Windows Mobile 6.5 build 21500 for Touch Pro (ported by da_g)

[herg62123]

breaking news update on microsoft vs xda (3/16/2009)

DA_G is back and in the clear to post again see the link below for the new wm6.5 build 21198

Thanks to Doug here is the link to XDA: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=474406

I am testing da_g's port of windows mobile 6.5 build 21500.5.0.0 to the touch pro series.

Before i start talking about my pro's and con's i would like to quote da_g from his thread:

"THIS IS EXTREMELY BETA. DO NOT EXPECT IT TO RUN WITHOUT BUGS, IT WILL BE BUGNASTYBUGLYBUGGEROONEYBUGMEGALOPOLIS."


Ok i first want to say thanks to da_g for working on 6.5 port, cause without him our touch pro devices will not get the love from htc.

ok my findings of this beautiful look into the future holdings of windows mobile 6.5, and a peak at the possibilities windows 7 may or may not have to offer.

CONS FIRST (I LIKE TO GET THE BAD NEWS FIRST. THAT WAY I HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO LATER):

The first CON is the new Start Menu (Honey Comb) which takes time to use. If you push to hard it will select that icon but if you touch too soft it will not move the screan up and down to see the other items and no there is no slide bar on the side to use either. In 6.1 all of the icons in programs folder was in alphabetical order, well in 6.5 it is not and i couldn't figure out on how to move an icon around. I actually had to google the honeycomb start menu to learn how to navigate and move icons around as i wanted to. Since 6.5 isn't out yet i actually watch several youtube type videos to get an idea. To move say opera icon say was at the bottom of the honeycomb menu, you hold either your finger or styls on the icon for a few seconds. A menu item will pop up and says move to top. Select that and the icon will now be up top. Now fare warning, you can only move 3 icons up top. If you tried to move a fourth icon, the oldest one of the original 3 will go back to where you found it originally.

The next con, which is not da_g's fault, is this build locks up about every 45 min to an hour and i had to soft reset everytime. That is a pain to deal with.

The third CON is PIE. Yes PIE looks and feels like a hybrid of opera 9.5 and old school PIE in 6.1. NOTICE I SAID OLD SCHOOL PIE FROM 6.1. I say that cause it looks and acts a lot like opera but with all the lock up and slowness of old school 6.1 PIE. This could just be a build issue and the actual new school PIE in 6.5 might be better. Who knows....only time will tell on that.

The fourth issue, and for right now my last issue till something esle pops out at me, is battery life. Now we all know the radio controls this but with this build and radio 1.12.25.19 it was bad.

I am not saying these cons to scare anyone. I want to give my honest opinnion on what i saw when i tested this out.




NOW WE GOT THE CONS OUT OF THE WAY LETS LOOK AT THE PROS I FOUND NEXT.

THE PROS ARE AS FOLLOWS:


I have always been a fan of microsoft products. Yes windows in general can be buggy and down right a pain in the A$$. I have gone to school for windows networking, all my computers are windows and the last 3 phones are windows (8525, TILT, and now the FUZE).

THE SPEED OF THIS IS UN HEARD OF. What I mean is this: on wm6.1, when you go into the main windows directory you are waiting for at least 2 to 5 minutes to load everything up. With wm6.5 it takes less than 20 seconds. I was shocked when i saw this. It was unheard of under 20 seconds?? WYF. I am very impressed of the speed from wm6.5 on my fuze.

6.5 does bring new life into windows mobile like finger friendly (to a degree) navigation (TITANIUM PANELS and HONEYCOMB START MENU). Think of Titanium Panels like touchflo 3d but instead of going left to right it goes up and down.

This build does offer the widget engine for Live Search, MSN Money, and MSN Weather. These are neet to play with and show off to your freinds.

This build does offer the microsoft app store but if you click on it the website says under development. But still an app store we can get stuff from is nice to have.

With this build, when you lock the device, it shows a slide to unlock type screen. This is new and one of my favorite things i play with the most. Here is why:

In the lock button it will show numbers. These numbers are either text messages, missed calls, or emails. By pressing on the lock button, under the main lock button you will see new slide to unlock buttons seperating emails, missed calls, and text messages to an unlock button of its own. Let say you want to slide the lock button for missed calls, when you slide the lock it will go straight to missed calls (YOU GET THE IDEA SO LETS MOVE ON).

Another new feature i liked is while your screen is locked and a call comes through, you will have a green slide to unlock (answer) and a red slide to unlock (ignore). I have always been a fan of the slide to unlock htc has made and this follows a long that line as well.

