Casio today announced the clumsy-looking IT-800 RGC-35, a rugged phone with a big 3.7-inch LCD screen. Believe it or not, this super stupid looking phone is powered by Windows Mobile operating system (possibly Windows 6.5 mobile). As you can see from the picture, the phone doesn’t have QWERTY keyboard. The only piece of information we know is the Casio IT-800 RGC-35 is designed to resist water, dust and shock, which is what a rugged phone is designed for anyhow.

It looks like Toshiba hired some models from “Victoria Secrets” to help launching the Toshiba TG01 in Taiwan. The sexy models showed off the Toshiba TG01, a full touch screen phone powered by Windows Mobile 6.5 and 1GHz of Qualcomm SnapDragon processor, in the launch event. I am not sure how the attendants could focus on the TG01 phone instead of the upper body of the models.

You could watch the video demo of Toshiba TG01 here.

If you have a Windows mobile powered phone, yes I do mean pre-Windows 6.5, I bet you will be very disappointed with its user interface. And if you still carrying the Windows Mobile phone and you haven’t tried Spb Shell software before, you are missing something big. SpbShell is a software that literally upgrades the user interface of Windows Mobile to a whole new level that is not only beautiful but so intuitive to use. Installing the Spb Shell software feels like converting a PT Cruiser into a Ferrari in a few seconds. So, please don’t thrash your Windows mobile phones before you try this software. The good news is Spb Software today announced the new Spb Shell 3.5 with 3D interfaces in Taiwan!

Demos and Videos

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Spb Shell 3.5 3D interface looks very alike to LG’s S-Class 3D interface with flappable screens. The new Spb Shell 3.5 also has widgets, and will support Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking apps. It has built-in support for Facebook profile images, and users could use Facebook images in their contact list.

The selling price for this unbelievable software is only $29.95. The Spb Shell 3.5 will be available at Windows Marketplace next month.

Screenshots of Spb Shell 3.5

How much longer we need to wait for the official release of Windows Mobile 6.5 with multi-touch navigation technology? Well, we don’t know the answer, but this video shows the build 23022 of Windows Mobile 6.5 running on a HTC smartphone. For Microsoft fans, this is something good for you. However, what we see in the build 23022 is pretty much what iPhone or Android could do. Microsoft still has long way to go.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Video above shows the Toshiba G01 phone that comes equipped with a whopping 4.1-inch WVGA touchscreen, and a Snapdragon processor. The video also shows that the Toshiba TG01 runs on Microsoft’s latest mobile operating system – WM 6.5, which features intuitive touch navigation technology. It is rumored that the Toshiba G01 will be launched in Europe sometimes in June / July of this year.

Today Microsoft released a new version of Windows Mobile operating system – Windows Mobile 6.5 that Microsoft claims to have more user-friendly interface. According to Microsoft spokesmen, the Windows Mobile 6.5 is a completely makeover from the older versions of Windows Mobile.

What Microsoft did on the 6.5 interfaces are replacing the home screen with an interface that combines 6.1’s sliding panels and Zune interface, with interactive widgets, replacing the Start Menu with a new hexagonal Start Menu, adding multiple side-to-unlock buttons for quick access to most used features, such as new voice mails, missed calls, new text messages, and etc.

The 6.5 will comes preloaded with a new version of Internet Explorer Mobile, which has features such as sliding zoom control, minimap, and button bar at the bottom.

Since we first saw the release of iPhone with cool and enhanced touch screen capabilities back in the first quarter of 2007, till now we haven’t seen any official release from Microsoft to answer Apple’s marvelous product. Surprisingly, ASUS decided to develop its enhanced touch-screen UIs to runs on Windows Mobile 6.1.

ASUS adds a new customizable Multi-Home 3D interface on the Windows Mobile to make your today screen more accessible. Would like to know more features? See you self in the video.