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Microsoft, Samsung Take on Apple With New Smartphone Announcements

there's too many people bashing it on here. People saying Microsoft is copying Apple? Windows Mobile has been around since before smart phones even existed! Although this is a new start, its the same as when Microsoft jumped in to a new industry seemingly just to compete with Apple, with the Zune.

Im actually interested in this and would actually consider it on my next phone, as long as the actual phones it will run on are any good. Sure, it probably won't have the apps that the iPhone has, but it seems to be a complete package with everything you need already there.

Perhaps my interest is down to the fact that I decided against getting an iPhone last year when I needed a new phone so Im still open to non-apple products when it comes to phones.
 
Some promising features I saw in windows 7:
"Hub" I really like the idea of integrating contacts from facebook if you want. I think the music that allows applications to be added is something needed on the iphone to allow apps like pandora to be able to be played in the background through the music app. Then compiling all the pictures from your own phone, mobileme, facebook into one app. It seems like this would be something so simple to do, but enhance the experience of the iphone to another level. It wouldn't have to be distracting either. Just have a setting like mail accounts where you can enter your facebook info and then select what you want it to be displayed in: photos, contacts etc. If you don't want it, it wont show up to distract anyone.

The bad: I don't understand why anyone would design a user interface so that when you scroll side to side through the different windows you go from seeing "peopl" to "eople" I think it might have happened on pictures. I don't understand the need to have such massive fonts in all the applications. It takes up too much space. I know i'm in the picture hub when I see a bunch of pictures below. Minimize the font, allow it to all be displayed at once.

The so called home screen is ugly. I don't think i really need to explain.

So, what I hope apple pays attention too:
-Better integration of music apps, pictures and videos with other services.
-Redesign of a home screen (highly doubt this will ever happen anytime soon)
-Organization of apps: have the dock work like stacks if I want to.
-Higher resolution screen
 
NT1440 said:
Why is microsoft so fond of the cut off text look? :confused:
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I don’t know, but they love it. A single product team now develops the UI for Media Center software (which is where the look started), Zune software, Zune OS and now the Windows Phone 7 OS.

They may even do the XBOX 360’s UI also, not sure about that.
 
Wow, AT&T actually sent someone to go on stage? Looks like they're slowly releasing themselves from their iPhone centric image. Maybe this is a sign of good things to come (namely, iPhone exclusivity expiring soon).
 
TeamDNA said:
omg when will people stop saying this.. WHEN HAS ANY PHONE COMPETITION put a "fire" under jobs ass? name one phone.. palm pre had background process iphone 3GS didnt and same with those other phones.. jobs and apple really arnt worried about these nothing phones Yup im a fan boy SAY IT LOUD SAY IT PROUD.. so what that were fan boys, because we like products that work how they are supposed to and have constant good updates and great customer service with a company .. Ill be a fanboy for a very long time until thoes things stop happening ..
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Hey, I'm a bit of a fanboy too, but I want stuff that Apple provides. Before you say "Hey, no one's forcing you to get an iPhone." Yeah, I've read that hundreds of times on these threads. Only thing is, there isn't a single thing that does everything I need. I mean no disrespect, but I feel people like you are one (just one of many, not the only) reason why Apple doesn't add some features every other device has. People like you (or the way you come off as) just buy anything with an Apple logo on it because Apple can do no wrong and every Apple product is a god send. Heck, Apple could make an Etch-a-Sketch, call it Mac OS X 10.7, and people will say it's the best thing ever.

I don't need a super computer in something the size of my fingernail, I just want something I could do what I need with and doesn't look dated compared to everything else.

Sorry if I don't fit into your little world.
 
LOL, I can't believe they are releasing this at the end of the year. They are going to be behind! When this comes out, Apple will be working on OS 5.0.

I can't wait to see what OS 4.0 brings next month. :)
 
Let's take off the blinders for a moment, people...

A lot of people here need to get over themselves. If Apple had released this exact same UI at the past event everyone tearing down Windows Phone 7 would go on and on about how "Apple has done it again! Apple shows that they are still YEARS ahead of the competition! M$ could never think of this!" However, since this truly revolutionary OS has Microsoft attached to it, many call it crap right out of the gate!

A simple side-by-side comparison with iPhone OS shows that this is NOTHING like iPhone OS. If there is any doubt, just imagine Windows Phone 7 OS on the iPad- The WOW factor on the device would go up 100 points.
 
guzhogi said:
Hey, I'm a bit of a fanboy too, but I want stuff that Apple provides. Before you say "Hey, no one's forcing you to get an iPhone." Yeah, I've read that hundreds of times on these threads. Only thing is, there isn't a single thing that does everything I need. I mean no disrespect, but I feel people like you are one (just one of many, not the only) reason why Apple doesn't add some features every other device has. People like you (or the way you come off as) just buy anything with an Apple logo on it because Apple can do no wrong and every Apple product is a god send. Heck, Apple could make an Etch-a-Sketch, call it Mac OS X 10.7, and people will say it's the best thing ever.

I don't need a super computer in something the size of my fingernail, I just want something I could do what I need with and doesn't look dated compared to everything else.

Sorry if I don't fit into your little world.
Click to expand...


