Archive for: windows mobile 7
If you could pick one thing that bugs you most about Windows Mobile, what would it be? Would it be the ugly interface, poor touch screen support, sluggish performance even on top of the line hardware, *insert reasoning here*? One thing is for certain, Windows Mobile needs more consumer minded design and implementation. What was once a corporate staple has since fallen to other victors such as RIM and doesn’t begin to even hold a candle on the multimedia front when compared to the iPhone. Windows Mobile 6.5 was chapstick on a pig. Will WinMo 7 really be any better?
From the get go, Steve Ballmer has already let slip that Zune integration and features would be coming to Redmond’s next attempt at a mobile OS. But even more surprising is new word that Windows Mobile 7 will incorporate a more consumer friendly gaming UI. Not everyone wants to play games on their phone. I understand that. But looking at Apple’s success with their iPhone/iPod Touch platform with a heavy mobile gaming influence means Microsoft would be stupid not to try their own hand at it. But a smashing music player won’t by itself sell a device or platform. For that, M appears to have more up their sleeve…
Those hoping to see HTC do as Motorola and pass up WinMo 6.5 and instead climb into bed with Android while the world waits for WinMo 7 will be sorely disappointed. According to a recent interview conducted by alibaba.com, HTC’s CEO Peter Chou stated that while the market and their customers in particular are eager for more Android handsets, the company [HTC] has to “take care of WinMo”.
It’s kind of disheartening really. No one should take care of WinMo except Microsoft. If they can’t get the OS in line in-house, there’s nothing a 3rd party manufacturer can do. No amount of lipstick and pretty UI skins can cover up what Microsoft has failed to do — truly innovate WinMo.
HTC, like many other hardware manufacturers, have struck deals with Microsoft to support Redmonds mobile OS. Contracts aside, why a company would willingly spend so much time, money, and marketing prowess on what is essentially a minor upgrade seems silly. Motorola whom is in the worst spot right now, clinging to life, finally realized what the market wanted and went all Android, declaring that they were skipping WinMo 6.5 because it wasn’t anything special and that they’d re-look at the Windows Mobile scene come version 7. It’s the first smart decision they’ve made in a long, long time.
I didn’t expect HTC to just cut off WinMo high and dry as they’ve had a rather length relationship. But HTC’s decision to push ahead with WinMo 6.5 and even possibly hold back on releasing certain Android versions of exclusive WinMo 6.5 handsets is a very poor decision. I can guarantee Android better serves the hardware than WinMo in it’s current form. Android is the face of new, modern mobile technology while WinMo is nothing more than a poster child for old, washed up, and un-innovative. I’m hopeful that Microsoft can bring something exciting to the table come 2010 with Windows Mobile 7. But that’s a long way from now and both Apple and Android are moving ahead quick. Can Microsoft anticipate the other guys’ next moves?
So I beg the question: “Does HTC really need to “take care of Microsoft”?
Coolsmartphone News > alibaba
And another nail in the Windows Mobile 6.5 coffin. As if it wasn’t bad enough already, Motorola, a major manufacturer who has supported Windows Mobile for ages is “waiting” to see Microsoft’s next move in the mobile market meaning 6.5 ain’t gonna cut it! This is in line with earlier statements of a “two, strategic mobile os approach” as Motorola’s Christy Wyat was quoted saying:
we (Motorola) are waiting for the next generation of platform software from Microsoft before it will begin making Windows Mobile devices again
Ouch….again. The two strategic platforms Mrs. Wyat mentions are obviously (1) Android, and (2) Windows Mobile 7? I can’t imaging them pumping out WinMo 6.1 devices for the next year alongside WinMo 6.5 while waiting for WinMo7. Though I’ve seen stranger things.
What do you think? Is the fact Microsoft royally screwed up their mobile os clearly apparent yet?
PhoneScoop
Image Source
- September 3, 2009 1:59 pm
If you run with the WinMo crowd, you’re no doubt bored with Windows Mobile 6.5 already (because you’ve probably been using it for weeks to months now) and have already set your sights on Windows Mobile 7. To the uninformed general public, Windows Mobile 7 is something that they shouldn’t expect to see or touch until it’s time to kill a 2010 turkey. However, some speculating and bullet points put out by UX Evangelist builds a pretty solid case concerning Microsoft dropping some info and possibly hands on time with early beta builds of Windows Mobile 7.
