to it today to see what I could find. Luckily, I found a couple of great things along with a few honorable mentions! First, we’ll start with what appears to be the name of a central element of Windows Mobile 7′s user interface. If I’m not too far out of bounds here, I would venture to say the UI we’re all familiar with in regards to WM7 is the one the following is speaking of:

Program Manager
Microsoft IDC, Hyderabad
(Information Technology and Services industry)
April 2008 — May 2008 (2 months)

Designed a completely New feature (Central Menu Experience) which is integrated in Windows Mobile 7. Responsible for getting Central Menu Experience features code-ready for CTP release well within specified time-frame. (Link)

“Central Menu Experience” does indeed sound like the perfect (if not downright obvious, but I’m not going to just assume) description for the UI we have seen in all the supposed Windows Mobile 7 screen shots, considering it all looks, well… central, I suppose. But as I’ve said before, I can’t imagine Microsoft will actually launch Windows Mobile 7 using said UI. Perhaps it has been used for the CTP UI for developers/vendors working with it (considering the mention of Central Menu Experience features being code-ready for the CTP). Obligatory image:

Catalyst For WM Seven:
Client : Microsoft Corporation (Since December 2007 to May 2009)
Team Size/Role : 7/Onsite Coordinator

Description: Catalyst for Seven is designed to work with Windows Mobile powered devices. This is the next version of Windows Live for Windows Mobile. The new Windows Mobile 7 devices will give the richest mobile connection to Catalyst. Catalyst consists of Messenger, Mail, Spaces and Photos. All these applications help user keeping in touch with friends, family, and co-workers. (Link)

That one is fairly self-explanatory. Any of you Windows Mobile fanatics out there have any additional information on, “Catalyst?”

Lead Led a PM team and responsible for the strategies define, design and implementation for Windows Mobile 7 camera and photo application. (Link)

And now, for the honorable mentions:

On assignment at Microsoft to edit documentation for Windows Mobile 7. (Link)

 

Primary engineer on the touch gesture support in Windows Mobile 7 and 6.5 and did the initial specification of the touch gesture API. (Link)

 

Responsible for Windows Mobile 7 Outlook development. (Link)

 

Led HW Board bring-up activity effort for Window Mobile 7 OS based Mobile product having QUALCOMM 72xx chipset. The board bring up activities includes implementing MAX controller based keypad driver, configuring I2C and GPIO driver and coordinating HW-SW architecture meetings. (Link)

Beyond everything posted above, there were additional mentions of Windows Mobile 7, but they were all generic/vague, so I didn’t worry about posting them. Likewise, I didn’t elaborate as much as I wanted to on all of the information above, but I wanted to post something since it’s been a while (things are busy here aside from the freelance journalism thing, so bear with me). With that in mind, I’ve got a lot more to post here in the near future, so stay tuned!

-Stephen
http://msftkitchen.com

After a long bout of silence regarding Windows Mobile 7, I’ve finally stumbled across some recent information (where, “recent” = August 2009). Back in May of this year, I posted a slide which contained a Windows Mobile 7 device release date of April 2010, which – at the time – jived well with what Mary Jo Foley had previously reported. According to an Office 2010 presentation recently given to partners, there is a slide maintaining detailing (see update below) a Windows Mobile 7 Spring 2010 RTM time frame.

Also included in the slide designated for, “Office Mobile 2010″ are a couple of, “Office Mobile 7” UI prototype images. They greatly resemble the long-ago leaked Windows Mobile 7 UI prototypes to a, ‘T’. I can’t imagine that Microsoft has chosen to stick with that UI up to this point, so I’m going to take a wild guess that those images are equally as old as aforementioned leaked images they so closely resemble. Not to mention, with Mobile UI concepts like these floating around, I have high hopes for a stunning Windows Mobile 7 UI the likes of which we have yet to see.

With that said, here is a snap-shot of the Office Mobile 2010 slide, along with an image I threw together that includes a better look at the Office Mobile 7 images in the slide:

 

Office Mobile 7

 

If you will notice, those two mock-ups are a bit sloppy. In the left image, you can see the Excel icon sitting on top of the task bar. In the right image, the text in the task bar runs under the center button and outside of the inner gradient border. Despite those, “flaws” (they are mock-ups, after all), this is the first reference to, “Office Mobile 7″ I’ve yet to see. Likewise, this is the first time I’m aware of Microsoft actually showing images of this mock-up UI in a fairly public format. As such, I’ll certainly keep my nose to the grindstone and bring you any further information I can get a hold of!

UPDATE: Mary Jo Foley commented below and provided some valid insight:

The original roadmap showed phones preloaded with WM7 being available in April 2010. So if RTM of WM 7 is spring 2010, that’s about 6 months later than it was supposed to be. The big question is: If they RTM in April 2010 or so, how much of a lag will there be till the OS gets on phones? If MS can take this lag out, as they claim they plan to do, that will help them get to market a little faster.

