How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/11/19/m...ile/index.html

Interesting Article on CNN, thought i would share.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

Not what I wanted to see, but I still love my windows mobile :)

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

Bury me with my ppc lol. Ill never buy an iphone. Wonder how long before the iphone is on the decline. Will they make they same "mistakes" as Microsoft? Guess we will see in ten years.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

I've been with PPCs/Winmo devices for like the last 7 years. Microsoft has like a 10 year head start on mobile devices but simply blew it. Anyone can see that baring a miracle, they've already lost the mobile OS battle.

In a year or so, I see it really comind down to a battle between Goog'e Android and Apple iPhone.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

That unfortunately may be true.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

I think MS definitely blew it, but they may still have a chance if they can piggy-back off the success of Windows 7. They really need to get it right the first time with WM7 though.

Look at the landscape of the market. By the time WM 7 hits the ground, we'll likely have: Palm OS2, Android 2.XX, blackberry's consumer-friendly Storm 2 (maybe even Storm 3 if MS is late), and of course our Apple friends. IMO apple will be making some big changes this summer in an effort to stay atop the pack.

All the major players are going to be 2 or 3 (even 4) generations into their "modern era" mobile OS platforms before MS even gets out of the gate.

I think an excellent strategy would be to try and package a free mobile device into the purchase of a new desktop. If every single person that bought a new comp got a free shot at WM7 they could make up some major ground.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

i dont think microsoft blew it. Windows Mobile didnt have anything to offer to the average person. It didnt have any fun games or fun apps so making commercials of it wouldnt make any sense bc it was only geared to the nerds (lol sry guys). So for a OS that really didnt do much for the average person I think it did pretty well. But now we have the iPhone and Android, I think microsoft should really work hard on Windows 7 to make it finger friendly and developers keep it up with the useless (ha) but appealing games and apps like those shake and save stuff and when windows 7 comes out do a couple commercials focusing on games and apps (especially skyfire with flah in the browser) then at the end maybe throw in the extra stuff windows could do like multitasking etc. Remember the average person doesnt care about the geeky things that our phones can do. They need to make commercials that will appeal the the average consumer. We at ppcgeeks dont need commercials bc we know what our phones are capable of.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

You are absolutely correct "Microsoft didn't have anything to offer the average person..." That is why they are lagging so far behind. Let's face it, it is Microsoft so WinMo will probably be around for a while. But it will definitely (and probably has so already) taken a back seat to android and iphone.
And let's remember, most developers will develop on the platform that has the potential for most profit... which most of the time means the most users.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

The way I see it, the Iphone had it easy. when it came out, it had competition. WM did not, and when there's no competition, things don't quite develop as fast as when there is. consider how long it took from WM 5 to 6, and then 6.1. those releases took a long time to get out and didn't really offer too much in terms of an upgrade. but now that we have the iphone, pre, and android. we already have 6.5 (with updates already coming), as well as WM 7 coming right on its heels. Microsoft didn't screw up, they just needed someone to light a fire under their a$$. so thanks Iphone, without you, we would not have the pre or android, and WM 6.5 probably woudn't even be out yet.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

So let me get this straight...is everyone saying that its okay for microsoft to make us wait even longer for wm7? That its okay to let the phone manufacturers make windows more user friendly? As x10guy said, it will be taking a backseat to other OS's. I doubt android will be ahead of it though. Simply because google is doing what microsoft did. Let the phone manufacturers create the UIs for the phones to be more consumer appealing. This is where rim,apple and palm nailed it. Make a very appealing,powerful and clean UI. Microsoft has the powerful part down, they just need to make it more appealing and clean it up a lil bit. But to be honest they did blow it. They take too long to do anything when it comes to windows mobile. How can you claim they didnt blow it and they've already lost a third of their market share since 2008? Thats more or less one year people!!!!!!

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

I don't see the Palm Pre as a serious contender simply because they are bit late and they are currenly only on Sprint which is still bleeding customers. (I can't remember the time when Sprint was actually gaining customers). Palm is also too small.

