How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile

[x10guy]

Originally Posted by brownhornet

Wont really matter what WM does now... iphone has already won that war and droid is bringing up the rear.

Sad but true. I just got my new TP2 but I have a feeling this might be my last upgrade. Not that I don't want to continue, but we might not have much of a choice. There might not be many compelling Winmo phones in the near future.

HTC seems to really have a real beef with the Microsoft with the slow development of Winmo OS and it really shows in their future lineups. I don't think that trend is going to reverse anytime soon.

[smoove21]

Originally Posted by shaggylive

when you can find other o/s in devices like this then your argument sticks.
the fact is the only reason we have what we have now is due to business's buying winmobile for years. the first thing bb did was focus on enterprise server/software to tie into existing business networks, namely Microsoft. and since they had the first/best all-in-one phone busness's were willing to buy that extra equipment and licenses.

this whole argument about the ui is just that. the other o/s's were specifically designed with the u/i in mind. winmo has the architecture designed for corporate environments. I also believe this gets to the core of why were waiting for wm7. I suspect it's a completely different platform, hopefully making customization and programming easier.

Dude those products aren't running windows mobile, and if they are, its definitely not the same os in microsoft's mobile phone line.. They're running windows software built for the specific fields they're being used in. Your argument doesnt stick or make any sense. If you were to pay attention we're talking about the best mobile phone os and how microsoft's argument is their os is/was built for the "enterprise user." Lol who here has said apple has the best forklift os or that rim has the better bar-code scanner software. Fact is your statement speaks on two completely different subjects. We're talking specifically about mobile phone OS' not just how pretty they are. Take into account the usability and speed of the os not just how powerful or pretty(ui) it is.

[x10guy]

Originally Posted by kabuk1

Winmo's main problem is that MS has always marketed it to business users...

No.. I don't think that is their main problem.
If they indeed always marketed WinMo to business users, they certainly didn't do a good job.

That's just a cop out saying that Winmo is for business users... But if you insist on using that excuse, then BlackBerrys kicked their behind in the business world.

[thejacer]

Originally Posted by smoove21

Dude those products aren't running windows mobile, and if they are, its definitely not the same os in microsoft's mobile phone line.. They're running windows software built for the specific fields they're being used in. Your argument doesnt stick or make any sense. If you were to pay attention we're talking about the best mobile phone os and how microsoft's argument is their os is/was built for the "enterprise user." Lol who here has said apple has the best forklift os or that rim has the better bar-code scanner software. Fact is your statement speaks on two completely different subjects. We're talking specifically about mobile phone OS' not just how pretty they are. Take into account the usability and speed of the os not just how powerful or pretty(ui) it is.

lol...its the same os running on those devices as your phone. same os. maybe they havent taken the time to update .net cf or those are running an extremely outdated version of winmo but yeah, its no different from winmo 5 or 6 running on a phone. I've written a texting program on a windows 5 gps device with no cellular functions and used a point of sale device at my work running 6.0...btw ms doesnt have a mobile phone line. they have an os.

Originally Posted by x10guy

No.. I don't think that is their main problem.
If they indeed always marketed WinMo to business users, they certainly didn't do a good job.

That's just a cop out saying that Winmo is for business users... But if you insist on using that excuse, then BlackBerrys kicked their behind in the business world.

Their problem is they didn't market at all. but they did in fact produce a nearly exclusively enterprise OS. even if they didnt market it well at all. (which is why RIM stepped in)

[BlackDynamite]

Originally Posted by x10guy

Sad but true. I just got my new TP2 but I have a feeling this might be my last upgrade. Not that I don't want to continue, but we might not have much of a choice. There might not be many compelling Winmo phones in the near future.

HTC seems to really have a real beef with the Microsoft with the slow development of Winmo OS and it really shows in their future lineups. I don't think that trend is going to reverse anytime soon.

What do you mean HTC future lineup? Do you have some info on their future lineup? Or are you just going off of that leaked T-Mobile presentation for the first half of 2010 (before WM 7 is set to launch)?

