jkontherun: "Smartphone Makers: Better Wake up and Smell the Applesauce"

[PdaAddict]

Originally Posted by rlieving

I would consider myself a Windows Mobile power user and I think the WM platform has reached the end of it's life cycle, to be surpassed by better products. With the advent of Exchange support on the iPhone, that just gives me one more excuse to jump ship.

But why would i? I have had nothing but problems with my WM device. Sure it's highly configurable - but configuration is REQUIRED to make it an acceptable device. I had to buy SPB Mobile Shell to make the UI usable, PocketInformant to make the contacts usable, and defragmentation/memory management software to keep it running.

And even then, there is the inevitable registry corruption, which means 3 hours of rebuilding the phone and reloading the software. (I keep a 50-point list at Ta-Da of all the various tweaks to return it to the preferred settings.) A hard reset is required every 6 months - it's the first thing Sprint tells me to do if something goes wrong.

At it's core, it integrates with Exchange as advertised. But even that is sullied by the fact that the battery (with ActiveSync turned on every 15 minutes) cannot even last 12 hours. A dead battery does not sync.

So going back to Aunt Sue...does she want a high maintenance phone that has to be tethered to a docking station, except when taking walks around the block or making it home at night? Does Aunt Sue want to get a phone, only to have to turn around and buy a whole bunch of software to make it work properly?

To be sure, the iPhone is not perfect, which is why I won't be waiting in line on July 11th. It won't serve as a modem for my computer for instance - and I am taking a 'wait and see' on the data plan - especially the new costs for a 'family plan'. (Sprint, my current carrier, beats AT&T on data plans costs.)

But one thing is for sure. I will NOT be getting another WM phone because the platform is so flawed and so horrific to maintain. I'm not Aunt Sue, but I just don't have the time to worry about the details. And so, I will be seeking something more stable, better looking, MORE USEABLE. Palm is even back as a candidate. I am also thinking about the Android.

But Balmer can have my WM phone. Because a person can only take so much.

My sentiments exactly!!!!

[PdaAddict]

Originally Posted by rlieving

I would consider myself a Windows Mobile power user and I think the WM platform has reached the end of it's life cycle, to be surpassed by better products. With the advent of Exchange support on the iPhone, that just gives me one more excuse to jump ship.

But why would i? I have had nothing but problems with my WM device. Sure it's highly configurable - but configuration is REQUIRED to make it an acceptable device. I had to buy SPB Mobile Shell to make the UI usable, PocketInformant to make the contacts usable, and defragmentation/memory management software to keep it running.

And even then, there is the inevitable registry corruption, which means 3 hours of rebuilding the phone and reloading the software. (I keep a 50-point list at Ta-Da of all the various tweaks to return it to the preferred settings.) A hard reset is required every 6 months - it's the first thing Sprint tells me to do if something goes wrong.

At it's core, it integrates with Exchange as advertised. But even that is sullied by the fact that the battery (with ActiveSync turned on every 15 minutes) cannot even last 12 hours. A dead battery does not sync.

So going back to Aunt Sue...does she want a high maintenance phone that has to be tethered to a docking station, except when taking walks around the block or making it home at night? Does Aunt Sue want to get a phone, only to have to turn around and buy a whole bunch of software to make it work properly?

To be sure, the iPhone is not perfect, which is why I won't be waiting in line on July 11th. It won't serve as a modem for my computer for instance - and I am taking a 'wait and see' on the data plan - especially the new costs for a 'family plan'. (Sprint, my current carrier, beats AT&T on data plans costs.)

But one thing is for sure. I will NOT be getting another WM phone because the platform is so flawed and so horrific to maintain. I'm not Aunt Sue, but I just don't have the time to worry about the details. And so, I will be seeking something more stable, better looking, MORE USEABLE. Palm is even back as a candidate. I am also thinking about the Android.

But Balmer can have my WM phone. Because a person can only take so much.

My sentiments exactly!!!!

[Dyvim]

Originally Posted by PdaAddict

My sentiments exactly!!!!

Those are my sentiments as well. I enjoyed hacking my Windows Mobile devices for several years, but finally got bored with it and tired of all the little troubles. It's such a pleasure to have a device that just works. I use mine all the time now- probably more than I ever used any WM device (and I was pretty into my Toshiba e800 and e830 in 2004-2005). Then again my needs are relatvely simple: light phone, web browsing, light email, light contacts, eBooks, music, photo viewing and video with a fair amount of Google Mapping thrown in. For all these things the iPhone is perfect (even if it requires some workarounds for eBooks). Yeah my Toshiba e830 and HTC Advantage have bigger screens with more pixels, but they're a PITA to use compared to the iPhone and movies never ran as smoothly or looked nearly as good.

And I love the iTunes movie rental service for plane flights. I'm a watch once and forget kind of person not a DVD-collector, so it's (almost) perfect for me. Gone are the headaches and frustrations of trying to rip DVDs to an acceptable format and bitrate for my WM devices and scouring the internet for the best settings to use in TCPMP to get stutter-free video on my Advantage (which turns out to be pretty much impossible). Now, I just rent, transfer, watch, and forget. I've got 2 flights tomorrow and already rented a couple of flicks.

