Microsoft, Samsung Take on Apple With New Smartphone Announcements

[LagunaSol]

I must tip my hat to Microsoft, not because the new (well, old (Zune)) interface looks like anything special (the giant spillover text is a cheesy, hipster "design for the sake of design" choice, not a functionality one, and not a style that will appeal to the typical WinMo customer), but because they're actually trying to be different for once. Not an easy task for the kings of MeToo. I imagine Uncle Ballmer has spent many sleepless nights wondering if moving away from their crusty "Windows on a phone" meme is going to go over well with the spreadsheet nerds who inexplicably still think that WinMo is cool - and who just happen to form the foundation of their user base. Is kicking those users in the nuts while pandering to the young crowd who is already latching on to the iPhone and Android going to be a good idea? We shall see.

Oh, and remember how the original iPod touch announcement completely destroyed all the happy feelings for the then-recently-unveiled Zune update? It's time for Apple to burst Ballmer's bubble again with an iPhone 4.0 announcement. It's time indeed.

 

[Eric4082]

Is there a rwason this site covers storys like this because if it does you have a seriously misleading title. why are you talking about windows when you know in your heart that apple is better.

 

[tuhoops]

Except that Apple wouldn't release such a UI. LOL

No, but like I said in an earlier post, they wasted a great opportunity at the iPad event. I don't understand what they were thinking. The iPad announcement and presentation seemed rushed and un-Apple like, if you will.

Then, a week or two later rumors surfaced that Jobs said in a company town hall style meeting that the new iPhone software is going to knock our socks off, etc. If the new 4.0 OS wasn't ready yet, the iPad should have been delayed as well. It should have been a package deal. Instead, Apple launched a "magical" NEW product with an OS that is essentially from 2007. I am an Apple fan, but even the most over the top fanboy has to admit this was misstep. The new OS better knock our socks off, because the competition is getting stronger from the other two powerhouses, Google and Micro$oft.

 

[lex750]

And 25 years later the Mac still has the same basic boring old menu bar at the top, icons on the right of the desktop, etc.

What's your point? It seems a lot of you think that Apple needs to change the iPhone UI simply because it's boring. That's the wrong approach. You don't change for the sake of change. You change to improve usability. Adding things like Stacks for apps is perhaps coming, but I don't see Apple radically altering the iPhone OS.

I guess reading comprehension is not your forte. I made a reference to "Aqua GUI elements". Windows 7 looks nothing like Windows XP, and is somewhat different from Windows Vista. The Aqua GUI is dated, it was released on March 24, 2001, that's 10 YEARS AGO. Still same old Aqua GUI elements. Understand?

 

[igazza]

I can't wait to see what OS 4.0 brings next month.

next month? more like june/july

 

[cmaier]

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.

What makes you think that one can win a lawsuit based on "look and feel"?

 

[spydr]

Some preliminary thoughts/questions:

1. Doing away with all the shadows and 3D feel - perhaps a good move to differentiate from other dozen touch OS's that have come out before MSFT. Might also have a small side effect of being more responsive.

2. The bilateral content overflow seems so counterintuitive that only MSFT could think of it

3. Did they demonstrate how well word and excel function (Office being their bread and butter)?

4. I think the front facing camera is for a mobile version of "project natal" — a touch phone that you don't have to touch. MSFT's answer to grimy fingers....

Wake me up when they ship this thing, so I can go check it out and rest assured my iPhone was more intuitive better 3 years ago.

 

[Becordial]

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.

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 )

 

[jlblodgett]

So you can sync ALL of your movies/tv shows/music and apps that you BUY from itunes that cant FIT on your 32GB iphone.

Again -- how much size do you need?!?!

The largest SD card I have seen is only 32 GB - coincidentally the same size as the iPhone's storage capacity.

So are you going to have to buy a wallet to hold all of your SD cards, which you can then swap in and out? You would have to remember which picture/song/video is on which SD card, and hope that you don't lose an SD card, or damage an SD card, etc. That sort of defeats the purpose of the iPhone and I can't imagine there would be that many people who would want that sort of system. I have a hard time believing Apple would ever allow such a set up -- it just isn't the iPhone way.

What would be better, in my opinion, would be for apple to develop some type of hosting/sharing system whereby my iPhone could easily access my computer at home - where I have a much larger capacity hard drive, where all my music/pictures/videos are stored.

Perhaps future versions of the iPhone OS will have this feature.

 

[imwoblin]

Competition is good! Just think, if Apple didn't come out with the iPhone and it's touch screen operating system and the app store a few years ago, we (I) would still be lugging around and using clunky, crappy windows mobile and the same old Rim cell phones. I'm no Apple fanboy, but they single handily caused every mobile handset and software manufacturer to get off their collective asses and innovate or be left behind.... I cant wait to see what's around the corner...

 

[NT1440]

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

They will, they all will. I don't think marketshare is really a good indicator of who's on top other than financially. After all the iphone will eventually settle into its marketshare and not continue to have massive growth, simply because other competitors flood the market with so many good phones that it becomes another PC vs Mac kind of segment. I think a great indicator of success is the mindshare a given phone or OS has, and from the looks of most still trying to copy the iphone, it currently is still king.

 

[*LTD*]

No, but like I said in an earlier post, they wasted a great opportunity at the iPad event. I don't understand what they were thinking. The iPad announcement and presentation seemed rushed and un-Apple like, if you will.

What are you talking about? The iPad will be HUGE.

Apple's already gone way beyond the phone and into the completely new tablet territory, once again leading the way.

 

[bastbast]

Playstation users scoffed the same way as you guys did when MS announced the xbox. Thats turned out pretty well for them despite the criticism the PS fanboys levelled at it.

They may fail at a lot but occasionally they get it right.

