Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 12th Feb 2013 18:27 UTC
"Imagine a phone that could run real Remote Desktop. Real PowerShell. Anything that can run on your desktop PC. Imagine 'phablet' form factors, similar to today's Samsung Galaxy Note 2, which could dock to a desktop setup and utilize an external display, keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals. Imagine a single set of APIs that work everywhere. Imagine that Phone isn't a whole separate platform, but an app. An app that runs on Windows. Real Windows. The Windows Phone team could never make that happen. But the Windows client team? You betcha. Make it happen, Microsoft. It's time to take the phone seriously." I have never agreed with Thurrot as much as I do right now.
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RE[3]: Comment by MOS6510
by No it isnt on Wed 13th Feb 2013 17:16
in reply to "RE[2]: Comment by MOS6510"
Member since:2005-11-14
No one needs a tablet. It's got all the things that make a phone suck except one (size), replacing that one drawback with the exact same in the opposite direction. It's too large to be really portable, but suffers from still being just a touch screen, which, for all its hype, is a terrible interface.
People want tablets because their phones are too small.
I got a Nexus 4 (4.7") just today. It's still slightly too small, but actually a lot more pocketable than my old Nokia N9 (4"), due to its slimness and rounded edges. A lot can be done for pocketability just through sensible design.
RE[4]: Comment by MOS6510
by MOS6510 on Wed 13th Feb 2013 17:38
in reply to "RE[3]: Comment by MOS6510"
Member since:2011-05-12
Oh, I agree no one needs a tablet. A laptop is much more powerful and it's also portable.
But a tablet can be very convinient. It's easy to pick up, instantly usable and massive battery life. My laptop usage has dropped to almost zero since I bought an iPad.
For quick Internet access it's too much hassle to power up a laptop, but grabbing a tablet is easy.
Sent from my iPad
RE[4]: Comment by MOS6510
by BushLin on Fri 15th Feb 2013 01:03
in reply to "RE[3]: Comment by MOS6510"
Member since:2011-01-26
"People want tablets because their phones are too small."
I think a good deal of iPad users bought one because it does everything they used their PC for but it's easier/safer/slicker (their perspective) and more sofa friendly... not saying many on here would consider it a replacement for a computer but it sure is for someone who only bought a Windows system to browse the web and check e-mail.
Edited 2013-02-15 01:04 UTC
Features
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/24/13 17:26 UTC
So, the Xbox One disaster continues. Microsoft's policy for dealing with the used games market has reportedly leaked - and it's a clear and direct attack to destroy the used games market. Prices for used games will be set at the retail value of a new game, and retailers have to hook into Microsoft's computer systems and comply with Microsoft's terms and conditions.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/21/13 21:38 UTC
At an event earlier today, Microsoft unveiled the next Xbox - the third model, but confusingly named Xbox One. The big focus was TV, integrated Kinect, and all the other stuff we all expected to be forced down our throats. I think it took them 25 minutes to actually come to what should be the core of the story: gaming. Nothing groundbreaking in the gaming department, except for how Microsoft intends to handle the used games market and borrowing games from friends: pay up, buddy!
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/20/13 11:29 UTC
The day has finally come! Jolla has finally announced the launch device for its Sailfish operating system - and by god this is a looker. It's decidedly different from other phones out there, but it has good specifications and carries a relatively reasonably price tag - EUR 399, and it's up for pre-order today, shipping in the fourth quarter of this year.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/18/13 21:33 UTC
Why does Google get so much credit in the technology industry? Why, despite the company's many obvious failings, do many geeks and enthusiasts still hold a somewhat positive view on the all-knowing technology giant? A specific talk at Google I/O this week provides the answer.
