The SDK, [software developers kit] for WinMo 6.5 was released yesterday as TJ posted. What though is the attraction of users to Windows Mobile. Besides the fact that there is a cornucopia of apps out there, paid and free. Devices that are becoming ever higher powered, from a number of hardware developers, mainly HTC. What do you think people like the most about WinMo?

Hackability!!!

I know I’ve done it before, with my Axim,  I wanted the latest iteration of the OS so of course I looked for it and I got it. I assume most WinMo users want the latest and greatest version of the OS. What is interesting, CoolSmartPhone did a survey about why people select WinMo as a mobile OS, and basically, the answer was,

“I can get upgrades made by people who care about the OS, and not from Microsoft”

That’s a general interpretation of the results of the survey at CSP.

The fact is there are people out there that can extend/port WinMo and upgrade it on most compatible devices, and that seems to rate as a reason to adopt the OS.

1 – Not really. However I do like the fact that I can customise it eg. disable threaded messaging!!
2 – update only phones i have for backups not my main phones
3 – Only after warranty expires
4 – I would rather not use unofficial ROMs but as microsoft and the handset manufacturers make little 5 – Effort to keep devices update this is the only option open to me
6 – Used custom rom, went back to standard for stability
7 – Yes, but only because it takes so long for networks to issues updates
8 – Yes once my warranty is over
9 – Yes because networks make it impossible to get new rom updates, which are vital on such buggy phones
10 – I do re ROM for speed and extra functionality etc but I would rather not have to.
11 – Yes – Tho I don’t like the feeling of loosing the warranty
12 – Normally, it wouldn’t but I will be willing to if microsoft doesn’t offer an upgrade to 6.5 from 6.1
13 – I have been forced to do this because my network – Orange – offered no upgrade to version 6.1 even though the manufacturer – HTC – provided one for generic unlocked models.
14 – I’ve found unofficial ROMs are the only way I can get a usable phone. Factory ROMs for the phones I’ve had (many) have usually been too slow and/or buggy.
15 – I need a phone to update its self when its syncing to PC
16 – Yes sometimes its the only way to get an upgrade for a still decent phone.
17 – Yes – without unofficial ROMS tweaked by Windows Mobile ‘oracles’ the default build would not be as good – differences in hardware contribute why unofficial ROMS are needed. I buy Windows Mobile to be unique and not like an Iphone ‘drone’!
18 – Yes I have used these but only as needs must, it’s outrageous I have to go these lengths though!
19 – Yes though I usually like going with official ROMs I try to buy HTC devices since they are more popular and usually get unofficial updates first and I like having that option.
20 – To remove orange extras!!!!
21 – Once out of contract/gaurentee, I like the flexibility to customise the phone with these alternate ROMs
22 – I’ve done it to test 6.1 but voided my warranty
23 – Again, I want a phone that just works
24 – Yes – without the ability to fix the idiotic holes in the default OS, I’d be long gone….
25 – Bit of both. As operating system updates are controlled by the networks updates may be released but not for us to be able to use them. This is unfair and updates should be controlled by the Operating System Manufacturer not the network.
26 – Yes, but will not upgrade ROM until out of warranty.
27 – Yes but only because there’s no other way to get a ROM upgrade

Windows Mobile, while slow to mature, has actually offered long term, a plat;form that developers can work with, no matter how much they want to manipulate it. Incredibly, most of the desire for WinMo seems to be generated by the idea that someone will serve you a hacked update that you can’t get anywhere else, and especially, officially.

Do you grab and flash the latest hacked ROM for your device, or suffer in silence? Would you like to see these developers sucked up by Microsoft, so these updates weren’t illegal?

Whatever you think, have a look at the survey results at CoolSmartPhone