I just recieved my email from PocketPC Thoughts Weekly Digest: I had to post this story.....

They are talking about how the process is broken for WM Devices to get upgrades and some WM devices are denied upgrades...

Click here for the full story...

 I have read similar stories where somebody's brother...was unable to find n upgrade for his phone from his network provider. He then visited HTC and downloaded the upgrade from them - this did not work so headed to both the provider and HTC, but both pointed him the other way due to confusing responsibilites.

The combination of manufacturers and providers may confuse things 'slightly', but it brings about so much versatility:

• If you would like the iPhone OS with a full qwerty keyboard - lucks out - try Windows Mobile
  
• If you would like the iPhone OS with a slide out keyboard - lucks out - try Windows Mobile

• If you would like WIndows Mobile on any one of the ?27? form factors - Great! your have the largest choice in the world
• If 100 people's budget varies, not a problem, there really are that many devices out there for you choose
• If your business model has very specific requirements - the answers are all in Windows Mobile

Correct!! That is why I still say...WM is the best...it comes in a 31 Flavor variety of form factors - and specific requirements are all in WM!

I read the same story - it was at JK On the Run. Very interesting, and I certainly agree up to a point. Just yesterday we were trying to figure out if and when the 6.1 update was going to be available for the AT&T Tilt, and it was surprising how difficult it was to get any information - much easier to find rumors, incorrect information, or plain confusion... On the other hand, the versatility and choice story is extremely powerful for WM, so it's a mixed blessing, in a way...

And another article on this controversial topic, this time from CoolSmartPhone.com:

Windows Mobile Updating

[fixed link - thanks Biomehanika]

Hi Bill, there appears to be an extra space at the end of the link which is causing it to fail. 

With each rebranded version of the device, the new carrier adds their own software and settings which need to installed with each hard reset.

This means that the manufacturer can provide the basic install, but the carriers then need to provide these brand specific settings.  But of course, each carrier wants to ensure that the device remains on their own network and is not unlocked with each ROM update. Subsidies would be forfitted without a tied in carrier lock in.

 

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record.....Windows Update? Surely it's only the OS that needs updating by Microsoft? Then only drivers need updating from the manufacterer and the ROM specific apps can be updated by the providers. Why not let each step in the system take care of their own part, and update each as required rather than waiting 6 months for the three parties to get everything together?

Dave Parker MVP:

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record.....Windows Update? Surely it's only the OS that needs updating by Microsoft?

 

I have used this option and have yet to get any new updates......I think as Dave is leading to....their should be updates for each part of the system rather than waiting for everyone to get together and say...OK! lets release some updates!

I guess that the ultmiate question has to be:

 Is an update actually possible?

 Is the issue that Microsoft dd not get around to providing the updates?

 Or, is it an extension of the problem that we have currently where by all updates have to go through the carriers?

yrless:

I have used this option and have yet to get any new updates......

 

 

I know of someone writing their own windows update for mobile, Its a pretty shmicky feature, based on web services, Geo-aware as well, So it checks the apps you have installed on the device, checks the servers database for version increments,   if there is any available it uses your carrier data to point you to a local mirror and download and install.  

Now, if  someone who primarily is not a developer can make this, surely we can get the native update to work?

 

I think the issue is as we alluded to earlier.  I have no doubt in Microsoft's ability to use Windows Update to update the Operating System. There's been a Windows Update icon in WM for a while now. They would not include it if it didn't work. The way I see it, there lack of it in real use is probably a combination of issues. Could the device drivers (HTC) and service provider customisations render windows update more complex? Are there political issues? Would the service providers want MS altering the software on their devices at their will? From a PC perspective, although very rarely, MS updates have caused issues in the past. This could be catastrophic for service providers if for a couple of weeks they could not use their devices. Would MS charge extra for the service and the service providers are too tight to pay for it?

It could be any of these possibilities or a combination of all of them any or none? One thing is for sure though,working Windows Update is top of my wish list for Windows Mobile 7.