 

[smiddlehurst]

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.

Okay, the bit in bold has me interested. Where's the revolution here? There's some nice ideas but it's pretty much just developments along the same lines as everyone else. Zune is an app, same as Music is on the iPhone. Social networking isn't any different than Android or webOS, albeit maybe a bit slicker. The Xbox stuff is nice but a revolution? Nah, niche product at best. Overall it's a huge step forward from WM6.5 but it's not a revolution in the phone space, not even close. Plus let's not forget it's not even launched to the public for almost another year, that leaves a LOT of time for Android and iPhone OS to step forward as well...

BTW, the comment about WP7 on iPad kinda highlights the problem with WP7 for me. It feels like it was designed to work on a MUCH bigger screen than a phone.

 

[SandynJosh]

Does anyone else think this interface is Ugly as SIN?

Textbook writers of "Graphic Arts 101" are already rewriting chapter one to show how to make something ugly, using the new MS phone as an example.

For the few of you that find the iPhone to be boring and in need of updating: classic design is just that... DaVinci didn't go back and update the Mona Lisa by giving her some roses to hold. Knoll didn't go back and add button tufting to the Barcelona Chair to bring it in line with the '70s.

Apple can make the iPhone a whole lot better without changing the design to please people with MTV attention spans.

 

[mk_in_mke]

Simply Amazing

MS needs to be awarded a SPIN Award... They come 3 years after everything has been invented, the road paved and they portray themselves as the 'Game changers'?

And guys on the forum, stop saying Competition is good: how god competition would be if the Brazilian National Soccer Team would play let's say DC United? Competition is good if both team play at the same level...

In the case of Apple vs Microsoft, there is no competition, these are two different products, two philosophies and, i stick with Apple... Come on guys: who can say the interface is nice? who can say the design is sleek when MS has not done any Hardware design? This is another lame attempt by MS to get the PR machine rolling...

Anyone wants to bet on the success of the windows 7 mobile? Check the news this morning... Intel and Nokia partnering on -Yet - another OS, Windows, Google's Nexus, Apple Iphone OS... This is the jungle out there and Apple is Tarzan...

Anyways... I am betting on another Iphone OS that will bring even more features (an no, multitasking is not a key one for me) sending windows 7 mobile where it is coming from, Jurassic park

 

[jlblodgett]

next month? more like june/july

He is anticipating that Apple will have some sort of release in March that will describe the features of a revised/updated iPhone OS, which would be in line with the previous few years.

 

[jaw04005]

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...

Yes, it’s not like Symbian or even the Pocket PC OS has had at least two of those three design elements since they were introduced.

Apple didn’t event the “Grid view” mobile UI.

 

[ChazUK]

What are you talking about? The iPad will be HUGE.

The iPad is HUGE.


A HUGE iPod touch. (couldn't resist, sorry! )

 

[djellison]

At least Micro$ucks is consistent.

Oh - that's so funny. Guys - you see what he did. He took the s from 'Microsoft' and changed it for a dollar sign, infering that they are an evil capitalist company.

By the way - what trick do you do with Apple's name, given that they have mid-spec laptops for above premium-spec prices, and don't sell any 17" laptop for under two and half thousand dollars?

 

[iMat77]

Flips and twists and...

This OS seems to flip, twist, swirl...

A lot of movement for my taste. And all these "cloud" based updates. I wonder. Will they be updated constantly in the background (consuming battery life) or will it take ages for the OS home screen to download all new mails, feeds, and so on and so forth?

I don't like the design of the UI, but that is just personal taste. What I fear is that, although on top notch hardware, the OS will take ages to update all the various icons to their new status.

Navigation seems fine with few apps but I wonder what happens with lots of them.

Also, this OS seems less "customizable" by carriers compared to previous versions (which, admittedly, were underwhelming). It remains to be seen how carriers will be able (if at all) to customize their phones, and manufacturers as well. Otherwise everyone will compete solely with hardware specs and price, which is what happened with the netbooks.

I, for one, am not impressed by this OS. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to see competition from Redmont. "It's just not my piece of cake"

 

[ChazUK]

Oh - that's so funny. Guys - you see what he did. He took the s from 'Microsoft' and changed it for a dollar sign, infering that they are an evil capitalist company.

By the way - what trick do you do with Apple's name, given that they have mid-spec laptops for above premium-spec prices, and don't sell any 17" laptop for under two and half thousand dollars?

Appl€?

 

[alent1234]

I must tip my hat to Microsoft, not because the new (well, old (Zune)) interface looks like anything special (the giant spillover text is a cheesy, hipster "design for the sake of design" choice, not a functionality one, and not a style that will appeal to the typical WinMo customer), but because they're actually trying to be different for once. Not an easy task for the kings of MeToo. I imagine Uncle Ballmer has spent many sleepless nights wondering if moving away from their crusty "Windows on a phone" meme is going to go over well with the spreadsheet nerds who inexplicably still think that WinMo is cool - and who just happen to form the foundation of their user base. Is kicking those users in the nuts while pandering to the young crowd who is already latching on to the iPhone and Android going to be a good idea? We shall see.

Oh, and remember how the original iPod touch announcement completely destroyed all the happy feelings for the then-recently-unveiled Zune update? It's time for Apple to burst Ballmer's bubble again with an iPhone 4.0 announcement. It's time indeed.

that was all Bill Gates and how he decreed almost a decade ago that the desktop and WinCE should have a consistent user experience.

 

[twoodcc]

well microsoft is getting better, but holiday 2010? the next gen iphone will be out before then

 

[HLdan]

My God is that OS ever fugly!

At least Micro$ucks is consistent.

Amen to that!! The usual pure junk from the Steve Ballmer crowd.