-Stephen
http://msftkitchen.com

With Microsoft gearing up for Windows Mobile 6.5 to officially hit the market, training material for partners and advertisement templates, banners, etc. are being made available. Amongst all this content, there is one bit of material in particular from June 2009 that caught my eye: Windows Phone Cobrand Guidelines

Yes, right on Microsoft’s servers, there is a set of guidelines which teaches partners how to make the sell and do it by Microsoft’s book. In a section labeled, “Communicating to Customers,” there’s a subdivision labeled, “use only when necessary.” The content in that section is a breakdown of how partners should get down to brass tacks if need be with the customer. When discussing how they should go about discerning Windows Mobile versions, they give a nod to Windows Mobile 7 as seen here:

For those of you who aren’t familiar, Contoso is a fictitious company name used by Microsoft to represent anything from non-existent products to examples for how to use products already on the market. As such, the Contoso Alpha and Contoso Zeta phones mentioned are purely fictitious. Again, though it isn’t much, this is just another non-public mention of Windows Mobile 7 by Microsoft. I suppose the next step will actually be a build in between 6.5 and 7, though. As always, I’ll be sure to post whatever I can dig up!

Source: Windows Phone Cobrand Guidelines on Microsoft’s Website

-Stephen
http://msftkitchen.com

This article has recently been updated to reflect recent information. It can be found here: Windows Mobile 7: 6 Years in the Making (Refresh)

-Stephen
http://www.msftkitchen.com

As you can obviously tell, I’ve been spending an exorbitant amount of time scouring LinkedIn for Windows Mobile 7 information, and it sure has been fruitful! The information in this post should help to paint a fairly decent picture of some of what we can expect for Windows Mobile 7 and its devices. Though much of this information has been floating around out there in one form or another, Microsoft has been tight-lipped about Windows Mobile 7. Because of that, the next best thing I’ve found to getting confirmation straight from Microsoft is getting it in bits and pieces from current and former employees (or, better yet, employees of other companies working with WM7)! That’s what this post is. I’ll chime in when I have something to add, but the majority of what is to follow will be direct quotes from LinkedIn profiles. Admittedly, I don’t keep up with the mobile scene much, so hopefully you mobile-junkies will be able to glean something decent from this.

Developer for the WM7 Handwriting Recognition system. Source

I am responsible for designing and developing the Multimedia subsystem development for Tegra (APX2500) on Windows platforms including latest OS Windows Mobile 7. Source

Planned, designed, architected and implemented MEMS sensor capabilities in Windows Mobile 7-based platform, including accelerometer and compass. Source (Hey, I thought this guy made karate movies! lol. =B )

Owned the testing of the Nickname Cache feature and Windows Live ID feature implemented by the Exchange Mobile Client team to be included in the Windows Mobile 7 release. Source

Sr. SW Dev. Engineer – Symbian S60 & WM7 (2008 to 2009), System Integration & “Bring Up” Flow, using diff. Design Platforms (Linux/Java, Symbian/S60 and WM6/WM7) Source

Responsible for the integration of BCM4325 wlan chip on Caesar Platform (OMAP3430) on WM7 as a native host driver. Source

Oversaw development of the Rich Video Call(AT&T Video Share) UI, session control, and porting of the IP Multimedia Subsystem stack to Windows Mobile 7. Source

Working on creating and maintining automation software used for automated testing of ActiveSync in Windows Mobile 7. Source

(Premium Mobile Experience Group) RIL, GPS, WiFi, and USB on Windows Mobile 7. Source

Managed Test Automation for Windows Mobile 7 Outlook Mobile syncing. Source

Low level programming (database/sync management) for Outlook in Win Mobile 7. Source

Windows Mobile 7 Board Support Package for Freescale chipset. Bootloader development, NAND and OneNAND Flash Memory drivers. Source

Development of Test automation for Internet Explorer 7 for Windows Mobile 7, the next generation of Mobile Operating System. Source (Most likely at IE8 now)

Last assignment was as consulting Dev PM/Lead on the Windows Mobile Platform Team (MESE Dogfood). Working to help make Windows Mobile 7 rock on Motorola and Samsung devices. Source

Develop Windows Mobile 7 BSP for Freescale ICs. Source

Collect requirements from internal teams and create a long term deployment plan for Windows Mobile 7 Labs. Design and direct the creation of self servicing lab spaces for three Windows Mobile 7 add on projects. Oversee the public launch of one of the Windows Mobile 7 add on projects. Source

Windows Mobile 7 integration on TI chipset platform. Source

Now, I’m leading a team, responsibility for Qualcomm platform and Windows Mobile 7. Source

