Windows Mobile 7 hopes to mimic iPhone; will fail just like Vista
Windows Mobile, the operating platform installed on most smartphones today, is going to get revitalized in its 7th version. However, a set of insider documents reveals that Microsoft is trying to invigorate Windows Mobile with many of the same features and innovation that the iPhone now possesses. If Microsoft goes this route, Windows Mobile 7 will follow in its big brother Vista’s footsteps to certain failure.
Nathan Weinberg, writer for Inside Microsoft, was the lucky recipient of some very choice information regarding the direction Microsoft wants to take with Windows Mobile 7. In his article, he documents the many changes that Microsoft hopes to be a platform that is, “simple, memorable and fun; consistent, predictable and interesting.”
Some of the functionality his article includes references features like the ability to shake the smartphone to switch between tabs, multi-touch functionality (think iPhone), smooth transitions and GUI effects, and a much-improved media player.
Though Apple’s technology in the iPhone as well as Apple’s OS X software is really innovative and creative, one lesson that Microsoft has apparently not learned from its experience with Vista is that Microsoft really isn’t capable of successfully replicating any of Apple’s ideas. In fact, Vista is a great example of poor implementation of stolen ideas; though Apple is leading in the operating system and cell phone departments, Microsoft would do well to come up with some truly unique innovations outside the realm of “Apple’s already done this; let’s see if we can do it too.”
Additionally, Apple isn’t the only competitor for Windows to consider. Google’s Android platform, which has already shown itself to be quite innovative and creative, will be free to all who desire it; what that means for Microsoft is that it will have a much harder time selling licenses to software that has traditionally been bloated, buggy and inconsistent when Apple and Google will be providing stronger alternatives.
Microsoft has a steep hill to climb in the mobile platform arena; hopefully someone at headquarters will pipe up and remind the great minds at Microsoft that copying Apple is a losing game plan.
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January 6th, 2008
Having used several Windows Mobile Smart Phones, the last being the Apache 6700, I agree it’s pretty crappy. Had to hack the crap out of it, to make it semi-useful. It did have wi-fi, touchscreen(poor), 3.0 network for good browsing speed and Exchange and Office built-in, voice dialing, could run flash.Third party apps were plentiful. It also would spontaneously redial the last number and go into flight mode unannounced. I gave it to one of the Marketing guys that liked shiny over function. The implementation of these great 1.5-years-prior-to-the-intro-of-the-Jesus-Phone features was horrendous. I’m told it’s much improved from the 1st generation, but I’m waiting for a peek at some of the next gen Linux based devices. There is already too much “proprietary” goodness for my taste.
January 6th, 2008
I didn’t want my last post to be taken as a slam on the iPhone, it is a great phone, beautiful design, innovative screen and the 2.0 version will be better yet. They did not invent the features, but no one can touch the implementation. Not ready for enterprise, but Apple hasn’t chosen to compete there in any product.
January 6th, 2008
Well Ken, if your description of the reliability of your “enterprise ready” windows mobile smart phones is something to go by then I guess microsoft isn’t “ready for enterprise” either…
January 7th, 2008
Yeah, but Palm and Blackberry did well. Also, that was one model, I know folks that are happy with their current Windows Mobile phones. It was going on two years ago, it’s not like the iPhone didn’t have issues at birth.