Is the Windows Mobile scene dying.. - General Questions and Answers

So we have had many fantastic high-end pieces of hardware released, such as the HTC Diamond, HD, Samsung Omnia etc
but where is the software??!
All I see these days is developement for iPhone iPhone and iPhone. Do you remember the time when you could have any software need and you KNEW there was a windows mobile app out there to do the job.
Once of WM's advantages over the orignal iPhone were the thousands of apps - now it seems iPhone development in less than a year has overtaken WM development. iPhone gets plenty of cool new apps and we are snubbed..
Example
BBC iPlayer
Sky by Mobile
(Official) Facebook
Pandora
just where are the WM versions??!! I dont think WM is considered by developers to have any future, in terms of software - iPhone is the answer, however the limitations on the device and control apple have over the iPhone users media etc rules that out.
I love WM, I love the freedom, I love the range of devices out there - I just hate to see development dry up. After all, just what is WM without 'apps'?..

sadly it seems you are right

All this is happening just because I bought a HTC Diamond about 2 months ago...
I bought a UIQ3 device back in may and what happened? UIQ died! So I guess the same will happen to WM now, I bought the Diamond because I wanted to have lots of software to play with, I guess I was wrong.
Maybe it's time for me to kill the iPhone soon? I won't buy an iPhone before 2009 at least so iPhone users can stay calm for a while

Happily, I have to respectfully disagree!
Take a closer look to the - so called - iPhone Software Application. You will soon learn that there is no real piece of software developed other than WEB APPLICATION; they do not much more but 'fitting' the content of an ONLINE SERVICE on the iPhone screen!
With Windows Mobile on the other hand, you find a daily increasing ammount of software. For example, try to find something like GARMIN MOBILE XT, SYGIC McGuider or SPB Softwarehouse application for the iPhone. LOL, just don't say Google Maps - that is - once again - an ONLINE APPLICATION!
Not noticed by many, the WINDOWS MOBILE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT has gone different ways. Since everyone is entitled in these days to develop his own cool piece of software, there are entire communities out there, busy developing software for their own needs or helping others getting their stuff developed. Just check out the MSDN Forums for MOBILE DEVICES and you might get an impression what I am talking about.
Besides the HOBBY PROGRAMMERs developing for their own needs, even the commercial software market is releasing new application every day.

lets raise donation money for u to buy all iphone versions, and kill them, so we can have our software back

There is a cause to it. Maybe if Windows Mobile was less buggy and more user-friendly (maybe a more closed platform), it would be prevailing. But looking how little it changed in so long is a good clue of what's wrong. PalmOS pretty much died too because they never bothered giving its user anything else than barely updated Treos.
Windows Mobile won't die, but it will certainly not prevail. Nonetheless it still has its niche of developers, tweakers and do-it-all device lovers. What other mobile OS allows you to carry a photoshop clone one it?

Related

Why Windows Mobile will die

Bob Cringely's blog piece. I though it worth a read, whether or not you agree.
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2008/pulpit_20081023_005500.html
He is an idiot.
Any chance we can have a cadre from XDA go to these stupid articles and make our opinion know? 200 posts saying the opposite may be clear enough. Apple always had its fanboy army, maybe Windows Mobile needs one too.
Surur
With WIndows 7 (and Mobile 7) being very modular Operating systems...
The future belongs to companies using this as their backbone.
Espescially with the current trend of companies creating very tought out Interfaces on top of Win mobile, Win mobile will eventually trigger the right things and become the Major player in the Market next to apple.
Keep also in mind that both Intel and Nvidia are targetting their new mobile processor line at windows mobile.
Phones will grow to personall communication and entertainment devices....and Microsoft has the budget to be part of that...
Right now, the way I see it, the game is all about interface, interface, interface. Every kid, teen, tween and beyond is dazzled by a cool interface. I must admit, at 34 years old, I still am too (thank god for SPB Mobile Shell!). If WinMo can turn some heads, they can sell some phones. Right now if an impartial customer is in a store looking at an iPhone or an Android phone next to a stock WinMo phone.. I wouldn't wager that WinMo would get many takers.
WinMo is my OS of choice.. I love it for the functionality and flexibility. I do wish it were more elegant at times, though.
Sure it's a lot about interface, but what good is a phone when you have only a few hundred programs available to install? The only other choice for me would be a linux based OS.
Does anyone know the Nokia Internet Tablet devices? They are awesome and they have a huge community, but they don't sell like Apple or HTC devices. They simply coexist and WinMo will do that for a very long time, if it's called WinMo or whatever.
In the 2nd from last paragraph, he says that ipods have 85% of the music player market. In actual fact they hold about 75% of the HDD-BASED music players market, and less than 15% of the total music players market, when mp3 playing phones are included. Apple are outsold by Nokia, Sony Ericsson and LG.
he hasn't propably seen the diamond/pro interface

