Microsoft has released Windows Mobile Device Center Beta 3 for Windows Vista, a replacement for ActiveSync in its next generation operating system. ActiveSync has gone the way of the dodo in Windows Vista, replaced by a similarly functioning Device Center that is much more appealing aesthetically and functionally.
Aesthetically, Windows Mobile Device Center is improved over ActiveSync in it usage of smoothly animated transformations in menu selection and window opening. Functionally, it offers file transfer speed increases over ActiveSync. It was nearly instant transferring the screenshots below to the Axim, whereas ActiveSync file transfers lag in comparison.
After installing Windows Mobile Device Center Beta 3, I plugged in the X51v. Vista recognized the device instantly:
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After device recognition, Vista set up the ActiveSync 4.x reminiscent Windows Mobile Remote Adapter, the virtual network connection Windows Mobile 5 uses to sync:
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After the device was fully installed, the Device Center initial configuration screen was presented:
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Using the Device Center, you can install programs in a familiar fashion:
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PIM synchronization is now possible as well:
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Windows Vista is shaping up to be a usable operating system for mobile device users such as AximUsers. For those of you who are technically inclined (and that means YOU!), it’s worth a test run on a partition of your fastest computer available.