You want to know how HTC feels about Windows Mobile, just ask yourself why Windows Mobile devices get all the new hardware before the Android devices...

[smoove21]

Originally Posted by thejacer

lol...its the same os running on those devices as your phone. same os. maybe they havent taken the time to update .net cf or those are running an extremely outdated version of winmo but yeah, its no different from winmo 5 or 6 running on a phone. I've written a texting program on a windows 5 gps device with no cellular functions and used a point of sale device at my work running 6.0...btw ms doesnt have a mobile phone line. they have an os.



Their problem is they didn't market at all. but they did in fact produce a nearly exclusively enterprise OS. even if they didnt market it well at all. (which is why RIM stepped in)

As i clearly stated..If it was running windows its not the same as in mobile phones.. Hence the name of the os being windows MOBILE. Those products that you're speaking of are running windows ce if anything. Windows mobile cannot be outdated it if was developed and optimized for the use of replacing a pda and to become an all in one device. So that you wont need a computer to do all of your computing needs. Windows ce was developed and designed to be used as a sort of pc companion to someone's or a companies business. It works with your computer meaning it extends its capabilities. Better yet just follow the link and when you're done can we continue talking about windows mobile and not ce or any variation not being ran on cell phones...not pda's please stop feeding me all these other uses for windows because if they were all the same we would be talking about one version and not have windows mobile/phone/7/ce/nt. If they were the same everything would be running just windows ok? Different technology,different software and different hardware.http://support.microsoft.com/kb/158182

[thejacer]

The H19 is a high-performance smartphone with built-in barcode scanner, featuring Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 Professional. You can always keep in touch, using any of the H19's communication options; Bluetooth, WiFi and GSM/GPRS/EDGE. The H19 is even standard equipped with GPS. -- http://www.directindustry.com/prod/o...39-401737.html

The new IT-800 PDA runs on the new operating system Microsoft® Windows® Mobile 6.5, weighs under 350 grams and is equipped with a 9.4 cm (3.7 inch) VGA screen which is about ten times more shock resistant than standard displays. -- http://www.directindustry.com/prod/c...82-405425.html

i.roc x20
i.roc® 420 - Industrial PDA

The XScale processor, the operator interface featuring Windows Mobile® 5, -- http://www.directindustry.com/prod/e...065-87139.html

Features

- MIL-STD 810F and IP54 Compliance
- Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1
- E-Compass and Altimeter
- 3M Pixels Auto-focus Camera
- VGA Display -- http://www.directindustry.com/prod/g...86-399772.html

Features:

- Windows Mobile version 6 operating system
- 1 x Type I and 1 x Type I/II CompactFlash (CF) slots for memory expansion and the addition of accessories -- http://www.directindustry.com/prod/h...79-407215.html

those are the products ur talking about right? just for fun heres the website of a company that sells these types of products all over the world with "Windows Mobile" (the MOBILE PHONE os as you so elegantly put it) right on the front page.

http://www.mobile.datalogic.com/Prod...d_pd274_7.html

please try to be more polite. I understand you without all caps.

[breakmyfootoff]

Originally Posted by Noir

I think they blew it in the marketing dept
the droid phone is the worse POS I have ever used and yet it is a popular phone why? Because of marketing.

lmao, really? You have a very "unique" perspective.
Speaking of unique perspectives, here's another one .

