Xda-Developers to pull all ROM images next week
by Sean Cooper 
posted Feb 14th 2007 at 2:22PM
Microsoft has asked that the revered Xda-Developers site take down all Windows Mobile device ROM images. Sadly, it was inevitable that this day would eventually come. For those not in the know, the Xda-Developer forums are the uncrowned king or top shelf contender for any and all help, tips, tools or hacks for just about anything in the Windows Mobile world. In the past, Microsoft has asked to have images that were pre-release removed and the moderators always obliged, this time it would appear that it is for keeps. In conversation with Microsoft they argued that although the ROM images contain Microsoft software, having them available to the community doesn't necessarily hurt Microsoft's interests as their revenue stream ends with the purchase of the device proper. We will leave the legal debate to the lawyers, but the site is going to comply with the request. If you are into all that Windows Mobile tweaking and cooking – we suggest you get there posthaste and greedy as much stuff as you can before it is gone for good. Administrator Peter Poelman puts it rather succinctly at the end of the announcement he posted this morning: "The vendor giveth, and the vendor taketh away." Oh yeah, happy Valentine's day.
Filed under: Windows Mobile, Misc
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
murunga @ Nov 9th 2008 11:23PM
xda developers are basically offering us what microsoft is not, mark them this is not piracy they cant stop an idea who's time has come. def signing that petition
rebelwithoutacause @ Mar 14th 2009 5:29AM
quoting herg62123 from www.fuzemobility.com
until this guy gives us some proof here is 6.5 21176 for anyone that wants it
-JUST LIKE HOT DOUGHNUTS AND COLD MILK-
get it while you can:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?mqrylnimigc
HERE IT IS
Ben @ Feb 14th 2007 2:52PM
What next? Are they going to also make them remove those software downloads that come with something called a 'keygen'? Ohhhh noooo -- people will have to start purchasing stuff...
Rico @ Feb 14th 2007 4:18PM
I don't understand. It's not like we can go out and buy Windows Mobile and install it.
Malatesta @ Feb 14th 2007 3:24PM
Ben, there's a huge difference between pirated software (which XDA does not host) and tinkering with ROMs.
Do you tweak or remove programs from your PC? Do you customize? That's all this is. Fact of the matter is that we are not "stealing" from MS since these ROMs are not available to purchase from anyone.
If operators and MS would make it easier to update your mobile OS (which they finally did in WM6 with Win Update), then there would be no need for this.
But if you can make an argument how this hurts MS instead of help them I'd like to hear it. Otherwise, go learn a thing or two about XDA before you open your trap.
--Mal
Xultar @ Feb 14th 2007 5:34PM
Ben. You ARE SOOO EFFIN WRONG its pittiful...makes you look like an uninformed jealous JERK.
Get to know something before you waste our time with your backwashed comments.
XDA was about customising the OS software we own already by purchasing the device. Not about third party software.
I pay $500 USD for a pocket pc and I can't uninstall and reinstall the OS? That is what XDA solved.
Vu @ Feb 14th 2007 5:36PM
Thats a stupid move on Microsoft's part. Having the ability to customize our mobile devices to our likings is the main reason why I and others buy Windows Mobile devices...
Galt @ Feb 14th 2007 7:25PM
This is painful news, although I'm sure there will be work arounds (posting links to other sites hosting the ROMs is likely not a violation).
To be blunt, the ROMs provided by the talented folks at the XDA Dev's site not only foster a rabid interest in the WM platform, they also tend to provide features and fixes not available through vendors, carriers, operators. The "free" value-add of their work is likely a significant reason why the OS is becoming so popular.
I'm sure MS's point of view is that it is harder to drive new WM6 device sales if people can just DL a WM6 ROM for their current device, but this is pretty short sighted. Most of the folks flashing these unofficial ROMs are hobbyists who frequently jump to the newer, more exciting and capable, hardware.
Brandon @ Feb 14th 2007 6:33PM
Wow, FTP's up but the site is down...
Glad I got my WM6 ROM when I did, I was thinking about holding out until one of my program's trial expired, which was in 9 days...
But that was an INVALUABE resource for not only rom info, but also little tweaks to speed up your device. I hope they keep the wiki up at least...
Roy @ Feb 15th 2007 5:21AM
Can someone explain to me why Microsoft happily update their OS for PC users on a weekly basis with bugfixes etc, but now appear to be actively forcing PPC users to keep using an OS with bugs that have little or no chance of ever being fixed?
Carriers/OEM's are notoriously terrible at releasing fixes themselves, and development stops altogether a year or so after a device is released (if you're lucky).
