Just got this:
Ex-Microsoft Employee Likens Windows Phone 7 To Vista
By Kevin McLaughlin, ChannelWeb
6:42 PM EST Tue. Feb. 16, 2010 Windows Phone 7 has been greeted with largely positive reviews, but one former Microsoft (NSDQ:MSFT) employee has struck an ominous chord by comparing it to Windows Vista.
In a Monday blog post, Scott Barnes, a former Microsoft product manager for Windows Presentation Foundation and Silverlight, and now a user experience specialist with Melbourne, Australia-based development firm Readify.net, said Windows Phone 7 is an example of Microsoft trying too hard to create a device that is the opposite of the iPhone.
While the simple Windows Phone 7 user experience will let Microsoft react quickly to mobile market conditions, the delays along the road to Windows Phone 7, and the urgency that Microsoft faced in getting it out the door are reminiscent of the situation that existed before Vista's launch, according to Barnes.
"For me, this is the Windows Vista launch, as after some code resets and downward pressure from above, this is almost exactly the same internal conditions Windows Vista team had before their launch," Barnes wrote in the blog post. During this time, the message from Microsoft management was "get it to market, get it fast and we'll come back around for the bits we wanted to put in place," Barnes wrote.
In light of the repeated delays that both Windows Phone 7 and Vista encountered on their way to market, Barnes' analogy makes sense. But the situation Microsoft faces with Windows Phone 7 is also similar to the one it faced with Windows 7: In both cases, the new releases followed unpopular products that frustrated partners and customers and led them to consider alternatives.
With Windows 7, Microsoft was able to show that Vista was an aberration, and company officials have taken full advantage of the opportunity to talk about the great things that happen when Microsoft and its partner ecosystem are communicating closely.
With Windows Phone 7, Microsoft will have a chance to show it's capable of developing a mobile OS that's vital and fun, something that consumers will crave. But that's actually a far greater challenge for Microsoft, because these are the last descriptions that come to mind when describing Windows Mobile 6.5.
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According to this at least.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1908
Alas 2010 for WM 7..
Much was made of this week’s slip-up by Motorola’s CEO that Windows Mobile 7 is due in 2010 (something that’s actually been expected for a few months now).
I’ve been curious about how Microsoft plans to try to catch up with its mobile-phone competitors given the slow, plodding pace at which it has been rolling out new versions of its Windows Mobile platform. After asking around, it sounds like the Softies are definitely aiming to speed up development.
While Windows Mobile officials won’t talk about ship-date targets (hmmm… sounds like Windows client), some folks familiar with Microsoft’s plans are talking. Here’s the latest I’m hearing from my sources:
* Windows Mobile 6.5 RTM (release to manufacturing): April 2009
* First Windows Mobile 6.5 devices from cell phone makers: September 2009
* Windows Mobile 7.0 release to testers: November 2009
* First Windows Mobile 7.0 devices from cell phone makers: April 2010
When CNet first reported that Windows Mobile 7 had slipped, it sounded like the latter half of 2010 was the soonest the first Windows Mobile 7 devices would appear. My guess as to what’s compressing the cycle: Fewer WinMobile phone carriers means closer working relationships with Microsoft. Potentially, it also could mean smaller, shorter beta tests and quicker release cycles.
Windows Mobile increasingly seems to be going the way of Windows client: Multiple, small milestone test releases involving just a few external partners. There doesn’t seem to be an equivalent to the big public Windows client betas in the WinMobile world, but if you’re only going to release the product to a handful of carriers, as Microsoft brass indicated was the plan earlier this year, maybe you don’t need to….
I haven’t heard anything recently about the feature set that Microsoft is planning to deliver as part of Windows Mobile 6.5 or 7.0. There have been a few tidbits about some of the gesture recognition and multi-touch capabilities in the works for future WinMobile platforms, but that’s about all that’s leaked.
Back in late 2007, Microsoft told some enthusiasts a bit about its plans for Win Mobile 7 and 8. Even back then, there were hints of the Skybox/Skyline/Skymarket services, if you read between the lines. While Microsoft doesn’t seem to be tying those services to specific Windows Mobile releases, they do seem to be in lockstep with each other, from what my sources are saying. Skybox 2.0, for instance, seems to be timed to coincide with Windows Mobile 7, according to source reports.
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Thanks but already posted this info on another thread...
