Windows Mobile update distribution is broken
The software requires operator certification and testing for network compliance every time it is updated, which delays things. The whole design should be more modular.
There's a "Windows Update" feature introduced with Windows Mobile 6, but Microsoft lost the opportunity to make it an effective way to distribute updates.
An example? The whole Daylight Saving Time problem, with the U.S, Australia, New Zealand changing the dates this year.
A lot of people didn't know there was a manual update available for these devices, and at the begin and the end of the DST period I've heard a lot of complains about appointments with wrong time on the devices.
This is something that shouldn't requre manual intervention to be installed and should require operator approval either. Automatic Update would be the answer. Even if limited to when connected via ActiveSync, to limit mobile data usage.
Then there's the whole OS update thing. The Okta Touch for example. It's the HTC Touch, CDMA version. FCC ID is NM8VOGU100. Sprint sells it. Other CDMA operators sell it. It's just a different branding. The ROM is customised, but it is the same device.
But when contacted, Telecom New Zealand says this is not the same device. And says there's no update available for it.
People want CDMA EVDO Rev A. And people want the built-in GPS.
Sprint is even getting an update to Windows Mobile 6.1. They have already updated the device for CDMA Rev A.
What's Telecom doing?
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Comment by tr3v, on 1-May-2008 22:39
Yes, it is all very frustrating. I am in danger of becoming complacent and accepting things the way they are because I am being continually worn down. Calling Telecom support is always the LAST resort.
On a positive note, I am getting better at helping myself.
PS. Correction: Okta Touch = HTC Vogue (not Mogul)
Comment by tallPete, on 3-May-2008 16:34
I'm based in Australia, and own an HTC P3600i. Even though this generation of the phone was only released last September, I've learned HTC have no plans to produce a WM6.1 update for it, which is kind of disappointing. It strikes me that Windows Mobile must be pretty poorly architected if it requires the manufacturer of the hardware to provide the software update rather than Microsoft itself - it sounds like there is no separation between the OS and the hardware, and the OS must be hard wired to the hardware.
I've never seen an update come through on Windows Update on Windows Mobile - has there ever been one?
Cheers,
TallPete.
Comment by Proto732, on 10-May-2008 07:44
I have an AT&T Tilt, and after finding the replacement .DLL file to speed up scrolling speed in IE (dramatically), I started wondering why a simple DLL replacement couldn't have been deployed via Mobile Update.
Reading thru the XDA forums MANY devices could benefit from this simple file update.
Comment by Dave, on 28-Sep-2008 12:40
I'm running on the old of the old... haha a HTC apache that i got for free, "broken" with WM5 and reflashed to AKU2.2. that was a joke, eventually found these guys: ppcgeeks and xda developers....
I'm now running WM6.1 professional without a hitch, in fact it runs faster and better than WM5 that was on it, all I needed to do was do the DSN switch when it had WM5 on it then upgraded the OS. I now run it on my home wireless network, i use office 2007, windows live, and use bluetooth with my wireless stereo Motorola S9 headphones. Honestly there could not be anything better.
So no, it is not a hard wired OS like you and I both thought, it's just that ALL the operators are lazy. Hell i STILL see advertisements for telecom advertising phones with WM5. HELLOOOO??? seriously that software is out of date, and the upgrades are there, why are they so lazy?
Oh, and no, the version of 6.1 i'm using has not automatically updated DST. So i'm on the net trying to find it.
Comment by Transform, on 10-Dec-2008 22:14
I've bought a used Titan that the previous owner flashed to WM6.1 but it apparently lost the evdo in the process (its now 1X only). Anyone know anything about this, or someone who I could hire to help me out?
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Comment by skyplonk, on 1-May-2008 22:33
Same as the Titan.
I have a titan running a cooked WM6.1 ROM, EV-DO Rev A Radio with GPS, works fine. I have been on to Telecom for months about an official update and they say there is none, and that the Titan "does not support Rev A, or Windows Mobile 6.1". What a load of rubbish.
Also the ROMS to enable GPS and Rev A on the Touch seem to work fine to.
WM 6.1 for me is so much better than WM5, is seems more stable, the Bluetooth and Wifi issues I had went away once I did the Rom and Radio update (from the Sprint version) the RDP client is better, pocket office is great, and the new text message format is how it always should of been.
Telecom are off the ball, and they seem to love trying to pull the wool over peoples eyes