[Macguy59]

Originally Posted by Rob Alexander

I I see these people as not being smartphone geeks, but every day people who already pay for a cell phone and who suddenly see that their phone can do more

Bingo. My girlfriend and her daughter are planning to upgrade to 3G iPhones for this very reason. Ironically they both have Blackberries (Pearl and Curve).

[Macguy59]

Originally Posted by David Tucker

Its harder to use an Apple product for work than it is to use a PC for fun..

Based on what ? You're using an awfully broad brush

[kiwi]

Here in Toronto, the streets and subways are filled with people with Blackberry's. Your Aunty Sue types, the young hipsters, every man and his dog seems to have a Blackberry - Perls and curves..

BUT I have also noticed quite a few iPhone's here as well. I am sure there are more down at the Uni. of Toronto etc.

For my circle of friends, my iphone has allowed me to share photos and video clips (ie. myu bungy jump when in New Zealand recently) a lot more easier than WM was able to.

The screen is bigger and the navigation is fast and EASY.. Was chatting to a chick at the pub the other night and was able to show her my NZ bungy video then.. I think she enjoyed it. lol!!

Anyway, Its just works easily and well. Thats why I stuck with the iPhone and slowly ditched my WM devices.

[whydidnt]

Originally Posted by kiwi

Anyway, Its just works easily and well. Thats why I stuck with the iPhone and slowly ditched my WM devices.

I think this line really sums things up. "It just works". For a large percentage of the population, they want it to "just work". They don't want to tweak, install other programs, learn how to interact, etc. They want to buy the phone and use it without reading the manual. How many WM devices can provide this same experience?

Sure it's not as flexible and there are several shortcomings that cause a power user to think twice about moving to the iPhone, but in all honesty I don't think Apple cares. They would rather target the 70% who don't care about tethering, A2DP, cut/paste, etc. It's a larger market, that's easier to market to and support.

Of course, Apple's hype machine has made the iPhone seem much more successful than it really is. Seriously, I rarely see an iPhone in use. I see Blackberrys everywhere, many Nokias, but rarely an iPhone. I'm not convinced 3G will change this. The price will help, but the more expensive plans will hurt..I'm not sure this new model is going to be as successful as Apple is projecting it be, simply because the carriers are really looking to lock people in when they purchase one. Seriously, I'm not able to order one online??

[Janak Parekh]

Originally Posted by whydidnt

I see Blackberrys everywhere, many Nokias, but rarely an iPhone. I'm not convinced 3G will change this.

Perhaps it has to do with the area you're in? iPhones are everywhere in NYC. It's rare that I don't see at least 2 or 3 people with iPhones every time I take the subway.

--janak

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by whydidnt

I think this line really sums things up. "It just works". For a large percentage of the population, they want it to "just work". They don't want to tweak, install other programs, learn how to interact, etc. They want to buy the phone and use it without reading the manual. How many WM devices can provide this same experience?

Here's a great article on whether it's a "feature" if you have to hack it:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/zd/20080618/tc_zd/228825

[Phillip Dyson]

Originally Posted by onlydarksets

Here's a great article on whether it's a "feature" if you have to hack it:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/zd/20080618/tc_zd/228825

This is a very interesting article. I would say its an editorial piece since its largely opinion, but I do agree with it up to a point.

And that point is you can debate that the hackability of a system is a feature. And I mean the ability to hack a system. Not the necessity to do so.

[jimtravis]

Savy marketing has contributed to iPhone sales by making non-tech consumers aware of the iPhone. It is rare when a night of watching network TV does not include several iPhone commercials featuring web access, and equally rare when you see any other company advertising a phone or mobile web device on network TV. Apple does not say they offer the only mobile device that can access the internet, but the only advertisements non-tech consumers see featuring mobile web access are for the iPhone which results in the non-tech consumer equating mobile full web access to the iPhone only. Congratulations to Apple for an excellent advertising campaign similar to their excellent marketing program for the iPod, and when will the competitors learn they have to advertise in non-tech spaces? In addition to the TV network advertisements, I pass several lighted advertisements for the iPhone, and other Apple products on the bus home from downtown vs. zero for competing products. During the exponential growth period for the iPod, subway stations in Boston, and other cities, were plastered exclusively with iPod ads, and then the light rail vehicle would enter the station, and it too was plastered with only iPod ads. The iPod became the in device to have; dancing silhouettes sold quite a bit of hardware. I have noticed the return of the silhouette ads in the downtown area as well.

Only recently, I have noticed a few advertisements for some Samsung phones in non-tech areas, but still not even close to the frequency of iPhone ads.

Update 6/25/08 - I used the green line light rail for the first time in about two weeks today. I saw 8 to 10 double trains, and the exterior of every train was plastered with the new iPod silhouette ads. By plastered, I mean a big ad in the front, a big ad in the rear, and about 10 ads on each side of the train. Apple is returning to the silhouette concept for the ads, and saturation marketing. Hey, it worked for them before, why not try again.