Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 17th Sep 2009 21:15 UTC, submitted by Hakime
Yesterday we ran an editorial about Microsoft's failing policies in the mobile space, and today, we have an assorted collection of stories that only strengthen this perception. The upcoming Marketplace for Windows Mobile has a number of rigorous restrictions, the Zune lives in a bubble of its own, and free applications for the Zune come with full-screen video advertisements. There are also a few things Microsoft seems to be doing right, however. Instant update: Another Windows-based mobile phone platform. I actually want that one, though.
Permalink for comment 385116
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:
2005-07-17
A friend of mine who is heavily into OS X recommended HTC phones to me. OK, it came with Windows Mobile OS, but she is a gadget freak so I trusted her.
It's better than all the Symbian stuff I had. It works very well as both a phone and a PDA. I have it synced with my laptop, and can tether it without jumping through the hoops that Android and iPhone users have to jump through.
I can develop applications on it using eTCL. The worst thing about it is the browser is IE, and I don't like the Opera browser.
I find it really depressing that techies are so blinkered they can't see when good technology is in front of them - even if it does come from the company that has held back personal computing for at least a decade.
I'm not blinkered. Even though it works so well, I'm considering getting an iPhone or an Android phone. But everytime I look at them I can't see any benefit over my HTC phone.
Maybe people should be looking at HTC phones. Maybe it's their modifications to Windows Mobile that makes it good.
You have a good point that modern versions of Windows Mobile are pretty good, except...
Windows Mobile is an "OEM" software option. So with mobiles you have TWO other companies fighting for how you use the device, the manufacturer and the telco. Both view the device as "theirs" and want to use you as a "marketing contact".
Where it breaks down is that YOU got lucky with that model of phone from that manufacturer on your particular carrier... If I order the same phone (if I even CAN) from my carrier, I will probably not get the same experience (branding, features, coverage area) that you do. Everybody between Microsoft and me reserves the right to turn off/bloat up features that "daddy knows best" for me to have.
In many, many cases, the same hardware and OS version cannot download the same "user" app from the same website. THAT is what keeps Windows Mobile an absolute desert for applications... and Microsoft is clearly not fixing the problem... just adding somebody ELSE into the mix with their OWN agenda. Microsoft has had 5+ years for Windows Mobile and even more for CE and never managed to get 1/10 the number of application USERS and mobile internet traffic USAGE that iPhone got in the first 12 months of offering apps.
The problem Microsoft has always been in is that they have to write their OS features (on desktops and devices) to what the cheapest hardware OEM and distributor is going to ship. This has been the case for CE and Mobile for years (hence the ZUNE to finally make something interesting) and even Vista suffered more from having to bend (cheat) system specs to "cheapest OEM" companies or not have any computer MAKERS upgrade their wares to the new line than Vista had "programming" problems. But that's no excuse... EXECUTION of a platform is what the customer FEELS they're getting out of it (not tech specs, or necessarily anything logical) and that is what Microsoft is not delivering because they're counting "pre-sold, contracted units" at all the OEMS and not counting happy USERS like Apple is.