If I am not mistaken I believe the Zune OS is running no top of Windows CE. If this is the case designing a Windows Mobile phone around the Zune concept wouldn't be that hard (in theory.) We would have the underlining OS with some of the Zune guys though (David? Jason? Adam? )
I dislike the Sidekick so much. Using your phone shouldn't be like watching a Transformer go to work. Sure maybe it would be cool if I was still in high school (though I doubt it) but having a phone where one of the main features is the screen flipping around without a care in the world is just an accident waiting to happen with me.
It is not a question of personal preferences, but existing facts. 15 y.o. girls and some that older (my example above) do like it, and not only girls, my friend's son, 17 y.o. now is on his 3rd Sidkick. And in IMHO Danger (now subsidy of MSFT) does something right. So why would MSFT develop Zune phone? It does seems redundant. From business point of view, and, frankly, logical, to continue improvement of Sidekick, adding new features, makes much more sence, that create a competition to yourself
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I'm not an Apple fanboy. In fact I've always been very loyal to Microsoft. But I don't care anymore.
***long quote trimmed by mod JD***
I have no immediate plans for switching to the iPhone, but your post makes complete sense. You sound as sincere as someone can be, and you everything you mentioned is accurate.
One of the main reasons I have not moved on to the iPhone is because of the Samsung Omnia, which seems as close to perfect as a phone can get (besides the dissapointing resolution).
It wouldn't surprise me if a Zune Phone or similar was released. We saw MS get trounced completely by Apple with their Media-OS and "Plays for Not Sure" device manufactured by third parties. They eventually got tired of it and went a completely different direction with the Zune. I haven't used one, but by all accounts it provides a MUCH better experience than the old devices we saw from Creative, Samsung, etc.
I've been harping on the OEMs lack of progress for years, and I have to believe MS feels the same way. Don't get me wrong MS shares some responsibility, as the OS has been stagnant as well, but too many WM devices are just reshaped offerings that we've seen several times and several years before.
After continuing to struggle with my "new" iPaq 910 while on the road this week. I am finding that I'm using my upgraded iPod Touch more and more. My primary usage while traveling is for media, internet and email (corporate and personal), calendar and note taking. The Touch is soooo much better at all of this except note taking and the calendar app, but as far as the calendar it's not a huge issue for me. I'm starting to wonder why I don't just bite the bullet and get an iPhone and carry one less item, charging cord, etc. The iPhone is definitely not just a pretty UI as some would have you believe. Opening up HTML email on the Touch using the same WiFi network as the Ipaq is about 3-4 times faster. I'm so tired of see the "message is loading" notification and being unable to scroll or do anything until it completely loads on the iPaq.
So having said that, I typically prefer the openness of the MS model, but in the case of phones, I'm starting to think that it's currently not working as well as I would hope. I'm hopeful that MS sees this too (not just licenses sold) and does decide to deliver a complete hardware/software package.
I am glad that Microsoft is restricting hardware vendors.
And imho Microsoft should kill HTC.
And yes, Rocco, nice article, but the follwong part is the most ridiculous:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocco Augusto
With the exception of HTC ...
After the HTC Alpine aka Qtek 2020i aka o2 XDA 2i HTC somehow managed to f*ck up the user experience with any device, that's a fact.
I am going to get me an HTC Diamond. It's a crappy device - because of no memory expansion slot - but still, I am going to get it, because there is no better alternative and you either have to accept the industrial ripping off or live in the woods.
Let's not forget your son being smart as well! Give the boy some credit!
Nothing warms a geek Dad's heart like a son who already likes random electronic gadgetry and is contantly bugging me about when we are going to see the next Star Wars movie.... Although I have mixed feelings about getting beat up at Wii boxing.
And yes, Rocco, nice article, but the follwong part is the most ridiculous:...
After the HTC Alpine aka Qtek 2020i aka o2 XDA 2i HTC somehow managed to f*ck up the user experience with any device, that's a fact.
Thanks joker! Yes but over the past year they have been trying to redeem themselves a little (at least I think so.) With Touch FLO and now the new snazzy Touch Diamond interface we are getting a lot more out of HTC then we are other hardware makers at the moment.
HTC isn't the end all of user interfaces and there is probably more HTC could do to make the device better but as a consumer I appreciate what they are doing more than anyone else in the market. They show us a glimpse of what Windows Mobile could be, and I dig it
Well, I just installed the WM 6.1 Beta on my Pantech Duo, and I had it fully installed and all my information and applications back on the phone within 15 minutes, so I'm not really that impressed with your experience with iPhone/iTunes. The hardware manufacturers are perfectly able to make the upgrade experience a pleasant one. If it's not, well, it's not Microsoft's fault, it's the phone's manufacturer.
Which phone manufacturer/carrier offers 4 software upgrades in 13 months (albeit, two of them were minor)? Out of curiosity, where did you get the beta from?
Even if you don't like what Apple has done with the iPhone, they deserve credit for regularly releasing OS updates. I understand the Microsoft model is different, splitting the device manufacturer from the OS vendor. However, I would much prefer a WM architecture that allows base OS updates from Microsoft itself, somewhat roughly akin to what happens on the desktop.
Quote:
If they keep going in that direction and just step on the accelerator a littler harder, they could in fact make WM a decent competitor to the iPhone.
I don't think anyone disagrees with this. However, people have voiced impatience with Microsoft's pace and the scope of their releases. Let's hope WM7 improves the latter, although the former still remains a problem.
Even if you don't like what Apple has done with the iPhone, they deserve credit for regularly releasing OS updates.
No doubt. Apple has the model down pat - Microsoft's current model SUCKS. BAD. Unless you're willing to go the warez/ROM-remix route (I'm not) there are virtually no updates released on any regular basis for many Windows Mobile phones.
I really want Windows Mobile 6.1 for my Samsung Blackjack II. But where can I get it from, legitimately? Nowhere.
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