A Thread to praise winmo (even though it has limitations)

after a long time being here ive noticed far too many threads moaning about the ugly interface and limitations of winows mobile
so i thought id start one that encourages new members to appreciate what we have
we have a mobile operating system that lets us do more than any other. emails on the go, internet sharing, fully customisable and the feature of being able to install unsigned software and work around compatability issues. and as far as looks go its noi uglier than a pc so we really cant complain. and i still hear about comparisons to the iphone now ill be the first to admit its a prett thing but after owning three winmo devices im never going to another, just because there are more possibilties than anything available
which brings me to this community and its part, my first device was a heavily branded spv m5000 (universal) and i really wasnt interested in flashing it or downloading because i didnt know about this community. then i got a kaiser and signed up for xda devs and have never seen so much appreciation for a mobile operating system and its features. in fact the only hangup i had was xda didnt cater for non htc devices, this was a bit of a niggle when i got the omnia. but ive still been welcomed and also decided to create a forum in the same manner as xda that caters for all winmo devices (see my sig)
so basically lets stop telling people what we think we should have and be greatful that we have the best mobile operating system available that seems to get better along the way with communities such as this one
cheers j
nb i know it seems a bit pointless posting a new topic about windows mobiles advantages but its better than another thread wishing it looked like an iphone
except windows mobile is dying and developement is drying up. Not only has the iphone outsold all wm devices worldwide but it actually has MORE apps now and more active development.
I too love WM and detest the limitations of the iphone, but sadly I must call a spade a spade
yeah it has just now. but development will pick up again. and i think the reason the iphone is doing so well is becauseits nice to look at. but they forget iphone has mass limitations
jayjay8585 said:
yeah it has just now. but development will pick up again. and i think the reason the iphone is doing so well is becauseits nice to look at. but they forget iphone has mass limitations
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but most of iPhone users are not hackers like peeps in xda or generally in windows mobile devices. they just like the fact that it is easy to use and doesn`t even realize it`s fails etc. I just wish that wm7 will bring those iphone users to us.
when peopolemfinally reaslise the iphones limtitations then they should come by them selves. if theyre r worried about interface. ifonz, but see we have the option of a pretty shortcut menu or pc looking interface ythey get the one and only that one
doubt very much iphone ipod touch got more apps then windows mobile
if people google <insert program name> pocketpc there are always hits
piles of freeware progs and games
but granted it's easier for people who pref not to use
google to find applications in app store
jayjay8585 said:
when peopolemfinally reaslise the iphones limtitations then they should come by them selves. if theyre r worried about interface. ifonz, but see we have the option of a pretty shortcut menu or pc looking interface ythey get the one and only that one
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Yah, but that is the problem. They have to install stuff to get it clean lookin etc.
yeah but the point is we have the choice we can install m2d and ifonz wad and throttle launcher they cant
the one word thatll piss every iphone user off
FULL CUSTOMISATION
jayjay8585 said:
yeah but the point is we have the choice we can install m2d and ifonz wad and throttle launcher they cant
the one word thatll piss every iphone user off
FULL CUSTOMISATION
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Well, that is also so true, but it would be good if Windows Mobile would be as easy to use in the beginning like iPhone is. It took me time to get inside WinMo and now I love it, but iPhone is easy-to-use instantly or maybe this is just me
but the full customization is Windows Mobile`s greatest side and iPhone can`t compete on that side God I still wish that we had something like iTunes Store for Windows Mobile provided by xda
jayjay8585 said:
FULL CUSTOMISATION
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care to explain how you can change the icons of the apps displayed when you Start > Programs or Start > Settings
i myself dont kno but after flashing hyperdragonsr rom onto my old kaiser theyre different so we know it possible
at the end of the day if winmo was so easy to set up and just use xda devs would be replaced with apps to be bought from microsoft for a fee then like apple sdks would have to be bought
although apps on appstore are free. well some of them developers still have to pay for the right to develop. winmno rules
and another note the whole taking time to set up winmo to be the you like it, thats what customisation is all about, and the fact that we delve so deep is the reason this haven exists
Yeah I agree about taking winmo to where I want is that loved customization side of it.
but for casual users it is like dancing on the graves and then they go and buy iPhone which a monkey can use -.-" but winmo still pwns it. no matter of what.
