Everybody has been talking about the next Windows CE operating system. Some Palm users think that Windows CE is just too complicated for the average mobile user, while others think it's just too slow for today's market. Well, Microsoft has been working on this new OS (Pocket PC) for a while, and I can assure you it's a beauty.

First of all, Microsoft has really cleaned up the OS. They took out all of the 3D effects (buttons, icons, etc.). They made theses change to provide the user with more screen space, and a faster loading time. In the images below, you can see comparative screen shots of the old and the new Operating Systems' home screen. On the left is the old Palm-size PC OS, while on the right is the new Pocket PC OS.

	Palm-size PC OS

	Pocket PC OS

The start menu is no longer in the bottom left corner, however it isn't gone entirely. The start menu is now located in the upper left corner. It is hidden while you are in most applications as you can see in the screen shots below. The word "Start" is replaced with the name of the application you are currently using (right image). With one tap it will revert back to the word "Start" and open the menu.

	Start Menu

	Calendar

One reason Microsoft may have done this is to better notify the user as to what application they are running. In the previous OS, there was no title bar letting you know what application you were in. Microsoft has added this feature without taking up additional space as the title bar and the Start menu are now integrated. Look at the screen shots below to see the difference between the two calendar applications. The left (Palm-size OS) has no title bar, while the right (Pocket PC) does.

	Palm-Size OS

	Pocket PC

You will also noticed how much Microsoft has cleaned up the menus in the new Rapier OS. The menus no longer have the space consuming 3D effects, and are now located on the bottom bar (where the Start Menu used to be). The location of the new menu bars has had more thought put into it then you might think. When I first saw the layout I thought it was odd... why swap the start menu with the application menus? Well, Microsoft did it to allow you to continue to view your work while at the same time selecting a menu.

When you go to tap a menu, you don't want your hand to be covering the screen. You want to be able to see what you are doing, and with the application menus now at the bottom you can always see what you are doing. The Start menu was moved to the top of the screen because Microsoft found that people read most naturally from top to bottom, left to right. Another possible reason is because you do not need to view your work while taping the start menu.

Ok, so you have read through the Introduction to the new OS, and understand that Microsoft has remove 3D effects, and simplified the menu layouts. Great well... what about speed? Have these and other changes made the OS perform better? The short answer is yes, Microsoft has sped up the new OS significantly. This means more convenience and more efficiency for you. Not only have they made the OS perform better; they have simplified the start menu to allow you to access your last 6 applications faster. Take a look at the screen shot below (taken on a grayscale Pocket PC device). You'll will notice the 6 icons along the top of the start menu. These are the icons of the last 6 applications you have used. Tap on any one, and you are right back into that application.

	Last 6 Applications

Microsoft has also eliminated all double taps. The new Pocket PC OS uses a single tap for every function. While eliminating double taps, they have created a new kind of tap. When you "Tap and Hold" the new context menus open up. This is very similar to "right clicking" in a Windows 95/98/2000 application. Below you can see a screen shot of a context menu. All I did was tap and hold down the stylus on "Contact Randy" and the context menu opened up allowing me to choose from several different options. I could start a new appointment, cut/copy the current appointment, delete the appointment, or send it to another Pocket PC via infrared.

	Calendar

In summary, the context menus simplify the layout of most applications, and are extremely easy to use. Users will be delighted with no more searching through application menus to cut, copy and paste information.

Here is a list of new features at a glance as provided by Microsoft at a Pocket PC Workshop that I recently attended in Seattle.

Overall Graphical User Interface

• Single-tap navigation throughout Faster actions and quicker response. This represents an important departure from the desktop UI (user interface) model and is more suited for a reference-oriented mobile device.
• Tap and hold for record manipulation Display of all possible actions around a single record. The user need not search through menu options to decide what he or she can do with a particular record. The options are hidden to reduce clutter of the UI but can be called out when the user chooses.
• Start button designed for easy navigation Preserves familiarity with Windows and provides signage for programs in use. It is moved to the top-left-hand corner because most people read from left to right, top to bottom.
• The Start button also informs the user of the active program, especially important given the rich application set now available on the Pocket PC platform.
• Built-in File Explorer Provides an overview of all files. The user can view, copy or move files within device directories or between the device and the storage card.
• Built-in Shortcut (Task Switcher) Instant access to the most recently used programs. The Shortcut allows user to toggle between the programs, native or third-party, that they have recently accessed.
• Intelligent memory management and data savings No more need to manually manage the device memory by closing applications. Pocket PC will automatically save data and/or close applications when running low on memory. These functions are transparent to the user. The memory allocations between programs and storage is now dynamically adjusted, so users don't have to adjust manually.
• Menu bar on bottom Leaves most of the screen unobstructed by user's hand. Users complete most tasks while their hand is situated at the bottom of the device leaving the screen clear for viewing.
• No more cascading menus While cascading menus are appropriate for larger screens, they clutter up the smaller screen. Pocket PC abandons the cascading menus interface.
• No more overlaying menu options and icons Better screen property management. Pocket PC now calls out the most frequent actions in the Menu bar and hides the less-used items or icons so the user can concentrate on the tasks they need to finish. Redundant commands are eliminated.

