What do you think of Windows Phone 7?

[Cicatrize]

Originally Posted by jethro_static

It's hard to work around the compatibility coz the requirements is .net and silverlight. Codes from existing apps is c+. I think that is stupid on MS's part. But I wouldn't blame them if they wanna drive to a different direction. This means a fresh start.

Plus the fact that there is gonna be some explaining to do in MIX about 3rd party apps multitasking support. There is no need for explaining if it's totally supported. Just say "Yes it has!"

Most apps coded for WM5+ are not developed in C++. Ever since the introduction of the .NET compact framework for our phones, most people develop in C# or VB.NET, which should make the backwards compatibility fairly easy. The problem is that I think they're going for an entirely different type of framework which will not work with the old one. Bummer for us devs.

[jethro_static]

Originally Posted by Cicatrize

Most apps coded for WM5+ are not developed in C++. Ever since the introduction of the .NET compact framework for our phones, most people develop in C# or VB.NET, which should make the backwards compatibility fairly easy. The problem is that I think they're going for an entirely different type of framework which will not work with the old one. Bummer for us devs.

I'm sorry. But if you follow the XDA thread, Nobody mention about C#. They are worrying about C++ developers have to convert it to .net. Here is one of the post:

We have some "ms confidential" documentation dated January 2010 that proves that none of the existing apps would be compatible with WinPhone7. And the only programming suite that is available to "generic" application-writers is Silverlight+XNA. Native apps are prohibited. Only OEMs and MO are allowed to create them (and even they have a set of limitations).
We would not have even source code compatibility - as all our C++ apps have to be converted to .NET.

I really hope that the community would force MS to change such a dumb idea to limit independent software vendors to create only managed apps. Prohibiting C++ as a developing language, and "hiding" Windows API from programmer would force lots of developers to abandon this platform. The main reason of success of old WinMobile OSes was the ability to recompile "desktop" apps to WinMobile with just a minor set of changes (ANSI->Unicode + some interface changes).

[meatgel]

I think 7 looks very interesting, but I got bored with Android pretty quick and I'm worried I will get bored with 7 just as fast. I think I am on the fence between 6.5 and 7 right now until I see more.

[Q_Q]

Originally Posted by jethro_static

I'm sorry. But if you follow the XDA thread, Nobody mention about C#. They are worrying about C++ developers have to convert it to .net. Here is one of the post:

We have some "ms confidential" documentation dated January 2010 that proves that none of the existing apps would be compatible with WinPhone7. And the only programming suite that is available to "generic" application-writers is Silverlight+XNA. Native apps are prohibited. Only OEMs and MO are allowed to create them (and even they have a set of limitations).
We would not have even source code compatibility - as all our C++ apps have to be converted to .NET.

I really hope that the community would force MS to change such a dumb idea to limit independent software vendors to create only managed apps. Prohibiting C++ as a developing language, and "hiding" Windows API from programmer would force lots of developers to abandon this platform. The main reason of success of old WinMobile OSes was the ability to recompile "desktop" apps to WinMobile with just a minor set of changes (ANSI->Unicode + some interface changes).

Not being a dev, how likely is it that MS will hide behind a security blanket as an excuse to limit open development on their OS?

Would MS use the .NET platform to standardize & control what gets in & out while appearing to be dev friendly. Isn't this what the Mac & Google are appearing to be also?

[jethro_static]

Originally Posted by Q_Q

Not being a dev, how likely is it that MS will hide behind a security blanket as an excuse to limit open development on their OS?

Would MS use the .NET platform to standardize & control what gets in & out while appearing to be dev friendly. Isn't this what the Mac & Google are appearing to be also?

Yeah. The difference between Apple and Google is that, They started like that. MS on the otherhand started with what we have and then suddenly changed it. People are having a difficult time to understand why now? And users have all the right to question it.

[gTen]

Originally Posted by kabuk1

^ I foresee a lot of WinMo users adopting Android thanks to this unbelievable blunder. Hell, I even thought about it until I heard they were keeping 6.x around.

The concern is while 6.5 may still exists but it will not get as many updates and in the end you know there would be no next version.ok they could pull a 6.6 and 6.7 on us but realistically speaking it does not look good.

As for c++ access..it maybe possible even without emulation. OEMs would be able to code via API but what language will the OEM applications support? This will of course probably require a hack. Aka I find it hard to believe that everything down to the kernals are written in .net.

[jethro_static]

Originally Posted by gTen

The concern is while 6.5 may still exists but it will not get as many updates and in the end you know there would be no next version.ok they could pull a 6.6 and 6.7 on us but realistically speaking it does not look good.

As for c++ access..it maybe possible even without emulation. OEMs would be able to code via API but what language will the OEM applications support? This will of course probably require a hack.

According to some comments, WP7's frame will be different from 6.xx which is why the apps needs to be rewritten.

[birddseedd]

It looks like windows media player (media center version)

[kabuk1]

Originally Posted by Cicatrize

6.5 is nice and all, but Android is just so much nicer for me. Having a customizable device without having to hack the hell out of it is a great thing.

I don't have to hack the hell out of mine to get it the way I want it. I just want the option to hack the hell out of it without being locked into a prescribed UI.

I've been reading the thread over at XDA & it's looking even worse than I thought. It's looking like 7 is gonna be an locked down system with an app store with an 'approval process' for developers. Hmm, not unlike the iPhone! Grrr. I don't like idiot-proof OSes. They're no fun. I don't need some e-nanny telling me I can't install something b/c big brother didn't approve it. This is why this new direction MS is headed in has me so worried. I don't want them to go the way of Apple- locking shit down & telling us what we can & can't do with our devices.

There is talk of an 'XDA OS' over there if things turn out really bad with WM7. If MS kills 6.x, then count me in on that.

[p-slim]

its funny how everyone keeps talking about wanting to run old programs on a new device and how microsoft is locking things down. 1st wanting to run old programs is like wanting to play xbox games on the xbox 360, why would you want to do that, when all the new apps are going to look and work better? Do you think there is going to be an app for your old skool phone that won't eventually get ported over, if it doesn't there must be something wrong with the app in the 1st place. 2nd people keep complaining about locking down the phone and so forth, if you guys like having to run custom roms and trying 20 different roms or building your rom just to get your phone to work, you people are definitely in the minority and microsoft doesn't care about you nor should they. I want my phone to work right out of the box, I don't want to have to do hard resets because i installed some stupid program, I can build my own rom with the best of them so I know all the tweaking there is to do with winmo, and I can't think of one reason why I would want to continue that. Look at our forum, its filled with stupid threads and problems that should not be a problem with an os', ppcgeeks forum alone lets you know there is a problem with winmo 6.5. So microsoft knows an app will mess your phone up and so they don't allow it, therefore it makes you mad? the tethering thing is another thing that kills me, just because you buy a certain phone you think you deserve free tethering, people are delusional? Like i said the very few of you guys that like running custom roms just to get your phone to function microsoft doesn't care about you guys, and as you can tell by how much $ they have been losing they shouldn't, you obviously aren't paying them. All i can say is the people who don't want to change will get left behind and there is NO ADVANTAGE of winmo 6 over wp7.