14 DAY TRIAL // The latest news around the web regarding Windows Mobile have been mentioning a “Titanium” feature, which refers to the sliding-panel homescreen interface that was first seen with Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard, and now gets integrated into Windows Mobile 6.5. The upcoming operating system will be much more customizable in what the user interface aesthetics are concerned, and it seems that it will even support “Titanium” homescreen plug-ins.
Microsoft is determined to change its approach on the themes when it comes to Windows Mobile 6.5, and they will be something more than the tweaked color schemes and background pictures we have seen with previous iterations of the platform. The upcoming release will feature support for custom themes that are expected to include custom icons/badges, as well as customized colors and background images.
Though some might not see this as groundbreaking, we should admit that having a customized set of icons can easily give a brand new look to the homescreen. In addition, there are also the “Titanium” homescreen plug-ins, and they might prove Windows Mobile 6.5’s UI to be one of the highest customizable user interfaces available on the market.
Another great thing that Microsoft seems determined to do is to allow users to install third-party “Titanium” homescreen panels as plug-ins – some of the latter have been developed already, like the “Favorite people” and “TitaniumWeather,” and they can show how useful the homescreen panels can really be.
These plug-ins have been developed to display at-a-glance information on a single panel, while being able to offer in-depth information through the simple side-scroll of the panel. Given the fact that there will be support for more themes and pug-ins, the upcoming Windows Mobile 6.5 might indeed prove to be the iteration that fills the gap between older versions of the platform and the next-generation Windows Mobile 7, expected to land sometime next year.
