08-01-2007, 03:00 PM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 571
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So Here's Your Chance: Describe What a Wow Smartphone Would Be!
Over the last couple of months I've posted three articles about the state of smartphones. I posted one here about smartphones losing their "wow" factor. Another one here about how we could change Windows Mobile 6, and finally one here about what the iPhone means to the future of smartphones. After reading several comments to these posts, many have agreed that smartphones have become stagnant, boring, and are being created without an innovative OS or design. Now keeping in mind that a Windows Mobile Standard is a non-touch screen device, how would you create a device that puts the "wow" factor back into smartphones? Feel free to go through everything. The display, keypad, size, feel, the OS, the GUI, and even the overall look. What can be created to make smartphones innovative again and make people talk about them the way they are about the iPhone? Can it be done with a device that doesn't have a touch screen? Go ahead, fire away!
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iPhone
Tmo Dash
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08-01-2007, 03:49 PM
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Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 828
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WM7 - a real update. Easily customizable Homescreen, beefed up Media Player, true scrolling, task manager, "Exit" menu items, full Profile support, Profile switching, better MS Office support, Standards-compliant browser (like iPhone - maybe Deepfish 2.0?).
A larger screen, even if still QVGA. 3" would be beautiful.
Minimum 2GB in-built RAM, extendible via miniSDHC (buh-bye microSD).
Faster processor (400mhz Sammy, like the Cavalier/i760?).
Regular keypad + QWERTY. It could be a slider or a dual-flip option. I'm not picky!
That's a start...
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08-01-2007, 05:06 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 367
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I'm a media junkie and cruise the internet at full (EDGE) speed so these are the things I would like to see:
Media Player
Store your PC's Media Player's database to the phone so you are ready to sync when you get home
Larger album art
Better connectivity with Media Center
Remote Schedule
Remote Record
Stream Programs
Internet Explorer
More compatible with desktop IE
Render pages more quickly
Games
Relese XBox Arcade Games for Smartphones!
Battery life 1-2.5 days depending on use
Internet and CPU Throttle
CPU throttle up and down for power/speed efficency
Edge/3G/3.5G -- same for Internet
Thumbpad/keyboard
Hmmm.... What else do I want? World Peace. :-)
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08-01-2007, 06:08 PM
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Managing Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,117
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I would still like to see this. Huge screen, slim, innovative device (not this device, just something innovative in general)... though I still hate the whole using your finger as a stylist thing. Maybe a nice finger cover or... I dunno... a stylist, maybe... please?
Oh, and while a kow this is wishful thinking, a real standards compliant browser that isn't based of Pocket IE... or even IE. |
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08-01-2007, 07:03 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 50
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I think you guys are being too easy. I no longer expect a smartphone to have only 2G of memory any longer. If an iPhone has 8, I expect everything to have 8. Why would I look for a phone with a 400Mhz processor any longer when existing phones have 520? We need manufacturers to look for a WOW factor.
I agree with needing true IE experience and MS Office. It needs to be smaller, lighter, better battery. Have GPS, 3G or 3.5G speeds if not better. wifi-n. It needs voice activation SW, it needs BT stack that supports using my monaural headset for music as well as phone. I expect a near PC experience with it, able to load large applications or at least be capable of having views of things like MS Project. I think one of the other writers mentioned the media center capabilities. I absolutely agree. A smartphone should be well integrated with Media Center, it should be capable of being used as a universal remote for TV, music, etc. It should have BT connectivity to use to give slide presentations. qwerty keyboard is a must for me.
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08-01-2007, 07:20 PM
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Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 828
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kerrins
I no longer expect a smartphone to have only 2G of memory any longer. If an iPhone has 8, I expect everything to have 8.
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Fair enough, although hand-in-hand with this is a better WMP. I can barely get through 500mb of music without pulling my hair out. I can't imagine how annoying navigating through several GBs would be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kerrins
Why would I look for a phone with a 400Mhz processor any longer when existing phones have 520? We need manufacturers to look for a WOW factor.
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Because the 400Mhz is a Sammy and the 520Mhz is an ARM. It's like comparing the clock speeds of AMD to Intel - it's not a 1:1 ratio. The Sammy 400 is faster than the ARM 520. But, you bring up a good point - there is a Sammy 533 now, so I'll take that!
Quote:
Originally Posted by kerrins
It needs to be smaller, lighter, better battery. Have GPS, 3G or 3.5G speeds if not better. wifi-n.
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Good points. Although, no handheld can currently handle the full bandwidth of 802.11g, let alone N, because of processor limitations.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kerrins
I think one of the other writers mentioned the media center capabilities. I absolutely agree. A smartphone should be well integrated with Media Center, it should be capable of being used as a universal remote for TV, music, etc.
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This is currently possible with WebGuide. I haven't tested whether I can control the TV with it (you can through the full web client). |
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08-01-2007, 08:34 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,051
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kerrins
A smartphone should be well integrated with Media Center, it should be capable of being used as a universal remote for TV, music, etc.
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I'll expand on that and say every Microsoft product should be well integrated with every other Microsoft product, especially Windows and Windows components (like MCE).
Seriously guys. 
Left hand, meet right hand. You've heard about each other all your life, now please start talking to each other...
Last edited by Damion Chaplin; 08-01-2007 at 08:37 PM..
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08-01-2007, 08:37 PM
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Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 828
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Damion Chaplin
I'll expand on that and say every Microsoft product should be well integrated with every other Microsoft product, especially Windows and Windows components (like MCE).
Seriously guys.
Left hand, meet right hand. You've heard about each other all your life, now please start talking to each other... |
I was just about to post this. This is why Apple is a step ahead right now. Complain about ITMS all you want, but it is the hub for managing your Apple devices. iPod, iPhone, AppleTV - everything goes through ITMS. WMC requires uses WMP to manage your songs, the file system to manage videos and pictures, and does nothing to get a video playable in WMC onto your portable. There has to be a better way. |
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08-01-2007, 09:01 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 70
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Damion Chaplin
I'll expand on that and say every Microsoft product should be well integrated with every other Microsoft product, especially Windows and Windows components (like MCE).
Seriously guys.
Left hand, meet right hand. You've heard about each other all your life, now please start talking to each other... |
Agreed. Simple solutions go a long way to hitting that magic wow factor. Some are Microsoft's fault and some are the device makers fault.
No reason not to have faster processors, no reason not to have higher on board storage, (although I don't need 8 gigs of music even if they made WMP the best MP on a phone ever, 2 would do me just fine), no reason not have exit option on all menus.
I love QWERTY keyboards but don't understand why there isn't a nice BIG screen like on the Nokia E62/E61i that runs WM 6.
The main thing though, is getting MS to offer OS upgrades independent of carriers like Apple just did. MS has the clout to be able to do this, not sure why they aren't doing it now. They wait for the next version when they could be making updates the whole time. Not that any of us would want Microsoft Tuesday for our Smartphones but we at least know they are still working on making things better all the time for the desktop experience. Same should be for our WM 6 phones. |
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08-01-2007, 09:07 PM
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Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 828
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ajwalker
The main thing though, is getting MS to offer OS upgrades independent of carriers like Apple just did. MS has the clout to be able to do this, not sure why they aren't doing it now.
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I thought they were doing this in WM6 through WM updates?
***long quote trimmed by mod JD*** |
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