“Windows Mobile 6.5 won’t be released until later this year, but Microsoft has already mentioned the next version, Windows Mobile 7, several times. The software giant hasn’t revealed very much about this upcoming version, but some screenshots may give the world a hint of the direction it is going.These images were given to wmpoweruser by an anonymous source, not released by Microsoft, so they can’t be confirmed as accurate. It’s possible these are internal mock-ups created during the development process, not final plans.
New Today Screen
One of them, shown at right, is supposedly the new Today Screen. Its most interesting feature is a band of application icons placed horizontally near the top of the screen. The user is clearly expected to scroll through these with their fingertip, and tap on one to open it.This band also also includes a status update, as the number of missed calls and unread messages are displayed on the appropriate application icons.Windows Mobile has always put icons with system status at the top of the screen. If this leaked image is accurate, Windows Mobile 7 will for the first time feature status icons at the bottom of screen too.Curiously absent is the Windows Start Menu, which has been part of the user interface since the beginning of this platform. However, there’s a button at the bottom of the screen that may be used to display a list of all applications installed on the device.
Coming When?
The first phones running Windows Mobile 6.5 will be released during the fourth quarter of this year.Windows Mobile 7 is scheduled for 2010, but there’s no official word on when this will be. According to the source of today’s leaked images, the debut will happen in spring, putting it just 6 months after the release of its predecessor.” via brighthand.com