One other important aspect that is not being mentioned is that fact that the iphone had great advertising. The whooped and hollered it up and every one wanted one. I have friends who have the iphone and after a period of time they want more but due to no customization they can't. They are then jealous of my WM Device. Granted MS sucks a lot, because it appears they don't listen to what people want, but to me that is a great thing. Because of that we have XDA-Dev and all the wonderful programs. If it was up to me, keep is simple Microsoft and let the community build on it. The other fact is I hate (did I already say hate) itunes. AAC is a great format but the limitations of only being able to play on certain devices and having to sync with your computer and stuff. To much hassle and not enough freedom. My iphone friends agree, now that they see how quickly I can sync, move data and upload/download what I want as opposed to what I'm being told I can.
Just my two cents.
Let the flaming begin!!!
Just about right said:
One other important aspect that is not being mentioned is that fact that the iphone had great advertising. The whooped and hollered it up and every one wanted one. I have friends who have the iphone and after a period of time they want more but due to no customization they can't. They are then jealous of my WM Device. Granted MS sucks a lot, because it appears they don't listen to what people want, but to me that is a great thing. Because of that we have XDA-Dev and all the wonderful programs. If it was up to me, keep is simple Microsoft and let the community build on it. The other fact is I hate (did I already say hate) itunes. AAC is a great format but the limitations of only being able to play on certain devices and having to sync with your computer and stuff. To much hassle and not enough freedom. My iphone friends agree, now that they see how quickly I can sync, move data and upload/download what I want as opposed to what I'm being told I can.
Just my two cents.
Let the flaming begin!!!
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I hope this wont turn on a flame war
yeah, Apple`s advertising sure beats wm devices ad`s. haven`t seen a single Diamond / Touch Pro ad and I see atleast three iPhone adverts in a day at tv.
guess thats because apple is iphone and virsa versa
where wm is a os that anybody can make phones using
so should htc make adds for a ms product or
should ms make adds for a htc product ?
HTC should advertise their devices I wonder what would be results if Diamond would be as advertised as iPhone :s
Thanks for starting this thread. There is so much talk about how terrible winmo is, but personally I think its great. Sure out of the box it isn't the most user friendly device, but you can customize your phone however you want with a large array of diffent programs that allow for 'prettier' graphics and a much more user friendly interface. Its too bad development is slowing down, but I understand why. I just hope that WM7 can step up the ms game and get people interested again.
One more thing. I have a friend with a 3G iPhone. He is so die hard about it and is convinced everything else is so far inferior. Well, the other day I showed him the customization of my phone, dual booting android, and smoked him in download and internet speeds and suddenly he didn't seem so sure about his iPhone. He thought active sync was the coolest thing, I had to remind him that this was present on winmo phones for many years and is not an iphone development. I think a big issue is advertising, smart phones and ppcs are NEVER advertised on television. You may see ads for an Instinct or a Razor, but never for a Vogue, Kaiser, Diamond etc.
Anyhow, great thread. Winmo rocks.
of course it does because as we kno its has limitations but because of forums like this thre not a lot. and less work than symbian
Again, How is WM More customizable than the other platforms??
Custom Roms (Treo's and iPhone)
3rd party apps (Symbian, Treo, iPhone)
Ability to run Unsigned Code (All three again)
MS is as evil as any other company.
Flashing custom Roms(CID unlock/Hard SPL) seems easy to you because of hard work of folks here.
And should i remind you that MS/HTC haave in the past tried to shut this site down???
I hate to break it to alot of you guys, but the sub culture of the jailbroken iPhone community is much more in depth and techy than many of you think.
Windows Mobile is still my preferred OS mainly because I've been using it for so long, but I do own an iPhone 3G. Just like I've been ripping apart my WM phones for awhile with the information received here, so do I with my iPhone and it's batch of web sites. You'd be amazed at some of the stuff they've got going. Full customization of every aspect of the phones graphics, a video recorder that shoots ultra clear video (this, after years of suffering with my HTC camera software), a wealth of Apple-unapproved third party apps, system tweaks (like Safari Mobile tweaks that allow us to download, copy and paste, etc.), and more.
I do and always will love Windows Mobile, but we HAVE to remember that most of us hated WM right out of the box, otherwise we wouldn't be here. Likewise, my iPhone failed to interest me much when I first got it, yet the current generation of Jailbreaking has really opened it up.
The grass is green on both sides of the fence. I used to bash the iPhone and it's users just like everybody else, but now that I speak from experience I have come to see that the two OS's are much more alike than we realize.
The way I see it, there is no reason for me to be blindly loyal to one OS. When I started buying WM devices, I didn't sign up for some strange Microsoft regime, and likewise for Apple. We can have both, and use them as the mood strikes us.
EDIT: Oh, and don't even get me started on the touch screens...we really need some capacitive love on WM touch screens...

