What are the advantages / disadvantages of WM6 over WM5

[JohnWB]

I am thinking of putting on WM6 onto my SPV M5000 and was wondering what were the advantages / disadvantages of WM6 over WM5 in everyday use. Is there a thread or comparison somewhere Ican check out

[xiasma]

I've been running WM6 for many months now and this week reverted to WM5 - I've tried pretty much all the ROMs and WM5 simply is more stable, although not itself perfect.

The main advantage, to me, in WM6 is the Outlook client with HTML email support, although I can live without that. The terminal services / remote desktop client is better too. Other than those, the rest are just pretty fluff, but that's just *for my use*. Note: One man's fluff is another man's, erm, necessity :s

[dreamtheater39]

I've been running WM6 for many months now and this week reverted to WM5 - I've tried pretty much all the ROMs and WM5 simply is more stable, although not itself perfect.

The main advantage, to me, in WM6 is the Outlook client with HTML email support, although I can live without that. The terminal services / remote desktop client is better too. Other than those, the rest are just pretty fluff, but that's just *for my use*. Note: One man's fluff is another man's, erm, necessity :s
Not really mate!

If you've used wm6, you'd find -
1. Its just as stable as wm5 (the later roms!)
2. Lots of tiny improvements
- Better phone search and dialing
- Better keyboard support all over
- Quick search in outlook messages (cant live without this!)
- Better look and feel
- Html support
- Better IE
- Latest office version support
- Lots of minor addons, which make WM5 complete by covering the gaps!

If you ask me, its a no brainer to upgrade. I suggest give one of the latest builds a try and see for yourself. If you think there are problems, you could always revert back :)

Cheers,
San

[vma]

I believe that the major drawback of WM6 is the lack of Video-Call functionality. It is being introduced now, but still is buggy.

Anyway, I don't use that, as the company that pays my phone bill does not allow me to.

On the other hand, WM6 does look much better and seems to be as stable and fast as WM5, if not better. So why keep a less good looking firmware?

Also, I believe that Internet Explorer makes use of the VGA screen in WM6, while WM5 did not.

Then there are all the small things that make the phone nicer.

Cheers,
vma

[agejon]

memory management of wm5 is superior...
For me its the most important aspect of wm6 that must be corrected...
Other than that, wm6 are better!!

[mamaich]

I believe that the major drawback of WM6 is the lack of Video-Call functionality. It is being introduced now, but still is buggy.

This is not WM6 limitation. It is just a minor incompatibility of old WM5 DLLs with WM6 dialer. HTC could fix this in 5 minutes if they would bother. We cannot do that as we don't have the sources.

The best WM6 changes are
- improved memory manager over WM5. In WM6 virtual address space is less wasted than in WM5. Slot 1 DLL sections can be aligned on 4 Kb boundary (64 Kb on older OSes) and resource-only DLLs are mover to slot 127
- Exchange 2007 support (html email, "company directory", search over your mailbox, etc)
- improved dialer (that is why we just cannot copy video call DLLs from WM5)
- VGA in IE
- Office 2007 document support
- some other tiny improvements for OEMs, like new resolutions (up to 480x800), ability to control led blinking in ringtone scripts (WM5 only could control vibra), secondary displays API (in WM5 only smartphones could have secondary display)
- VoIP API support in OS

These all changes should not cause major increase in OS number. WM6 is just a "WM5 second edition" or WM 5.5.

WM 6.1 improvements over WM6
- Chat-like SMS that cannot be turned off (I personally hate it, prefer old style).
- Improved memory management in DLLs. Some of the DLLs can be loaded to shared memory region - so they would not waste vitrual address space in slot 1,0 (Athena already does the same, so MS just stolen HTC idea)
- Minor IE improvements
- Improved exchange 2007 support (this is really good)
- Some minor BT stack improvements (for example it automatically uses "0000" as a pin when pairing with BT headset)
- Media player is updated. I don't know what is changes as I don't use that trash.
- Ugly task manager. Hopefully it would be more useful in release.

The amount of changes is similar to changes between WM5 and WM6. MS marketing guys may call that "WM7" in the future.

[topgunarindam]

Advantages of WM6:
all stated above by others

Disadvantages:
More battery drain
More Memory drain
Internet Sharing is not that great

Best would to have WM5 rom with WM6 icons(look and feel)......best of both worlds.

[zeeshansohail]

It's faster, looks better, works better and supports more enhancement patches! I already have mine looking like an iphone and working at the speed of light! WM5 is just slower and not as sharp!

[mamaich]

More battery drain

false

More Memory drain

false. Memory is drained by apps you use. OS memory footprint is nearly the same as for WM5.

