All about Windows Mobile 5.0 AKU3 and older AKUs ...
December 15, 2006 [General] | By Edward J. R.
Not all Windows Mobile 5.0 operating systems are equal! The main difference lies in which AKU given Windows Mobile device has in its ROM image. Here we explain in big details and with many screen shots what is in AKU 3 and also in some older AKUs (older AKUs are included in new ones too). This information is vital particularly when you are buying new phone and you would like to get some specific thing from some specific AKU...
So, here it comes - all you wanted to know about latest AKU-s, but you were afraid to ask ("SP" denotes "SmartPhone" and "PPC" denotes "Pocket PC"):
3G Feature Pack
- Integrated SIM/USIM Contacts Experience
The move from GSM to UMTS network technologies
included many changes to the SIM card. For AKU3 new
expanded USIM (3G) phonebook was added and 2G SIM
functionality has been enhanced to mirror the
functionality/look provided for regular device contacts.
- Sorting Contacts Alphabetically
Currently SIM contacts are listed at the end after Device
Contacts in the Contacts list view. Having SIM contacts
sorted separately from Device Contacts created a
confusing user experience. AKU3 sorts SIM contacts
alphabetically together with Device Contacts in the
Contact list view and Smart Dial.
- USIM / SIM Contacts POOM Improvements
USIM and 2G SIM contacts will now be stored in a new
database and accessed via POOM helping reuse of existing
device contact summary card and edit card code also
including list view, contact picker, phone app and SMS.
- 3G Network Control Panel Updates
Changes were made to the Phone Network Settings so that there is a differentiation between faster speed 3G connections
and standard data connections (UMTS/GPRS).
- Shell Improvements
New icons and user interface that show 3G connections and standard data connections (UMTS/GPRS).
- Video Telephony
Architecture changes that allows you to plug into a video client and required network stacks
- Sample UMTS RIL
A Sample UMTS Radio Interface Layer is provided to OEMs to help them build a UMTS enabled device.
Language Pack Installation
- Language Pack Installation for Pocket PC
The Language Pack installation application runs within the Update Loader on first boot of a
device and enables that user to select the OS language. This feature allows partners to build
single ROM images and SKUs that can be targeted at multiple regions. All other languages are
deleted from memory after booting in the selected language.
Auxiliary Display Support
- Auxiliary Display Support
Added support for an external display that can be used for clamshell Smartphones. The external
display shows device information and allows the user to control key aspects of the device from
the external display and hardware buttons. Extensibility in the design architecture allows
partners to create new views based on templates as well as customize the user experience
flow. Opening the device will take the user to the application shown on the external display.
Internet Sharing
- Internet Sharing including Bluetooth PAN Profile
This is the new application to replace Modem Link and this works on
both Smartphone and Pocket PC. This application is used to connect the
user’s PC or Laptop to the Internet by using the device’s cellular data
connection (GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, 1XRTT, EVDO, EVDV). Users can
choose to connect via USB NDIS or Bluetooth PAN and if their device
supports simultaneous voice/data, they will have a seamless experience
around PC connectivity to the Internet and incoming/outgoing phone,
video telephony calls or MMS messaging. For USB NDIS connections,
users will need to install on their PC the INF file that is available in
ActiveSync 4.2. For Bluetooth, we support Bluetooth Personal Area
Network connections.
Quick Start Wizard
- Quick Start Wizard
A Quick Start Wizard was added at boot-time to help users through the set-up of Date & Time,
Regional Settings, Password, Outlook e-mail and POP3/IMAP4 email accounts.
Email Account Setup Wizard
- New Account Set-up Wizard for Outlook E-mail and POP3/IMAP4
Messaging Account Picker and Messaging options menu now have a new email set-up wizard to
help users set up their Outlook E-mail and POP3/IMAP4 accounts.
ActiveSync
- Billing Support for Mobile Operators (AKU2.6)
Enabled billing of Push Email for various operator network configurations (including
Serial APN, Multiple Simultaneous APN)
- RNDIS and Serial Switching support (AKU2.3)
Added the ability for users to switch between RNDIS and Serial connections for
ActiveSync. This helps address a number of connectivity issues found in enterprise
environments.
- Improved Serial Connectivity Performance
Various fixes to improve the throughput and reliability when switching from RNDIS
to Serial ActiveSync connections.
Wi-Fi Feature Pack and Connectivity
- Wi-Fi Wireless Protected Access (WPA) 2 Support
Connection to Wi-Fi access points supporting WPA 2 encryption is now supported
- SP Wi-Fi New Connection wizard
A New Connection wizard was added in Smartphone Wi-Fi settings so that a user can connect
to a new Wi-Fi network more easily.
