TANKERx
23-07-2002, 06:49 PM
You may have seen this on Mobile Musings (RIP) :cry: , but I reproduce it now for those who may not have seen it.
Introduction
You may have noticed, but then again, you may not have noticed that Microsoft is going to change the world of mobile communications by introducing the concept of a 'smart' phone. Thanks to the work Microsoft is putting into it's 'smart' phones, we will soon be able to enjoy the true integration of mobile commputing and wireless internet.
Well, that's what Microsoft would have you believe. The truth is, however, that what they are pushing as new is actually not that new. They want to tell you that the technology they are promoting is ground-breaking, a technology that nobody has thought of before.
So I figured I'd take a look at the Microsoft Windows Powered Smartphone 2002 page (http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/phones/smartphone/default.asp) and look at what are the main features.
Things are no longer black and white
Things haven't been black and white for quite some time. The 9200 series has been providing users with a 'non black and white phone' experience for some time, And you don't need to look only to Symbian for 'non black and white' phones. The Nokia 7210 is just one example. So, maybe Microsoft is actually referring the the Microbrowser they put into the Sony J5 phone..? Now that is black and white!
[n]You only need one hand[/b]
And what is your point exactly? Most phones only need one hand. The Nokia 7650 and the Sony Ericsson P800 will only need one hand. I hardly think that this feature sets the Microsoft Windows Powered SMartphone 2002 apart from the crowd.
Smartphone feature quick find
What they mean to say is that there's a GUI for you to run all software that they've packed into the phone. Among the software packages installed will be Pocket Outlook and Pocket Intrernet Explorer. These are special software packages cut down from the PocketPC versions, which themselves are cut down versions of the desktop versions.
It would seem that while Symbian powered smartphones are built from the ground up for the form fctor into which they are installed, the Microsoft equivlent is dismembered in order to get it to fit.
A truly integrated smartphone
This amazing integration means that you can click on an e-mail address on a web page and the e-mail application will open. Also, if there's a URL in a received message, you can navigate to that page just by clicking on it.
Long time users of Symbian/EPOC based devices will know what I'm on about here because you'll have been doing this for years already.
Stay connected
That's what a phone is for. Next please.......
The windows environment you are used to
"If you have used Microsoft Windows before, then you will be very familiar with the new Smartphone 2002" is what Microsoft says. Like that's a good thing?
The Windows desktop is ideal for just that, the desktop, while cramming it into a small screen will make for a clumsy and cumbersome experience. Imagine the complex interaction of Windows on a phone! Windows needs you to be able to click, right click, double click, drag and drop - all of which would be painful on a small form. Tht's why Microsoft had to introduce the Tap, Tap'n'hold and Tap'n'drag fetures into the PocketPC. There is simply no intuituion
Take a look at the display on a Symbian smartphone. There really is no comparison in terms of clarity and simplicity. Microsoft wants you to believe that simplicity means an inherent lack of functionality (that's how they're getting at Palm), but the best balance is excellent functionality that you can use intuitively.
Unified inbox and synchronisation
"Your smartphone unified inbox stores emails, meeting requests, SMS text messages and voicemail notifications in one central place".
It's nice to see that Microsoft has finally seen the light on this issue.
Get personal with your phone
Microsoft has really broken new ground with their smartphone's ability to use different ringtones, colour schemes and profiles! What next!? Before you know it, they'll be putting a digital camera into a phone!
Is my sarcasm too subtle?
Fun on the run
You'll be able to play games on a Microsoft smartphone!
If you look at the screenshot on the Microsoft site, you'll see that they envisage you playing Doom. It's a shame they had to fake that screenshot.
Here, take a look at a real one.....
http://www.wildpalm.co.uk/doom/d2.jpg
One device for work and play
So, while the Microsoft smartphone is nice, it's not groundbreaking.
An example of where Microsoft is throwing its teddy out of the pram in a temper tantrum is when it comes to MMS (http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20020523S0032). MMS is a big selling point for most of the new batch of phones that are currently being (and planned for being) released, yet Microsoft has made it quite clear that it does not like MMS. They say it is because Nokia owns it (which it doesn't), while it's more than likely to be because Microsoft don't own it.
My eye is still torn between the Nokia 7650 and the Sony-Ericsson P800. Not because it isn't Microsoft but because its quality as a device is far and above anything Microsoft currently has on offer.