I say Android simple because of 3 reasons.
1. Across all carriers
2. Google is behind it
3. Open source
It is arriving a bit late but I think by next year, it'll be past WinMo and beyond.

I say the iPhone simple because it is already there, despite being only on ATT. I probably would also add BB (blackberry) to the mix too.

Winmo won't go away simple because Microsoft is behind it. But it has already lost the lead and baring any breakthrough miracle, probably will never get it back.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

here we go, lets do this. instead of talking about how wm crashed and burned lets thank MS for what it did right. innovation (oh no! someone referring to innovation and not talking about iphones **barely** finger friendly grid of square icons?!). thanks MS for giving us a persistant, CONSISTENT, dependable medium for communicating all of our important business material while on the go. thanks for inspiring all of this competition.

but MS wasnt the first. and apple actually only came into the game 2 years later. but apple died out in 98. they couldnt compete. and 98 isnt so far back...its recent enough to make this iphone craze apples second coming. so lets look at who REALLY dropped the ball. MS hasnt had to give up yet. MS gave the consumers what they wanted/needed when it mattered and stayed consistent. who would have guessed that their client base would ditch funcionality for mediocrity and fart machines.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

I'm not sure what you are saying. Are you saying that it was the consumer dropped the ball for not supporting Microsoft? Windows Mobile is a nice platform .... like 4 years ago. No one disputes that in general Windows Mobile works fine. It just is too late and too slow in innovation and UI development. What company who controlled the handheld OS market for 7 years, allows one company to leapfrog it in less than 1 year?

WinMo is not going away, but I'll still stick to my prediction that it will be a Android/iPhone/BB world in a year or so.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

If it is going to be a android/iPhone/BB world in a year I going to be like the kid dressed in 80's cloth in the 90's. I do not a big fan of any of these platforms. The iPhone was nice when it came out. I loved the screen size and the ability to scroll but now I have that with WM, I am still trying to find out what makes Android so different, and the BB has not changed much since it came out. I guess I am happy with WM and everything I can change with it to the point I am not changing anytime soon.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

just saying it was a market sway. even if microsoft had foreseen consumers would want a toy over a useful phone i don't think they could have seen enterprise users in such large numbers would make that trade. and just wanted to point out: windows mobile isn't the first mobile os to decline sharply. the apple newton was fairly popular but its failure to produce a halfa** workable handwriting program and other things lead to their demise after 6 years of being a top contender in the field. a little sick of reading how wm is failing due to lack of innovation (and ive never read what type of innovation or any type of suggestions for that matter, other than more finger friendly) which is exactly where apple failed at first. maybe MS will do better after they hit rock bottom. but i dont call anything the iphone has to offer innovative OR desirable for that matter.

of course maybe i haven''t spoken to the right person, what iphone features do you all call innovative anyway? and maybe what innovative features would you like to see MS include. i know it must be difficult to innovate without any direction.**and of course ive used an iphone**

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

I think you guys are misunderstanding my post. I said Winmo is NOT going away. I myself have been a dedicated use since the days it was called Windows CE. So I am actually a bit biased towards it.

But I'm just saying, Microsoft has lost the lead in the handheld market and probably will never get it back. You can hate all the other makers all you want, but that is just reality.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

I said long ago on one of these posts that winmo is falling behind android and the iphone but of course no one listened. Proof is in the pudding since windows mobile sales had record drops in the last quarter.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

Who said no one listened?
The news is worse when even the manufacturers start to grumble about WinMo too. HTC is definitely not too thrilled with the WinMo OS and is starting to really lean toward Android handets.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

I don't care what anyone says about WM, I'd get a sex change before I'd use an iPhone or a Blackberry. It might be possible to sway me toward Android someday if it becomes similar enough to WM that I can do the same stuff with it, and if it becomes the prevalent OS & I don't have much of a choice. But still very doubtful.

The biggest reason people like other OSes better(IMO) is for the shiny factor. "Oooh look it's so pretty! It just has to be the better product!" NOT. I myself am living proof that a homely exterior can belie a powerhouse of intelligence & entertainment. I also suspect that WM is often too hard for the average schmoe to figure out how to use properly so people get frustrated & trade it in for an iPhone. I know people with Touch Pros who have had them for months & still have everything stock because they cannot figure out how to change anything.

