WP7 can run WM6 apps (Tweakers.net)

Posted by Chainfire on 16-02-2010 at 12:20:00 - Comments: 7 - Views: 3781
Tags: Good news Windows Mobile Windows Phone 7 Series
This just in through Tweakers.net: Windows Phone 7 Series can run Windows Mobile 6.x applications!

I am going to assume you don't read Dutch and translate the article for you. Of course it remains to be seen how far this compatibility goes - which APIs will still be supported, only .Net or also native, etc.

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Applications that were made for Windows Mobile 6 are compatible with Windows Phone 7 Series. The interface of the new mobile operating system has been changed though, so the user interface for these applications will have to be changed as well.

"So there is no reason why programs written for Windows Mobile 6 cannot run on the new version of the OS", said Maarten Sonneveld of Microsoft Netherlands to Tweakers.net. "The interface is complete different though, so the applications will have to be changed somewhat before being ready for Windows Phone 7 Series".

It is still unclear how developers can port their user interfaces to the new version of Windows Mobile. Microsoft will only disclose how applications can be developed and distributed at their developer event Mix2010.

Microsoft announced it's new OS on Monday afternoon at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The OS is primarily aimed at synchronisation and integration with Microsft-services like Windows Live, Bing, Zune and Xbox Live. Aside from those Windows Phone 7 Series can also synchronise with Google-accounts and facebook.

Comments

Posted by Chainfire on 18-02-2010 at 20:20:50
Please note the original article has been slightly updated and things have been reworded.

What it comes down to is that it is technically possible to run the core of (some) WM6.5 apps on WP7 - but a new UI will have to be made for these apps. This would indicate that a lot of core APIs are still there in WP7.

Please note that new development docs have been leaked, and it may not be possible to run native code for 3rd party devs.

Now combine that with needing to re-make the UI, this comes down to that some WM6 code may be easily ported, but apps will not run out of the box if they are 'normal' Windows Mobile applications.
Posted by Chainfire on 18-02-2010 at 22:17:22
TheRegister has made their own comments and clarification here.

Funny how they - and everybody else for that matter - thinks and states I translated the article wrongly. I really love that.

While the fact is, that the translation was 100% an exact translation of the original article, but after the translation propagated, Tweakers.net had another phone conversation with Maarten Sonneveld and they changed the text to reflect this clarification.
Posted by nah on 06-03-2010 at 10:05:01
No, WP7 is not backward compatible, Microsoft has officially said that, read Charlie Kindle blog from Microsoft Windows Phone Developer Team.

Sorry, we have to start all over again.
Posted by Dave on 06-08-2010 at 16:20:39
Since WP7 devices will be prohibited from having ext memory (SD micro, etc), and WP7 will not have a File Explorer, how exactly will one be able to install WM6 cab's?
Posted by Chainfire on 09-08-2010 at 17:56:03
You won't. The underlying OS can technically execute a lot of WM6 code, as it is based on the next version of CE, which does have some backwards compatibility (if the apps don't do too many strange things).

However, for WP7, they have also:
- Sandboxed 3rd party apps, only .NET code supported
- Completely replaced the UI layer

These make it impossible for WM6 apps to run (at the moment). If we do get access to native code (hacks and whatnot) however, DLLs and such may actually still just work, depending on what they're doing.
Posted by aamod on 03-03-2011 at 22:48:58
No, WP7 is not backward compatible
Posted by unlimited joy on 03-05-2011 at 01:36:44
I need you need a big one with more bits ? maybe you can consult the vendor.






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