Microsoft Getting Windows Mobile Ready for MIDs

[Ed Hardy]

There's a new class of portable computers emerging, and Microsoft wants to make sure that its Windows Mobile operating system is ready for it.

A Mobile Internet Device (MID) is larger than a handheld or smartphone, and used primarily to browse the Web. Probably the best current example of this is the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet, but several more companies reportedly have MIDs in the pipeline.

Microsoft's problem with MIDs is that they aren't well suited to either the full version of Windows or  Windows Mobile. So it has hired Len Kawell to modify Windows Mobile for this new class of devices.

According to Microsoft:

He is responsible for scaling Windows Mobile to new kinds of kinds of devices with larger screens and faster processors - also known as Mobile Internet Devices, or MIDs.

Kaswell has some experience in this area. He joined Microsoft from Pepper Computer, a startup focused on software for MIDs.

When the first MIDs running Windows Mobile will debut is not yet known.

Related Articles:

• HTC May Be Prepping a Mobile Internet Device with an Intel Atom Chip
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Via Pocket PC Thoughts

[Ed Hardy]

This isn't a surprising development, as there's no way a MID will be able to run the full version of Windows, and Microsoft isn't going to cede an entire class of mobile devices to Linux.

But if Microsoft wants a Web-oriented computer to run Windows Mobile, it's going to need a few a much better web browser than Internet Explorer Mobile.

Of course, the versions of Windows Mobile for smartphones and handhelds also need a browser that's far more functional than IE Mobile is now, so it isn't like Kawell will be working alone.
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[timepilot84]

They'd be wise to update the .Net Compact Framework to allow development for different screen resolutions. Last time I used it, there was no way to specify different interfaces for differing screen resolutions, aspect ratios or DPI. With the additions from Windows Mobile 6 (allowing much larger screens than had been supported in the past) I thought they'd update the .Net CF system, but I haven't seen that happen yet, unless I missed something.

[Antoine Wright]

This only seems like a glazing shot by MS. For the most part, aside from issues with UI and a few programs, WM is already a MID-appropriate operating system.

Me wonders what Photon has up its sleeves now even more. There could be a smartphone shell, touchscreen UI shell, and a MID shell, all looking the same, but providing the best-use functionality for the respective devices. That would be nice to see if pulled off.