Sure, some other OSes might be more stable, but at the cost of customizability. I can deal with a glitch now & then for a highly versatile device which I can truly make my own. I'd much rather have total freedom than be given a list of apps that are "safe" to install. :roll:

So I guess I'll be another 80's kid with an "outdated" WM phone that you'll have to pry out of my cold, dead hands. :headbang:

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

microsoft is probably glad to have dedicated people like you...
But the majority of smartphone users are not like you. They are on different handets and probably will stay that way. Mainly because the majority of users are really not technical or "geeks" that love to tweak things.

Microsoft WinMo will probably always be there for that "technically inclined" following (ie PPCgeeks) but they have given up too much ground to once again be a leader in handeld devices.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

I was too, I started this with a HPC PocketPC 1.0 (NEC MobliePro 400 that I still have and works fine).

Microsoft didn't blow it, PocketPC/Windows Mobile always had it's market, just never really big (that is mostly due to it's marketing, never too much). They have been making the OS for PDAs and phones for many years now. It really appealed to corporate people who wanted something different than a blackberry and gave great Exchange/Office support out of the box. People who own them, tend to love them once they know them if they can live with the minor flaws (battery life is still one of it's major issues on most phones).

The iPhone is a love/hate thing for me. I've used it, it's nice, it's really fast but, it's just a simple app launcher in a fancy package, I was never impressed and I'm not a mac fanboy so, the "mac" thing didn't drag me over. In this case I hate it.

After what the iPod did to the MP3, you didn't have to be a marketing major to know the iPhone would do really well.

The thing I love about the iPhone is what it did for the market, Microsoft needs to step up it's game a lot to keep afloat here and they know it. The iPhone gave features that many of us has dreamed about for years in a very small package (thin) and really opened up on the touch screen feeling, not just by using a stylus and also the fact that it's almost moron proof.

This has opened eyes at Microsoft, WM 6.5 is a start, it's finally moving in the right direction. The specs for a WM 7 phone are better than the iPhone current offerings, so if they get WM 7 right and not just towards the corporate market(but, not blacklisting them) but, to the hip younger croud, they might make it.

Microsoft if your listening....They need to get WM 7 right and spend some big $$$$ on advertising when it's released. Every phone(model) that is approved needs to go through some major tests before before it can be a WM7 phone.

I think if they miss out on WM 7, it's days are numbered. This is one they can't afford to mess up again. We really need WOW with this one....

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

wai wha/
granted htc is having half of its devices as android this year but you forget they pulled out the big rumored snapdragon android based hd in favor of the leo...i'm sorry but i don't see where the speculation is when lin himself has constantly sai that windows mobile and htc are tight (check out the interviews on htcpedia for more information on that)

as far as android is concerned i don't or haven't seen the big deal of android at all. maybe i'm lost but someone has to explain the draw beyond updates (looks at wm 6.5.3 updates every 3 days) or speed (points to said os leaks) and customizability (looks at htc and samsung) so uhm what's the big hullabaloo if anything android can do windows mobile can do?

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

Android is definitely not a leader yet. But just look at the number of current and future handsets coming out.

I don't think this is an argument about what Winmo can or can't do compared to others. I mean, there are all strengths and weaknesses of for all handsets. It's about who will lead and drive the market in the future.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

Wasnt expecting to see that.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

I've been using WM for quite a few years. Over that time it hasn't seemed to change much, a few improvements here and there but nothing major, nothing that provided that "wow" moment. I switched to the iphone a few months ago but that relationship only lasted a short time. A nice phone, but, frankly, really boring and worse, running on a real crap network.

I came back to wm via the Omnia but WM 6, the Omnia and Touchwiz were a marriage from gadget hell and that phone lasted exactly one week. I'm now running an Imagio. Nice phone but hampered by WM although I will say that 6.5 is an improvement (not much of one but an improvement) and I like the phone overall. My big complaints are the ones that come from WM. Sometimes slow and very laggy and having to constantly dump the memory to gain some back and get back to a decent speed.

