Treo 500v sports a revamped Windows Mobile interface

For all of you fervent Treo fans chomping at the bit to get your hands on the 500v, here's an interesting piece of information which may stir "things" deep inside your mind and body. Apparently, the Windows Mobile-equipped smartphones will be touting a UI that's a pretty big step away from Microsoft's staid and standard operations. According to a slow, yet detailed video we've seen, the new interface will be pulled together using a completely revamped "start menu," (similar to the UI which Samsung is employing on its SGH-i620) which gives you much faster access to applications and settings, and has a completely new look. Menus and application icons also appear to be a departure from what we've seen in other WM devices, giving the interface a wholly unique aspect. Check the video after the break and see for yourself.

[Via pocketnow]

[Johny @ Oct 16th 2007 12:05PM]

damn, this is looking really slick. can't wait to get my hands on one of those. any news on a price yet?

[kismet I @ Oct 16th 2007 12:06PM]

llol nice try microsoft.

[Dhanik @ Oct 16th 2007 12:06PM]

Evolution!

[Steven @ Oct 16th 2007 12:12PM]

Windows Mobile Photon, maybe?

[ZSX @ Oct 16th 2007 12:16PM]

http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/12/microsoft-patent-app-shows-off-new-user-interface-for-mobiles/

Looks a little like Microsoft patent in action, albeit without the contextual layering. Also, three different ways to access the same things seems a bit of an overkill.

Overall I think it is a move in the right direction in terms of useability, although I must be one of the few people who actually likes current the desktop analogy for Windows Mobile since I am quite comfortable with it.

[MacVicta @ Oct 16th 2007 12:17PM]

Same pig, new lipstick.

[anervoustwitch @ Oct 16th 2007 12:19PM]

doesnt look all that new to me, in fact it looks a lot like yahoo 2 go

[GunForHire @ Oct 16th 2007 12:27PM]

I have one, these have been available to business customers in the UK for a while now. And it rocks!

[David Clark @ Oct 16th 2007 12:28PM]

Oh you fanboys, go unbrick your iphone.

And to Verizon: Get your sh%t together and pick this phone up here stateside. I have money in hand.

[PDubNYC @ Oct 16th 2007 1:53PM]

Hey David, you are the only one who even mentioned the iPhone. It would be nice to get through one post without irrational anti-Apple schmuck and factless, newbie apple fanboys trading comments.

And the fact that your comment is marked Highly Ranked speaks volumes about the direction this site is taking. The disease that is Digg is spreading across the net.

God I hate you super fans on both sides. Shouldn't your moms be picking you up soon?

[David Clark @ Oct 16th 2007 3:16PM]

Well, anybody that thinks this interface is ugly (ie: pig with lipstick) would be comparing it to the iphone interface, which is indeed beautiful. I mean, I doubt anybody would call the PalmOS beautiful in comparison to this new interface.

Just as you're tired of anti-Apple comments, I'm tired of blatant anti-Microsoft comments. It's equally as assinine.

[trumpton @ Oct 16th 2007 12:30PM]

There's a clearer video in this review from last month:
http://www.urban75.org/tech/palm-treo-500v-review.html

It looks very slick!

[NutMac @ Oct 16th 2007 12:38PM]

This pants is black not.
This OS looks fantastic not.

[Karl @ Oct 16th 2007 12:52PM]

*Champing* at the bit

[insertAlias @ Oct 16th 2007 5:18PM]

I was going to point out the same thing.

[Anon @ Oct 16th 2007 12:54PM]

Tip: This is not "photon". Not by any means.

You'll know photon when you see it :)

[Mike @ Oct 16th 2007 12:55PM]

This new menu system feature is part of the Windows Mobile 7 operating system, and although it does help accessing programs, it does create some issues whereby when an application is uninstalled, the menu item which shows the most recent programs ran doesn't remove the link from the menu so can cause confusion with the less tech savvy users.

Also, for those who do decide to get this device, turn off the predition text settings, it really slows the device down when creating emails of text messages... You really dont need predictive text on a qwerty keyboard device Palm!!!

[TrueDis @ Oct 16th 2007 12:58PM]

Whoa, that's one shaky hand...

[Alan Strangis @ Oct 16th 2007 1:14PM]

I seriously can't see myself liking this new style interface.

Personally I think the iPhone got it right with the big icons. Of course, when I say iPhone, I mean Palm, about 10 years ago, since the iPhone is just the Palm interface with MUCH prettier graphics. :)

It's still the fastest way to access whatever app you need to run, and after trying a number of 3rd party launchers on Windows Mobile, SPB Pocket+ is the one I always go back to.

[Andy S. @ Oct 16th 2007 2:11PM]

"the iPhone is just the Palm interface with MUCH prettier graphics"

...and made by a company that still seems to give a flying fsck about their own OS. The bitterest bill to swallow for long-time Palm OS device users like myself has been watching Palm increasingly turn a blind eye to the Palm OS while Windows Mobile gradually spreads its mephitic stain over all of Palm's devices.

