This is the third of our "Windows Phone Sneak Peeks," a series of quick looks at some of the key features arriving with Windows Mobile 6.5. Check back regularly for more info., pictures, and video.

In previous versions of Windows Mobile the Start button was your gateway from the Today screen to your applications. But because its most common features – direct links to your browser, email client, and more – are replicated more efficiently on the today screen, the Start button now takes your directly to your list of installed programs.

And, as you might have noticed, the list of programs has a new look. Gone is the blank white background with the grid of icons, as the Start screen is now visually rich and features a new shape to make selecting an application with your fingers (as opposed to a stylus) much easier due to all the extra room the icon placements afford you. Also absent is the scrollbar that allows you to move down the list of applications. Now you can drag your finger up or down on the screen to scroll through the list of apps. And, if you have a particular app you frequently use, you can press and hold your finger on it to reveal an option to promote the app to the top of the list.

What do you think of the new Start screen? Do you prefer the original interface, which more closely mimics the desktop version of Windows’ Start bar? Let us know!

Check out this video preview of the Start screen we captured from the official Windows Mobile 6.5 build:

Format: wmv
Duration: 00:24

I like this way better. Especially with the option to move your favorite app to the top so you can access it better. I actually dont think I will be pulling out my stylus often with the new OS. +1.

 I think this way is better except that there are too many options in my opinion. I'd rather have a couple of sub folders and less scrolling.

A lot more functional and customizable....start screen is a eye pleasing change! keep it coming!

Dave Parker MVP:

 I think this way is better except that there are too many options in my opinion. I'd rather have a couple of sub folders and less scrolling.

Agreed.  Given MS' penchant for "recycling" code, I'm hoping that this is just a new way to display the current Start Menu/Programs folder structure currently used on pre WM6.5 devices, so we can still customize it like we do today's Start Menu.

With four dozen apps installed on AT&T Tilt, I have my Programs folder on my Start Menu virtually devoid of actual programs- rather it has a half-dozen or so category folders (Comminications, Games, Utilities, Office Mobile, Social, GPS, Media, Shopping) with my program shortcuts placed in those subfolders.  While this means launching a program takes an extra tap, the "Recent Programs" list makes oft-used programs accessible with a single tap anyway, and even if not there, the extra click still beats scrolling through nearly fifty icons.  With folders, there's no need to scroll.  Bing is Start/Programs/GPS/Bing, Facebook is Start/Programs/Social/Facebook, Word is Start/Programs/Office Mobile/Word Mobile, etc.  Even on a small screen like the Tilt's, I can get to any app in a few "gross motor" taps without pulling out the stylus.

Program organization is one of my wife's major beefs with her iPhone- she has 50+ apps installed, and can't ever find any of them, having to swiping from page to page, without any logical organization.  (You can manually sort apps one painful icon at a time, but there's no autosorting of any kind.)  Let's hope WM6.5 doesn't emulate this particular iPhone "feature"!

I think there needs to be a way to create a sub folder and then drag an icon into it, or back out again. Obviously you still have the ability to go into the file manager, windows, startup and do it manually, but I'd much rather a simple option like the "move to top" example on the program screen itself to do it.

Dave Parker MVP:

I'd rather have a couple of sub folders and less scrolling.

Interesting point! I've been using a test build of 6.5 on a Touch Pro quite a bit recently, and I've noticed that if you have a lot of items on your Start screen, and know that you want to access one that's at the bottom of your list, you can't just scroll "harder" to force the screen to scroll all the way down. There's a limiter that stops the scroll after one screenful of apps. I would love it if the speed at which you swiped your finger affected how far and fast you ended up scrolling. Seems like this could be a real issue for people with many apps installed. 

Wonder if we'll see new functionality come up to enable this? Or perhaps there will be some ability to organize apps into folders, etc...? I haven't seen final, shipping builds of 6.5 yet, so who knows!

I have to admit, I'm eager to get my mitts on the WM6.5 shipping build. There's been soooo many rumours......

I barely use my stylus as it is, I agree that this os may decrease that usage by even more.  I am interested in seeing how this is going to react with a non-touch centric device like the htc ozone.  Personally, I sell a lot of this device, and want to see how this is going to work. 

AndrewH:

I am interested in seeing how this is going to react with a non-touch centric device like the htc ozone.  Personally, I sell a lot of this device, and want to see how this is going to work.

Interesting to hear about the Ozone selling well, Andrew! It's a great little device. I also really like the front QWERTY form factor with the Standard OS, and as far as I know, most of what you see in 6.1 will also be in 6.5. In other words, the major visual changes are already there, with the Sliding Panels and the side-scrolling...

Incidentally, I'm hoping to have a video of the Standard 6.5 interface in action soon...

I prefer the old Start menu because it is much much easier to find programs using the keyboard.  With WinMo 6.1 and something like the HTC Kaiser, all you do is type "Windows Key" > P > G > enter and that launches Google Maps.  No need to flick a finger across the screen... heck, there's no need to even LOOK at the screen!  The old way was much more condusive to building motor memory for launching applications.  The new start menu trashes those power-user features important for getting things done quickly.