I'm hoping that MS will get WinMo 7 right. I will hold off until then, but I have to admit that I've begun looking at Android. The problem is that Android is still too much in its infancy and I don't think its even close to being ready for prime time in a business use world. I rely on contacts and calendaring and syncing on my phone so that's a major priority.

By the time WM 7 comes out I think we'll be seeing another iteration of Android and have some better options. At that point, MS needs to have hit a winner or I will have to be seriously looking at other options.

R

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

http://jkontherun.com/2009/11/23/win...han-you-think/
finally something i agree with pertaiing to android v wm

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

Yup, anything will beat Android at this point. It it still is fairly early. I want to see what Android is like in a year. Until then, I'm still in the Winmo camp. (of course Sprint locks me into Winmo because all other handsets require the Everything plan)

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

I like the customization of WM though and there are some real nice third party apps that make my Diamond run pretty nice.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

really good article and the comments aren't just flamers. thanks Noir.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

Reality Check
Windows Mobile 7 will not be the iphone or Android killer.

Windows Mobile 6.5.x and 7 will just be platforms for Handset makers such as HTC, Samsung, etc...

Haven't you seen the trends with Samsung Today, HTC Sense?

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

I agree with that. I am on the custom ROMs with Sense and have stopped using the WM Today screen since I moved from a Mogul to the Touch Pro.

I don't even know how to navigate WM 6.5 Today screen. I am by no means a noob with this but just don't see the need to learn WM's Today screen when Sense/Manila does it all.

I just want WM7 to be stable and fast so the UI's placed on top of it dont crash!

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

lol you do realize that in defending windows, your post spoke about all of its flaws with the exception to being slow. Thats what alot of us are trying to explain. We all love windows but it just needs work. I read in an earlier post when someone spoke about microsoft didnt expect so many business users to jump ship. Why wouldnt they? If im trying to do business, be it making a phone call, sending an email or doing a powerpoint presentation.. I wouldnt want my phone freezing up right when i need it most. Yes windows was made for business users first and foremost but if i can get another phone/os that can do the same core things so to speak and do them faster and with more stability then of course thats my choice. It's all about working smarter and not harder. Windows mobile was somewhat of an only choice back then, that's why it had so much success. Now all that "its for business users" crap doesn't stick. Its not even the best in its own niche anymore. We all love or ppc's, heck i still have my touch pro 2, but most people are growing impatient with microsoft and their lack of urgency..

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

I think all we need to ask ourselves is this one question.

If it weren't for PPCgeeks or XDA, would we still be using Winmo phones?

That's the problem with Winmo, it really is not that great without a bunch of tweaks and customization. I mean custimization is nice but most of the general public isn't into that...

We like Winmo once we've tweaked it to our liking but the reality is that we are a minority and that minority is shrinking every year.
And yeah, I agree wholeheartedly with Smoove21. The line "Winmo is for business users"... is really a cop out.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

i think you're talking about me, and the problem with that is I've never had my ppc freeze on me. my first of course was on winmo 6 and now 6.1 and ive used 6.5 (without any customizations on any of those btw). The aspect i was referring to drawing the business end unexpectedly was the useless apps that people just for some reason seem to crave more than functionality. and while I've heard of people's devices freezing and crashing ive never actually seen it. I have however seen my dad's iphone lock up 3 times since he got it in april and my 2 brothers have done the same a few times. btw i also know 3 ppl running winmo 6 and 6.1 on 3 devices different from mine and still have never seen it freeze up.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

WM7 has something in it's favor when it drops. I can't tell you how many times I read the bloggers when reviewing phones say things like "I have a special place for WM, it was my first PDA but...". Most of the people that will be doing these reviews will be giving the OS very good publicity if it's done right. Sites like phonescoop, phoneareana, Cnet, will do some of MS advertising for them. I do believe they'll get it right and also think that from now on the days of qvga and vga devices are gone. We'll basically be seeing WVGA devices with a capactive touch screen, with very strict minimal system requirements. The developers no longer have to deal with the 20 different phone types and with a Marketplace already in place, WM is positioned for a great comeback.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