Working on the (then) next generation Windows Mobile 7 Messaging Application. Focusing on Messaging functionality and interface. Source

As a researcher, gathered requirements from the project team and formed the test task list and test document of WM7 IME, Live
Video Search, and Mobile Search usability test. Source

Microsoft UX Team Project Manager for the Mobile Insights Panel
• Drove progress for this $2 million instrumented mobile phone research project to collect user activity data from 400+ users to improve the Windows Mobile software experience.
• Worked with the Windows Mobile team to create special data collection software for the MIP devices. The WM team is looking to include parts of this software in the production release of WM 7.
Source

Creating feature prototypes for Windows Mobile 7 in Silverlight. Source

If any of the aforementioned quotes are no longer on their respective pages, then those people were probably asked to remove their references of Windows Mobile 7. At the time of this writing, it’s all there. Also, if you find information in this post news-worthy, please give credit where credit is due. I spent a lot of time gathering all of this information and posting it. Thanks.

-Stephen
http://msftkitchen.com

With PDC 2009 right around the corner, you can probably bet the farm that Windows Mobile 7 will be unveiled there. Every PDC has consisted of major announcements and this one shouldn’t be any different. With Windows 7 out of the door, Office 14 all-but-complete, and Zune HD hitting the shelves soon, Windows Mobile 7 stands as the last really hot item to not be even so much as acknowledged by Microsoft. Well, I’m going to take it one step further and guess that Microsoft is not just going to reveal Windows Mobile 7, but they may even make a pre-release build of Windows Mobile 7 available at PDC. The reason I’m stepping out on that limb is comprised of 3 reasons:

1. Microsoft has a history of putting the bits of the technologies revealed during their keynotes into the hands of attendees at its conferences. If Windows Mobile 7 is revealed there and history is any kind of indicator, some form of the mobile OS will find its way into the hands of attendees.

2. The following Windows Mobile 7 roadmap I posted back in May which verified similar info Mary Jo Foley posted about back in February of Microsoft planning for a release to testers in November (the same month as PDC, no less):

3. The latest work experience status from the following LinkedIn profile of a Motorola employee has a rather interesting mention in it: “Runtime Environment: Windows Mobile 7.0 (Beta)“ Hmm… Does that mean Windows Mobile 7 has already hit an internal stage of Beta 1?

The aforementioned gives me good reason to speculate that Windows Mobile 7 will not only be revealed, but it will also be put into the hands of attendees in *some* capacity. I say, “some” capacity because I wouldn’t put it past Microsoft to strip it of certain features (or disable them) – just as they’ve typically done with the Windows pre-release builds they’ve distributed at past conferences. The only problem I see with that hypothesis of mine is the number of people who could actually do something with those bits. We don’t all exactly have a spare Windows Mobile device hanging around for us to install a build of Windows Mobile 7 on. Actually, that gives me an idea that maybe, “the goods” could include something that would serve the purpose of using a Windows Mobile 7 build… probably not, but it would be cool if so!

With that in mind, I’m also going to guess that Windows Mobile 7 will meet a similar fate as Windows 7 where conference-attendee interaction is concerned: Once it’s announced during a keynote on either day 1 or day 2, there will be a number of Windows Mobile 7-ready devices on-hand for all to see up-close and fiddle with.

How different do you personally think the UI is going to be from Windows Mobile 6.5? Do you think it’s going to resemble the old WM7 prototype images that have been floating around out there for quite a while, or do you think it will be completely revolutionary? I’ve heard rumors from a couple of people that its interface will be the same as the Zune HD’s interface. I guess we will all find out soon enough!

-Stephen
http://msftkitchen.com

The Windows Mobile 7 Search and Windows Mobile 7 Browser teams are currently looking for internal testers, or, “SDETs” (Software Design Engineer in Test), to work out the kinks of the up-and-coming mobile OS. On Microsoft’s Career website, there are a couple of jobs posted, each stating the following:

Windows Mobile 7 Search: “The Windows Mobile 7 Search team is looking for a strong and experienced Software Development Engineer in Test to join the team developing our next generation of Search for mobile devices. There will be significant cross group interactions with the Bing team, so you should have experience with working cross team on complex engineering initiatives.” (Link)

Windows Mobile 7 Browser: “The Windows Mobile 7 Browser team is looking for a strong an experienced software test lead to own the team testing our next generation mobile internet developer tools and the underling document object models supporting those tools. You will be responsible for a team of test engineers building and testing the next generation IE mobile programming interfaces and tools. There will be significant interactions with the Desktop IE team and so you should have experience with working cross team on complex engineering initiatives.” (Link)

Also of note is a bit of information contained in a no-longer-existing-but-Google-cached Microsoft job posting that puts a lot of emphasis on just how important Windows Mobile 7 is to the company. Check out this quote:

“Windows Mobile 7 is a huge, important bet for the company and the team has benefited from a recent influx of senior talent from around the company.” (Link)

I knew WM7 was the next big thing from the company, but it almost sounds like WM7 is becoming the Windows Longhorn of their mobile OS! Windows Mobile 7 has been on the roadmaps for years now and that statement above sounds like they’re treating it as if it’s an all-or-none gamble.

