Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 17th Dec 2007 22:15 UTC
To counter the success of the iPhone, Microsoft is revamping its mobile operating system, according to Ars Technica. "Never one to back down from a challenge, Microsoft is busily preparing both a minor UI refresh (Windows Mobile 6.1) and a major new release of the operating system (Windows Mobile 7.0). A gallery of screen shots from the 6.1 refresh compiled by Boy Genius shows an emphasis on simplification: the screens are more task-oriented and have less clutter than their immediate predecessor. A new and clearer font adorns the UI, and new features such as zooming, copy and paste in Internet Explorer, and auto-configuring ActiveSync for e-mails are sure to be welcome additions to the platform. In addition, Microsoft is making it easier (and more Windows-like) to switch tasks by adding a standardized task manager to the platform."
Thread beginning with comment 292106
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:
2007-02-07
A scared Microsoft is a good Microsoft.
If they do not put much effort into innovation on desktop, that's because they already dominate the market and don't have much to fear, at least in the foreseeable future.
In the mobile market, on the other hand, they are fighting an uphill battle against a range of fierce competitors, from Symbian to Linux, from Mobile Linux Group to the Open Handset Alliance (Android) and so on. Their competition is resourceful, aggressive and growing rapidly, meanwhile it can not be bought or crushed.
Basically, in order to survive and expand Microsoft has to innovate.
A living example of this concept is XBox, where Microsoft is really competing, fruits of which are innovations like Live and XNA, met with success and embraced by the gamers and developers.
SQL Server, .NET, even IE at a certain time-frame are other examples of how Microsoft could actually innovate. Of course, historically, innovation stops as domination arrives.