Notes from MWC: Copying iPhone, Offline Gmail, Turn by Turn GPS for iPhone

[fewture]

When I bought my samsung i450 with Symbian OS, the best 'choice' I had was scouring around trying to work out which symbian websites were legit and which were dodgy scams, and then trying to find programs which were actually usable!

I find the 'choice' of the app store and the ease of finding stuff on it is 'choice' and far more open than any crap before it. Sure there are great open apps for the other phones and you can load anything you want on them, but the App store has shown how to really deliver choice.

And wait, didn't they just all release their own App stores? All scrambling to copy Apple's style of choice

(and I know what they mean by 'open' and 'choice, but what I am saying is even though iphone is seemingly more closed, there is more choice on it, or at least comparable choice)

 

[*LTD*]

When I bought my samsung i450 with Symbian OS, the best 'choice' I had was scouring around trying to work out which symbian websites were legit and which were dodgy scams, and then trying to find programs which were actually usable!

I find the 'choice' of the app store and the ease of finding stuff on it is 'choice' and far more open than any crap before it. Sure there are great open apps for the other phones and you can load anything you want on them, but the App store has shown how to really deliver choice.

And wait, didn't they just all release their own App stores? All scrambling to copy Apple's style of choice

(and I know what they mean by 'open' and 'choice, but what I am saying is even though iphone is seemingly more closed, there is more choice on it, or at least comparable choice)

Agreed.

What you're describing there (about "choice") is really what falls under the term "choiceless choices." It's a socio-political term commonly used in academia. You're certainly getting to the heart of the matter with your example. You get your choice, certainly, but it's from the bottom of the barrel. It's having to settle (if you're lucky) for the best of the worst. Not a whole lot of freedom there, now is there?

The Google Mobile App was recently released for Windows Mobile, for example. Compare that to its iPhone equivalent. I mean, we don't even need to get in to the fact that WinMo handles media like crap (among other things it handles in the same manner) - way behind iTunes on the iPhone or the iPod Touch - but a popular app like the Google Mobile App looks and feels like third class junk on WinMo. It's embarrassing.

I'm continually amazed at how Ballmer tries oh so very hard to peddle that backward (perpetually so) platform. It's shocking that the R&D at a company like Microsoft can fail so miserably on a consistent basis. MS doesn't take any risks. They copy, follow, and then license.

LTD

http://www.neowin.net/news/category/main

 

[kdarling]

The Google Mobile App was recently released for Windows Mobile, for example. Compare that to its iPhone equivalent.

What, because it sits on the Today screen, always available? Actually, I agree, it's not as cool as the new Yahoo search widget, which has voice to text search. And Microsoft's Live Search beats both, IMO.

A better comparison would be Google Maps, which is far more detailed on Windows Mobile in its search. Results include tabs for restaurant reviews, menus, and more. Plus you can easily navigate with keys or touch between results, instead of having to stab at each little pin. Most importantly, because of multitasking, you can click the web links for outside information without closing the search app.

 

[kdarling]

And wait, didn't they just all release their own App stores? All scrambling to copy Apple's style of choice

Not quite. They're ADDING Apple's style to all the other ones they already have.

If they were copying, they'd cripple their phones to only allow apps from their own store (oh wait, isnt' that one of those walled gardens that Jobs used to make fun of about carriers?)... and then petition the government to make sure people couldn't legally hack their way around the limitation.

 

[diamond.g]

What, because it sits on the Today screen, always available? Actually, I agree, it's not as cool as the new Yahoo search widget, which has voice to text search. And Microsoft's Live Search beats both, IMO.

A better comparison would be Google Maps, which is far more detailed on Windows Mobile in its search. Results include tabs for restaurant reviews, menus, and more. Plus you can easily navigate with keys or touch between results, instead of having to stab at each little pin. Most importantly, because of multitasking, you can click the web links for outside information without closing the search app.

Too cluttered. I like Apple telling me what kind of results should be returned. If I want more information I will download another app that gets me that information.

 

[*LTD*]

Not quite. They're ADDING Apple's style to all the other ones they already have.

If they were copying, they'd cripple their phones to only allow apps from their own store (oh wait, isnt' that one of those walled gardens that Jobs used to make fun of about carriers?)... and then petition the government to make sure people couldn't legally hack their way around the limitation.

Except that Apple's Store model:

1) Is the best looking
2) Is the easiest to use and navigate
3) Is actually something people *want* to use (Apple's good at this)
4) Is what's most attractive to developers (which completes the circle. Go to #1 and repeat cycle.)

LTD

http://www.neowin.net/news/category/main

 

[subsonix]

It comes as no surprise that Steve Balmer has that view, that is their business model after all. Oh, wait. That´s not true for the xbox.

 

[shivapashupati]

Microsoft and openness

Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, specifically, had this to say:
"I agree that no single company can create all the hardware and software," he said. "Openness is central because it's the foundation of choice."

And, especially in view of Microsoft's openness as regards the hardware, it is also the foundation of mediocrity!

 

[kdarling]

Except that Apple's Store model:
1) Is the best looking
2) Is the easiest to use and navigate

Fully agree.

3) Is actually something people *want* to use (Apple's good at this)

For a while, anyway.

4) Is what's most attractive to developers (which completes the circle. Go to #1 and repeat cycle.)

Except perhaps for companies like TomTom, who prefer not to share royalties.

And, especially in view of Microsoft's openness as regards the hardware, it is also the foundation of mediocrity!

Hardware wise, the Toshiba TG01, HTC Touch HD and Touch 2, and others make the iPhone look mediocre in comparison.

 

[Sehnsucht]

Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, specifically, had this to say:

"I agree that no single company can create all the hardware and software," he said. "Openness is central because it's the foundation of choice."

Steve Ballmer =

 

[rez07]

Bullcrap. That's a mildly skinned TomTom 7 or 8. In other words, a fake.

sygic has comercial sofware running on Windows MObile and Symbian devices...i myself used it on a Sony Ericsson Symbian UIQ3 device before i got the iphone...

so...don´t be ignorant calling fake to something you don´t know nothing about