This sort of thing pretty much proves Windows Mobile is dying...

http://msmobiles.com/news.php/7890.html
darthbane2k said:
http://msmobiles.com/news.php/7890.html
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I think its pretty shameful.
Surur
Hmmm....
I don't think Windows Mobile is going anywhere. Theres too many of us out there.
i think this thread should be trash as its counter productive
rjgraves said:
I don't think Windows Mobile is going anywhere. Theres too many of us out there.
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That's what I thought about the Clie... and Palm OS... wow, this sucks. Yet it is oddly familiar to me
This does not prove anything. In fact, I was just reading a recent study which suggests that based on the trends that symbian phones are the ones on the way out and that WM phones, IPhone and other smart phones are all on the rise. Look at the MOTO Razr - it use to be the best selling phone on the market, not anymore. In fact - Motorolla is hurting and at risk now because they can't come out with a device to compete against the new WM smartphones - IPhone, Android phones etc....
think wm was at first mostly intresting for business people who dident want
palm og blackbarry for some reason
and us geeks who liked to have a phone/pda that was not unlike the windows
we had one the pc's
then apple made iphones and get the interest of a lot of people who used
to say that our phone were too much bricks too complex and not easy enough to use
now many many apps are being made for iphones but not sure that it's at the expense of
of wm just a bigger market
if anybody kills wm it would suspect android as it's closer to the open wm platform then apple is where lack of openness scar us away
Calling it a dying OS is pretty meaningless based on the release of an application from a single group in the Microsoft Labs (like google labs, it's more like a play area). Microsoft Labs has released a number of things that were never meant to go anywhere, and often things that were discontinued despite being popular. Considering what the application does (in terms of audience), it's more likely that the application was released to test the Deep Zoom service, or at least build up it's user base. Assuming popularity of Seadragon, I wouldn't be surprised to see it included in a lot of WM7 phones when they come out soon. This is also a common move by microsoft, waiting to release an app until they can make a grand entrance with it, which packaging this along with WM7 definitely fits.
Also remember that WM6.1 is actually the oldest of the smartphone competitors out there. We all know that MS is going to be releasing 7 in the very near future, which by all reports should put it into the realm of ridiculously cool features and in many ways it will either match or exceed almost anything currently out.
Rudegar said:
think wm was at first mostly intresting for business people who dident want
palm og blackbarry for some reason
and us geeks who liked to have a phone/pda that was not unlike the windows
we had one the pc's
then apple made iphones and get the interest of a lot of people who used
to say that our phone were too much bricks too complex and not easy enough to use
now many many apps are being made for iphones but not sure that it's at the expense of
of wm just a bigger market
if anybody kills wm it would suspect android as it's closer to the open wm platform then apple is where lack of openness scar us away
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I second this
totally agree
WM is going nowhere for the short term, when we get like Palm OS *then* I'll worry.
to say because MS released one app for iPhone befroe WM means the WM is dying is like saying the MS Office for Mac foreshadowed the downfall of the PC!
All it really means is tha MS acknowledges there is another market for their products.
i think its ms making the point that even the die hardest mac fan cant live without ms products
I think this is a great sign. I would love to see MS release a Zune Mobile app for the iPhone and one-up Apple on their own platform.
motionmind said:
I think this is a great sign. I would love to see MS release a Zune Mobile app for the iPhone and one-up Apple on their own platform.
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Cannot be done.
Apple does not allow software in their app store that resembles or competes too directly with anything they are putting out. Zune would obviously be a direct competitor.
Obviously there's always jailbroken iphones which could install it, but most of the apps people install with that are small distribution and generally not a threat. If microsoft put out the Zune software specifically with jailbroken iphones in mind, it would take less than a blink before Apple's lawyers were having orgasms at the idea of getting MS into court.
I know you're meaning it as a joke (at least I assume you are), and I'm taking your joke seriously...but I only do that because I also believe that it would be a truly great thing to see Apple forced into allowing the Zune software after they've worked so hard to exclude fair competition in business (you know, the same thing that kept MS court for a decade)
Sorry if that sounds bad, I admit, I've hated apple since before there were hard drives in their computers
speed_pour said:
I know you're meaning it as a joke (at least I assume you are), and I'm taking your joke seriously...
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I'm 100% serious. I wouldn't mind having an iPhone if I could use my Zune subscription service with it. I've tried iTunes and it's really a cluttered mess compared to the Zune software, plus no subscription options. My wife has an iPhone and a Zune player because of this same issue.
derekwilkinson said:
That's what I thought about the Clie... and Palm OS... wow, this sucks. Yet it is oddly familiar to me
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I can't confirm anything, but two years ago I think their R&D department consisted of a single guy with an old M505. Windows Mobile might not get all the cool stuff, but at least it's up to date and totally hackable.
I love the open platform and all its possibilities
I'm quite certain that there is a simple and clear reason for releasing seadragon on the iPhone before WM.
The iPhone exists in the form of two handsets only, and they are near identical hardware. This means that it is simple to write some code to make use of the CPU and graphics acceleration in the best possible way.
There are huge numbers of WM handsets, and they all have different capabilities and different hardware interfaces. This make it damn near impossible to code an application like seadragon. None also the dearth of genuinely impressive 3d games on the WM scene, as against the iPhone app store. Same reason.
Any games we make have to be tweaked for different resolution, hardware etc. Even the prolific developers (the guy behind s2u2, s2v etc.) finds it difficult and has to hard code in support for direct3d, opengl and all sorts of different things. Even then s2v struggles on the better phones out there.
I wonder why people keep reading msmobiles... it is the windows mobile equivalent of a tabloid, and the arguments the author keeps making over and over and over again can at best described as clownish.

What do you think about the new WinMo 7?? Like or Not?