Internet Sharing is not that great

true. But you can use WModem from WM5.

[xiasma]

Not really mate!

If you've used wm6, you'd find -
1. Its just as stable as wm5 (the later roms!)

I've tried *many* of the later ROMs and, although they've come along hugely, they are not as stable in my experience. But still, maybe my emphasis and needs are different to yours/those of others, so YMMV.


2. Lots of tiny improvements
- Better phone search and dialing

Yes, indeed, but that's what I'm calling "fluff". It's an improvement, but doesn't in all reality improve how I use the device in any way.


- Better keyboard support all over

Can't say I noticed any difference. The keyboard, without exception, has always just worked exactly as expected for me in WM5 and WM6.

- Quick search in outlook messages (cant live without this!)

You're the second person to mention this since I reverted to WM5. Please tell me more - I feel like I probably missed out on one of the crucial improvements! I tend to use OWA when I need more than the vastly inferior (but largely adequate) Outlook client in WM5 offers.


- Better look and feel

Subjective, but I agree. However, not a sufficient improvement to justify the upgrade.


- Html support

Indeed, and I miss that a lot.


- Better IE

The latest TMobile ROM has the "Use high res" option and I can't say I can see any difference beyond that.


- Latest office version support

Agreed, a major improvement for many users, just not for me.


- Lots of minor addons, which make WM5 complete by covering the gaps!

If you ask me, its a no brainer to upgrade. I suggest give one of the latest builds a try and see for yourself. If you think there are problems, you could always revert back :)

Cheers,
San

Totally agree about trying it out. For me, it's borderline too unreliable and the downsides of WM5 don't *much* matter. As I said earlier, everyone will have slightly different needs, so weigh them up and take the plunge.

Thanks San, some very good points.

[/b/-TarD]

It's faster, looks better, works better and supports more enhancement patches! I already have mine looking like an iphone and working at the speed of light! WM5 is just slower and not as sharp!

Off topic :
Where do u get the iphone skin from? I install the ilaunch but found that its not compatible with the universal VGA screen, the screen is all mess up

-------------

Its just me , but personally, i think WM 6 eats more memory than WM 5, its more laggier at times, and the home-cooked rom arent as stable than the official ones, sometimes need soft reset the phone

[dreamtheater39]

I've tried *many* of the later ROMs and, although they've come along hugely, they are not as stable in my experience. But still, maybe my emphasis and needs are different to yours/those of others, so YMMV.


Yes, indeed, but that's what I'm calling "fluff". It's an improvement, but doesn't in all reality improve how I use the device in any way.


Can't say I noticed any difference. The keyboard, without exception, has always just worked exactly as expected for me in WM5 and WM6.

You're the second person to mention this since I reverted to WM5. Please tell me more - I feel like I probably missed out on one of the crucial improvements! I tend to use OWA when I need more than the vastly inferior (but largely adequate) Outlook client in WM5 offers.


Subjective, but I agree. However, not a sufficient improvement to justify the upgrade.


Indeed, and I miss that a lot.


The latest TMobile ROM has the "Use high res" option and I can't say I can see any difference beyond that.


Agreed, a major improvement for many users, just not for me.



Totally agree about trying it out. For me, it's borderline too unreliable and the downsides of WM5 don't *much* matter. As I said earlier, everyone will have slightly different needs, so weigh them up and take the plunge.

Thanks San, some very good points.
Hi!

I think you're missing out the keyboard improvements & search feature-adds in wm6. This is extremely useful if you use your uni in standard flip-closed landscape mode and happen to use the keyboard often.

For example do this -
- Open messaging, and HOLD DOWN the "H" key until you get a help popup. This shows all the keyboard shortcuts for the messaging app. To activate a shortcut, just press and hold the corresponding key.
- To search for a message, all you need to do is, start typing a part of the subject/sender name and it instantaneously matches all messages matching the criteria. Its extremely useful i'm sure! For instance, if you're trying to find a message sent by someone, just start typing his name to see all messages sent by him! Or type a part of the subject! If searching in SMS'es, the name or part of the sms message itself can be searched!

- You can start typing a name out directly from your today screen, this launches the phone app and searches the name! Very quick and useful!

These 3 features alone are good enough which prevents me from rolling back to wm5! Besides, its also stable that i never need to restart my pda in days! I had a lot of trouble trying to get it stable, but the radio stack 1.15 did the trick for me! I suggest you experiment and find the version that works good with your device/operator/location!