The reasoning includes a history of big announcements at PDC as well as slip ups on Microsoft employee’s LinkdIn profiles to interpretation of Microsoft slides highlighting Windows Mobile roadmaps. As far as the history of big announcements go, Windows 7 is already out of the bag as is the Zune HD with Office 14 not exactly holding that “wow” factor I would choose to lead a keynote with.
Does the UX Evangelist have an weight to his claims or is he a mile from base?
WM Experts, UX Evangelist
While Steve Ballmer aka “The Balms” may be steadfast on his belief and assertion that Windows Mobile will always be a single OS in the sense that their won’t be several tiers like the desktop variant, new information that is coming out seems to suggest otherwise. With the recent leak of the HTC Leo ROM which incorporates the new TouchFlo 3D 2.6, we can see that the interface appears to be moving more towards the finger users in the world and eschewing the trusty but old stylus. Further adding fuel to the good ‘ol rumor fire comes by way of DigiTimes with new information that an actual “Touch Interface” update to Windows Mobile 6.5 is due out sometime around February 2010. Now, this upgrade won’t be a new OS, merely an update to the October 1st release of Windows Mobile 6.5. Windows Mobile 7 on the other hand isn’t slated for public consumption until long into next year — Q4 of 2010 to be exact. So why bring a touch interface update to 6.5 later in the game?
Remember when you were a kid, the only kid with a funny last name (who am I kidding…the over weight kid that no one ever picked for their team) and everyone made fun of you. Then you were fortunate enough to move to a new town with a new school and new kids. You lied about your name (and your weight) and started to live out a somewhat normal life. You even become pretty popular since your new friends don’t know of your troubled past. This generalized story mold fits many things and instances in life. One of those instances is developing right before our very eyes in the tech world with Windows Mobile Windows Phone. Microsoft, in order to shed the bad image that has become attached to Windows Mobile is set to rebrand their mobile OS with the release of WinPho (sounds so weird doesn’t it) 6.5. The rebranding is supposed to give newcomers a fresh start with a “new” OS (not coming until WinPho 7) as Microsoft tries to distance themselves from the hell that Windows Mobile has become. While I’m all for product enhancement and hyping up your product, merely changing the name and slapping some new paint on a grossly outdated OS hardly seems like a service to your users. Oh well, to each his own. One thing’s for sure, in the world of mobile OS X and Android, heck even at times BlackBerry, Windows Mobile/Phone doesn’t even come close. Care to disagree?
Source: Gizmodo, The Inquirer
If you have ever done any type of computer programing, graphic design, or picture/video editing among other things, you will know time consuming and frustrating working on and with computers can be. While everything often goes to plan with man and machine working in perfect harmony, there are times when the two refuse to coroporate causing great pain and grief. Since WinMo 6.5′s interface was leaked what seems like years ago now, the world reacted with a collective “that’s it?” – not exactly the reaction Redmond was looking for though, after hearing the latest bit of news surrounding Microsoft’s mobile OS, is now more easily understood. So, why exactly does Windows Mobile 6.5 look so…old?
WinMo users who were preparing for May 11th by stocking up on certain party supplies in anticipation for a WinMo 6.5 launch will sadly have to keep their goods in the cellar a bit longer as Microsoft has annouced that some information from a recent blog posting (below) was misinterpruted (and has now since been corrected) and WinMo 6.5 will not be launching on May 11th. Sorry WinMo users, looks as if May 11th is not your day to shine after all. Oh well, look on the bright side – by the time Windows Mobile 6.5 is released, the wait for Windows Mobile 7 will be a cake walk compared to this disaster.
Source: Boy Genius
Microsoft’s “not full steam ahead” project called the Zune will soon have many homes on multiple devices. WM Power Userhas been tipped off regarding the next rendition of WinMo and the Zune. Apparently some of the Zune’s musical features are going to make their way into Windows Mobile 7. How exciting. Hey I can’t knock it that bad since I had a first gen Zune. The device itself was ugly as sin but it played music and had a decent enough interface. Certainly with some “steam” and money for development it could have become something more than it is now. But you heard the Balm’s…apparently Microsoft is fresh out of steam….
Source: Mobile Crunch