UPDATE: Thanx for participating in the poll but kindly leave a small comment along with it. Thanx
When we say Windows Mobile, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Emmmmm…
Extensive Customization!! - True
Multi Tasking!! - True
Copy Paste!! - True
External SD Card!! – True
Humongous Application and Easy Installation!! - True
Boring but we got UI replacements!! - That is true aswel
And we love that don’t we. That is because it has something that no other Mobile OS had before.
Well lets hear it from you people..
Was this what you were looking for? Or is it no where even close?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To read more go here - Windows Phone 7 might really die before its even Out?
Lets hear what you guys have to say.
what about love it hate it..u should add a poll but im getting 1 when they come out
It has new **** so i might as well love it.
hmmm. lets see how much we can crack open this os..
looks outdated visually boring like all things microsoft lately. The official statement appears to be Manufacturers will also be restricted to the smart tile user interface so not a smart move when you compare with the Android System.
I'm not worried about losing the freedom that we have on WinMo - I'm confident that the community here will find a way - and a great way, at that - to allow everyone to get what they want out of WP7, or the way I put it to my friend: I'm sure XDA-Devs will have there way with WP7.
I like the look and feel alot!!
But somehow I fear we will loose all our custimisazion possibilities...like custon ROM's simple apps, Registry tweaks, etc...
But lets see...
Like it quite a bit, seeing some great potential there.
I'm happy to see Microsoft used the Zune interface as guideline as many, including myself, liked the interface and where "hoping"/"seeing" the possibility of a phone entry to the Zune's menu structure. In this case Microsoft went further even and expanded on that UI just like i feel the Zune interface is an expanded/further developed titanium UI. Thank god we get rid of Touchflo/Sense finally, always hated it, but that's just my personal opinion ofc.
Next to that the new zoom/rendering/cleartype is very nice and a great addition to any OS.
Personally i dont care too much about all the social networking features as i hardly use them myself and suspect europeans overall use these less than americans. However i like the widespread intergration of these things, from the photo app, the Me tile etc. to the automatic selection of contact information.
Hope our great dev's and myself here at XDA will figure out the inner workings of it and be able to polish it to our liking.
my two cents for now
Wait to see how much the new OS is far to customizations, I belive that here at XDA we can hack again but why the no Power user can't? I don't complain with this new Apple/like orientation.
Hope it's not like it seems
[email protected]
Looks good to me. It is what I was expecting from a new OS. It isn't just rehashing and repackaging old ideas. I just hope there will be a call manager available for it
It looks good and advanced.
The only fear is that microsoft will go the apple way and cut the developments........
If m$ has not done that there is not better company !
If m$ has done that ( and done successfully ! ) its a sad day for XDA community.
Hope for the best be prepared for the worst !
Jump over to android if m$ has backstabed us
OS is just an OS. The application is more important.
If all the application needs to rebuild, I will simply go for android.
Why should I pay for an OS, when the efforts in the industry is now to be open source? What makes the os distictive are efficiency, multitask, free of dead lock ....But not UI.
If windows phone could make application runs on my HD lighting fast, I might go for it.
It is definetly the end to charge for a mobile OS. Will the greedy M$ make it free for us? If not, it is likely the end of wm.
Good UI, but too sad if we loose all stuff cooked over this forum....
windows 7 plays around microsoft services! buy only if u need these services
Now i understand why microsoft is not completely burying their 6.5.x series development
WM7 at its present state is not for me or for business people.
It is for Iphonish common consumers.
I was expecting WM7 to be an OS with same functional menus & functionalities as previous versions but UI but built on silverlight with zune & Xbox integration. Such a thing would have made WM7 to appeal all types of customers.
Its sad that micrsoft has decided to go in a rather commercial way as apple.
Unless WM7 supports custom skinning like Sense or Mobile shell, i don't think microsoft is going to win here.
They Need You
Years ago, in the dark ages, I was given a prototype computer from Europe to work with and redesign it if necessary. It was necessary. With some skill and a lot of luck I rebuilt a great computer for its time. The American company who owned the European rights to this computer was sinking $200 million into making this machine work for the US market. I was an independent designer (who had already upgraded this computer) and this large company did not want to listen to me or even give me anything for my work. So I never turned over the secrets to them but I wrote software for it for my software company. They worked on this computer for another 8 months and finally solved the problems. In the end, because other companies (like Commodor) beat this computer (that was way ahead of the others) to market, this great machine never caught on. The other computers weren't better but they were first and now were being used by the public. The company who would not sign a contract with me, lost their shirts in their computer division. The company was Timex.
I feel this may be the same problem with Windows mobile. Yes, they have terrific engineers but they should also look to you all on sites like this one to really get new ideas and advice. Because of this site and the programmers on it, my WM 6.1 OS has blown away even phones with snapdragon processors. I hope WM doesn't become a third rate OS because of their not listening to people like you on this site.
too little is revealed on the presentation, to me at least. i dont use social networking nor LIVE service (i do have XBOX360). i need a good organizer, customizable layout, multitasking, and NOT iphone alike!
WP7S seems to be too stripped down, compared to current WM versions. The press conference didn't go into detail, but I fear the highly customizable OS we came to know is a thing of the past - which is a bad thing imo.
But luckily Android is becoming a nice alternative.
the problem for ms is that so far most apps since pocketpc2000 works on our devices so if we can suffer the UI there are tons of apps free and paied you can use
leaving that would mean that android and even nokia n900 (also linux based) are already way ahead of ms in terms of apps and getting fancy games running also a thing ms say is not the aim of wm7 from the rumours i read say and if thats the case the no good gaming options
then iphone / ipod touch are also ahead of them
so far ms had pretty good development res for their mobiles being .net and microMFC as core techs
where iphone / ipod touch required you to buy a mac to make apps which given apples market % few developers had
not sure about how good the symbian/android/n900 development tools are
as an sdk is not really enough to make a good IDE
to be honest i find it pitifully bad.
as i was expecting it too be as soon as the words "stop, thinking off it as a pc, its a phone" came put right near the start.
no matter how much bull and spin and pr hype they put on it its a list based os. list after list after list...
this isn't really what people want is it?
I was really hoping for innovation instead its gone back 8 years.
forget windows phone, its gone windows dumb phone

The End Of Windows Mobile?

