Microsoft, Samsung Take on Apple With New Smartphone Announcements

[NT1440]

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"

According to engadget, its use MS's UI, or you don't get to sell the phone. No more interface skinning kids

 

[igazza]

I think this is close enough that Apple might have a better than even shot at a look-and-feel lawsuit against Samsung.

Close alright but Apple and Samsung are good friends, but business is business i guess.

 

[NebulaClash]

Failure

This is a mostly FAIL effort. Here's why:

1. First of all, before I list the failures, let me be fair and compliment Microsoft for making phone software that is far and away better than their previous efforts. To come out with something that doesn't make people either laugh or yawn must be nice for the developers -- they did something good.

2. That said, that home screen is awful. Yes, it's nice to have live updating on the home screen (though hardly unique), but to have all the major boxes be the same shade of blue?! Are they crazy?! Isn't there anyone at Microsoft with any sense of UI design? Your eye and brain will have to work harder to differentiate between these boxes that all look alike other than the text. The colors should be different so you can use very basic visual cues instead of having to decipher an icon or text. This makes it harder for the user, not easier.

3. It's the Zune built in. Makes sense for Microsoft, not for most users. When you plug in your phone, are you expecting the Zune marketplace to pop up? Because that's what's going to happen to all users.

4. Same with xbox. If you are a gamer, good for you. If you are not, wasted space.

5. It won't be out for almost a year. As usual, this is lots of hype and noise, not much functionality for anyone to hold. A year from now the market will be further evolved.

6. Where's the keyboard, Ballmer? You know, in 2007 you said the iPhone wouldn't be popular because business users demand a physical keyboard. I realize in January at CES you started to backtrack on this in the year of the tablet, but you said business users need a keyboard. No keyboard. Failure, according to you.

7. However, Microsoft just makes the software, not the hardware, so it's the same old deal: anyone can make the hardware, and as long as they meet basic Microsoft guidelines, they can make their hardware any way they want. Including putting in a hardware keyboard. That's right, some Windows Phones will have hardware keyboards and some will not. Fun for developers to work in a fragmented marketplace. Just like now.

8. I've seen the video of the Windows Phone in action. Looks a bit sluggish at times. We'll see when final products come out, but it wouldn't surprise me if there are speed issues.

 

[tuhoops]

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.

Like I said, I'm an Apple fan. I just think that they could have waited to launch the iPad until they could bundle it with a the new OS that Apple is obviously working on. As it is, they're launching it with an OS that is essentially from 2007. That takes away from the "leading the way" aspect. If the next OS is as great as Jobs is apparently promising, think how much better the iPad launch would have been received.

That said, I believe the iPad will be HUGE and a success. It's just the whole thing seemed rushed. I can't wait for the new OS, it's getting old to see Google and Micro$oft trying to surpass Apple.

 

[Eidorian]

The Zune team is definitely who I'd have build a phone interface. The Xbox Live functionality while annoying in the past has grown on me.

Hopefully they'll bring Windows Media Center into the mix as well.

 

[PhoneyBoy]

Looks fantastic.

Although I wish people would stop using the "competition is good" line. A bit simplistic, but fair enough, it just seems to be used a thousand times every day on this forum. zzzzzz

I agree, I think it looks great, some good ideas there.
I hope Apple take note and make some major changes to the Home Page on the iPhone as it is starting to loose some of it gloss. It needs to be more informative without having to unlock it.

 

[jlblodgett]

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?

Not true. The base model 17" MacBook Pro is $2,499!



And even refurbished 17" MacBook Pros for under $1,999!

 

[Speedy2]

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!

You mean the same way everyone praised the iPad here? You are delusional.

 

[cmaier]

Close alright but Apple and Samsung are good friends, but business is business i guess.

Apple couldn't win a "look and feel" lawsuit against MS. They can't win against Samsung.

 

[ghostface147]

Well as much as people hate the Vole, they do make good things from time to time. I'll reserve final judgement until I can get hands on with hardware, which won't be for many months it seems. Regardless, it's highly improbable I'll switch to any other phone. I am too vested in the Apple ecosystem, which is one complaint that many seem to have about Apple in general. Once you're in their system, it's not that easy to get out.

 

[PhoneyBoy]

Like I said, I'm an Apple fan. I just think that they could have waited to launch the iPad until they could bundle it with a the new OS that Apple is obviously working on. As it is, they're launching it with an OS that is essentially from 2007. That takes away from the "leading the way" aspect. If the next OS is as great as Jobs is apparently promising, think how much better the iPad launch would have been received.

That said, I believe the iPad will be HUGE and a success. It's just the whole thing seemed rushed. I can't wait for the new OS, it's getting old to see Google and Micro$oft trying to surpass Apple.

We don't "know" which OS it will ship with.
We could be surprised.....

 

[Frazzle]

A touch keyboard and the Windows 7 MCE interface?!

First reports indicate that the new Windows Phone OS:
- Does not multitask
- Has no copy/paste
- Does not do Flash

And it has an on-screen touch keyboard! So Steve Ballmer will not be using it.

