crossbow news, reviews, software and freeware

Here is This is just a simple video walk through of some of the features of Windows Mobile 6 aka Crossbow made by Mobilitysite.com.

On top of letting the lid of the new Windows Mobile 6 naming scheme, I have been given the go ahead to announce that Windows Mobile 6 will be unvieled next week at 3GSM. There will be some new devices announced that you won't want to miss! What about my old device? Well, that's up to the manufacturers. I seriously doubt that HP or Dell will upgrade their newer Pocket PCs to Windows Mobile 6. I wouldn't get my hopes up too much.

For more info, keep an eye out at our blog tags as follows

* WM6
* Crossbow
* Windows Mobile 6 Standard
* Windows Mobile 6 Professional
* Windows Mobile 6 Classic

Credit - Mobilitysite.com

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Microsoft has just unveiled more information about it's new Windows Mobile operating system, so far code-named Crossbow and soon to be known as Windows Mobile 6. On next Monday, during the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Microsoft will officially announce Windows Mobile 6, the newest version of its mobile phone software platform. By improving usability and adding new features previously only available on PCs, Windows Mobile 6 will deliver a familiar and rich experience to the small screen that meets the needs of work and life while on the go, all with a single device. Windows Mobile 6 devices begin shipping worldwide by second quarter 2007 and it's sure, that we can expect some new devices, being announced next week as well.

For instance in Windows Mobile 6 you have the ability to view E-Mails in their original rich HTML format with live links to web and SharePoint sites, which means text and images are displayed like they would be on a PC, available from a corporate E-Mail server such as Exchange Server 2007, Web-based accounts such as Windows Live or a myriad of other popular service providers. Windows Mobile 6 will also includes Windows Live for Windows Mobile, which provides customers with a rich set of Windows Live services

All Windows Mobile 6 devices include the previously introduced Direct Push Technology for always up-to-date E-Mail delivery and automatic synchronization of Outlook calendars and contacts through Microsoft Exchange Server. Windows Mobile 6 also offers a set of important device security and management features including the ability to remotely wipe all data from a device should it be lost or stolen, ensuring that confidential information remains that way.

Users of Microsoft Office on the PC – of which there are nearly 400 million worldwide – will feel right at home with the new mobile versions of Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint built for all Windows Mobile 6 smartphones. Windows Mobile 6 addresses extensive user feedback and incorporates enhancements from the new Microsoft Office Mobile, making information management easier and more convenient.

Some of the highlights of Windows Mobile 6.0 are:

* Better looking E-Mail – View E-Mail the way it was intended with its original pictures, tables and formatting, whether from a corporate E-Mail server such as Exchange Server 2007, Web-based accounts, such as Windows Live Mail, or a wide range of other service providers.
* Read and edit Office documents – The new Office Mobile suite, built for all Windows Mobile devices, gives users a truly familiar and powerful experience with rich viewing and editing capabilities, without deleting critical formatting and images like many competitive offerings.
* Set-up and manage E-Mail with fewer clicks – Nine new one click options have been added including "reply all", setting a flag, moving a message to a subfolder, and of course, delete. Even set an automatic "out-of-office" reply while on the road through integration with Exchange Server 2007.
* Windows Vista synchronization – Windows Vista and the special Windows Mobile Device Center to take the guess work out of managing a device and swapping music, pictures, movies and Outlook information between PC and device.
* Calendar ribbon – This innovative new feature gives users the ability to understand at a glance the day or week ahead and quickly determine open time on their schedules and with Exchange Server 2007, they can see who is attending a meeting and forward or reply to meeting requests.
* Web search, E-Mail, IM and blogging all together – Windows Live for Windows Mobile will provide customers with a rich set of services including Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Messenger, Live Search and Windows Live Spaces, uniquely designed to work with Windows Mobile software. Users can also find all their contacts in one unified list and see presence information on their Windows Live Messenger contacts
* Contacts with context – Call history is now placed where it belongs, in each individual contact card so people spend less time searching and more time communicating.

Windows Mobile efficiently integrates with existing Microsoft business technology investments and offers users a familiar software experience, making it the smartest mobile solution for businesses to deploy.

