Windows Mobile 5 - when might it be supported?

[MikeSB]

I notice that Delorme specifically states that Mobile 5 is not supported for 2006 Handheld. Has anyone heard when they might support it? I"m trying to decide whether I should wait or look for another alternative.

I am currently using the new Treo 700w which uses the Windows OS instead of the Palm OS.

Thanks in advance.

[davidhbrown]

windows mobile 5 support is important to me, too. My fourth Palm device in about a year is starting to die on me and I'm thinking it's past time to jump off that sinking ship.

I expect to buy a iPaq or Axim sometime around the middle of this year (or sooner, depending one when I wear out the reset button on this T5) and would like to be able to keep using DeLorme software. But there are alternatives...

[MikeSB]

Given the lack of response, I'm gathering that support for Windows Mobile 5 is not a priority for Delorme. That is unfortunate. I've used their software for over 5 years but guess I'll have to try to find another solution. Luckily there do seem to be quite a few other interesting packages available.

[RexSimmons]

I agree that this is important, especially now that new devices are being sold with WM5. I can understand that they didn't initially support it, but now it's really needed. I, too, am thinking about picking up a new Axim, and those come with WM5 now. I read in another post that you can "downgrade" your new Axim to PocketPC 2003, but who wants to do that?

I sent a question to DeLorme's support email asking this very question, and I'll post the response if I ever get one. Until I know something for sure, I don't plan to buy SA2006HH.

[Dan Lawyer]

I missed this topic when I was trying to find some help about this. It's using the BlueLogger, but it ought to work for anything.

See DanB's post in this topic

[davidhbrown]

Is GPS connection really the only problem people are having?

As I've been looking for Windows Mobile software to replace key apps I use on my Palm, I've seen several companies talk about support for Windows Mobile 5 as a major rewrite.

I'd be a little concerned that GPS connections might just be the leading edge of a whole storm of major and minor issues... For example: "I "upgraded" my Dell Axim X50v to Windows Mobile 5 and just about every piece of software "broke" including SA2006HH." http://forum.delorme.com/viewtopic.php?t=5156

[Dan Lawyer]

This is common for any OS full version upgrade, PPC, Palm and even at times PC OS's. When we went from 3.0 to 4.0 and 4.9 to 5.0 on the Palm, lots of apps broke. Some authors rewrote them to support the new and old OS's, some did it for free, some charged and some just didn't bother. That's the name of the game now days, and we have to decide what we can live with and without.

[RexSimmons]

See Dan Brume's post in Dell AXIM X51

Thanks for the response, but Dan doesn't seem to have a post in the topic you referenced above.

[davidhbrown]

...When we went from 3.0 to 4.0 and 4.9 to 5.0 on the Palm, lots of apps broke. Some authors rewrote them to support the new and old OS's, some did it for free, some charged and some just didn't bother. ...

Most surely true. I've seen apps start to fail even with the allegedly trivial changes between my T5 and T|X (that T5 I mentioned failed right before I did my invoicing for the month, so I really had to replace it right away. No time to convert platforms.)

However, the only specific issue I've been reading about with WM5 and SA2006HH is figuring out how to connect the GPS, for which there seems to be a workaround.

If that's really all there is, then I'd be willing to put up with it. Perhaps there are/will be more reports from upgraders.

[Dan Lawyer]

Thanks for the response, but Dan doesn't seem to have a post in the topic you referenced above.

Sorry about that...
Blue Logger, SA2006HH and WM5
and it was DanB, not Dan Brume from DeLorme. (MeGotCRS;>)

[RexSimmons]

Again, thanks. I thought that might be the post you meant to refer to. I read it before posting here, and I was glad to see that a workaround (albeit a confusing multi-step workaround) exists. Still, I think the original question of when DeLorme plans to support WM5 devices is valid. Alas, I received an answer to my query from DeLorme: "Currently I do not have information at this time to when Windows Mobile 5.0 will be supported." That was helpful. Don't they have product release schedules?

I have enough technical savvy to implement the workaround described in the post, but it's more an issue of not wanting to purchase a brand-new PDA with brand-new software and then having to fiddle with both to get them to work together. If I had an old device that originally worked but I then upgraded to WM5, that's an entirely different situation and some workarounds would be expected. In the case of all-new hardware and software, ideally everything should just work out of the box. The average user will expect that, and will likely be very disillusioned, frustrated, and even angry when things don't work, and will probably declare the whole thing "broken" and send it all back, never to buy another DeLorme product. Seems like it's in DeLorme's best interests to support WM5 as soon as possible to avoid that situation.

I've been a devoted DeLorme customer ever since Street Atlas 1.0, so I'm not some newbie railing against software I've never used. If desperation overcomes me, I may go forward with a purchase knowing that a usable workaround exists, but I'd rather wait until the workaround is no longer necessary. I just wish I knew when that will happen.

[cfbbadmin]

Hi there,

Support for Windows Mobil 5.0 with a Bluelogger is something we are hopping to accomplish soon. At the very worst, it will be supported in Street Atlas USA 2007.

Dan Brume

[davidhbrown]

...with a Bluelogger...

Hmm. I hope you are also able to support the EarthMate with the BlueTooth PowerPack.

Thank you for participating in this forum.

[cfbbadmin]

Howdy,

Once support is there, virtually any bluetooth device will work, Blueloggers, Bluetooth PowerPacks, Socket bluetooth devices, etc...

Dan Brume

[RexSimmons]

Support for Windows Mobil 5.0 with a Bluelogger is something we are hopping to accomplish soon.

Your response is greatly appreciated. I'll look forward to the 2007 release.