I loved my WM phone, but I got tired of defending it. They were really the first ones in the mobile OS game and when they didnt have any competition I was amazed at what you could do with WM on such a small portable device. WM was King, so the king sat back in his throne and relaxed and enjoyed being the most powerful. Meanwhile there were rebellions forming. Growing stronger everyday and eager for a chance to dethrone the king, who sat comfortably in his throne, growing fat and lazy and complacent. Content with the "status quo" the king continued to do nothing to improve his kingdom until he noticed one day that he had few followers left . His kingdom had suddenly been split up amongst 4 new rulers who were competing furiously to control all the lands. There was the Monarch who controlled all those under him with an iron fist and did not allow his followers to think for themselves, The Compassionate leader who allowed his followers to act and do as they wished and even allowed them access to his very own DNA, the Mail carrier faction whom specialized in delivering messages, and the ADD faction who touted the ability to switch quickly from task to task (but not do any of them well) . The king quickly realized the folly of his ways. He quickly jumped into action and began to make changes to his kingdom in an effort to win back his lost followers, but to his dismay he was already too far behind. Even with the new improvements to his kingdom he was still far behind the other civilizations. I tell this story now from Android land, looking back at the land I once called home. My old home (WM Land) is now a ghetto, populated by the few that either can not leave because of a contract with their king, or have too strong of a sentimental attachment to their homes to realize that they are now in the ghetto.

Before anyone else says it, I'll go ahead and do it.......WTF?

[dishe]

Actually, smoove21, those ARE running Windows Mobile. Most of them Windows Mobile 2003, but some of them run 5 or even 6. The term Mobile does not mean phone at all. Its the same Windows Mobile running on an HTC phone that is running on a Dell Axim PDA or HP iPaq. Some of the software I run on my phone (such as mocha FTP, for example) was made for a PDA over WiFI, before PDA-Phone combos where widely available.

This is a bit off topic, but I think you are confused:
Windows CE is a modular operating system that was designed to be adapted for various uses, like solid state terminals, in-dash car entertainment consoles, GPS units, call center extensions, set-top TV boxes and even ended up on Sega's Dreamcast system.
The idea was that a hardware developer could take a standardized OS and throw modules together to easily suit their need. The default CE UI actually resembles Windows 95, with a cascading start menu on the bottom and task bar. (see here: http://www.bluewatersys.com/img/wiki...screenshot.png )

One of the divisions of the CE team wanted to compete with Palm's popular Pilot PDA, and when the HPCs didn't catch on (think pocket-sized clamshell laptop), they decided it was because no one wants to open up and use their PDA like a laptop on the go.
So, they created an alternative UI designed for portrait orientation displays, threw together some standardized modules for general PDA use, and called it Windows Mobile (actually, originally Pocket PC, but eventually the name was changed in 2003 for marketing the Windows brand).

Those devices are running the same Windows Mobile we are, although perhaps not as recent a version. Many enterprise portable computing devices such as Point-of-sale guns in Target stores or what stewards use to order and pay for drinks on JetBlue, run Windows Mobile. This is mostly instead of some version of CE because it already exists and is ready to go instead of adapting and developing a customized OS.

That is part of why WM will not really die, even if they lose relevance in the consumer market.

I have a few of those barcode scanners in my office, they used to use them for inventory. Some of the older black-and-white display ones run Windows CE with the old UI, and its kind of funny. In some ways, I wish they had kept that. Its really more like using a desktop, and seems more natural. The newer ones run Pocket PC 2003, one or two of them run WM5. I used to take the unused ones and load all my old crap on them... TCPMP, pocket DOOM, etc., just for kicks.

A coworker of mine who didn't want to carry around a large smartphone decided to actually adopt one as his PDA. Kind of silly I think, since its so big, but he wanted it not just for PIM, but also as a laptop replacement for terminal services and configuring routers though serial cables.

Just setting the record straight, here. WM *is* used for more than consumer devices. CE is a whole 'nother story...

[shaggylive]

Originally Posted by smoove21

Fact is your statement speaks on two completely different subjects. We're talking specifically about mobile phone OS' not just how pretty they are. Take into account the usability and speed of the os not just how powerful or pretty(ui) it is.

your right, I'm referring to PocketPc's. I have been aware of this difference developing for some time (PocketPc w/phone vs. phone that does 'everything'.)
as far as usability and speed go, that's completely subjective. consumers wants are different than enterprise needs, and the consumer market only recently started demanding more. before that it was purely a commercial driven device.

this is why the shift from winmo to m$phone. there will still be specialized devices like I linked before, but they will now be under the "embedded" category. (i think)