Vaporware? From Microsoft?
It can’t be!
I’ve cracked a few smartphones in my day and managed to get a semi-functional distro of Linux running on it. Granted, the phone was pretty much unusable as a phone, but the mobile Linux apps worked well enough.
I despise Microsoft’s licensing practices. One specific recent example for me was when I had to rebuild my mother-in-law’s laptop due to a failed hard drive. I went to install the retail version of Vista with the license key from the sticker on her machine, but Microsoft’s licensing service comes back and says it’s not a valid key. When I get on the phone with “Steve” from Microsoft (in India), he tells me that it’s an OEM license and the retail version doesn’t work with that key. The same damn version of Vista (Home Premium), but my key isn’t valid.
FUMS!
Well, they could shave out a niche, if they simply decided to put a netbook in a phone. Heck, Windows 98se would probably run pretty well on such a device! Battery life would stink, though. On the other hand it would be able to print via WI-FO out of the box.
Apple: One piece of hardware with new, better models launching every 12-18 months
Google: Multiple pieces of hardware, each needing a unique version of the OS for upgrade launching every month
Microsoft: A single, licensed OS and a hardware standard that allows multiple handset makers, but easy upgrades
Each has its advantages and disadvantages. It will be fun to watch this play out.
Microsoft’s problem is their left hand doesn’t know what the right one is doing. Licensing is a non-issue except for some coder geeks. Microsoft lost the ability to leverage the products they already have because ultimately, people have to work with people — and that never was a skillset at Microsoft. Sony is the same way. Bigness (and arrogance) has its limits.
Being a software developer and a true pro Microsoft bigot, and using Microsoft mobile OS for 3 years, and just receiving an iPhone4 last week, I’ve got to say as much as I hate to, the IP4 is light years ahead.
I actually look forward to using it. In fact I may buy a Mac just to play with developing Apps for it.
I’ll be struck by lighting in just a minute.
Windows 7 mobile looks intriguing but it doesn’t even have multitasking. While just last year this was true for iOS and Apple, being a year behind in the Smartphone world is like being 10 years behind in the PC world.
If being a year behind had any meaning then IBM not Dell would be the leading supplier of personal computers. If being a year behind was a serious factor then Yahoo and AltAVista would be the top search engines. If being first was a true criteria then the best selling auto in America would be a Chevy not a Ford. Other famous companies once thought of as World class included Pan Am Air, Ma Bell (AT&T) - which is really southwest bell with a new name - for the sake of worldwide sales. Finally, in the world of companies late to the party - Walmart. The media has no sense of history.