- PPC Wi-Fi One Handed Navigation Improvements
Improvements were made to the PPC Wi-Fi Configuration screens to enable one handed
navigation and connection.
- PPC Wi-Fi card improvements for connection enumerations
Improvements were made to the search scenario that happens when a Wi-Fi card is inserted
into the device and enumeration of more than three Wi-Fi access points is performed. This is
done to improve usability of Wi-Fi access connection.
Wi-Fi and Connectivity
- Pocket PC Better Display Wi-Fi and Cellular Connection Status (2.3)
Better display of both Wi-Fi and Cellular data status on Pocket PC. Today Wi-Fi and Cellular data
have to share the same slot on the title bar which results in only one connection type being
displayed.
- Wi-Fi Quality of Service (QOS) improvements
Improvements were made to Wi-Fi QOS Support to enhance Wi-Fi connectivity.
- Wireless Manager Disconnect Cellular Data option
A new option was added in the Wireless Manager menu to enable the quick disconnect of all
cellular data connections across the device.
- Bluetooth Visible Settings
Changes were made to the Bluetooth Settings UI so it is easier to make a device visible to other
devices.
Messaging
- Pre-provisioned Email Accounts
Enables the device maker to pre-populate the
Email Account Wizard with pre-setup email
accounts using a secure registry value and an ondevice
DB.
- Send V-Card over SMS
Sending of Contacts over SMS (V-Cards) is now
supported and this feature is accessible from the
Contacts application.
- SMS Multiple Recipient
Improvements
Improvements were made to the scenario of
sending SMS messages to multiple recipients.
Where there is a sending failure, a retry is
available with only the unsuccessful recipients so
that user can know who did or did not get the
message.
Messaging
- Save SMS to SIM
Ability to read, delete and save SMS messages to and from
the SIM has been added in the Text Messages account.
- Pocket PC Folder Selection
Improvements were made to Pocket PC Messaging menus
so that users can navigate to different folders and sort
views via hardware.
- SMS over GPRS
Support was added to send SMS over data connections
such as GPRS, this can be used only if the Operator
supports this service.
Windows Media Player
- Video Scaling
Added support for scaling video to 1.5x and 2x
their size to better fill the device screen.
- Save Play List Support
Added the ability for users to generate and save
- Equalizer
Added the ability to enable simple audio
equalization controls in the Media Player
application.
- Search
Text/Name searching capabilities are now
supported in the Media Player library to enable
users to quickly find their media.
Shell
- PPC SIM PIN Counter
Improvements were made to the SIM PIN Unlock Dialer UI so that the user
can see the SIM PIN attempts made.
- Sending of Separate Delivery OMA DRM V1 Content
Improvements were made to File Explorer and the Pictures & Videos
application to allow the sending of Separate Delivery OMA DRM V1 Content.
- Jog Dial Support for PPC and SP (AKU1.3)
Enabled the use of Jog Dials throughout the device for navigation.
- Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
Improvements were made to A2DP to improve the quality of audio
transferred over Bluetooth. This feature is accessible in Bluetooth Settings.
- Home Screen Smart Filtering Improvements for SP (AKU 2.5)
Implemented Smart Dial from the home screen for alpha-numeric keys found on
QWERTY keyboards.
- Smartphone Dynamic Rotation Support for QVGA devices (AKU2.1)
Provide the ability to rotate the screen dynamically from portrait to landscape for Smartphone
QVGA devices.
- Customization of PPC Dialer Colors (AKU2.5)
Enables OEMs to customize the digit color in the dialer.
Applications
- Voice Command
Compatibility with Bluetooth headsets
- Internet Explorer Mobile Improvements
Performance enhancements for faster rendering (e.g. single column)
- Camera
Various DCRs and fixes including: increased size of preview window, mapping zoom level to
resolutions, and other customer requested items.
- .NET CF V2
AKU3 ships with the newest version of the .NET Compact Framework as an OEM optional
component.
- OEM and Operator Bug Fixes
AKU3 rolls up hundreds of OEM and Operator requested bug fixes and DCRs that enabled the launch
of dozens of new devices .
* * * * *
To see what AKU your Pocket PC or Smartphone Windows Mobile device has, just look in about dialog, after "build number", for example here is AKU 3.3 in a Pocket PC:
... and here is AKU 2.6 in a MS Smartphone:
Conclusion: it is worth knowing what AKU you have in your phone or what AKU a phone that you are going to buy has! ... because ROM upgrades with new AKUs are not certain and because new upgrades with new AKUs and new phones with new AKUs really bring more functionality and power to your Windows Mobile phone!
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