Lastly, there’s a job posting from the MSN Mobile Search team, whose core mission is to, “deliver search experiences on mobile phones, with a mandate to push the space’s boundaries and to dazzle users in an high bar environment.” The person who fills that position is noted to, “drive relationships with partner teams such as Seadragon and Photosynth in Live, Virtual Earth in MSN and various image and voice recognition technology partners in research, as well as teams in MSN and Windows Mobile 7.” (Link)

And that’s it for my Windows Mobile 7 kick for the day! Be sure to check out the links to those job postings to get a bit more information regarding them… especially if you’re interested in applying for them. =)

-Stephen
http://msftkitchen.com

In the world of MIDs (Mobile Internet Devices), I’ve yet to see any truly different paradigms hitting the market… until now. BlueRadios, Inc. has cooked up a nifty little hand-held device called the WiPC. Unfortunately, their website hearkens back to early 1990′s web design, so it doesn’t quite present their product in a manner befitting such a modern marvel. Likewise, the UI they’re currently using to demonstrate the product with is a semi-hideous amalgam of a boring WinCE desktop with a few modern elements (a Vista orb wallpaper… really?):

With that said, the product has yet to hit the consumer market, so we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt that a better-looking UI may be coming down the pike – especially when Windows Mobile 7 takes the throne. So, just why is this thing so different? What is it about the WiPC that makes it worth posting about? Well, just imagine having a high-resolution 15″ desktop in the palm of your hand… and when I say a 15″ desktop, I mean both what you see and what you can do with it. As for how they pull off the visual aspect, the WiPC, “integrates a high-resolution color liquid crystal micro display, superb magnifying optics, and video technologies to create a virtual 15 inch image comparable to a standard notebook display or a large-screen television.” If that’s not grabbing your attention already, check out what they’re touting the WiPC as being capable of:

. Surf the Web via 3.5G, WiFi, and Bluetooth®
. Listen and watch music videos on your WiPC
. Watch television on the WiPC
. Use your WiPC as a mobile desk top backup device
. Navigation (GPS) and Location Based Services (LBS) support
. View and VNC desktop PC with WiPC
. Call and/or video conference with WiPC

They call it, “content snacking” and in their words, “[t]he most frequently performed Internet activities include: accessing information (such as news updates, weather forecasts, and stock quotes), listening to music (digital downloads, and Internet radio), and viewing video entertainment content (YouTube videos, movie trailers and digital pictures). The WiPC provides one-touch access to all of these Internet infotainment applications on SVGA micro display.”

Infotainment, huh? Eh… anyway…

They have a brochure on their website which contains some specifics regarding mention of Windows Mobile 7 on various products of theirs. There are varying degrees of cost for each type of WiPC unit that there will be. Interestingly enough, only one of them is HDTV-capable while every other type of technology can all be bundled into one unit. The HDTV addition costs $50, so if they ever did decide to create an all-in-one unit, you’d be looking at a $399 price tag. Check out the, “Bundled Packages” list below and take note of the additional cost for owning a Windows Mobile 7-equipped WiPC:

Does that $29 price tag give us an idea for how much the mobile OS might cost OEMs? That seems a bit too inexpensive, I think, but maybe not when all is said and done. Regardless, check out the following list for a brief summary of what each type of WiPC does (take note of the WiPC Viewer as to what it includes for how to use the unit):

All-in-all, I would definitely love the opportunity to check one of these things out. It doesn’t sound like there’s too private of a way to use this thing in public places via voice commands (I suppose there will be an accessible on-screen keyboard, but that won’t be very efficient for much beyond simple searches), but as far as what you see on the desktop and what you hear via headphones (thanks to the headphone jack), this seems like it could be a pretty cool device!

Source: WiPC Website

-Stephen
http://msftkitchen.com

According to freelance UI/UX designer Kim Sealls, the Windows Mobile 7 UI is still a work in progress. Her resume lists her as presently working for the Windows Mobile UX team creating, “designs for Windows Mobile 7 controls (UI still in progress),” and creating, “XAML layouts for controls and dialogs (Silverlight created in Expression Blend).”

It sounds like things are right on course for the Windows Mobile 7 UI to be as drastic of a change as has been speculated, but what I’m wondering is if the UI will resemble anything close to the mock-ups we’ve seen time-and-time again (click for larger image):

What do you think the WM7 UI will end up looking like?

-Stephen
http://www.msftkitchen.com