06-17-2008, 06:26 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,432
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HTC Windows Mobile Device in Q1 2009
"If you're apt to believe it, supposedly a regional HTC GM by the name of Kevin Chen flapped his lips about the first Windows Mobile 7 devices launching in Q109 -- so between six and nine months from now. We reached HTC, which had no (further) comment on the matter, but everything we've seen about 7 so far kind of leads us to believe that 7-based devices launching before next year's Mobile World Congress sounds a bit premature, even if that doesn't necessarily jibe with the MWg roadmap (which promised devices possibly even later this year)."
[Photo courtesy of Engadget]
The possibility of have having a brand spanking new Windows Mobile 7 device in my hands by my birthday is pretty exciting - even if the thought of waiting until next year for Microsoft’s new mobile operating system is a little bit daunting. While I can completely understand Microsoft's recent stance at keeping every new product with a '7' in its name super hush-hush, I still wish the Powers That Be would throw us a bone and let us know how development is going. To be honest, I don't even care about feature XYZ; I just want a little reassurance from Microsoft that they're still in the game. Is that so much to ask?
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06-17-2008, 07:43 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 740
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocco Augusto
While I can completely understand Microsoft's recent stance at keeping every new product with a '7' in its name super hush-hush,
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personally I think that this policy of secrecy, especially for a company that keep trying to sell "Software Assurance" with every product, is either suicidal or a further indication that at MS the left hand does not know what the right one does.
Will WM 7 out 6/9 months from now? Good! Better 12/18 months too late than never.
When it will be out I will check it and if it is better the my coming iPhone G3 I will switch back to WM...until the next round.
Smartphones and PDA are objects and not article of Faith; I would buy what I see, I like
and fits my needs; HTC, Apple MS or someone else... who cares?
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06-17-2008, 08:15 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 235
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fritzly
personally I think that this policy of secrecy, especially for a company that keep trying to sell "Software Assurance" with every product, is either suicidal or a further indication that at MS the left hand does not know what the right one does.
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I care, because I have a fairly large investment in software (and quite a bit of data that has been entered into that software) for the WM platform that I would like to be able to continue to use. Also, I don't want to buy a new device every six months.
I do wish MS would let us know if they are "still in the game."
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06-17-2008, 08:56 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fritzly
personally I think that this policy of secrecy, especially for a company that keep trying to sell "Software Assurance" with every product, is either suicidal or a further indication that at MS the left hand does not know what the right one does.
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I think a certain amount of secrecy makes sense. Remember what happened with Longhorn? Microsoft talked about it in detail, and they ended up not being able to deliver on much of what they promised - something no company wants to do. I'd prefer Microsoft to talk about features that they KNOW will be in the final product - and if that means being "secretive" for a while, so be it.
Besides, it's not like you hear Apple, Google, or even Symbian talking in detail about what they're doing until just a few months (or even weeks) before it's released. Why should Microsoft be any different?
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06-17-2008, 08:57 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 357
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fritzly
personally I think that this policy of secrecy, especially for a company that keep trying to sell "Software Assurance" with every product, is either suicidal or a further indication that at MS the left hand does not know what the right one does.
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It seems to work for Apple (sometimes).
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06-18-2008, 12:01 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 740
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
I think a certain amount of secrecy makes sense. Remember what happened with Longhorn? Microsoft talked about it in detail, and they ended up not being able to deliver on much of what they promised - something no company wants to do.
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Talking about what will be in the final product is quite different than not talking about it at all.
I do not pay SA to Apple or Symbian, I do to MS. this is the difference.
I own share of MS and I can assure that they talk a lot about the financial outlook of the company and they do very well in advance.
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06-18-2008, 04:02 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 217
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Too long to wait........
