Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 24th Mar 2010 18:04 UTC
So now that the hype machine has been filled with petrol and all fired up, running on all cylinders, what on earth is going to happen to Windows Mobile 6.5? The Next Best Thing has been announced and demoed extensively, the developer tools and emulator are out there, but devices aren't expected to ship until after the summer, probably around the holiday season. This means that Microsoft must still get phone makers to buy Windows Mobile 6.5.
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RE: I Use & Like WinMo 6.5
by TBPrince on Thu 25th Mar 2010 10:09
in reply to "I Use & Like WinMo 6.5"
Member since:2005-07-06
I agree.
Windows Mobile followed path of Windows desktop and was designed with that path on mind. That would mean:
* do their best to support basically any kind of device which could be produced by phone makers;
* let user be free. No AppsStore: use what you want, from commercial software to home-grown one;
* let developers be free to do what they want: users will judge their job.
* only provide a basic OS: phone makers and even users will provide an extra layer for extra functionalities. Sbp software is a great example about that (I also run SBPShell on my Omnia phone upgraded to WM6.5 ;-) Xda-developers and Modaco forums are great!)
They now found out that business model is great for business market but, incredibly, it was TOO MUCH for consumers. Yeah, I really mean it.
If you look, Windows Phone is four steps behind "old" WM concept, that is :
* locked environment: Apps from AppStore only, no SD card, no native code, no m/t;
* fewer designs: competition only runs a few design (like Apple, for example) which should they be able to run ANY phone design ? That's a step behind, not forward.
* tighter control over platform: they claim it was for performance reasons but actually it was for money reasons.
* they won't rely on 3rd parties to provide enhancements to platform anymore: they will evolve the platform and 3rd parties will be able to "hook" into it.
They simple got aware they could switch to a different business model which meant less for users but more money for them. If competition does that and they make money, why should they provide a better design and be accused to live in the past ?
I repeat what I said: I'm with WM since 2003 but there won't be a Windows Phone in my future, the same way there won't be an iPhone.
News
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/17/13 17:58 UTC
"The Internet is one of the most transformative technologies of our lifetimes. But for 2 out of every 3 people on earth, a fast, affordable Internet connection is still out of reach. And this is far from being a solved problem. There are many terrestrial challenges to Internet connectivity - jungles, archipelagos, mountains. There are also major cost challenges. Right now, for example, in most of the countries in the southern hemisphere, the cost of an Internet connection is more than a month's income. Solving these problems isn't simply a question of time: it requires looking at the problem of access from new angles. So today we're unveiling our latest moonshot from Google[x]: balloon-powered Internet access." Insane.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/17/13 17:52 UTC
"MineAssemble is a tiny bootable Minecraft clone written partly in x86 assembly. I made it first and foremost because a university assignment required me to implement a game in assembly for a computer systems course. Because I had never implemented anything more complex than a 'Hello World' bootloader before, I decided I wanted to learn about writing my own kernel code at the same time. Note that the goal of this project was not to write highly efficient hand-optimized assembly code, but rather to have fun and write code that balances readability and speed. This is primarily accomplished by proper commenting and consistent code structuring." Just cool.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/14/13 21:03 UTC
Jon Rubinstein, former CEO of Palm: "Well, I'm not sure I would have sold the company to HP. That's for sure. Talk about a waste. Not that I had any choice because when you sell a company you don't get to decide that. Obviously, the board and shareholders decide that. If we had known they were just going to shut it down and never really give it a chance to flourish, what would have been the point of selling the company? I think the deal we had with Verizon really hurt us, but who knew that at the time? These things are all hindsight."
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/14/13 20:46 UTC
"And so it is with Dell's Alienware X51 R2, a small form factor gaming PC in console digs. It's shaped similar to Microsoft's Xbox 360 Slim, and though it's slightly larger than either a 360 or PlayStation 3, the X51 R2 would be right at home in a living room setting nestled next to a large screen TV. Indeed, it's adept at running Steam's Big Picture mode, and if your primary objective is to play games in the living room, go ahead and consider the X51 R2 a hybrid game console." This is obviously not the only machine like this - still, these are very valid console alternatives even for those that don't like being hunched over with a cramped WASD-claw. Also, PC gamers among us: could you get away with the $699 model for gaming?
