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Windows Mobile 6.x users won't get Windows Phone 7 upgrade
Bad news for owners of the latest Windows Mobile 6.x devices: your phone doesn't meet the hardware specifications for an update to Windows Phone 7. Microsoft says that even the brand new HTC HD2 doesn't meet its tight requirements for the much-talked-about new mobile OS, according to APCMag.Even though the HD2 has a fast enough processor, a nice touch display, and a good enough camera, Microsoft says it can't be upgraded to Windows Phone 7 because it has too many buttons. Apparently, a Windows Phone 7 Series device has to have three buttons, but the HTC HD2 has five.
Or, to put it terms that Monty Python fans will understand, Microsoft is saying that the number of the buttons shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three.
Five is right out.
It's not just HTC's device, though. None of the other phones Microsoft currently supports are eligible for the upgrade, either. This just seems like a case of Microsoft taking a page from the Apple handbook and controlling the hardware experience for its hot new software. MS has a lot riding on Windows Phone 7 Series, and it makes sense that they wouldn't want to take the blame for any compatibility issues with the previous generation of hardware.
Windows Mobile 6.x users WILL be getting an upgrade, though: to Windows Mobile 6.5.3, just before WinMo gets rebranded as "Windows Mobile Classic." It will come with magnifier technology, so you can use the touchscreens on older devices without a stylus.
Comments
11
Subscribe to commentspeegeeMar 2nd 2010 2:28PM
one of the things I enjoy about the WM platform is it's flexibility. sigh! that's going out.
TheOneAndOnlyJHMar 1st 2010 9:08PM
Gotta agree with you, peegee. The flexibility was something I was interested in about WinMo phones. By limiting the buttons like Apple, I think MS is limiting themselves a little too much. It would be nice if they allowed a couple different button configuration options, rather than one specific set. That would allow a bit more variety among manufactures, something that HTC has done very well. I can see requiring the main three buttons, but what can a couple extra hurt? If necessary, they can make the extra two programmable soft-keys.
dswii95Mar 11th 2010 6:24AM
Someone's going to make a ROM for the HD2 and likely others that simply disables two buttons.
A ToqueroMar 2nd 2010 3:08AM
I doubted between android a W Mobile, I choosed WM (HTC HD2). Now I think It's was a mistake
GeirMar 1st 2010 5:22PM
The three buttons: Ctrl + Alt + Del ?
r3loadedMar 1st 2010 5:54PM
Looks like Microsoft have just thrown HD2 owners a holy hand grenade of antioch at them...
JasonMar 1st 2010 6:50PM
This contradicts what Engadget had to say about the phone they just reviewed, which you also posted about.
"...there are dedicated hardware camera, volume, and power buttons in addition to the back, home, and search buttons dictated by Windows Phone 7 Series."
It's all speculation at this point.
bjsguessMar 1st 2010 8:10PM
I'm sure the good folks over at XDA won't be creating custom ROMs. It's not like my current WinMo phone can run just about any version of 6.5 out there ... or that it can run the latest Android build.
All this from a phone that started it's life as a WinMo 6.0 device. Since then XDA has helped upgrade this to 6.1, 6.5, 6.5x, and Android. The guys over there are freaking geniuses. They will get current WinMo users the 7 series OS.
Level 5Mar 1st 2010 8:37PM
Yes, WinMo devices can run other ROMs and WM version and even Android. Let's face it though buddy, they don't run them WELL. At all.
I had nothing but WinMo phones for about 5 years, and I too wrestled with ROM's and Android builds, custom this and that. I just got tired of it. Don't get me wrong, the hack factor was very cool; but I just wanted a phone that stayed booted, all hardware worked, and apps weren't a pain in the ass. WinMo was none of these to me. So when the right hardware came about (Nexus One), I switched to Android; ironically after about a solid year of watching the Android builds for Tytn and Raphael grow, I was so giddy about the platform that I knew it'd be on my next device.
I loved WinMo for a long, long time. But unfortunately that time has passed, and I moved on.
JSwan03Mar 1st 2010 8:43PM
Awesome idea. Alienate the only people still willing to give your crappy OS the time of day. Fortunately those XDA guys almost have a usable version of Android running for the Tp2.
burnblueMar 1st 2010 10:59PM
Please inform yourself. The LG phone that will be first out the gate with 7 has additional buttons for camera and volume. What's missing from the HD2 is the search button