I'd like to think WM7 is really going to be something great, but 2009 is so far away! I mean, 30 days from now we are going to see an onslight of mobile apps (many of them actually worth paying money for) the likes of which we have never seen before when the iPhone app store opens its doors. The current WM apps are going to look pretty sad next to a lot of those apps until WM7 arrives and unless its a head turner, I can't see it making up a lot of ground.
Plus Apple's control over the iPhone hardware gives it the ability to continually upgrade the software over time. MS and its OEM partners have to do a much better job of keeping the platform fresh. Having to buy a new phone to get a 6.1 release versus a 6.0 is just ridiculous. I recently installed one of the cooked WM 6.1 ROMS on my Cingular 3125 flip smartphone (STARTREK) and it works like a champ. I was bored with WM5 and there was no official upgrade path. The hardware has no problems with 6.1 at all, sliding windows and everything. There is zero reason this could not have been released officially - I would have no problem paying a small amount for an official supported upgrade. There is money to be made here for software upgrades but instead most of the WM phones are pretty dead end platforms after a year or so.
I mean, by the time WM7 comes out Apple will be talking iPhone 3.0 or at the very least 2.5, and becoming a very mature, entrenched platform and starting to offer other form factors. If the Android phones beat WM7 to market and impress, its going to be awful tough.... The WM team has its work cut out for them and I wish them luck.
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06-18-2008, 05:01 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 93
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I'm not sure how Google's Android platform will handle things but one big advantage of the Apple iPhone platform is that developers only have to support one screen size.With Windows Mobile, developers have to support an ever expanding, myriad set of screen sizes and resolutions. This makes for a daunting user interface development effort.There are few real tricks to getting screens to look just right on all of these devices; they almost have to be custom generated for each configuration. When you add the differences between the Smartphone and the "Professional" version plus the huge changes every couple of versions, it is difficult indeed for developers to keep delivering applications that are current.
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06-18-2008, 10:47 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 554
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That iPhone cult becomes quiet annoying already. Don't like WM? Buy something else. I'am happy for you, that you are happy with your new Apple toy. Please, stop singing psalms to your almighty $teve Job$, at least on WM forums. Let's talk WM and MS.
This is second announcement form WM OEM about yearly release of WM 7device. First was MWg with its road map promises new WM device by the end of 2008, now HTC. Looks like OEMs a trying really hard to bring it to the market ASAP. Must be a good thing, don't you think so? But my problem with it is if they bring a "raw" OS, with bugs, problems, etc... And another question Will it be the OS we, and I mean people of this blog who actually use WM, like it and understand its pluses and minuses, and not just come here to brag about their new iPhone. The question is will WM 7 be stable, user friendly, and powerful? I mean we did have big expectations for Vista. Its not bad, but bloated, uses too much resources, and maybe it can be good for powerful desktop, for UMPC, or a small laptop I still prefer XP. Latest updates for WM, after WM 5, also, would be better to call WM 5.1 and WM 5.2 not WM6 and 6.1 respectively. Not much changed there after all.
So far, MS did nothing to assure its users that the most talked problems, such as stability will be fixed. I hope it will. Even if it would take to rewrite all OS code from the start. It worth it. Todays performance of WM could be acceptable 7-5 years ago, even then SE Symbian P900 was much more stable than any MS WM device. I have nothing against stylus, I love "inking", but to pull it out every time you need to type couple words? Absurd. OS must be more finger friendly. I am at the market for a new phone. I know I would never buy iPhone, it just not enough for me. I need more features. I debate between Samsung Omnia and Experia X1, both have nice specs, both have something to offer that other don't. On the other hand, Android is just around the corner, and WM 7 as well. Maybe I should postpone my new Cell phone acquisition 'till then. To spend ~$1000 on the phone just to replace it in a 4-6 months? Soryy, doesn't feel right, at least for me.
__________________
You create your opportunities by asking for them
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06-18-2008, 12:37 PM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,389
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It would be nice to read SOMETHING on this site that didn't involve a frakin iphone.... Maybe I need to start looking for a new Windows Mobile site... 
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