We’ve heard on again, off again rumors of Windows Mobile 6.5 being able to handle capacitive displays. We’ve got a feeling that HTC is working on such a device. Here’s why…

Reason 1: We haven’t heard a firm commitment from Microsoft on whether 6.5 will support capacitive screen technology. Remember, we’ve already seen a prototype running 6.5 and a capacitive screen from Texas Instruments back at MWC, which shows us that it is indeed possible with some engineering.



Reason 2: The image shown below is of the HTC Firestone, or as some is calling it, the Touch HD II. This device may or may not see the light of day, but if it does, there is something peculiar about it. What we know about the Firestone is that it has almost identical specifications to the Touch HD except that it has a higher resolution camera and possibly a faster CPU.

Wait a sec, why would HTC release a new device that has such a minor leg up on its predecessor? They wouldn’t, which is why we think that if we do indeed see the Firestone, it will have one huge change from the Touch HD: it’ll bring a capacitive screen.

Reason 3: The new version of TouchFLO 3D, Manila 2.5, is designed for a large input device (that is, a finger). Gone are small buttons that require the precision of a stylus. A lot of the interface is now driven by tiles of icons. In addition, a recent ROM we tried that is running Manila 2.5 worked poorly with a stylus, but quite well with finger input. In fact, it’s unresponsive in most cases to stylus input.

Reason 4: HTC is an innovative and aggressive business. The entire Windows Mobile world has been crying out for a capacitive device since the iPhone came around in 2007. What better a way to get a ton of great press plus get a lot of sales by being first to market with something that consumers have been calling for? If anyone can do it, HTC can.

Reason 5: We’ve heard similar speculation from someone with his ear to the ground. =D

What do you think?