Microsoft, Samsung Take on Apple With New Smartphone Announcements

[LagunaSol]

Scott Barnes, formerly a Microsoft Rich Platform Product Manager (WPF & Silverlight), has voiced his opinions on the Windows Phone 7 user interface (UI).

**************

Microsoft switched their strategy for Windows Mobile approximately two years ago when they decided to "reset".

I guess that kills kdarling's theory about WinMo's roadmap having been planned out years in advance. As I correctly predicted yesterday, the WinMo 7 we'd be seeing today would not be the WinMo 7 Microsoft had in mind the day the iPhone was announced. (Not that I'm patting myself on the back for this prediction - anyone with a bit of common sense would have realized the same, though common sense seems a rare commodity around these parts these days.)

I wonder what caused that "reset" two years ago, hmm? (Hint: )

 

[devinci99]

Have you bothered to even read the news story? They’re not calling it Windows Mobile anymore. It’s now known as “Windows Phone 7,” which for once makes sense.

It’s a “Windows Phone” and it’s version 7 of the operating system.

Actually, Apple does refer to parts of the “iPhone OS” as “Mobile [Desktop application]” like “Mobile Safari.”

Even so, I was highlighting the "Windows" part of the name and why the association with Windows?

Windows customers/fan will already buy it, but anti-Windows will associate it with an O/S they dislike. It would be like calling XBOX360, Windows XBOX 7.

I would think calling it something more neutral would have worked better (as far as marketing), such as (pure example) Mobile 7, or Phone7, or whatever. Simple drop the Windows from it.

 

[Compile 'em all]

Breakthrough? The phone itself was, but the UI is nothing new. Icons on a desktop is only a 20 year old concept. That's all the iphone UI is a bunch of cluttered shortcuts on a desktop.

The UI IS the iPhone. How do you think people use the iPhone?

 

[*LTD*]

I guess that kills kdarling's theory about WinMo's roadmap having been planned out years in advance.

Yes, MS planned for the level of destruction the iPhone would inflict on WinMo. All part of the plan hatched by that master of strategy, Steve Ballmer.

 

[HowieR32]

I like the fresh cool ambient look about the Win7 phone. But I will not consider it.

Even if the hardware was reversed and the iPhone was MS and that MS phone had an Apple badge on it, I will buy the Apple? Why? Not because I'm a fanboi zealot (I am NOT). But because all my other personal computing hardware is Apple branded and I like how it seamlessly integrates with it.

That aside, there is something that MS does not have. It's the iTunes store, or more specifically, THE APP STORE. That mechanism is the true value of Apple's continued multimedia product success.

They need to exand on iTunes and rename it the iStore. Because soon they will be able to sell full desktop software like iLife, iWork and hardware like your next MacBook Pro or iPad. Right now, they have the music store, app store, movie store and soon will have the Book store. I can see where this is heading.

 

[*LTD*]

But because all my other personal computing hardware is Apple branded and I like how it seamlessly integrates with it.

I follow the same line of reasoning as well. It's all part of a nice, tight, uniform ecosystem.

 

[Eidorian]

I follow the same line of reasoning as well. It's all part of a nice, tight, uniform ecosystem.

Be wary of parasites.

 

[HowieR32]

Be wary of parasites.

Explain?

On further thought, have you ever considered how Apple would do if it entered the gaming market against the PS3, xBox and Wii? The Nintendo is the best seller making it the King of consoles. The hardcore 3D machines are paired to duel to the death, but nothing aginst the Wii. Is there enought space for another competitor?

 

[DMann]

In case other users decide to publicly embarrass themselves too: A light year is a measure for distance, not time.

The more you know! *woosh*

Yep, so much for their chance of making a quantum leap.

Logically, however, distance, rather than time, would seem to be the more appropriate 'yardstick' to be using within this context, in terms of leading and lagging within this market.

 

[Eidorian]

Explain?

Cloning only works when there are no parasites.

 

[nutritious]

I like how microsoft's UI on the phone is very simple yet combined with the live icons...wonder how stable it'll be

 

[kobewankenobi]

Have to agree with a very good observation you've made. MS's new interface on a ipad/tablet device would be a incredibly engaging device. Dynamic in a way that the iPad simply isn't.

(plus maybe the text wouldn't overrun so much )

wow factor? for what?
for the horrible design?
i mean like "wow it is ugly!"
i get it
the iphone would just need multitasking (which i dont think it will anytime soon), stacking which probably will, a better search engine, and being able to check messages and text wout the need to log into
other than that i DO NOT wanna see all the messages and info of my friends constantly... damn that would be annoying

Iphone is simple and clean, like mac os, it works great
that is why i love it
i will never change it unless they start delivering a cr@P product like windows, but also than why should i switch to something that would be worst anyways?

 

[kobewankenobi]

Explain?

On further thought, have you ever considered how Apple would do if it entered the gaming market against the PS3, xBox and Wii? The Nintendo is the best seller making it the King of consoles. The hardcore 3D machines are paired to duel to the death, but nothing aginst the Wii. Is there enought space for another competitor?

apple would be totally crazy to enter that market
why?
it is already stacked, they would have to put too much effort and very likely lose anyway
unless they come up with some holographic stuff that nobody else can make it...
but i doubt it

 

[FCDP]

What Microsoft has done here, is taken a different approach to the smartphone UI, and they explain it a bit in this video; Windows Phone 7 Apps: What We Know, What We Don't

They also have a pretty good demo of the phones UI on their site, windowsphone7series.com. Click on the phone for the demo to take a look. Their are also a few other videos on youtube that show of the UI a bit more.