* Security options – The platform offers a variety of security options, giving IT departments the choice of how best to secure a device, from new Exchange Server policies and certificate options, storage card encryption, and continued support for remote and local device wipe.
* Protected content – Organizations using Information Rights Management (IRM) technology to control the viewing, storing and printing of confidential information on PCs can now extend those same rights to Windows Mobile 6 devices, a feature not available on any other mobile phone platform.
* Line-of-business applications – Powerful, new mobile versions of the .NET Compact Framework and SQL Server are built into Windows Mobile 6 make it even easier to create and access sales tools, inventory tracking, and many other applications from a smartphone.
* Internet Sharing – A new built-in application makes using a smartphone as a high-speed modem for a laptop "one-click easy" with either a Bluetooth wireless or cable connection.
* Communication Alternatives –Windows Mobile 6 makes it easier for operators and device makers to integrate a VoIP solution into a device they're building.

Now it is almost clear anything about this new Windows Mobile 6.0, but if you want to see an official announce you have to wait till monday. Before that you might want to check previous information about WM6 here and Crossbow here.

Source - the::unwired

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Crossbow... Windows Mobile 6... the most leaked operating system in the world is still not announced officialy. As it looks like Pieter Knook will announce it at 3GSM.

As we learn from MoDaCo, on the MSDN Events and Webcasts page, you'll find a 14th February session entitled MSDN Webcast: MSDN geekSpeak: Windows Mobile 6 with Jim Wilson (Level 200). Unfortunately Microsoft hastily renamed the session and now it is available only at Google's cache.

At conclusion i can say that the announce of Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 is near than we all have thought.

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The Samsung i760 Pocket PC Phone Edition, destined for the Verizon network in the US, will be running Windows Mobile Crossbow as we learn from Engadget mobile. This will be nice addition for the new capabilities for Smartphones included in the Crossbow.

The Crossbow powered Samsung i760 very probably will hit the shelves before the first half of the year.

If you want to view more shots of this Crossbow powered Smartphone from Samsung click here.

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Testers of Windows Mobile Codenamed Crossbow (or Windows Mobile 6.0) have leaked at least 2 versions of the pre-release online, along with a good number of screenshots. According to the source the pre-release is incomplete, missing a few functions but working fine. No Windows start orb here, that seems to be cropping up on everywhere on Microsoft software now, but then again WM6 is not yet final - who knows if that will be included in the final release.

The leaked version specs: WM6PreRelease.rar (54177kb) Build date 1/12/2006 (15341.4.2.0) Rom 2.00.02.pv / External Rom 2.02 PDAVIET



Windows Mobile Crossbow is available for download here. You can view lots of screenshots of it at smartmania.cz

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We have made available several early previews and thoughts about the Microsoft's new operating system for mobile devices Windows Mobile 6 code named Crossbow which you can read here. My russian fellows from Mobile-Review.com give a nice video overview of what Crossbow has to offer.



Windows Mobile Crossbow is scheduled to be released in the first half of 2007. You should note there aren't many big changes at all which you will see during this video. Crossbow will definitely affect the Smartphone OS more than the PPC phone edition, and it looks very similar to the Windows Mobile 5 however the menus definitely seem snappier and open very quickly.

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For the moment we have only early reviewed and spotted on Smartphone the new Windows Mobile Crossbow. For now there is NO ROM upgrade with Windows Mobile Crossbow for HTC Hermes but somebody is using this phone for testing of this new major version of Windows Mobile operating system.

I think it is great because the Pocket PC version of Crossbow looks quite like a minor face-lift, but the Smartphone version of Crossbow is a great improvement because of the Office Mobile will be available at last. Here are photos of how Windows Mobile Crossbow looks like in Orange's incarnation of HTC Hermes - Orange SPV M3100).

HTC Hermes is indeed one very popular Pocket PC phone with extras like 3G, genuine wheel, QWERTY keyboard and it will be real pleasure if someone releases the Crossbow ROM for it (it will be unofficial ofcourse). Note that such unofficial ROM upgrades are violating guarantee given by distributors or operators so please do not experimentate.

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Here we offer you one early review of Crossbow, dubbed as Windows Mobile 6 by the reviewer from mobile-review.com. This review really worth the read, cause this OS is not public, nor ready for roll out yet, but this site has the scoop on it.

