Windows Mobile 2005 Leaks to the Web

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

March 23, 2005, 12:34 PM

A downloadable copy of Magneto, the code-name for the next version of Windows Mobile, again leaked onto the Internet Wednesday, two months after pictures of Microsoft's new operating system were first reported. Details and screenshots of the new leak have already begun to circle.

Microsoft made waves across the blogging world the last time Magneto details were leaked by sending cease-and-desist letters to several Windows enthusiast sites. "We hereby give notice of these activities to you and request that you take expeditious action to remove or disable access to the material described above," the letter read.

While parts of the software still seem unstable according to a poster on the MobileRead Web site, it does look as if significant progress is being made from earlier versions.

According to reports, however, most of the improvements with Magneto will not be visible.

At CES in January, Bill Gates gave some inkling as to what Windows Mobile 2005 will provide feature-wise, including updated versions of Pocket Word, Excel, and Windows Media player, the addition of a PowerPoint slide viewer, and a new Pictures application.

It is unclear how Microsoft may handle this latest leak as screenshots of Magneto have been up since Monday night. According to sources, however, Windows Mobile 2005 is expected to be shipped to manufacturers shortly and will appear on devices beginning this summer.