Couldnt this analysis apply to android and webos also? I mean to get it working to peoples liking they have to root or use homebrew correct? Meaning no OS is perfect and they all have to be changed in some way in many peoples eyes. Im not bashing any OS but they all need work from what I have read. By the way I have never flashed a custom rom on any of my phones and the only time I have had a problem it was due to hardware failure which can happen on any phone.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

Android is almost perfect except it needs a GUI. If it came standard with SenseUI it wouldn't be bad.

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

I think Microsoft did blow it.

Apple and the iphone juggarnaut are unstoppable. It is easy to use, keeps itself updated automatically, has the famed app store built in, has a HUGE accessory base, it pretty much does everything automatically, and it is much cheaper than most WinMo phones (five or six hundred dollars for a phone?). Not to mention you can't throw a dead cat and not hit a d*mn itunes gift card hanging by every checkout register.

Though I see it all as a closed-system that lacks freedom for the user, you can't deny it has obviously taken over the mobile market (which is more amazing when you realise it is only on one carrier).

I work in film, and on the last film set we would snap various pics of behind-the-scenes stuff. There were roughly 30 phones taking pics, and mine was the only non-iphone (a Fuze). One guy had the 'photoshop' app, snapped a pic and filtered it a little, showed it to someone else, and within minutes everyone had the same photoshop app and were all filtering their pics. Although I see that as "what happened to "think different" when everyone basically has the same phone/apps?" you have to admit that for those who don't know how to tweak their phone, apple has made it super easy for anyone to use. Thus the popularity.

My kids have 8G Zunes. Seen any zune accessories lately? Heck no.. In fact, have you seen any Zunes at all (other than ZuneHD)? The MP3 player market is dominated by everything apple. The new ZuneHD is awesome, but it's more expensive than the iTouch. For someone who has no clue and is just looking through the display case at an itouch and zunehd, why in the world would they ever choose a zune? The apple products are colorful, fun, easy to use, have cameras, etc.. Plus, when the display case right next to it has a ton of accessories and docks that are not for the zune, the choice is simple.

I think the rise in apple's popularity may come from people who buy iphones/itouch/ipods, like how simple they are, and decide to get a mac when they need to upgrade their computer.. I was talking with a guy who I thought was fairly tech-savvy, and he talking about how technologically advanced the iphone was.. I was going to point out a few things to support his ideas when he said 'like a touch screen. Before the iphone, there weren't any touch screen phones or devices out there." He then went on to tell me how excited he was about the new apple tablet computer.. These type of people saturate the majority. They watch apple's clever advertising and assume it is the only option available that is innovative.

But, technology leapfrogs itself.. Apple just seems to have done a very long leap, making the other developers take several jumps just to catch up..

I work on both Windows and Mac, but own only Windows computers myself.

I have high hopes for WinMo7, but unfortunately know that the phones capable of running it will probably be to expensive for me..

-Matthew

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

at one point I didn't have htc device. Was I ready to go to ATT and iphone? no absolutely not. I needed a qwerty keyboard that marginally worked and did what I needed it to do. Would that mean I would've used android? Little support of office and while new, design of phones were lackluster and the web interface is difficult with sites that use authentication (eg library sites for research)

So I would probably be with windows mobile just because of the immense amount of apps for it and other things...

Yeah I'd still be windows and hoping windows cleans up their act

in which galaxy?

Re: How Microsoft blew it with Windows Mobile
 

I think there is a misunderstanding what the thread is about.

It is NOT about why we use Winmo devices over something else... Almost every single person who contributed to this thread uses Winmo. We all like it and use it. I definitely prefer it over the competition right now.

So there is NO argument why we have chosen Winmo. The issue is how Microsoft which has had the most time, money, and handsets just simply blew the leadership they once held. I mean it's not even close anymore. Winmo is like 3rd soon to be in 4th place.