Unbelievably stupid name aside (Seriously Microsoft? Seven syllables? What were you thinking?), today has been all about the new Windows Mobile launch that happened in Barcelona overnight. It’s a huge change-up for Redmond, who have had essentially the same smartphone operating system in place for most of the past decade. But is it going to be enough to make you switch?
For today’s question of the day, we want to know just how impressed you are with the new mobile OS from Microsoft. Is it what you were hoping for? What you expected? Are you disappointed? Or do you just not give a shit. Let us know below!
Steve
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 4:49 PMI’m surprisingly impressed. Microsoft have done a complete 180 and actually designed something completely new, as apposed to jamming some new stuff with some old crap and giving it a new name.
Only qualm is with the name. To long, they need to rename it to something snappier.
I was thinking of getting the new iphone this year, but I’m happy to wait for the new Windows Phone 7 range.
Plus, I’m sick of seeing everyone pull out their iphone. Frankly they’ve lost there appeal.
Congrats Microsoft, first WINdows 7 and now WP7. Keep the good stuff coming.
Jubbin Grewal
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 5:07 PMAll I can say is.. that this is a Welcome move for Microsoft.. especially with the integration to the Zune Software… and a stunning new OS.
norp
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 5:07 PMTo be honest I think the UI isn’t particularly good. It doesn’t provide a whole lot of clear hinting and the UI seems very confusing to quickly extract data at a glance because all of the text is in the same font/weight and there are no borders on anything.
I absolutely HATE media center (so much so that on my xbox i use TVersity and browse using the video library) and it’s use of this new UI.
I don’t see the “tiles” approach being usable, it seems like it will be EVEN WORSE than apple’s “pile of icons” approach because every app can have animated stuff in completely different formats/sizes. Just look how annoying it is to find the movie/video file you are after in media center.
I am also not convinced about these “oversized” screens that you have to scroll across constantly to get at information, but I guess you would get used to what is in each direction for a given application.
ThePengwin
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 5:08 PMAs a user who recently left Windows Mobile, I one day have hope that it will return to being a cutting edge mobile system again.
When the time comes to update my phone again, i will look at windows mobile, and if it has improved then i will come back.
Sandra K
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 5:16 PMI’m not impressed with it.
There’s no guarantee it will succeed. Microsoft is so late coming to market with a phone OS designed for finger touch, rather than its previous ancient stylus-pen interface.
Some call Microsoft’s new platform the Zune phone. But despite all Microsoft’s wealth and might, the Zune music player failed in the market. Now they put a similar interface on a phone. Why is it going to work this time, when it failed last time. Once again, Microsoft’s product is late to market.
What’s worse, is that Microsoft is bumping everyone off the current Windows Mobile platform. This will cause alarm bells in corporate circles. The new WP7S platform requires all applications be rewritten for Silverlight. And even if you do this, the new platform is more consumer focused, rather than focused on the enterprise.
So enterprise users are going to have to migrate away from the current Windows Phone, whether they like it or not. Either to Microsoft’s new unproven platform, or to someone else’s platform. If you have to rewrite, you may as well go to Android, iPhone or BlackBerry, which exist here and now, are proven, are growing, and are popular.
matt
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 6:11 PMI haven’t had time to read all the stuff about it. I’m impressed by how impressed Giz seems at it!
all I know is I haven’t read anything yet that disproves those horrible rumours about the closedness of it. if they turn out to be true, and then they go and make us use c# and xna with it, it will be a BIG shame!
while the iPhone touts objective C, it still supports c++, the standard for games, keyword there: STANDARD. if a platform doesn’t support that, it makes multi-platform games, and especially multi-platform engines a lot harder to do.
I get the horrible feeling that THAT is exactly Microsoft’s aim, use a new programming language so once you develop for their platforms, it’s easy to port to THEIR other platforms but a lot HARDER to port to a competitor’s! then they really would be Apple! and then some!
at least C# is open I believe, anyone can use it on their platform. it is also easy to use, and good for getting things done quickly, tho at the sacrifice of some speed, so less efficient.
Wok
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 6:52 PMWould have selected the last option but Apps Meh… Microsoft definatly has a larger development community to Apple. Plus you don’t need a Mac to develop heh.
How about actually using it?
Matt
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 8:02 PMDefinitely looks interesting after the 22 minute video going around. But it still feels feels too textual and not very well formatted. They are certainly pushing the social connectivity of it. Maybe they should call it the facebook phone
Bernie
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 10:07 PMI showed the pictures and video to my 15 year old daughter. She’s had quite a few phones already (no iPhone yet) and thought the interface looked stupid (her words), like something a kid would have done or really old. She hated the idea of scrolling sideways having stuff hidden. Really confusing was her comment. She wouldn’t want one.
gargravarr
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 3:44 AMA better name: 7 Series Windows Phone – the BMW of phones. Overpriced and underpowered, unless you pay a boatload of money for a high-priced model.
Chris
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 8:39 AMWith the clean cut off of WinMo 6.x, I’m interested to see how quick and how POWERFUL business grade apps are. Particular MS’s own CRM which we use at work. Our version is highly optimised, and if apps need to be re-coded for WinMo7, then it’s going to cost a LOT of money eventually.
Sure, 6.x will be around for a while, but not forever. How long will out work PDA’s last? When we need replacements will we have a choice of platform? We already import our PDA’s because we can’t get the features required on any device in the local market.
As excited as I am, from a business perspective I’m scared s#@tless.
tricky
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 8:44 AMi’ll admit i was cautious while watching the Microsoft launch video yesterday, but i have to say i’m actually quite impressed with what they intend to deliver (eventually).
to be honest i’m just pleased that there is another option out there other than the iPhone. it will be interesting to see what Apple pull out of the bag for iPhone 4.0 :0
StevoTheDevo
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 9:16 AMNot impressed at all.
I don’t think the sideways scrolling is a wonderful UI.
I don’t think the square icons are new and exciting.
I don’t like the sound of having to sync media with Zune software.
I don’t like the closed nature of the device.
I think it’s a bad idea for them to kill all ties with WinMo 6. But maybe there really is no other way.
I do like though the WiFi Sync.
boc
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 1:14 PMThe same could be said about the iPhone and Android.
They’ve got all sorts of issues, some paralleling the issues you mentioned for the WP7.
Let’s face it. Most UIs are not ideal. They’re acceptable because you get used to them.
Give WP7 a chance and I reckon you’d see it may not be awesome, but it’d be alright.
Cheyne
Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 8:15 AMIts not like the name is an issue. Its what runs on the device that is made by the manufacturer and thats where the device will get its name from. Im sure the manufacturers can come up with a pretty name.