One of the biggest differences between Windows Mobile 6.1 and Windows Mobile 6.5 is a redesigned user interface. That's not the only change, though. Microsoft also changed how to access ActiveSync and made Improvements to Outlook Mobile.
If clicked on Start in Windows Mobile 6.1, Windows would display a Start menu. However, this menu is not available in Windows Mobile 6.5. Instead, you see a screen similar to that in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Clicking on the Start menu in Windows Mobile 6.5 brings you to this screen.
If you scroll to the bottom of the interface, you'll see the icon for ActiveSync (Figure 2). Notice the size and layout of the icons. Microsoft has arranged them to make it easier to interact with Windows Mobile using your fingertip instead of a stylus.
Figure 2. The ActiveSync icon is near the bottom of the Start menu.
One welcome change in Windows Mobile 6.5 is that all of the Office Mobile applications, including Outlook Mobile, have been updated. This is a relief since these applications have been the same since first introduced with Windows CE over a decade ago.
Unfortunately most of the improvements in Outlook Mobile seem to be cosmetic. Figure 3 shows the main Outlook Mobile screen. Not much has changed with this screen other than the fact that the interface is a bit cleaner.
Figure 3. The main Outlook Mobile screen.
Figure 4 shows what you will see if you click on Menu when replying to a message. Although th menu choices appear to be identical to what was available in Windows Mobile 6.1, the menu format has changed so that it's easier to read and it works better with a touch interface.
Figure 4. Outlook Mobile's menus have been redesigned to make them more user friendly via a touch interface.
About the author: Brien M. Posey, MCSE, is a five-time recipient of Microsoft's Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award for his work with Exchange Server, Windows Server, Internet Information Services (IIS), and File Systems and Storage. Brien has served as CIO for a nationwide chain of hospitals and was once responsible for the Department of Information Management at Fort Knox. As a freelance technical writer, Brien has written for Microsoft, TechTarget, CNET, ZDNet, MSD2D, Relevant Technologies and other technology companies. You can visit Brien's personal website at www.brienposey.com.
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