Why would anyone invest in the new "HTC Advantage" for instance? It's cost is on a par with a new laptop, but you'll be forced to use an OS that is upgraded once or maybe twice over the next year, at which point development of the OS for that device will cease, and owners will be left with a very expensive device with no hope of ever having the remaining bugs ironed out.
The guy who bought a laptop instead will be able to update his OS weekly for years to come...Utter madness!
I'm beginning to understand why Windows Mobile has never (and will never, at this rate) lived up to it's potential.
Effjay @ Feb 15th 2007 5:29AM
for those of you against this move, please sign the petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/xdadevs/petition.html
hesh @ Feb 15th 2007 11:20AM
This is horrible. XDA is the best place to go to learn anything about Windows Mobile and now MS is forcing them to take it down. All they did was make WM5 BETTER by incorporating hacks and fixes that make it work tons better and more efficiently. Now we'll never see fixes from Cingular or HTC because they don't seem to care about updating or fixing anything.
MS is ruining a great community, but you can bet your ass this isn't going to end here.
kc @ Feb 15th 2007 12:18PM
Ben is a 'tard, an ignorant, unknowing 'tard... ;-)
John @ Feb 15th 2007 4:04PM
Yes Ben is off the mark.
Ben, M$ is basically pulling the plug on what is similar to unsponsored equivalent of their Automatic Updates program for their desktop software.
To bad.
It would be nice to see M$ come down on the distributors of their product to force them to provide better support instead of taking aim at the community that has done much more to promote their product and have filled in the huge (grand canyon sized) gap in product support. Let's face it, the cell carriers don't know didly about the devices they sell and HTC seems to have made it a point to hide behind the third party deals.
I'd have to say, Palm amd Blackberry are looking like the real winners here. I think M$ is shooting themselves in the foot. It would actually make more sense for MS to parner and formalize the XDA support model than to kill it outright. I for one, would even be willing to pay a reasonable fee for a well researched OS patch.
So by all means sign the petition, but if you really want to make a difference, vote with your wallet.
I have been using an MS PDA for several years now, but I will be looking for other options on my next purchase. Likewise for my home computing needs.
sub69 @ Feb 16th 2007 4:55AM
Let's not get too carried away though...
xda-developers.com isn't going anywhere. I can't see a lot changing other than the fact that when you want to download a ROM, it'll take a couple of extra clicks to start downloading a torrent or log into an IRC channel, rather than just pulling it from the ftp site.
The xda-dev community will carry on doing it's excellent work.
Microsoft have kept their OEM's happy whilst angering and inconveniencing yet more of their users, but what else is new?
joel @ Feb 16th 2007 10:04AM
Roy said " Can someone explain to me why Microsoft happily update their OS for PC users on a weekly basis with bugfixes etc, but now appear to be actively forcing PPC users to keep using an OS with bugs that have little or no chance of ever being fixed?
"
First let me state that what I am about to say is rooted in speculation, not hard facts. So this is only a theory.
I always thought that the Windows Mobile builds had to be further customized by the companies that produced the devices because of the wide variation of hardware configuration and custom implementation of certain functionality (ex: WM2003 didn't have native support for phone cameras, so WM2003 devices with cameras use varied implementation for it, the toshiba e800 had a VGA screen even though there was not native support for it in the first edition of the WM2003 OS). Because of this some of the system DLLs on the windows mobile platform are not as generic as they are on the Windows Desktop platform. Although microsoft may occasionally produce updates those updates must go through the builder of the device. It is the decision of the builder of the device whether or not an end user will get a rom update.
larry.nic @ Feb 16th 2007 7:13PM
XDA is mysteriously down at the moment.. Hmmm. I will switch to apple products from now on, if the site got killed due to M$ pulling the plug on the ROM images.
Those of us active in the forums there are constantly upgrading our devices, which leads to M$ revenue. More importantly, we generate excitement towards new phones, OS tweaking, new feature finding, geek tweaking, etc... It's a neat side hobby.
I hope this comes to bite Bill in the a$$. Totally uncalled for and ridiculous behavior on their part.
PSM @ Jan 6th 2008 10:46AM
This is terrible. I came to the WM platform for this reason. Why do I go through all the crap of making a Windows device work with my Mac, when I might as well have an iPhone if that's the way Microsoft is going to be? If I can get a 3G iPhone that is a little more of the "smart" variety, there will be no advantage to having a WM device.
Well I'd like to say thanks to all the XDA Developers who have made my WM experience so much better than it comes out of the box. I've signed the petition, and I'm glad to see it has over 10,000 signatures! Even if MS doesn't care, it makes them look stupid.