User Interface for Faster Actions

• Customizable "Today" screen Convenient personalization of Pocket PC. At a single tap on Today, users can determine the extent of personal information they want to view on the Today screen. The Today screen is also compatible with third-party plug-in applications.
• IrDA Send and Receive Fast exchange of information in most programs Users can now send and receive records and documents via IrDA (infrared port) in all PIM (Personal Information Management) programs, as well as all files under File Explorer.
• Recent categories and folders in PIM programs Intelligent filtering of most recently opened or input records. The user can instantaneously return to the recent records they pulled up for editing or reference.
• ABC Tab in Contacts ABC tab for quickly accessing a contact record by running through the alphabet of last names. As with the desktop version of Outlook, this is a quick way of accessing hundreds of contact records.
• Rapid search display feature in Contacts When a user holds down the side rocker continuously, the first letter of he contact's last name is displayed in big letters, making it easy to work in a one-hand operation mode.
• Quick Filter Entering a few letters in the search box immediately refines the list of displayed names, showing only those entries where the characters appear in the first or last name.
• Improved Global Find The Find function is now applicable to all data residing on Pocket PC. Pocket PC's Find speed is extremely fast, with results categorized under the programs where the records reside.

User Interface for Integration

• Integrated Connection Wizard Integrated connection setup from within Pocket Internet Explorer and Pocket Inbox. The user can launch the Connection Wizard from within Pocket Internet Explorer or the Inbox.
• Integrated voice- and handwriting-recognition technology and Outlook Notes Notes become a distinctive tool to capture organized or random thoughts. Outlook Notes, spoken notes and handwritten notes are now integrated under the Notes program an can be synchronized back to desktop version of outlook with Ink and attachments.
• Integration of IrDA modem protocols Makes setting up wireless connection easier. If the user wants to set up a Pocket PC for wireless access, the IrDA protocols are already incorporated in Pocket PC.
• Integration of spoken-word applications and Microsoft Reader eBook and audible content can e organized under one program for easy access. Overhauled Agenda view Innovative use of color to display conflicts, upcoming meetings and past events.

E-Mail

• Built-in IMAP4 support Support for widely deployed corporate e-mail standard, as well as LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) addressing for checking e-mail addresses against online address books. Users can synchronize multiple folders under Inbox and filter messages and attachments as they wish.
• Native support for Word and Excel attachments On-device native conversion of Word and Excel attachments to Pocket format. The user can view, do light editing of, and save Word and Excel attachments on Compact Flash cards.
• Support for embedded HTML messages Can immediately launch Pocket Internet Explorer to access an embedded URL in an e-mail message, HTML document or Notes field.

Pocket Internet Explorer

• Offline favorites synchronization with Internet Explorer 5 Any Web content can be captured for offline viewing using customizable link retrieval depth. Existing Mobile Channels are supported. Users can take offline content from Internet Explorer 5 for one-time viewing, or subscribe for regular downloads.
• Integrated AvantGo account setup No more client download is required to access AvantGo content. AvantGo offers many brand-name channels for both offline viewing and wireless access.
• Support for HTML 3.2, JScript, SSL, 128-bit encryption, frames, XML Most functional web browser in a palm form factor device for light browsing to any sites, and conducting e-transactions. The user can also convert documents into HTML format for viewing.

Windows Media Player

• Finger-based Interface Enlarged buttons designed for navigation by finger, without a stylus. Different skins are available for user customization.
• Integrated player for WMA and MP3 formats One player for all. Users no longer have to worry about file formats but can download the digital music from the Web or transfer it from a ripped CD.

Microsoft Reader

• ClearType-enabled (on color devices) A revolutionary reader that displays crisp and clear fonts on a small screen, making the reading experience entirely immersive.
• Desktop publishing tools will also be offered for converting any content into LIT format to be displayed in ClearType display technology on the device.
• Audible file support incorporated in Microsoft Reader Can access all digital content of different rendering media at the same place. Audible.com also offers a desktop manager for acquiring content.

Microsoft Money for Pocket PC

• Standalone Application Tracks bank accounts, transactions, stock portfolio and payments. It offers a handy tool for personal financial management while on the go.
• Synchronizes with Desktop Money Offers portability to Money users who want to keep a close watch on their personal finance matters while away from the office.
• Users can get quotes from http://www.moneycentral.com or export their quicken data to Desktop Money.

Pocket Streets

• Pocket Streets included in the box Downloading is no longer required to take advantage for a highly detailed and informative program for looking up addresses, places and directions.

Synchronization

• USB synchronization Much faster speed than IrDA or serial synchronization, especially significant given the file size of rich content (such as eBook content or music) that will be transferred to the device.
• Synchronization of Outlook Notes, handwritten notes, spoken notes, music and Microsoft Reader files Provides synchronization support for all newly added applications and functionalities.

With the new Pocket PC version I think Microsoft has made a huge improvement to their Palm-size PC Operating System. They have simplified many of the features, and sped up the software significantly. Unfortunately until we can take a look at the hardware, we don't really know exactly how each manufacturer's units will compare to their competition in size, speed, or memory. I think that as long as Microsoft's partners (Compaq, Casio, Symbol, and Hewlet Packard) have a similar level of improvement to that of the Operating System, the Pocket PCs will be regarded as the PDA to own.

What does this mean for Palm? Will the new Pocket PCs capture a larger portion of the market share? No one knows for certain, but it is a step in the right direction. Obviously nothing is going to happen overnight. I'm sure Palm has their own surprises for us, but this accomplishment is a definite win for the PDA team at Microsoft.

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