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/14/13 17:32 UTC
From Bloomberg: "Microsoft, the world's largest software company, provides intelligence agencies with information about bugs in its popular software before it publicly releases a fix, according to two people familiar with the process. That information can be used to protect government computers and to access the computers of terrorists or military foes." The lid has officially been blown off.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/14/13 11:39 UTC
"The key takeaway we've reached (after two less than 24 hours playing with the iOS 7 Beta release) is this - every App must consider even basic updates to its UI to survive in a post-iOS 6 world." Great. Telling developers to update their entire application - user interface and behaviour alike - to target a look and behaviour that isn't final yet. Seems like potential for a lot of wasted work here.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/14/13 11:32 UTC
"Overall the app is really basic, and designed for on the go editing. Microsoft says it's not planning to create an iPad version, noting that tablet users can utilize the Office Web Apps instead. We'd like to see some additional options for editing, including more clear options for text formatting and the ability to insert and change images, but it's a solid attempt for something you're only really going to use for editing in emergencies." A resounding meh can be heard from all over the world.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/13/13 19:39 UTC
"Today, most people are using modern browsers that support the majority of the latest web technologies. Better yet, the usage of legacy browsers is declining significantly and newer browsers stay up to date automatically, which means the leading edge has become mainstream. Given these factors we've decided to retire Chrome Frame, and will cease support and updates for the product in January 2014." Eh.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/13/13 14:45 UTC
The Next Web: "First of all, many of the new icons were primarily designed by members of Apple's marketing and communications department, not the app design teams. From what we've heard, SVP of Design Jony Ive (also now Apple's head of Human Interaction) brought the print and web marketing design team in to set the look and color palette of the stock app icons. They then handed those off to the app design teams who did their own work on the 'interiors', with those palettes as a guide. We've also been hearing that there wasn't a whole lot of communication between the various teams behind say, Mail and Safari. And that there were multiple teams inside each group that were competing with various designs, leading to what some see as inconsistencies in icon design. Those may well be hammered out in days ahead." What. Reminds me of how Microsoft does (used to do?) things.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/13/13 11:43 UTC
"The German Parliament, the Bundestag, has introduced a joint motion against software patents. The resolution urges the German government to take steps to limit the granting of patents on computer programs. In the resolution, the Parliament says that patents on software restrict developers from exercising their copyright privileges, including the right to distribute their programs as Free Software. They promote the creation of monopolies in the software market, and hurt innovation and job creation." After New Zealand, we now have one of the most powerful economies in the world moving to ban software patents for all the reasons smart people have been outlining for years. also: "The government should also push to ensure that software is covered by copyright alone, and that patent offices (including the European Patent Office) stop granting patents on software." Germany is not a country the EU can ignore. Very good news, this.More News »
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2005-07-07
Several monthe ago I upgraded to an AT&T Tilt 2 and love WinMo 6.5 and appreciate the work that went into it.
This is one in a long line of WinMo devices I've owned. As a sample, here are some: IBM WorkPad Z50, Cingular 8125, AT&T 8525, AT&T Tilt and now the Tilt 2.
I could have gotten either an iPhone or a Blackberry and a much better price but decided to stay with WinMo for several reasons:
1. Apple's iPhone Data Plan: Apple uses AT&T as an access point for the iPhone to get to the 'Net. Pointless and I don't appreciate that level of layering.
2. RIM's Data Plan: RIM uses AT&T as an access pont as well. Same reason for keeping away from layering to 'Net access.
3. If I want to go to the 'Net, I go. Straight ahead. No layered access issues.
4. Plenty of forums & tweaks out there for customization. XDA-Developers is a site I go to.
5. Great Third-Party apps out there. I'm not locked into Apple's App Store, etc. A great site for WinMo apps that have fantastic trials & demos is Spb Software. I have a few Spb S/W progs/apps on my Tilt 2 and they're great apps - never any problems. (Can't speak for RIM/Blackberry apps - no experience with them).
One of the things I've done is tried some of the home-grown ROMS for my various WinMo devices that I got at XDA-Developers. Even trying to do crazy things, I've never, 'bricked,' any of my WinMo devices. There always seems to be a way to recover a WinMo-based device if a ROM-Burn goes south. You may have to hunt for the right fix-it action, but it's been there for the times I got myself in trouble. Quite comforting.
My hopes are that MS supports WinMo 6.5 for quite some time. It's a well written OS and allows the user to customize the device beyond what's available through Mobile Marketplace, etc.
I do have some reservations about a future upgrade to WinMo 7. If the stories & articles are true about the lock-downs that may be in WinMo 7, I'll be staying with WinMo 6.5 for as long as I can.