Linked by David Adams on 05/16/13 4:23 UTC
OSNews is a sponsor of this year's O'Reilly OSCON in Portland, Oregon, USA. A lucky OSNews reader will win a free three-day pass, including two tutorials days. To win the pass, post a comment on this story saying something about Open Source Software or OSCON. We'll pick a winner at random next week. If you don't have an OSNews account, you may email us your entry. Part of the conference is the 9th annual Open Source Awards, and today the 16th is the deadline for nominations. If you'd like to nominate an outstanding open source contributor, do it here. Read on for more information about OSCON. Update: The 20% discount code for OSNews readers is "OSN."
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/11/13 21:41 UTC
"Windows is indeed slower than other operating systems in many scenarios, and the gap is worsening." That's one way to start an insider explanation of why Windows' performance isn't up to snuff. Written by someone who actually contributes code to the Windows NT kernel, the comment on Hacker News, later deleted but reposted with permission on Marc Bevand's blog, paints a very dreary picture of the state of Windows development. The root issue? Think of how Linux is developed, and you'll know the answer.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/08/13 14:22 UTC
This is one of those news items that's fun to write, fun to read, fun to comment on, and where no one will be able to say anything unkind. It's all just one big ball of awesome fluffiness. TuneTracker, the BeOS radio automation software, has just released something very special: TuneTracker System 5, the first version designed entirely and specifically for Haiku. In fact, it actually includes Haiku in the software package. Better yet, TuneTracker also unveiled several system-in-a-box products - which have Haiku and TuneTracker pre-installed.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/02/13 15:28 UTC
Exactly twenty years ago, a document was published that played a huge role in establishing the web as we know it today. Twenty years later, and this simple and straightforward document is proof of an irrefutable fact: while closed technologies can change markets, open technologies can change the world.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/29/13 21:06 UTC
Oh multitasking. That staple of computing that got thrown out the window with many modern smartphones. We got some rudimentary thing in its place - but even as multitasking on phone and tablets improves, its user-visible side remains cumbersome. Windows 8 has a neat implementation, and now it's time Android follows in it footsteps.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/24/13 22:24 UTC
They're here! Whether that excites you or not remains to be seen, but the Galaxy S4, which will most likely become the best selling Android smartphone of the year by a huge margin, has been reviewed by all the major sites, and there's lots of interesting conclusions in there - although I think most of you will get the gist.More Features »
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Member since:
2011-05-12
I think people who do so much with their phone that they think it's too small just need a tablet.
When I'm on the move I don't have the time/possibility to stare at my phone so long, let alone actively use it. I used to to read emails, news, look up something, send/read messages, even make a call sometimes. But these are all quick actions. On the move I want something that easily fits in my clothes and hands.
I have an iPad with no 3G, because that didn't make sense to me. I use it at home, at work or in hotel lobbies. WiFi is everywhere. But I don't go wondering the streets with it. Not just because it's too big for that, but also because it would be overkill.
When I roam the streets I never see tablets, while I see many at work, in people's homes. That's their strength: portability and ease of use in a relaxed environment (when you can sit).
For serious mobile work I'd for for a laptop and for serious static work the desktop is king.
Devices like the Transformer or Surface with detachable keyboards are nice, but I think it is also more cumbersome. My iPad keyboards are seldom used. Attaching a keyboard ruins the tablet experience.
To be honest, I have never used (or seen) a Surface or Transformer, so they may work better than an iPad with keyboard.
This is all of course my personal preference. I just thin each device category has it's strengths and weaknesses that are clear. If you come up with hybrid devices that sit between categories they tend to inherit more of the weaknesses than strengths of their bordering categories. A tablet with a keyboard loses its portability strength, while not gaining the power of a laptop.
Creating a Windows phone with real Windows and hook it up to a bunch of devices destroys its portability. It's not longer a mobile phone and a terrible desktop compared to a desktop.
I don't think it's about the hardware, it's about the data and the software. If I can get at my data with <any> device I can simply pick the right device for the right situation and access my data.
So I'd rather have Microsoft make a great phone, regardless on what it's software internals are based, and someone else make a great computer.
Like I said it's my personal view and the Microsoft Surface commercials are full of happy people so I guess there are people in both camps of the argument.