Windows Mobile 6.5.x is for Capacitive Touch

This is obviously unconfirmed by Microsoft, but we now have a legitimate theory on why there's a mystery build of Windows Mobile that we've seen evolve from XDA. In case you missed it, we've filmed this mysterious version in its many evolutions, and have speculated as to its meaning in the grand scheme of Windows Mobile versions.

The theory, as revealed by mopocket (in their speaking with a Microsoft rep), is that these interim builds are for a version of Windows Mobile 6.5 with capacitive touch support. Windows Mobile, by default, has very small UI elements: check boxes require precision, the soft keys aren't large targets, and some interface elements still require the precision of a stylus. Windows Mobile doesn't have native capacitive touch support.



In 6.5.x, or whatever it will be called, everything is larger and more finger friendly, completely eliminating the need for a stylus. The bottom buttons are large, the check boxes are increase in size, the scroll bars are easier to grab, and so on. Also lending to this is the larger keyboard that was recently spotted for these newer builds.

What does this mean? It means that Microsoft is finally listening to consumers. Consumers want capacitive displays, and OEMs want to build them. To make OEMs happy and to get them to crank out of plenty capacitive touch WinMo-powered devices, Microsoft must built this support into the operating system (and FAST). Not all OEMs have the engineering chops of HTC to be able to pull of capacitive touch in the present version of Windows Mobile, as found on the amazing HD2, so it's up to Microsoft to help along everyone else that wants to focus on building great hardware and software, not on redoing the operating system.

(via: WMExperts)