Today we are getting our readers to know the new mobile operating system by Microsoft codenamed Windows Mobile Crossbow. The most probable title for the commercial edition, though, is Windows Mobile 6.0, but it is the thing to remain veiled until an official announcement is made. Beginning from the previous version of Windows Mobile, the company has put into practice a new approach to indexing, so that now codenames are replaced by numbers, like 5.0, 6.0 etc. Interestingly, the second digit in the index hasn't been called for up until now, in other words, we haven't seen Windows Mobile 5.2 or 5.3 yet, since all intermediate updates and patch-works have been introduced within various versions of AKU (Adaptation Kit Update) update packs.

Nevertheless, the brand-new operating system could be called Windows Mobile 5.0 Second Edition for it lacks tons of all-new features and total system revamp as in the case of Windows Mobile 5.0. The most considerable upgrades are coming up in the next version, being developed under the codename of Windows Mobile Photon scheduled for release in two years time at best. Being under the pressure of launches of new products in its software range, including MS Windows Vista, MS Office 2007, MS Exchange 2007, Microsoft had no other choice but release an updated version of Windows Mobile. Most of Windows Mobile 6.0's new functions are aimed at providing support for what MS Exchange 2007 brings to the table. Here with Crossbow we still have the same division - WM for Pocket PC and WM for Smartphone, which will fade away only in WM Photon. Today we are giving a close-up to the Pocket PC edition, while the operating system for smartphones will be reviewed later.

The list of major changes introduced in Windows Mobile 6.0 for Pocket PC:

* Revamped outlook, refined icons;
* Totally re-mastered sound theme;
* Increased interface speed;
* Bundled IP-telephony (VoIP, SIP standard);
* Smart Dial 2.0, fast search through contacts, call history; removable on-screen virtual keyboard;
* Any tune can be assigned to any event;
* Support for shortcuts in Outlook Mobile;
* Full-fledged meetings arrangement system;
* Support for HTML in messages;
* Smart Filter – handy and fast search through messages;
* Numerous MS Exchange 2007-tailored changes;
* Integration with Windows Live online-services;
* Marketplace – purchase, download, and install directly from the device;
* Encryption – bundled memory card encryption

You can read the whole review here.

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Microsoft has just announced the worldwide availability of Sixth Generation Windows Embedded CE 6.0.

This story is not so important to end Windows Mobile Powered Pocket PC and Smartphone users, but it clearly indicates that next major versions of Windows Mobile are coming in near future ( maybe around end of 2007 ).

Here you can read all the launch information from Microsoft.

Today, Craig Mundie, Microsoft Corp. chief research and strategy officer, announced the availability of Windows Embedded CE 6.0, the latest version of the company's industry-leading software toolkit used to build real-time operating systems for devices such as Internet protocol (IP) set-top-boxes, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), wireless projectors, and a variety of industrial automation, consumer electronics and medical devices.

In conjunction with the 10-year anniversary of Windows Embedded, 100 percent of the Windows Embedded CE 6.0 kernel is now available through the Microsoft Shared Source program, an overall increase of 56 percent from previous versions of Windows Embedded CE. The Shared Source program provides full source-code access for modification and redistribution by device-makers (subject to the terms of a license agreement), who are under no obligation to share their final designs with Microsoft or others. Although the Windows operating system is a general-purpose computing platform designed for creating a consistent experience, Windows Embedded CE 6.0 is a tool kit device-makers use for building customized operating system images for a variety of non-desktop devices. By providing access to certain parts of the Windows Embedded CE source code, such as the file system, device drivers and other core components, embedded developers are able to choose the code they need, compile it, and build their own, unique operating systems, quickly bringing their devices to market.

Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition is also shipping as part of Windows Embedded CE 6.0. This marks another first for Microsoft; Platform Builder, an embedded-specific integrated development environment, will now be included as a powerful plug-in for Visual Studio 2005 Professional. This brings the entire development chain together in one, easy-to-use tool, from device to applications, shrinking time to market for device development.

