Really? I was going to ask how the PIM applicatons were, how good syncing to Exchange or your desktop was, etc., but it appears that Adam linked to a good list of deficits.
People say Android and the iPhone will catch up to those misisng features, and I'm sure they will on many, but look at the iPhone 2 software as an example. As far as I know, it still doesn't have Bluetooth A2DP, video recording or cut/copy/paste. Those are pretty fundamental, especially for a media-centric device like the iPhone.
Steve
See, and that is the same attitude Microsoft has. No, it does not have Exchange sync, or desktop syncing. Nor does it have security policies, VPN or a host of other things WinMo offers.
But at the end of the day, the vast majority of consumers doesn't even know what those things are.
They see a phone with a very usable interface, a brilliant browser, an OS that doesn't crash, doesn't involve manually copying cab files through explorer and offers everything they need.
No, Android will most certainly not replace WinMo or the Blackberry in the corporate world, but in the consumer market it's a better choice (at the moment).
I just picked up a new Touch Pro on Sprint, and even now, in the most up to date version of the OS, it's clunky and sluggish. Consumers don't like that.
FWIW; cut and paste is present in many apps, it does not have A2DP (annoyingly enough) but last week when I got a firmware update, I only had to press "update" instead of downloading a 90MB file from HTC, wiping everything off my phone, and reinstalling all my apps like on WinMo (yes, I know there are backup apps that can do rom upgrade backups, but consumers won't spend another $30 on that stuff).
Only if people actually see those ads. You aren't forced to use Google services on the G1, right? I could access a Yahoo or Hotmail account and use other services, I assume.
Also, I know that I very rarely click on ads. Maybe once in a while as I'm browsing, but if I were using Google docs or something, I'd probably be trying to accomplish a task and not be distracted by an ad.
If they get paid per impression, it won't matter, but if they get paid per click, it most certainly will.
I don't click on Google Ads either, but they're still making billions of dollars a year from people doing it.
Really? I was going to ask how the PIM applicatons were, how good syncing to Exchange or your desktop was, etc., but it appears that Adam linked to a good list of deficits.
PIM applications are actually more than efficient. And as you can have Gmail check your POP3 email accounts and send emails from that email address it is bringing in, there really is no need for Exchange email.
Calendar is fantastic and more than enough for the average consumers need and automatically syncs with the cloud on change and their contact application, like the calendar application, is more than enough for the average consumer and allows you to use larger thumbnails than Windows Mobile.
At this moment in time, minus some small features, Google's Android is ready for the big time. I have already canceled my hosted Exchange account as Google handles all of my PIM needs flawlessly. The experience is different, and not as polished, but in a lot of ways it is way easier to use my G1 then it has been for any Windows Mobile phone.
And sure desktop syncing isn't there, but I gave up on that years ago when I started using Exchange. Why sync to the desktop and the cloud? That just seems tedious and to much of a hassle. I dislike using Outlook and prefer to use a more lightweight and open source solution (Thunderbird) which has no problem syncing with the cloud and pulling in my PIM information. Also, as everyone else on the planet, I really try to avoid using ActiveSync or WMDC at all cost.
Lately for the past few months before my Blackjack died. WMDC would crash every time I opened it and the effects of the crashing would either cause my computer to reboot (no BSOD either, which was weird,) or it would cause me to drop out of Aero and I would have to reboot to get it back. Syncing to your computer is overrated, I prefer to sync to the cloud and then if I need that informatio non my desktop, sync from the cloud.
The sad reality is that when people don't have any reasonable points left in an argument, they typically turn to name calling and bashing of their opponent. It appears Microsoft has reached that point. They seem unable or unwilling to compete in the mobile space, so spend their time poking holes in the competition.
It's pretty obvious they know they won't be able to compete, at least in the short term, for the hearts and minds of consumers. So they do the next best thing, spend their time questioning their competitors products and pointing out supposed flaws.
A somewhat non-technical friend of mine visited this weekend, very proud of his shiny new G1. His kids said that all he does is play with his new phone. He owns a small business, doesn't use Exchange, and the G1, with push GMail, a decent browser and easy YouTube is a huge upgrade over the RAZR he used to carry. I played around with it for a while and am impressed by what is there. The UI is easy to use and decent looking. I know there are signficant features missing today, but for consumers looking to move up from a non-smart phone the G1 is a nice step up.
It will be interesting to see how Android evolves. Once we start to see more features and devices emerge, we'll better be able to judge if Google got it right or not. But for their first step it looks pretty good. Let's see if they follow through, or if it will be perpetually in beta, ala almost every other Google offering.
I think most consumers don't miss any of the features that WM has over android (except exchange).
But, at least as Balmer is saying; If he doesn't understand the business model, I'll explain it to him in about 30 seconds. Maybe he can explain how the iPhone gets regular firmware upgrades & I'm usually stuck buying a new phone to upgrade my software.
For whatever reason, it seems that consumers are a lot more excited by Android & iPhone than Winmo.
__________________
+-+-+-+-+
Check out www.gadgetgangster.com & share your electronics projects with others
Yes, Ballmer's right: He doesn't understand. Nor does he have to.
Let's see... Google makes billions of dollars every year and their people at the top are worth billions a piece. Seems their business model is just fine. Seems Google knows exactly what they're doing. Does he think they're in it simply for fun in the sun?
MS seems a little like the big three American auto makers that scoffed at all the Japanese imports years ago. I can still hear them saying, those little cars will never catch on...funny how the big 3 earnings announcements are now often in how many Billions of dollars they lost last quarter. I hope MS can see that they can't keep doing things the same was as they always have. The Gphone and Iphone may have problems now...but I think they are more willing to listen to the customer (well Google is at least )
Linear Mode