It's like watching your best friend ignore his girlfriend (who, while not quite as hot as she once was, is still pretty awesome by comparison), while a very well-known whore rubs her dirty, diseased, scabby crotch all over him. You know it's going to end badly for everyone, the only exception being that the whore won't care, as she's been through this a hundred times before.

[Alan Strangis @ Oct 16th 2007 3:02PM]

Andy:

That's quite the description. :D I WISH Palm would get their act together, and IF they manage to get their new OS up and running, I'd certainly come back, but let's face it (to riff on your metaphor)

...regardless of how hot the girlfriend still is, if she isn't putting out, doesn't explain WHY she isn't putting out, and keeps promising to put out, after two years, well she ain't the girl I fell in love with. I tried working through it with her, but it's at the point where she's got to sort out her own business.

Until then, I'll be courting other ladies. And WM6 has been pretty kind to me, not that I don't wax nostalgic from time to time, and try to keep in touch with the old girl.

:D

[Jeff Lewis @ Oct 16th 2007 5:21PM]

@Andy S

I think you're misinterpreting his point. If you look at how the iPhone's UI works - it's remarkably similar in structure to PalmOS. When you start the Palm up, you get a window of icons. When you click on an icon, you get an app and to go back, you push the 'application' button), again, same as the iPhone. Moat of the apps on the iPhone look very PalmOSish in layout - but again with more graphical elements and animation than is typical than on a PalmOS device.

That's in strong contrast to Windows Mobile, for example, where the starting point is an information screen and to launch an app, you have to either have it in your Start menu, or by selecting "Programs" or "Settings" from the Start Menu. WM apps tend to more complex and have more and different UI elements than PalmOS apps (and iPhone apps for that matter).

Please note - I'm not saying one is better than the other - I'm saying that if you turn off the glare of the UI glitz, it becomes obvious that the UI design of the iPhone shares much more in common with PalmOS than it does with Windows Mobile - and that's going to affect how people like it. If you like WM and don't care for PalmOS, you'll probably find iPhones annoying to use once the 'magic' of the UI graphics wears off. If you prefer PalmOS, you'll probably find that iPhones feel natural to you.

I've tried an iPhone - albeit for a short time since they're not available up here yet - and I found it clunky and counterintuitive... but I like Windows Mobile and I don't care for PalmOS... so there you go.

[Michael Tober @ Oct 16th 2007 1:58PM]

This guy sounds like Ben Stein on quaaludes.

[kidqwik @ Oct 16th 2007 3:22PM]

Why doesn't the US's Palm Centro have this version of Windows Mobile OS instead of the very ugly and embarrasing to be seen with Palm OS???? The 500v is the Centro, yes??

[Golferal @ Oct 16th 2007 3:31PM]

Jezzus. Could the announcer be any more BORING? This guy couldn't sell a cheeseburger to an Ethiopian.

Someone else commented that there are too many ways to access the same menu/ function, but Windows products are usually that way. Personally, I like the freedom that this approach allows me rather that Apple requiring that I do something THEIR way, regardless of how slick the interface may be.

[Ivan @ Oct 16th 2007 3:37PM]

Daddy like ... So the real question is, when are they going to rip the ROM and get it ported to the rest of the WM world?

And yeah, it does look like the Yahoo Go interface, which is fine with me ... the important thing is, that unlike Yahoo Go, it gets to everything on the phone.

[Jon @ Oct 16th 2007 3:49PM]

The UI was specifically created by MS UK for Vodafone. Not sure if the UI will filter down to Windows Mobile proper. You can read one of the developer's thoughts on his blog:

http://blogs.msdn.com/jasonlan/archive/2007/09/19/one-week-with-the-palm-treo-500v.aspx

[Jeff Lewis @ Oct 16th 2007 5:24PM]

You know - I like Windows Mobile... a lot... and even *I* don't like this UI. Wayyyy too much flipping around and scrolling up and down. I appreciate this is for the Smartphone platform but it would be horrifying to use on the PocketPC Phone platform.

I'll wait for Photon, thanks.

[randy @ Oct 16th 2007 5:44PM]

"Live, "Live", "LIVE" OMG!!! Why Live does has Live the word "Live" been inserted Live in Live the name of every menu Live option Live?

Live

[Roborino @ Oct 16th 2007 8:48PM]

Anyone else think that this interface answers the question "What do you get when you cross Microsoft Windows and Sony's Cross Media Bar?"

[William @ Oct 17th 2007 4:47AM]

Jo guyes, I have a Palm 500v here on my desk. I recorded some footage with my digital camera which is uploading at this moment. The phone is really unlike any other Windows Mobile I have seen. Will let you know if the movie is online!

[William @ Oct 17th 2007 5:23AM]

Here it is, more home made live footage of the interface in action:

http://www.lemmid.nl/palm/

[Christian @ Oct 17th 2007 10:36PM]

I actually like the UI on that one. Very simple and easy to read. Though not very fancy it caught me with its simplicity.

[Carol @ Dec 5th 2007 2:40PM]

I have an "old" Tungsten T5 and just upgraded to a MAC with Leopard. No interface! yes i am dinosauric in my lack of smart phone. don't want to have to retype my whole address book and calendar. Suggestions?