Hi,
I have been increasingly concerned over future development (if any) of Windows Mobile. Having bought my TG01 only in February with the joy of believing that windows mobile would expand to windows mobile 7, I am now very disappointed to discover that this won't happen. Here are some article snippets I have seen in the news highlights:
"TG01 won't get windows mobile 7 upgrade"
Original Source: Can't seem to find it again on google, but have seen it on google within last few days.
and
"Adobe kills Flash Player 10.1 for Windows Mobile 6.5, smitten with Windows Phone 7 Series"
"If you’re not feeling a bit sorry for the aging Windows Mobile platform, you should be. With Windows Phone 7 completely overshadowing Windows Mobile 6.5 and Adobe confirming the death of Flash 10.1 for WinMo, the stylus-happy smartphone operating system of yester-year is being kicked to the curb left and right."
Original Source:
http://www.intomobile.com/2010/02/2...-6-5-smitten-with-windows-phone-7-series.html
Just wondered what other WM users think? Personally, I'm tempted to sell my TG01 fast before it's too late, but can't help but wonder if I'm making the right decision, and wouldn't know what to replace it with.
I keep reading negative headlines for windows mobile, and I think it won't be long before most phone manufacturers choose Android as their OS, therefore making windows mobile redundant. I suppose windows mobile has been around for some time now, so perhaps I shouldnt have bought a phone with a OS that is heading for 'death'.
Wrong section for this thread... But...
Many WinMo devices in the past never received official updates... My phone is from 2008 and didn't even receive a 6.5 update...
If you ask me Microsoft is going in the wrong direction. . They abandoning everything that made the platform great to focus on interface and dumb down the OS (I hate how they are iPhoning the system). In a nutshell it's the PocketPC deevolved from a tiny computer into a mere feature phone... They have already lost a great deal of 3rd party developer (professional and amateurs... most freeware devs and hackers got off the wagon)... The lack of quality freeware and OSS content is what will utterly drive me and many others to Android.
Samsung has released Bada... HTC doesn't seem pleased with the UI modifications constraints and has an ever increasing number of Android devices... Regardless of my opinion about them they are the current two biggest WinMo phones producers. If these two companies drop the platform it's as good as dead.
The signs of death are way older than this (just look at the state of many OSS projects and emulation... also the smaller number of commercial apps and quality games... even some bogus apps iPhone clones that users currently request here). Adobe is just throwing a tantrum (but considering Microsoft is pushing Sirlverlight, Apple is developing Gianduia and the eminence of HTML5... I don't know if they can afford the price) very much like Mozilla did when they cancelled Fennec for WinMo.
install mobile shell 3.5 much better then any microsoft update lol
We even lost support for Skype ! Whate a shame. Windows Mobile is really coming to its end :/
I recently bought a HTC HD2 and sold it because I realised there is no future in Windows Mobile..
It might be the end of Windows Mobile.
But if our great XDA hackers manage to compile a fully functional Linux kernel with required drivers over time, I assure you the use of your device won't be lost. It's still one of the best hardware devices out there at the moment if you ask me.
With that, Windows Mobile will still be what it was. I'd not even WANT Windows 7 if it is heading the way it's going now..
You people need to get the facts right.
Firmware updates DO NOT COME FROM MICROSOFT.
They are custom built by each manufacturer.
It is HTC, SE, etc... that do NOT update their phones. They make money by selling hardware, so "no new features" on old hardware is an industry standard.
It is TRUE that windows mobile 7 will include an update feature similar to that of android where you can get OS updates without having to resort to flashing the whole firmware.
What isn't true is that microsoft will give you windows mobile 8 for free and so on...
Google is giving you "free" updates because android is a platform for google to sell it's services... gmail, calendar... etc.
TRUE STORY:
1. Make something easy to use and people will come running, and give up their privacy and data on the way.
2. People don't actually USE windows mobile. They just push the buttons. Windows mobile is a platform too, a business platform. You need a business built around MS technologies to take advantage of it's true value.
They told us, WM 6.5 will be continued for professional users. But I think, if this really happens, new software will be rare: Skype is off the hook. Many other may/will follow: They want big business with many customers.
I plan my switch to Android. HTC Desire is at the top of the wish list !! I hope there will be as much quality software as there is for windows mobile here at XDA devs! I tested Android and maany apps are disappointing .
I tested Android and maany apps are disappointing .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason I'm never changing to Android.
Very sorry to hear that Skype has been discontinued. Is someone able to confirm that this:
"Can I still use Skype for Windows phones if I already have it?
Yes. People who have already installed Skype for Windows phones can of course continue to use it."
means that as long as you have skype installed, you can still use it, meaning forever?
Well, I'll continue using my TG01 for another 6 weeks and then I'm putting it on ebay for around £150 Sim-free. Not sure if I'll be following the phone market anymore. I've seen a rapid flow of tablets being made recently and with the addition of 3G, I think that they could possibly overtake mobile phone market, but as they are still coming to the surface, they need a little more time so it's a waiting game for now.