It's an interesting idea, but I think the sound thing to do is reserve judgement until we can actually try the thing for ourselves. No need to bash it just yet, and if it does have some innovative new features, perhaps Apple will "borrow" some of those ideas as they did in the months between the Pre announcement, and the Pre launch that were included in iPhone OS 3.0.

 

[Eye4Desyn]

but there's really got to be a better way then swipe, swipe, swipe, swipe, tap, or swipe left, search [type], tap (at least its less steps)...A list view (hello finder), tiny icons, heck I'd even accept voice commands over this, even in public .

Pure Comedy.

 

[nickweston]

right...

can't wait to see this play out.

Windows Mobile was possibly the worst OS ever written, and Windows anything before filling in the next few spots...

I have NO confidence in MS to innovate, look at their track record over the last 20 years.

The GM of software companies..Ballmer is a Luddite who needs to GO

Jobs is The Beatles, Ballmer is Milli Vanilli...

And the thing most people miss is iTUNES. The software you plug this phone into is KEY. My Mom loves here iPhone and is a Ninja on it, because of it's elegant ease of use and the brilliance of iTunes...so what will this thing use, WinZipWizardMobile.exe.&C:driveStartMenu?

We'll find out in a year....

 

[Compile 'em all]

 

[backdraft]

Swinging in the air is pointless. This will flop. Horrible UI! As for "social interaction" (ironic behind a screen) aspect I don't want to be bombarded every second with status updates (kills battery too!), theres enough information overload as it is! Reminds me of EMAIL a nuisance that prevents work from getting done and life being lived to the fullest.

Windows Phone 7 looks like a winner, I watched some of the demos. It is a new unique interface that does in fact makes the iPhone and Android look dated. Microsoft is really coming out swinging here.

 

[lilo777]

The more I look at this new UI, the more I think Microsoft fanatics are going to wake up tomorrow with a bad hangover and realize this is not the Windows Mobile they were hoping for. And prominent bloggers who are prematurely gushing about it, like Jesus Diaz at Gizmodo, are going to wish they had let things simmer in their brains a little longer before rushing those early "reviews" and proclamations of greatness out the door. Just compare the two UIs below:

From that single screen on the iPhone, I can launch 20 different applications, see my number of new emails, text messages, voicemail messages/missed calls, and application updates awaiting me. I can see my signal strength, battery life, and if Bluetooth is on.

From that single screen on the Windows phone, I can launch 6 different applications (you can't see what the 7th is in the bottom right corner) and see my new emails, text messages, and voicemail messages/missed calls.

If I flick to the next screen on the iPhone, I have another 16 applications to choose from (plus access to the primary 4 apps in the bottom bar).

If you hit the arrow on the Windows phone to see the next screen, you get 9 visible applications in a one-per-line list. Wanna see more? You gotta scroll.

And what's up with the gratuitous/superfluous animations on the Windows phone? It seems everything you do is accompanied by page and tile flip effects. Bleh.

I see nothing more than (questionable) style over substance in what looks far more conceptual than marketable. MS is essentially dumping their current WinMo user base with they hope they'll attract the tween set with a bunch of special effects and Xbox Live integration, and even this is almost a year away - as if Apple, Google and Palm will be sitting around waiting.

Sorry WinMo fans, I don't see a serious contender here - no matter how much $$$ Microsoft has to throw into the mix.

I am somewhat surprised to hear this from an advocate of 1-button mouse

 

[HowieR32]

wow factor? for what?
for the horrible design?
i mean like "wow it is ugly!"
i get it
the iphone would just need multitasking (which i dont think it will anytime soon), stacking which probably will, a better search engine, and being able to check messages and text wout the need to log into
other than that i DO NOT wanna see all the messages and info of my friends constantly... damn that would be annoying

Iphone is simple and clean, like mac os, it works great
that is why i love it
i will never change it unless they start delivering a cr@P product like windows, but also than why should i switch to something that would be worst anyways?

Hmmm if you tweet or update your status the way you write posts, it would annoy me too.

 

[HowieR32]

apple would be totally crazy to enter that market
why?
it is already stacked, they would have to put too much effort and very likely lose anyway
unless they come up with some holographic stuff that nobody else can make it...
but i doubt it

Yeah, I was just thinking out loud...But do you realise? Apple already make a great portable games console!!!

 

[cmaier]

Yeah, I was just thinking out loud...But do you realise? Apple already make a great portable games console!!!

They also made Pippin. People have short memories.

 

[pondie84]

It looks fine but there's nothing there yet that I can see that would make me ditch my iPhone.

 

[HowieR32]

Cloning only works when there are no parasites.

Mmm. Oh-kay......

 

[w00master]

I find soooo much irony on this thread. Listen, I love Apple. I really do, but lord, some of you have GOT to STOP DRINKING THE KOOL-AID! It's truly laughable at this point. How? Example:

Isn't part of what makes Apple so great is their simplicity in their products and UI?

Now, you have these kool-aid fans talking about 20 icons that they can see at once and this and that and - oh my god - look at how complex the iPhone interface is! Compared to the stale and simple Windows Phone 7 interface! OMG!!!!

Ohhhhh the irony.



w00master