Hi People,
Here is an extract from smartphone mag that has some bad news in it, It seems M$ is starting a fresh and non of your programs will run on WM7. Plus there will be no updates for any current phones, so I dont see much prospects for cooking WM7 that will be of any use for us. Anyway I shall let you read it yourself
Jay
Jim Karpen,
your Web Guide
Read New Windows Mobile Content Every Week day at Smartphonemag.com
Web Guide: Windows Phone 7 Won’t Run Old Apps, Won’t Work on Current Phones
Shocking news this past week about the forthcoming Windows Phone 7 Series. Not only will it not run current apps, but also current phones such as the forthcoming HTC HD2 from T-Mobile may not be upgradeable. This week, I'll point you to more information about this, as well as additional detail about Windows Phone 7 and videos of this software in action.
Current Phones Won't Run Windows Phone 7
windows Phone 7 Series Won't Run Current Apps
The other bit of news was somewhat expected, but still something of a shock: none of your current software will work on a Windows Phone 7 device. According to a post by a Microsoft executive, making a clean break from the past will allow the new phones to be as powerful and user-friendly as possible.
What does that mean? That the developers will need to rewrite their software to work on the new phones. The exec did say that Microsoft will continue to work with partners who plan to deliver Windows Mobile 6.5 devices, and that it will continue to support these products.
The big question is, Will developers bother to rewrite their software? Given that so much of the smartphone action is in the Android and iPhone arenas, they may simply choose to focus on those platforms rather than rewrite their software for Windows Phone 7. An indication of the declining interest in Microsoft's platform may be the recent announcement by Skype that they were pulling their Windows Mobile version of Skype and have ceased development of it.
It is known for quite some time, just say goodbye to our clients to finally kato no one wants their products, they are great clowns of silent men like this Seventh, very ugly and totally sure that will become famous shows blue screen, as gathered from XP
So I'm getting a better idea of the different operating systems for mobile phones. iOs, Android, and Windows seem to be the big 3. What are the differences between windows mobile and windows phone 7?
Everything. There are no points of commonality between the two in the developer or user experiences. The Windows Phone 7 experience is more closely related to the experiences on iOS or Android than on Windows Mobile.
This is mostly because Windows Mobile is a mobile operating system which debuted on Pocket PC's (remember those?) in 2000, predating iOS by seven years. Windows Phone 7, on the other hand debuted less than 18 months ago, meant to compete directly with iOS and Android and secure Microsoft's place in the mobile market.
If you're trying to get a feel for Windows Phone 7 as a former Windows Mobile user, I suggest you go to a phone store and try the Windows Phone; there are too many differences to enumerate here.
The answer is almost everything.
Windows Phone is as similar to Windows Mobile as the iPad is to the Apple Newton
Ireyn said:
Everything. There are no points of commonality between the two in the developer or user experiences. The Windows Phone 7 experience is more closely related to the experiences on iOS or Android than on Windows Mobile.
This is mostly because Windows Mobile is a mobile operating system which debuted on Pocket PC's (remember those?) in 2000, predating iOS by seven years. Windows Phone 7, on the other hand debuted less than 18 months ago, meant to compete directly with iOS and Android and secure Microsoft's place in the mobile market.
If you're trying to get a feel for Windows Phone 7 as a former Windows Mobile user, I suggest you go to a phone store and try the Windows Phone; there are too many differences to enumerate here.
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Wrong
Windows mobile is more close to the android experience. With that i mean - battery life varies highly between each. HTC sense is found on windows mobile that are htc's which android also has. multiple hardware buttons. Applications can have root access and effect the whole phone. Multiple roms available that are custom built
Windows phone is closer to the Iphone only in terms like ease of use and smoothness. It however is very different from the Iphone. Like the iphone, things are more sand boxed. An application cannot bring the whole phone down. Security is high and malware on both iphone and windows phone is non existant. Windows phone uses live tiles that scroll vertically and flip and move to show information without actually opening the app. Iphone scrolls horizontally in grids of icons that are small and do not show extra information.
tkoh said:
So I'm getting a better idea of the different operating systems for mobile phones. iOs, Android, and Windows seem to be the big 3. What are the differences between windows mobile and windows phone 7?
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Click to collapse
In one word?
Metro.
When I wanted to know more about Windows Phone 7, I watched some videos, but then went into the Verizon phone store and tired the Trophy... and loved it. Bought one the very next day.
There is no "official" backwards compatibility with WM 6.x apps... but DFT is working on a full blown WM 6.x series emulator that might allow for those apps to work.
As far as experience, I won't touch an iPhone for moral reasons... but compared to Android, Windows Phone 7's experience is much smoother and much better on batteries in general. Windows Phone 7 runs smooth as silk (especially since most phones aren't duel+ core and full of power hogging hardware).. and I just love the experience.
The only REAL downside I can find is no Swype keyboard, but I've dealt with it since voice input works very well (for me).