At least windows mobile was easy and fast to navigate, but what's the point in following it if developers are leaving in droves and software is dying out.
Bring on Windows 7 (not the mobile version, but a more portable version of the desktop version ). RIP windows mobile Good (in a way) while it lasted.
Tozzy2 said:
The reason I'm never changing to Android.
Very sorry to hear that Skype has been discontinued. Is someone able to confirm that this:
"Can I still use Skype for Windows phones if I already have it?
Yes. People who have already installed Skype for Windows phones can of course continue to use it."
means that as long as you have skype installed, you can still use it, meaning forever?
Well, I'll continue using my TG01 for another 6 weeks and then I'm putting it on ebay for around £150 Sim-free. Not sure if I'll be following the phone market anymore. I've seen a rapid flow of tablets being made recently and with the addition of 3G, I think that they could possibly overtake mobile phone market, but as they are still coming to the surface, they need a little more time so it's a waiting game for now.
At least windows mobile was easy and fast to navigate, but what's the point in following it if developers are leaving in droves and software is dying out.
Bring on Windows 7 (not the mobile version, but a more portable version of the desktop version ). RIP windows mobile Good (in a way) while it lasted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my opinion in the near future many WM-programmers will switch to Android-programming. As we can see here in this community this switch has already started! That's a nice developement. I tested the HTC Legend last week and it was nice! You can even use the phone with minimal dependence on Google (apart from Android updates of course)!
Certainly the old Skype will work. But if Skype changes some fundamental things, you have to switch to programs with skype support like Fring. When WM is really dead, even the support for those apps would die, too.
But surely, eventually, someone could hack the TG01 to make it compatible with windows mobile 7 unless TG01 isn't hardware equipped to be able to run it? Perhaps there could be a slim chance? After all, the problem doesn't lie in the phone, but in the inupgradeable OS.
Guys your right!
its just dawned on me: What is the future of ' Microsoft Windows Mobile'
As Windows Phone 7, sounds rubbish and Wm is losing support from:
Skype IM
Adobe Flash 10.1
I fear the days are numbered before Android takes it thrown
I'm disappointed as well.
I'm heavily relying on Outlook to sync up two pocket pc phones (TP2s), as well as SpbFinance.
I wonder what's going to happen to Outlook, once Windows doesn't cater to adults, but only social networking teens and tweens? I imagine that other OSes, that put in some effort to use Outlook & Exchange, will eventually drop that too.
I have a second PC at home with OpenSUSE 11 on it, more as a curiosity than anything else. Maybe it's time to install GCC, the Eclipse IDE, and the Android SDK on it and start all over again. I'll probably start hanging out in the Android Development Forum.
As an aside, all the above are available totally gratis. Download them, install and run them, all under the GNU licenses.
In the early days Microsoft gave away Embedded Tools 3 (C++ and VB) and the later improved Embedded C++ 4.0, with the sole purpose of getting the platform moving. That vision seems to have gone, but it's probably too late now anyway.
This forum was an excellent lesson for Microsoft to follow the Google/Android model instead of Apple/iPhone.
Unfortunately for us, MS decided to follow the Apple/iPhone model, at least for their phone line of business..
I do believe though that the driving force of XDA is such that it could force MS into creating a WM/PocketPC series of devices based on WM6.5.x following the Google/Android model.
MS fears that if they do that, they will cannibalize WP7 sales, as everybody would love it:
- OEMs would not have to dump their development investments
- DEVELOPERS would have the choice to continue to use their libraries or use Silverlight,
- END USERS would continue to use their purchased software,
- even MS itself would love strong demand for devices like HD2 which would in turn bring strong license revenues.
Boiling everything down into one question to MS:
- Since, all that most people need is a phone with a notification system and apps marketplace, why couldn't you put this into any WM phone? Cheap, effective, and guaranteed to increase OS sales.
Answer: Well we did this... (Marketplace, Office 2010 etc.)
- Too late, you first killed the product and now you are trying to save it!
IT IS THE ERA THAT HAVE CHANGED, NOT THE TECHNOLOGY. I believe that WP7 would simply be the Windows Vista... WP7.1 (with WM6.5 app legacy support and multitasking) will be the Windows 7 of MS mobile phones.
In any case, if I was MS, I would have never introduced WP7 in the first place until I had it ready as my market expects it to be... How could they fall into the Osborne Effect? Did they expect that this wouldn't happen with MS? Well it did...
Dimitris
I think Microsoft was on a good way with WM6.5.x. It got finger friendly, the user interface got more usable and consistent.
The only thing MS didn't understand for years is that one very elementary thing is missing for Windows Mobile.
A FREE development platform with a STYLEGUIDE and a nice set of STANDARD GUI Controls which look good, are finger friendly and easy to use. Go to the iPhone Development Homepage and you will see what I mean.
Even with WM6.5.x they didn't learn this. They made their GUI more consistent with nice looking skinnable buttons, new finger friendly controls, and a quite usable light weight today screen.
This is all good and was the right way. But why is there no documentation on how to implement titanium plugins? Why is there no documentation and API on how to use the new controls? Why don't old programs use the new skinnable look of the controls? Why is there no API for gestures in .NET CF? ...
