14 DAY TRIAL // Redmond-based software giant Microsoft has been long rumored to be working on a new version of its mobile operating system, one that is different than the next-gen Windows Mobile 7 platform and should land before it, namely WM 6.5.3. We've already seen a great deal of leaked builds of the OS flavor emerging into the wild before, the platform was spotted mentioned on Microsoft's website, and it also made an appearance on certain handsets at the International 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Toshiba TG01 and Pharos Traveler 137 GPS are two handsets that were running the new platform version at CES, and now we learn that the guys over at Phonescoop managed to catch the OS on video. The new Windows Mobile 6.5.3 seems to come with a nice range of improvements over the previously released Windows Mobile 6.5, yet most of the changes are said to be mainly related to the user interface and to the touch experience it can deliver. The video below will offer you the possibility to make an idea of what should come our way in the near future.
According to Phonescoop, Windows Mobile users will see new “bubble menus” at the bottom of the screen, which are meant to replace the functions that were previously placed at the top. They are said to be easier to reach, and that the OS seems to have been optimized for one-hand use with them. At the same time, the soft QWERTY keyboard is also enhanced, and one can access special characters or the standard 12-key T9-style keyboard through simply swiping the keyboard to the right or to the left, respectively.
“The status bar at the top has also seen a nice revision. Looking at the home screen, you might think that the icons are way too small for you to accurately select with your finger. Well, Microsoft has created a drop-down dock that enlarges all the status icons and lets you interact with them. Simply swipe from the top of the screen down and the dock will appear. In the dock are some simply controls such as those for the alarm, power management, and so on. Nice. This dock is available from within any application and not just the home screen. It lets you make adjustments on the fly without leaving the particular application that you might be using,” the news site also notes.