I sorely wish I could give the WM division of MS a good kick in the pants, how much longer will they sit back and watch their competition gain market share while they actively give away their best features?!
Microsoft and the entire Windows Mobile team needs a serious intervention if you ask me.
I don't mind them giving components away like Exchange, but geez Louise, take care of home first. You know, the folks who've committed to Windows Mobile already?
We should always be able to go the Windows Mobile site and download any and every upgrade independent of carrier or device.
(Easily done by Microsoft by not allowing carriers to remove, change, alter or "break" stuff already included in the WinMo OS. They should only be allowed to put stuff on their that enhances Windows Mobile, not make it impossible for Microsoft to roll out timely updates and improvements).
Bill Gates needs to think seriously about "un"retiring before the people he left in charge completely destroy the company.
There are simply too many new threats and old nemesis's now for him to "ride off into the sunset" and think everything will be fine.
It is painfully obvious to us who are either solely or predominantly Mac users that Apple does not place importance upon task management. It is a philosophical decision for them. Be that as it may, it certainly would not kill them to write a iPhone Cocoa app for synchronizing with the To-Do's in iCal. This is the least they could do. From my vantage point, they are only partway to where they want to be with this.
I do suspect this is a Steve Jobs decision, and it has resulted in me no longer using tasks. I simply email myself and place it into an Action Items folder. The thing is, it works for me very well.
That obviously does not solve the issue for those using Windows world who want something better on the iPhone. Here is hoping that with the App Store, this changes. I don't know how easy it will be to access sync services, or sync with Outlook via Exchange. Omnifocus is already ironing out a beta of their iPhone task/project/GTD app. It seems to be for the Mac only, especially in light of the fact that it will sync with their Mac desktop product.
I have emailed a friend at WWDC to see what he has seen or heard thus far on this issue. He's working on an iPhone version of his site. Seeing as how I am accessing his Mac/iPhone expertise, here is a shameless plug.
Personally, right now, I am trying to make Reqall work for me, as it enables me to call a number with tasks, then see them later on my list. It's slick, but maybe not much more trouble than sending an email to myself. It all feels very ad hoc in task land for me these days.
I'm a heavy Tasks user, I use the method of setting up location-based task categories (@Home, @Phone, @Computer, etc.), and I'm really good at entering them into my Dash and setting reminders, but not so good at getting them checked off ...but I digress...I'm really surprised the iPhone doesn't have the ability to sync Tasks yet. It's a must-have feature for me to have advanced Task functionality, but I'm guessing a 3rd-party developer will come up with a solution eventually. I'm wondering what WebIS has up their sleeves with Pocket Informant for iPhone (iPI ? )...
the fact that the iPhone 2.0 firmware licenses Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to enable the iPhone/iPod Touch to sync with Exchange Servers, is separate and unrelated to the MobileMe service.
In other words iPhone users have two choices for getting push email -- from an Exchange Server (via integrated Exchange ActiveSync support), or from MobileMe (via a different method/protocol). Licensing Exchange ActiveSync is important to woo business customers, as Nokia, Palm, Motorola and Sony Ericsson have also done. But for consumers Apple is pitching MobileMe as a replacement.
I sometimes think that, but then I meet with the teams and the people involved and they definitely are passionate about making the product better.
Hopefully something better comes out soon. Lately it seems like all the other smartphone device makers are coming out with something new and improved all the time and we're still on our slow once a year update schedule where we suffer at the hands of the carrier waiting for them to actually release the update for our devices.
The thing about software services is that the "coat of paint" matters. The difference between a tightly integrated suite of services (MobileMe) and a random gather of disparate software and services (Exchange + Foldershare + Windows Live + OneCare) is very significant and shouldn't be underestimated.
I think this might be on purpose. Microsoft seems to be moving away from end user products and instead is selling technology and frameworks. License the tech to other companies and let them handle the hard work of putting lipstick on it. I'm seeing this is a bunch of different areas that Microsoft is involved in (WM being one). Microsoft still get thier money, and doesn't have to work as hard.
It is painfully obvious to us who are either solely or predominantly Mac users that Apple does not place importance upon task management. It is a philosophical decision for them. Be that as it may, it certainly would not kill them to write a iPhone Cocoa app for synchronizing with the To-Do's in iCal. This is the least they could do. From my vantage point, they are only partway to where they want to be with this.
Excellent summary, Phronetix. I definitely miss task ability on my iPhone, and task management in iCal is mediocre at best.
BTW, it's worth mentioning that Exchange ActiveSync did not support Tasks initially, until WM5. Entourage still doesn't support Task sync with Exchange, either. I have a feeling business folks, who seem to be (finally?) getting attention from Apple now, will tell them loudly that tasks are important. Let's see if Apple responds.
I think this might be on purpose. Microsoft seems to be moving away from end user products and instead is selling technology and frameworks.
Not quite -- I think it's a bit worse than this. They're actually fragmenting amongst themselves. On one side, there's WM, Exchange, etc. On the other side, there's Xbox, Zune, Danger, etc. To me, this seems so incredibly ripe for synergy (why is the Zune not using WM?, etc.), and Apple seems to be going down that path with their "OS X Touch". It mystifies me why Microsoft doesn't, and instead allows this form of splintering. I've heard the "simplicity" argument, and that just doesn't cut it for me. Sure, play with the front UI if you like, redesign it, etc. -- but reuse the base OS, APIs, and technologies, and allow them to interoperate where it makes sense!
Not quite -- I think it's a bit worse than this. They're actually fragmenting amongst themselves. On one side, there's WM, Exchange, etc. On the other side, there's Xbox, Zune, Danger, etc. To me, this seems so incredibly ripe for synergy (why is the Zune not using WM?, etc.), and Apple seems to be going down that path with their "OS X Touch". It mystifies me why Microsoft doesn't, and instead allows this form of splintering. I've heard the "simplicity" argument, and that just doesn't cut it for me. Sure, play with the front UI if you like, redesign it, etc. -- but reuse the base OS, APIs, and technologies, and allow them to interoperate where it makes sense!
--janak
I have wondered the same thing.
Why doesn't the Zune run Windows Mobile? Even if it was a slightly modified version?
Why isn't the XBox 360 running embedded Windows XP? or Vista? With a custom shell, it would be invisible to the end user. Wouldn't putting in a fast processor and dedicated, high-end graphics chip essentially do the same thing as the current model?
Apple's approach was outstanding. From what I've heard as a layman, it's a stripped down version of OSX. Sorta like mini OSX embedded.
Doesn't make sense when Microsoft already has the software platforms. Why keep reinventing the wheel?
...but I digress...I'm really surprised the iPhone doesn't have the ability to sync Tasks yet. It's a must-have feature for me to have advanced Task functionality, but I'm guessing a 3rd-party developer will come up with a solution eventually. I'm wondering what WebIS has up their sleeves with Pocket Informant for iPhone (iPI ? 
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