The support for programmers is absolutely worse (you can say not existent) for WM6.5.x so nobody wants to develop for it anymore!
Best regards,
Markus
TeddY89h said:
I tested Android and maany apps are disappointing .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tozzy2 said:
The reason I'm never changing to Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure many applications are disappointing, but there are JUST SO MANY that you need not worry about the ones that are garbage.
Its the same with EVERY platform.
And being in the US #2 market share position while WM sits within the #4 "other" position, you can be assured that Android already has FAR FAR FAR more software developers than WM will *EVER* see again.
corwin42 said:
I think Microsoft was on a good way with WM6.5.x. It got finger friendly, the user interface got more usable and consistent.
They made their GUI more consistent with nice looking skinnable buttons, new finger friendly controls, and a quite usable light weight today screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's HTC's GUI covering the ugly, ugly, WM. M$ has no merit in this!
WP7 is going to be born dead. too little, too late!! what could WP7 bring new now? hubs? they took the wrong turn following\copying the iPhone model.
i am on my way to android!
I think he's refering to WM itself. Manilla is everything but lite! In all latest devices HTC has been draining phone resources left and right for the sake of their trademark GUI.
The notion most users have of Android is also basically the HTC GUI (the Android basic GUI is also not that great).
I also think WM is on the brink of death but the fact is Android is not the answer. AFAIK the apps developed don't have capped access to the machine resources so we can forget about apps that really require everything the machine can give (such a good universal media player).
I writing an app now for Windows Mobile and I'm writing it for Windows Mobile as its the only platform that it can be written on as it makes use of a number of technologies and features that the other phones lack (I will admit Android is closest and hence a prime interest of mine for future projects). Windows Phone is a step backward technologically for sure, but the success of the iPhone proves that technology has little to do with market success.
I don't think the problem is technology, I think the problem is managing people's expectations and battery life. For example everyone wants GPS, Wifi and cellular data etc with apps running in the background using them all, but that is a battery killer and hence a phone killer. Apple's solution was to limit via the OS what could be running at any one time and hence while Microsoft might claim it was crappy apps that were causing problems (and there is some truth to that, but crappy coders are pretty much a universal problem on any platform and again if I limit what an application platform can do I also limit the damage crappy coders can do), the real problem was battery life and I think the Android is going to find the same problem. So in reality limiting the OS is really about limiting users and helping to manage their expectations and if that can be done, then you can be successful like Apple and its iPhone who lowered user expectations technically and then achieved in filling those lowered expectations. They are continuing this success by raising technical expectations as technology allows them. For example video conferencing in their next iPhone as innovation, your kidding even my old HTC Universal had a forward facing camera for video conferencing years ago but network speeds tended to leave the user disappointed, but now cellular speeds might be up to snuff and Apple will be successful with this (battery life should be interesting of course).
So I don't think technology is the key in this market, I think its finding the balance between what is technically possible and user expectations, and so you might have to drop the technical level of the product down and then raise it as technology makes it possible which sounds exactly like what Microsoft is doing with the Windows Phone.
Marketing and design was the key to Apple's success.
For years Apple held their ground and finally had a beak with the iPod. It was small, had a huge memory and was good looking. All of a sudden Apple was cool again. Over the years (and hardware revisions) the iPod became a trend, an icon and the Apple brand was automatically associated with the concept of quality by the average Joe. At this point they barely needed to market their products or be innovative anymore they just release stuff that already exists in a prettier package but otherwise inferior (iPad anyone?)
Apple gained the smartphone marked based on the cool factor, it's icon status and good looks. The iPhone had a cool looking hardware and an appealing and easy to use OS. It's however an overpriced piece of hardware with an inferior OS but what can we do if people get stupid when they see shiny objects? The flock of users, hardware standardization and centralized online market attracted developers and now the iPhone has a huge amount of programs available (sure most suck but they also have some handy stuff and lots if games).
The Windows Mobile seems to have emerged originally as an OS for a tiny computer... Not a phone on steroids. Microsoft would always have a market just as long as they released a solid platform and offered what the others didn't... Microsoft hasn't been cool for a long time (it's not a crowd pleaser). It was easier to drown the opponent products when you could just through in pile of cash to regain terrain but this won't work anymore (Apple's rolling in it). If MS is going to release just another iPhone they their new OS is dead on the water.

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