San

[zeeshansohail]

Off topic :
Where do u get the iphone skin from? I install the ilaunch but found that its not compatible with the universal VGA screen, the screen is all mess up

-------------

Its just me , but personally, i think WM 6 eats more memory than WM 5, its more laggier at times, and the home-cooked rom arent as stable than the official ones, sometimes need soft reset the phone

It's actually alot of different mod's and patches! There is a Slider application with a VGA Patch and a Configuration App to have the iphone slider unlock. There is an iContact application that lets you scroll through your contacts using your finger (very nice feature to have and show off :P). There is the PocketCM Keyboard with a black skin and a VGA patch (much cooler and more usable than the iphone keyboard). There's also the HTC Default black theme to give the whole PPC an iphone look and feel! If you're even more of an iphone GUI fan, you can take it a step ahead an install new icons and tweak some of the other UI elements to have fun!

You can find all of the above mentioned stuff at www.freewareppc.com.

Good luck with it :)

[topgunarindam]

false
True



false. Memory is drained by apps you use. OS memory footprint is nearly the same as for WM5.
memory footprint nearly same on reboot, after a period the memory gets sucked somewhere even if you aren't using any apps. Now that somewhere is the question area.

[/b/-TarD]

It's actually alot of different mod's and patches! There is a Slider application with a VGA Patch and a Configuration App to have the iphone slider unlock. There is an iContact application that lets you scroll through your contacts using your finger (very nice feature to have and show off :P). There is the PocketCM Keyboard with a black skin and a VGA patch (much cooler and more usable than the iphone keyboard). There's also the HTC Default black theme to give the whole PPC an iphone look and feel! If you're even more of an iphone GUI fan, you can take it a step ahead an install new icons and tweak some of the other UI elements to have fun!

You can find all of the above mentioned stuff at www.freewareppc.com.

Good luck with it :)

Hmm, mind pm me the application list? I dunno where to start

Thanks for the effort!

[zeeshansohail]

Hmm, mind pm me the application list? I dunno where to start

Thanks for the effort!

1) Do a search on this forum for "Htc Default.tsk" to get the black theme for PPC. Put that in your "Windows" directory to see it in the "Today" settings panel

2) Download PocketCM keyboard (+Theme & VGA Patch) and install that

3) Download iContact and install that

4) Download Slider (+VGA Patch) and install that

5) Apply icons!

Lemme know if you find something else!

[/b/-TarD]

1) Do a search on this forum for "Htc Default.tsk" to get the black theme for PPC. Put that in your "Windows" directory to see it in the "Today" settings panel

2) Download PocketCM keyboard (+Theme & VGA Patch) and install that

3) Download iContact and install that

4) Download Slider (+VGA Patch) and install that

5) Apply icons!

Lemme know if you find something else!

Funny, the iContact doesnt works on my uni, it just shows a black screen

For slider, i use S2U2 ( Slide 2 Unlock 2 ) the slider + VGA patch that u mentioned doesnt looks correct in landscape

The whole afternoon i was playing with the Touch Commander application ( emulates Touch FLO ) :D

Where to find a working iphone launcher application for Universal?

[zeeshansohail]

Funny, the iContact doesnt works on my uni, it just shows a black screen

For slider, i use S2U2 ( Slide 2 Unlock 2 ) the slider + VGA patch that u mentioned doesnt looks correct in landscape

The whole afternoon i was playing with the Touch Commander application ( emulates Touch FLO ) :D

Where to find a working iphone launcher application for Universal?

I'm using Mo3ulla's OS 5.2.1933 Build 18533.0.7.0 ROM 2.11.09 G4M RADIO 1.18.00 ... pretty much the best i could find, iContact works fine on it!

Slider and S2U2 are separate apps and both mess up in landscape :) I don't use landscape so that didnt ever bother me, sorry :)

I haven't heard of the Touch Commander, i'll see into that ... seems interesting!

And i'm still looking for an iphone launcher :) cant find one yet!

[zeeshansohail]

and create a new thread if there's more to say regarding iphone skinning :) I don't want people getting bothered on this thread!

[dynamo]

what vga iphone theme are you using ? where is it found? .... even if just a frontend....

[rajat]

Funny, the iContact doesnt works on my uni, it just shows a black screen

For slider, i use S2U2 ( Slide 2 Unlock 2 ) the slider + VGA patch that u mentioned doesnt looks correct in landscape

The whole afternoon i was playing with the Touch Commander application ( emulates Touch FLO ) :D

Where to find a working iphone launcher application for Universal?

Are you able to use S2U2 without issues on your universal? Though it works fine for me but the wallpapers render almost like a thumbnail (not a full wallpaper).