All the people saying that this interface looks so 'brand new' to them: have you ever used the Windows 7 Media Center? It's obvious that they took their design cues from that. Don't know the Zune as they never bothered to release it outside of the US.

 

[Fatdog]

Three generations later the iPhone's GUI is still the same boring row icons, with no home screed, and no real "wow" to it. Just like OS 10.6 has the same boring Aqua GUI elements as OS 10.

Hey Apple, "Think Different Redesign".

Why must the UI be redesigned just because your attention span is so little?? The current iPhone UI FUNCTIONS well. If you want something shiny and pretty than feel free to pour some glitter on it...

 

[Digitalclips]

Competition is good.

Is there another word for simply copying everything Apple does rather than saying 'Competition'? Generic version maybe? Surely real competition would be something cool that was original?

 

[urbanlung]

Change ain't allways good

Come on!!!!!

I love my iPhone.....but the OS has not changed in years! Where is the innovation?

3 generations of iPhone later, and I'm pretty bored of it. Needs a refresh.

The pencil has remained essentially unchanged for countless years, why, cos it works. Same with the iPhone OS, it doesn't need massive change in the name of inovation because it already works, it's metaphors fit their function. Inovation will happen but it is unlikely to be radical in terms of UI. As an aside I don't rate the top MS UI screen at all. The top four icons look essentially the same, you have to read them to understand them, duh. It also has no consistent navigational cues, buttons vary in shape and are not iconic. A photo is not an icon, it is to noisy and complicated. The interface seems like stylistic froth with out having purpose. Apple got the iPhone right by keeping it simple, consistent and informative, with UI cues when they are needed. What they have not tried to market is some kind of dreamed up notion of they way people behave and how they try to achieve things.

 

[Urban Splash]

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

Spin?

I'm sure SJ just introduced 'our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device....' the other day.

Come on.....I love Apple......but that just makes me laugh every time I look at the current Apple home page.

 

[*LTD*]

There is still only ONE simple, seamless, easy, immediately graspable and understandable mobile ecosystem.

The "competition" can't seem to understand the obvious virtues of this. Either that, or they're locked into a business model that doesn't support such an approach, unfortunately.

 

[thedave3000]

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...

I think Apple wants to make a case for the iPad as a stand alone product on it's own merits and not confuse it with the iPhone. By talking about iPad and iPhone all at the same time that would've been more confusing and would not have helped establish iPad as the device that fits neatly between a phone and a computer. By focusing solely on the iPad only they can sell the device and try to convince people why they might want/need one. The jury is still out on whether or not enough people will be convinced they need one. But it is a given that Apple is going to keep iPad, iPhone and OS X on the same page in terms of graphics, functionality, and features - they always have and there's no reason to think they will stop doing this.

 

[scottnj1966]

Today I finally see what it means when someone calls another a fanboy. I noticed none of them will see anything outside the apple circle. No matter what.
As loyality is a good thing, nothing good ever comes from blindly following someone. You have to think for yourselves.

I used to have a tilt by HTC which included Windows Mobile. (HTC was never good at customer service)
It had some good points but nowhere near enough for me not to want to throw it out the window and watch it shatter into little pieces.

When apple came out with the iphone I resisited. I never bought anything apple, never even thought it was an option for me.
Then my girlfriend (wife now) let me have her 1st gen iphone when she upgraded. It took me one day to realize Microsoft was out of the game.

As I do like the direction they are going I do not see it being a game changer.
The one major issue I had with Windows Mobile is updates. You had to wait for the hardware manufacturer to release it, and guess what, they would do it once then move on to a new model. You were stuck with a buggy o/s with no direction but to buy a new phone.
As I see they will not be making their own phone they have no way of doing upgrades themselves unless something internally has changed.

We will see. No matter what happens this will push apple to innovate once again. And we all know what Apple can do when they want to.

Lets hope with the new o/s and a new iphone on its way we will see something worth seeing. I know I am excited about both the o/s and hardware upgrade apple will be rolling out.

 

[Cameront9]

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?

Yes, I got your point. But Aqua isn't as pervasive as you think it is. The flat metal look seems to be what Apple is now.

But we're arguing different things. Aqua is just a pretty coat of paint on the underlying UI. There's a difference between getting a new coat of paint, and completely rebuilding the interface, which seems to be what many people are clamoring for, much to my amusement.

 

[cmaier]

We don't "know" which OS it will ship with.
We could be surprised.....

Yes we do know. Quit kidding yourself. Apple isn't going to pull OS 4.0 out of its bag of tricks at the last minute.

 

[Matt-M]

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.

Agreed. But, it is not the individual elements, but the sum total that results in an eerily similar look.

 

[ChazUK]

There is still only ONE simple, seamless, easy, immediately graspable and understandable mobile ecosystem.

The "competition" can't seem to understand the obvious virtues of this. Either that, or they're locked into a business model that doesn't support such an approach, unfortunately.

How can you compete with a worldwide marketshare loser? What is there to compete with?

 

[Becordial]

Looks like MS have got a certain target phone in mind when talking about their new baby

 

[Xavier]

A little competition never hurt anyone.. unless you're Nokia