Introduction
You may have noticed, but then again, you may not have noticed that Microsoft is going to change the world of mobile communications by introducing the concept of a 'smart' phone. Thanks to the work Microsoft is putting into it's 'smart' phones, we will soon be able to enjoy the true integration of mobile commputing and wireless internet.
Well, that's what Microsoft would have you believe. The truth is, however, that what they are pushing as new is actually not that new. They want to tell you that the technology they are promoting is ground-breaking, a technology that nobody has thought of before.
So I figured I'd take a look at the Microsoft Windows Powered Smartphone 2002 page (http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/phones/smartphone/default.asp) and look at what are the main features.
Things are no longer black and white
Things haven't been black and white for quite some time. The 9200 series has been providing users with a 'non black and white phone' experience for some time, And you don't need to look only to Symbian for 'non black and white' phones. The Nokia 7210 is just one example. So, maybe Microsoft is actually referring the the Microbrowser they put into the Sony J5 phone..? Now that is black and white!
[n]You only need one hand[/b]
And what is your point exactly? Most phones only need one hand. The Nokia 7650 and the Sony Ericsson P800 will only need one hand. I hardly think that this feature sets the Microsoft Windows Powered SMartphone 2002 apart from the crowd.
Smartphone feature quick find
What they mean to say is that there's a GUI for you to run all software that they've packed into the phone. Among the software packages installed will be Pocket Outlook and Pocket Intrernet Explorer. These are special software packages cut down from the PocketPC versions, which themselves are cut down versions of the desktop versions.
It would seem that while Symbian powered smartphones are built from the ground up for the form fctor into which they are installed, the Microsoft equivlent is dismembered in order to get it to fit.
A truly integrated smartphone
This amazing integration means that you can click on an e-mail address on a web page and the e-mail application will open. Also, if there's a URL in a received message, you can navigate to that page just by clicking on it.
Long time users of Symbian/EPOC based devices will know what I'm on about here because you'll have been doing this for years already.
Stay connected
That's what a phone is for. Next please.......
The windows environment you are used to
"If you have used Microsoft Windows before, then you will be very familiar with the new Smartphone 2002" is what Microsoft says. Like that's a good thing?
The Windows desktop is ideal for just that, the desktop, while cramming it into a small screen will make for a clumsy and cumbersome experience. Imagine the complex interaction of Windows on a phone! Windows needs you to be able to click, right click, double click, drag and drop - all of which would be painful on a small form. Tht's why Microsoft had to introduce the Tap, Tap'n'hold and Tap'n'drag fetures into the PocketPC. There is simply no intuituion
Take a look at the display on a Symbian smartphone. There really is no comparison in terms of clarity and simplicity. Microsoft wants you to believe that simplicity means an inherent lack of functionality (that's how they're getting at Palm), but the best balance is excellent functionality that you can use intuitively.
Unified inbox and synchronisation
"Your smartphone unified inbox stores emails, meeting requests, SMS text messages and voicemail notifications in one central place".
It's nice to see that Microsoft has finally seen the light on this issue.
Get personal with your phone
Microsoft has really broken new ground with their smartphone's ability to use different ringtones, colour schemes and profiles! What next!? Before you know it, they'll be putting a digital camera into a phone!
Is my sarcasm too subtle?
Fun on the run
You'll be able to play games on a Microsoft smartphone!
If you look at the screenshot on the Microsoft site, you'll see that they envisage you playing Doom. It's a shame they had to fake that screenshot.
Here, take a look at a real one.....
http://www.wildpalm.co.uk/doom/d2.jpg
One device for work and play
So, while the Microsoft smartphone is nice, it's not groundbreaking.
An example of where Microsoft is throwing its teddy out of the pram in a temper tantrum is when it comes to MMS (http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20020523S0032). MMS is a big selling point for most of the new batch of phones that are currently being (and planned for being) released, yet Microsoft has made it quite clear that it does not like MMS. They say it is because Nokia owns it (which it doesn't), while it's more than likely to be because Microsoft don't own it.
My eye is still torn between the Nokia 7650 and the Sony-Ericsson P800. Not because it isn't Microsoft but because its quality as a device is far and above anything Microsoft currently has on offer.