To me this was minor but i did like the fact that when you select a wallpaper it covers from the top of the screen to the bottom, including the task bar up top and the links bar at the bottom.

From the short time i used this, and all of the soft resets i did, over all i would recommend to try this out for yourself but at this time, as da_g works on improving his fixing the builds, just try it out and don't plan on keeping it on your device long.


MY OVERALL RATING FROM 1 TO 10........I GIVE IT ABOUT A 7.5. The reason i give it a 7.5 is most of it is usable but da_g is doing his best to improve the areas still needing to be fixed.

My next reveiw is going to be ENERGY ROM with the build Number of 31109. By the time i fininish my reveiw NGR may have a new update so keep a look out for my next reveiw. Which will be found here soon: http://www.mobilitydigest.com/forums...61&postcount=5

MY CLOSING REMARKS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

THANKS DA_G FOR FIXING AND SHARING YOUR WORK AND WE LOOK FOR FUTURE BUILDS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS WHICH I AM SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF.


YOU KNOW WHO AND I AM OUT.......PEACE

[herg62123]

This here is where any bugs and/or fixes as well as future builds from our friend da_g from xda.

Since this post da_g has re posted his thread back up again with a new wm6.5 build 21193. Head over to xda website to download the new version and look back here for improvements made by microsoft and da_g.

here is the link to XDA: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=474406

[herg62123]

this reserved for anything else that may come up and need the extra space for it.

[chapmeister]

this is reserved because you know who has reserved everything else.




and because Im a whore who flashes any great build that comes out.... so look out 6.5, here I come!!

[herg62123]

Originally Posted by chapmeister

this is reserved because you know who has reserved everything else.




and because Im a whore who flashes any great build that comes out.... so look out 6.5, here I come!!

this is reserved as a reserve for comments on chapmeister's reserve of future comments. which are reserved till then.

[Farmer Ted]

Originally Posted by chapmeister

and because Im a whore who flashes any great build that comes out.... so look out 6.5, here I come!!

I've been thinking about trying out 6.5, but there seems to be a whole lot of new terminalogy to learn. Titanium. Chrome. I have no idea what that stuff is. It's been nice just sticking to the Energy series for a while, because I know where everything is going to be and what it's going to do. I do check that thread (6.5) a lot, though, and I'm starting to warm up to the looks of the stuff, like the honeycomb start menu. I almost tried it last weekend, but I read in the thread that the test version 4 had some weird flashing issues. The ROM didn't boot up unless you did like 4 hard resets in a row (or something like that). I figured I didn't need to deal with that sort of stress, so I bagged it.

I did read that NRG was thinking of doing a 6.5. I'll be all over it when the day arrives.

[chapmeister]

Originally Posted by Farmer Ted

I've been thinking about trying out 6.5, but there seems to be a whole lot of new terminalogy to learn. Titanium. Chrome. I have no idea what that stuff is. It's been nice just sticking to the Energy series for a while, because I know where everything is going to be and what it's going to do. I do check that thread (6.5) a lot, though, and I'm starting to warm up to the looks of the stuff, like the honeycomb start menu. I almost tried it last weekend, but I read in the thread that the test version 4 had some weird flashing issues. The ROM didn't boot up unless you did like 4 hard resets in a row (or something like that). I figured I didn't need to deal with that sort of stress, so I bagged it.

I did read that NRG was thinking of doing a 6.5. I'll be all over it when the day arrives.

I have the same sentiment. However, based on the recommendations of Doug and You Know Who, I tried the last build before the current one. I have to admit, it was way different. Very slick and cool. I wouldnt say sexy, like I do Energy. Different is a great term though. Its not bad. The version had bugs and it did lock up on me, but it was fun to mess with and check out a future of goodies. Currently, I cant find a download link for the current build. The RapidShare one is down.
I always revert to Energy 1.3 though

[SCDavis]

I flashed 6.5 and let me say, I LOVED it... until I changed the background from the weird bird... Dont know WTF happened, but when I changed the background I started to lose some of my options on the main home screen.

If i selected messages, then "messages" would disappear... it was weird but I cant wait until it comes out (more officially)

-SCDavis

[Doug]

Excellent review Herg. For me, I am really more interested in what the build will offer in speed. I am a huge fan of TF3D and the TP2 TF3D has my mouth watering.

Thanks so much for sharing your experience!

[SCDavis]

This is reserved for Microsoft to try to ban something...

bah...

news here if you haven't read: http://www.mobilitydigest.com/breaki...orting-by-xda/

-SCDavis