Inside Internet Explorer for Windows Mobile 6.5

We take a look at the significant updates to Microsoft's latest Internet Explorer browser for Windows 6.5 phones.

Jessica Dolcourt

Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).

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Jessica Dolcourt

Oct. 6, 2009 12:01 a.m. PT

1 of 11 Screenshots by Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Introducing Internet Explorer Mobile 6

Microsoft's version 6.5 mobile operating system comes with an updated mobile browser that adds new features and a fresher look. Internet Explorer Mobile 6, available right now on Windows 6.5 phones, now surfaces round navigation buttons on the bottom.

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Navigation buttons

Let's take a closer look at the navigation icons, which, from left to right, represent the back button, favorites menu, keyboard, zoom slider, and More menu.

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'More' menu

Tap the "More" menu for a list of other IE Mobile 6 browser tools.

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Double take

Here's the same More menu. Look different? Here's why: the layout and color scheme of Internet Explorer Mobile 6 may differ slightly from phone to phone, depending on your carrier and handset. Carriers and manufacturers often get to add their two cents in customization, as you can see on this unlocked HTC Touch Diamond2. The rest of the images were taken on the AT&T-branded Pure, a variant of the Touch Diamond2.

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Favorites

The navigation buttons change in the Favorites menu, letting you add, edit, and trash URLs and folders. The management activities are limited. You can't reorder the alphabetized favorites or easily swap links in and out of folders.

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InvisiNav

Now you see it, now you don't. Following a trend in mobile browsing, navigation buttons disappear after a few seconds of disuse. Internet Explorer Mobile 6 gives over the entire screen to the Web site, except for a single button you can tap to recall the navigation.

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Two views

Here's another addition to Internet Explorer Mobile 6: the capability to change between desktop and mobile-optimized views. Select your preference by going to the More menu and choosing the View submenu.

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Search suggestions

The URL bar doubles as a search bar. Type a term to see three common domain suffixes, and an option to search using the phone's default engine. The URL/search bar will also pop up suggestions based on your history and Favorites, but it unfortunately doesn't search a separate library of popular sites and terms. Too bad. Anything that reduces typing is a mobile-phone owner's boon.

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Working with links

IE Mobile 6 displays a number of context menus when you hold down on various parts of the screen (on touch-screen phones--these features are tucked into a menu on phones with keyboards). This menu relates to hyperlinked URLs, which you cannot share with others, unlike in Opera Mobile.

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Hello, video

If your phone supports Flash Lite 3, you'll be able to stream video directly from sites like YouTube.com (Switch to Flash video player (beta).) We're glad it's there, but on the high-end AT&T Pure (a variant of the HTC TouchDiamond2), it's a crummy experience. Having Internet Explorer Mobile 6 trigger the phone's multimedia player (click "Watch now") yielded richer video and more granular playback controls.