Why We Won't be Posting on the Next Windows Mobile Operating Systems

[Jason Dunn]

Several Web sites are abuzz with some news about the next Windows Mobile operating system, and the news submissions are starting to roll in, asking us to post about it. Unfortunately, we can't. I'm personally under an NDA with Microsoft and recently some changes have been made to the way we're allowed to talk about NDA-related information. It used to be that we were allowed to link to other Web sites that were talking about NDA information, as long as we didn't add our own comments. That's no longer the case, and as such, neither myself nor anyone on staff here at Pocket PC Thoughts will be posting information about the next Windows Mobile operating system on the front page until such time that it's public. You're free to discuss it in the forums if you wish, and you'll certainly find no shortage of other Web sites out there that are posting news about it, but we're not permitted to. As much as it pains me, in this particular case, Pocket PC Thoughts can't be your primary news source and you'll have to look elsewhere.

[Jason Dunn]

Several Web sites are abuzz with some news about the next Windows Mobile operating system, and the news submissions are starting to roll in, asking us to post about it. Unfortunately, we can't. I'm personally under an NDA with Microsoft and recently some changes have been made to the way we're allowed to talk about NDA-related information. It used to be that we were allowed to link to other Web sites that were talking about NDA information, as long as we didn't add our own comments. That's no longer the case, and as such, neither myself nor anyone on staff here at Pocket PC Thoughts will be posting information about the next Windows Mobile operating system on the front page until such time that it's public. You're free to discuss it in the forums if you wish, and you'll certainly find no shortage of other Web sites out there that are posting news about it, but we're not permitted to. As much as it pains me, in this particular case, Pocket PC Thoughts can't be your primary news source and you'll have to look elsewhere.

[OSUKid7]

So we can talk about it in the forums, it just can't be frontpaged? And can you and the other editors talk about it with us in the forums? Sounds like some back door news posting then. :| Totally understandable that Microsoft doesn't want this type of stuff publicized though.

[KH]

I understand the frustration and will really look forward to your thorough analysis as soon as the announcements are made - I tend to pass on the pre announcement guesses anyway, because the inaccuracies mixed with the 'real' information create a lot of disappointments.

[Solarix]

Hey guys,

Gotta keep Big Brother happy. And honestly I think I will prefer not to know about the new OS 'til it comes out. You always hear things before hand and either they turn out incorrect or they get removed from final production thus making me upset longing for more (cough, Longhorn, cough (I know its not out yet but still)). No harm no foul.

[lorettaboy]

Originally Posted by Jason Dunn

Several Web sties are abuzz with some news about the next Windows Mobile operating system, and the news submissions are starting to roll in, asking us to post about it. Unfortunately, we can't. I'm personally under an NDA with Microsoft and recently some changes have been made to the way we're allowed to talk about NDA-related information. It used to be that we were allowed to link to other Web sites that were talking about NDA information, as long as we didn't add our own comments. That's no longer the case, and as such, neither myself nor anyone on staff here at Pocket PC Thoughts will be posting information about the next Windows Mobile operating system on the front page until such time that it's public. You're free to discuss it in the forums if you wish, and you'll certainly find no shortage of other Web sites out there that are posting news about it, but we're not permitted to. As much as it pains me, in this particular case, Pocket PC Thoughts can't be your primary news source and you'll have to look elsewhere.

Just an innocent question: why on earth would you sign a NDA with Microsoft in the first place?

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by lorettaboy

Just an innocent question: why on earth would you sign a NDA with Microsoft in the first place?

We have to as part of the MVP program. No NDA, no MVP...and so far I've found that I can do more good for the platform being on the inside than being on the outisde.

[Janak Parekh]

Originally Posted by OSUKid7

So we can talk about it in the forums, it just can't be frontpaged? And can you and the other editors talk about it with us in the forums?

No, we can't talk about it anywhere, either on the frontpage or the forums. If you guys want to talk about it, go ahead. But please don't put links to copyrighted or unreleased MS code... we can't be seen as copyright infringers, and the mods will pull down those links.

--janak

[gibson042]

Well, this does sting, but I completely understand why you stick with Microsoft. I don't like their policy change, but they are still an order of magnitude better than HP as they are leaving the forums untouched. And thank you, Jason, for your continued openness. I eagerly await the day when WM2005 is announced and we can hear your Thoughts on it.

[isilver]

I have to be honest. I don't like this one bit. This is a news site and you should be able to post news as it comes in. This Microsoft agreement sounds like the news is going to be filtered.

I understand that it is just rumors that are passing around. But it's the rumors that get things done. The rumors determine what newer versions may have built into them. What other information can we expect to see filtered from this site.

This is the only real pocket-pc thought site that I used to visit to get news. I didn't even have a clue about rumors with the next Microsoft OS that is going to be released. It has really broadend my thinking and it appears I was very fullish to only have site to view the news. But who really expects a news site to limit the news.

[ricksfiona]

It's a bummer, but better to work within a group than be an outsider. If stuff can leak out of Apple, it can sure leak out of Microsoft.