"Windows Embedded CE has not only defined a generation of small-footprint device development, but is the foundation for much of Microsoft's non-desktop strategy," Mundie said in a live webcast to thousands of developers worldwide today. "Over the next 10 years, Windows Embedded CE will continue to focus on creating new industry and design opportunities for device-makers and partners, while giving them the tools and technologies they need to create smarter, more connected scenarios."

Windows Embedded CE 6.0 boasts a re-engineered kernel with capabilities such as a capacity for 32,000 simultaneous processes and 2 GB of virtual memory address space per process while maintaining the software's real-time capabilities. This enables developers to incorporate larger numbers of robust applications into more intelligent, complex devices used on the road, at work and or in the home:

* On the road. With the introduction of new cell core data and voice components, Windows Embedded CE 6.0 will enable devices to establish data connections and voice calls over cellular networks, enabling the development of connections for machine-to-machine communication scenarios to build devices such as parking meters, vending machines and GPS devices.

* At work. Windows Embedded CE 6.0 includes components designed to easily build projectors that use the built-in capability of Windows Vista to wirelessly access the desktop experience.

* In the home. Windows Embedded CE 6.0 takes advantage of multimedia capabilities to allow the development of networked media devices, digital video recorders and IP set-top boxes.

"Embedded devices are everywhere, and, as the number and variety of connected devices with embedded intelligence continues to grow, so does market demand for cost-effective, scalable, real-time operating systems that can support complex applications," said Daya Nadamuni, research vice president at Gartner Inc. "Vendors that break down barriers to development by offering advanced tools and community support to device-makers and developers stand to benefit from this growth. Further, as developers are able to view source code, they can debug devices more quickly and ultimately get unique devices to market faster."

Windows Embedded CE 6.0 is launching with worldwide support from device-makers, many of which will bring new Windows Embedded CE 6.0-based devices to market this quarter. These companies include Taiwan-based Unitech; Netherlands-based Commodore International Corp.; Taiwan-based Advantech Co. Ltd.; and U.S.-based Applied Data Systems Inc., General Software Inc., Intelligent Instrumentation Inc., MICROS Systems Inc. and Wyse Technology. Systems integrators around the globe have also been involved in the testing and integration of key Windows Embedded CE 6.0 technologies, including France-based Adeneo Adetel Group; Germany-based 3SOFT GmbH and CDR Consulting; U.K.-based Pace Micro Technology Ltd.; and U.S.-based Atheros Communications Inc. and BSQUARE Corp. Chip-makers include Netherlands-based NXP Semiconductors, Taiwan-based VIA Technologies Inc., U.K.-based ARM and U.S.-based Intel Corporation.

"An industry-leading platform for creating small-footprint connected devices, Windows Embedded CE has been a strategic element in our customers' device road maps for years, and we're already seeing strong demand for Windows Embedded CE 6.0," said Dr. Stephen Oh, vice president of Application Processor Development, Samsung Electronics' System LSI Division.

"The Samsung Windows CE 6.0 BSP will include support for our ARM9- and ARM11-based application processor series, allowing for streamlined development and, ultimately, faster time to market for consumer electronics devices like portable navigation devices, media players, remote monitoring equipment, IP phones and gaming devices."

Windows Embedded CE 6.0 uses a volume-based royalty licensing model; so device-makers can evaluate the entire product for 180 days, and purchase runtime licenses only when their devices start shipping. Microsoft provides the assurance of intellectual property (IP) indemnification (subject to the terms of a license agreement) and a 10-year product Support Lifecycle, helping ensure the integrity of its offerings so device-makers can rest assured that they have the support and protection for success.

A free 180-day trial of the complete Windows Embedded CE 6.0 is available for download here.

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The new platform for handheld devices from Microsoft, the Windows Mobile codenamed Crossbow, has just been spotted on a Smartphone devices as we learn from gpspassion.com. This might change with the arrival of Crossbow that takes the convergence further as seen below in an exclusive look at its Smartphone version. Note the new icon based program menu and the presence of Excel, Word and PowerPoint.





As it looks like from the Screenshots the Crossbow looks Slightly modernised designed, has some Vista like icons, Integrated Office support, the long waited Windows Live Messenger ( Windows Live installed in these screenshots) and MS Voice Command for Smartphone installed.

More screenshots you can view here.

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