PREACH!
 
guzhogi said:
Hey, I'm a bit of a fanboy too, but I want stuff that Apple provides. Before you say "Hey, no one's forcing you to get an iPhone." Yeah, I've read that hundreds of times on these threads. Only thing is, there isn't a single thing that does everything I need. I mean no disrespect, but I feel people like you are one (just one of many, not the only) reason why Apple doesn't add some features every other device has. People like you (or the way you come off as) just buy anything with an Apple logo on it because Apple can do no wrong and every Apple product is a god send. Heck, Apple could make an Etch-a-Sketch, call it Mac OS X 10.7, and people will say it's the best thing ever.

I don't need a super computer in something the size of my fingernail, I just want something I could do what I need with and doesn't look dated compared to everything else.

Sorry if I don't fit into your little world.
Click to expand...
@ the underlined

Why is that even a requirement? As with everything else in technology it will look dated in weeks as every company craps out as many products a year as they can. The real test is its usability after you've gotten over your eye candy lust.
 
Padraig said:
Whatever about feeling are on this new os, you've got to admit that iPhone os badly needs a total overhaul.
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Why? No, seriously, why? iPhone is still easy to use, the UI is intuitive and everyone that picks it up gets along with it just fine. Adding more shiny things for the sake of adding extra shiny things is pointless, only make changes where it benefits the end user.

As for WP7... props to MS for not only being brave enough to dump their entire codebase and the ecosystem around it but to try something new and different. It looks okay but I hate the concept of a page that's, effectively, three screens wide. Seeing headings cut off and interface elemnts overrunning to the next screen would drive me insane after a few hours using it. I can see what they're going for but I just don't think it's there yet.

The big question for me is how their hardware partners feel about this. Android is out, maturing rapidly and is easily skinned to set phones apart. WP7 explicitly prevents skinning and is going to require the hardware manufacturers to conform to a pretty tight set of criteria. I just wonder if we'll see the same mass adoptation we used to or if these may end up second-rate phones compared to Android handsets.
 
Apple said they had 5 years on the competition in 2007. I think MS have their measure in 2010.

After watching the video I think it's clear they've got something pretty special here, even if the over-run text isn't to my taste either. MS has been publicly shifting their view towards tighter hardware and software integration to drive better user experiences and this seems to show that.

If they ensure this device is nicely configurable for a wide range of users it's going to be a hit. If business users can turn off all those Xbox, facebook, twitter and other tiles they won't use and enter some panels showing news, mail, information and some location services I think they'll have a spectacularly good communication device.
 
QuixoticFable said:
A lot of people here need to get over themselves. If Apple had released this exact same UI at the past event everyone tearing down Windows Phone 7 would go on and on about how "Apple has done it again! Apple shows that they are still YEARS ahead of the competition! M$ could never think of this!" However, since this truly revolutionary OS has Microsoft attached to it, many call it crap right out of the gate!

A simple side-by-side comparison with iPhone OS shows that this is NOTHING like iPhone OS. If there is any doubt, just imagine Windows Phone 7 OS on the iPad- The WOW factor on the device would go up 100 points.
Click to expand...

An expanded Zune interface, woo hoo?

Why would I want all that cut off text and (IMO) annoying transitions? I can't even really stand using my roomates Zune HD because the interface feels to me like it gets in the way. It just exemplifies form over function IMO, yet people scream from the rooftops that that is Apple's biggest flaw.

I like apple's approach to interface vs Windows, in that the content takes center stage rather than throwing up something flashy (ex. Vista and to a lesser extent 7)
 
QuixoticFable said:
A lot of people here need to get over themselves. If Apple had released this exact same UI at the past event everyone tearing down Windows Phone 7 would go on and on about how "Apple has done it again!
Click to expand...

Except that Apple wouldn't release such a UI. LOL
 
Now things get interesting.

Apple have held a huge lead in this area for a long time. The big players are finally catching up. Android is getting good. MS is getting good. I haven't looked at the Samsung device, and I have my doubts, but perhaps they are in the running too.
Apple still has the momentum and I don't think it's going to lose its crown just yet, but the chase is on. The competition are approaching or surpassing in some ways - and thinking creatively in others - it's not just about inferior clones anymore.

Whether you think MS has a device to beat the iPhone or not (I still prefer the iPhone, from what I have seen) it doesn't matter - the market is being disrupted again and it's only a matter of time. Will be interesting to see what OS 4 and the next gen iPhone has in store. Personally I hope that this extra degree of competition encourages Apple to fix some of the fundamentals that are still broken.
 
wave_iphone.png


Square app icons laid out in a grid with titles beneath, small circles to indicate which screen you are on, a grey area at the bottom for frequently used apps...

I dunno, I think this is close enough that Apple might have a better than even shot at a look-and-feel lawsuit against Samsung.
 
MrCubes said:
Now things get interesting.

Apple have held a huge lead in this area for a long time. The big players are finally catching up. Android is getting good. MS is getting good. I haven't looked at the Samsung device, and I have my doubts, but perhaps they are in the running too.
Apple still has the momentum and I don't think it's going to lose its crown just yet, but the chase is on. The competition are approaching or surpassing in some ways - and thinking creatively in others - it's not just about inferior clones anymore.

Whether you think MS has a device to beat the iPhone or not (I still prefer the iPhone, from what I have seen) it doesn't matter - the market is being disrupted again and it's only a matter of time. Will be interesting to see what OS 4 and the next gen iPhone has in store. Personally I hope that this extra degree of competition encourages Apple to fix some of the fundamentals that are still broken.
Click to expand...

For it to be competition they have to sell a lot of phones first.
 
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