03-12-2008, 09:00 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,432
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Paul Thurrott to the Windows Mobile Team: "Scew 'em!"
"Hey, I have one very callous thing myself to say about Windows Mobile guys, which is screw them. No offense, but, seriously. I was there for the first version of Windows CE, Pegasus I think it was called, and I have watched as they have mismanaged the Smartphone market from day one. It has always lagged behind, it has not always been Microsoft's fault, I understand that part of it is the nature of the business. But you know Apple revolutionized the smartphone business, not just with the hardware and the software but also with the way they are now presenting this stuff to users and updating the system overtime. Providing new functionality. This is something that doesn't happen on other smartphones. It's the type of thing where I can go to a Microsoft event and they can announce a new version of Windows Mobile and I will not see that it in the store for another, at the time, 18 months. It's ridiculous! That's ridiculous! Screw 'em!"
I was listening to this week’s Windows Weekly podcast (Windows Weekly 51: In the MIX - 38-40 minutes in) and I was a little surprised to hear the above quote from the Windows Weekly co-host, and Windows IT Pro news editor, Paul Thurrott. Granted Paul goes on to say that in a pre-iPhone world, Windows Mobile was fine, and it was a lot like the other stuff, but the iPhone on a number of levels is a completely different device. Paul also makes it clear that he believes that in 3-4 versions, Microsoft might release something on the same level of the iPhone, but he isn't interested in following technology - as in copying it – he believes that it is more interesting to be there with the people that are innovating technology... And in other news, Apple licenses Microsoft's ActiveSync technology to "innovate" and bring push email service to iPhone users. How ironic that one of the best features announced for the iPhone lately is a Microsoft product!
In all seriousness though. Paul lays claims to several truths that we as Windows Mobile users see with each new release. Microsoft has had the opportunity time and time again to bring us something that leaves us drooling and wanting more, but with each new release it seems that we are constantly taking one step forward and two steps back. Since the iPhone's release last year, we have seen a handful of updates to phones operating system and each new update either fixes some outstanding bugs or adds brand spanking new features to the user experience. While it is true that a lot of these features are stupid things that should have been included with the iPhone from the get-to, we'll just ignore that little fact for a moment to focus on the important one - Apple is releasing update after update and I don't see them stopping anytime soon. Whereas Microsoft, if we're lucky, releases one new update a year... and we have to shell out hundreds of dollars to purchase a new handset to actually receive the darn update!
It's amazing how one moment Microsoft could be on top of the Smartphone world and then the next moment it feels like their doing nothing but scrambling to play catch-up. Maybe Paul was overreacting a bit when he said "screw 'em"... and maybe he wasn't. I love the Windows Mobile platform and do not see myself switching to another mobile operating system anytime soon. Lately though my Windows Mobile experience has just felt tired and dated. I would love nothing more than for Microsoft to breathe new life into our handsets but at the end of the day I fear that Microsoft will continue to just give us more of the same.
Who knows, maybe someone from the valley of Redmond is actually reading this article and we might actually get through to someone over there. So if you feel the same as Paul or even if you feel the complete opposite, let us know! If anything, we here at Smartphone Thoughts would love to hear everyone’s opinion on the subject.
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