I think the biggest factor about seeing the demo phone in person... was figuring out all the major functions of the phone on my own in less then 10 mins. A few things aren't obvious, but now I think about how to use phones differently with Windows Phone 7 (like holding stuff and seeing if options pop-up, or pressing ... for more options on some screens).
Definatly as stated watch some videos. You won't see live tiles on the demo phones doing much because they do not have live accounts attached to them. You miss 25% of the experience when demoing in a store.
First off, it is silly that I cannot post a reply straight into the thread, and have to create a new thread in an unrelated area of the forums, as I am a new user (or have less than 10 posts).
Ok, as regards the Windows RT and lock down of the Desktop Applications development, how do the internal programs get past this block? As per many other comments it would appear that Windows RT is a recompilation of Windows 8 and has many like for like .dll's, etc. If the Office 2013 suite can run under the desktop, is it because Microsoft has signed the app with a certificate that is not available to other developers? Does this mean that under the previous EU ruling they are breaching some law in that they are using resources to give themselves an advantage that other developers cannot take advantage of?
I think the only reason they have locked down Windows RT like this is so that this cheap OS does not eat into their regular Windows 8 sales. Certainly I bought a Windows RT device because it is more compatible with my work habits (due to Office 2013) than the Android and iPads I have used in the past. If I could easily use tools like PuTTY, then there would be little reason for me to use a normal laptop or other device.
I doubt Microsoft really watches these discussions in any serious way, but one of the key reasons I chose Windows RT over Android and iPad is because when I need the flexibility of many windows open at the same time and side by side I can do that, but when I want the uncluttered quick environment then New UI does that as well.
Samsung, with Android, is starting to allow a couple apps together, but try to run an Excel Spreadsheet and read your banking web site at the same time to transpose the figures into your budgeting file, and iPad/Android are tedious but Windows RT is a breeze, it is what Windows does best. Microsoft should understand that apart from everything else they do, they provide an OS and should let developers get the most out of that OS, just like Android and iPad developers can push those OS's.
oucarso econcomy
What's more awesome is that new users can't post outside links either. This might be of interest to you www[dot]makeuseof[dot]com/tag/how-to-jailbreak-your-windows-rt-device-and-run-unapproved-desktop-software/
Thanks for the link
My post came as a result of researching the Jail Break idea, I had not seen that page yet. I downloaded the patch and it worked very well. Pity it does not detail why the program goes to the internet the first time it is run, but I assume it is to get the certificate?
Seems like most posters are really happy to have PuTTY working (which is exactly what I wanted). Is it hard to create a New UI App?, maybe someone just needs to compile PuTTY as a New UI app as a terminal emulator should be pretty straight forward.
While I understand that new Intel chips are just around the corner, Surface RT is only $400.00 (64Gb, Touch keyboard) so pretty cheap, so being able to sit on the couch and browse emails, internet and also manage my Linux boxes is really good.
I can do the same thing on my Android TAB, but it is tedious changing screens all the time. New UI has the same problem, always flicking between all the programs. This is what Windows does best, so don't understand why MS would take away from that tried and true model, except they are probably trying to protect their full Windows 8 investment. Instead what they will find is the Windows RT dies a quick death and that is a wasted investment (if that happens they should have just made a New UI only version and got Office to work within that environment if Office is the main reason for the Desktop in Windows RT).
Microsoft’s digital voice assistant was introduced on Windows Phone 8.1 back in early April, and since then the company has been working hard to refine the service and launch it globally. On mobile.
But an appearance on the Windows platform is all but a formality.
And now we have an official confirmation. Of sorts. Marcus Ash, the group program manager working on the Cortana project fired off a series of tweets over the weekend, revealing that the software titan was indeed planning to port Cortana to the desktop.
Only after finishing work on the Windows Phone build, that is.
This is what he said on the matter:
“4. After we execute on #1 – #3, we have started to THINK about #Cortana on #Windows so more #Microsoft customers experience her.”
And followed it up with another tweet, saying:
“5. In a future state, the best experience will still be for #Microsoft customers that own all #Windows devices. Best work is on our devices.”
So basically, the idea is to provide a fully featured experience on Windows Phone, first and foremost. This is clearly the top priority for now.
Once this goal is achieved, however, the company will start focusing on other projects for Cortana, including porting the service to Windows 8.1. In case this takes time, and development requires more effort, then the digital assistance might debut with Windows 9.
And judging by how thing are going, chances are that the next full version of the operating system will be the one that arrives with Cortana built in.
This might help the Windows Phone Users. So it might be more Pertinent to post
Windows Phone 8 Development and Hacking > http://forum.xda-developers.com/Windows Phone 8 GeneralWindows Phone 8 General
I do not believe you had a question per se in mind.