Must Read: Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet: Beating the iPad mini (review)

Topic: Software

Windows Mobile is better than you think

Summary: Regular readers here know that I am a fan of the Windows Mobile operating system, even though that is not necessarily a popular opinion since it isn't the flashiest and newest OS. I have talked about the strengths of Windows Mobile quite a bit and was pleased to see my friend and MoTR cohost, James Kendrick, post a fair comparison article between Android and Windows Mobile. James takes a look at multi-tasking, available apps, user interface, and computer desktop integration. It was refreshing to see James award the advantage to Windows Mobile in 3 of 4 areas with the last one being a tie.

Matthew Miller

By for Smartphones and Cell Phones |

Regular readers here know that I am a fan of the Windows Mobile operating system, even though that is not necessarily a popular opinion since it isn't the flashiest and newest OS. I have talked about the strengths of Windows Mobile quite a bit and was pleased to see my friend and MoTR cohost, James Kendrick, post a fair comparison article between Android and Windows Mobile. James takes a look at multi-tasking, available apps, user interface, and computer desktop integration. It was refreshing to see James award the advantage to Windows Mobile in 3 of 4 areas with the last one being a tie.

I have said this same thing to folks regarding the Symbian S60 platform too. While S60 and Windows Mobile are not the freshest and most exciting platforms, they are still extremely functional and useful. I personally also find the S60 platform to be much more stable than anything out there and is just runs and runs without issues. All four of the areas James listed are also strong for Symbian devices.

Topics: Software, Hardware, Mobile OS, Mobility, Operating Systems, Wi-Fi, Windows

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

Talkback

36 comments
Log in or register to join the discussion

  • My main gripe

    is with the antique user interface which is
    little more than an uninspired, miniaturized
    desktop GUI.

    The foundations seems solid enough (now) - it
    is quite decent in multi-tasking and is
    generally responsive.

    I too believe that if MS can reinvigorate the
    UI they still has a strong competitor. Oh - and
    they should by Opera. IE mobile stinks. Really.
    honeymonster
    Reply Vote

    • I suppose there is hope. But, the iPhone and Android are so far ahead, and

      have much better foundations. Windows Mobile has
      been so bad for so long that it will be hard for
      them to shake the image, let along catch up.
      DonnieBoy
      Reply Vote

      • You don't own any of those phones Donnie

        Why do you want to lie to people?
        markbn
        Reply Vote

        • Well, I have never owned a Pinto either, but, I have seen them, read the

          reports, even ridden in them. I have also seen and
          used Windows mobile, and read the reviews. I would
          not buy one.

          Wake up and smell the coffee. Have you read the
          reviews of Win Mobile compared to Android and
          iPhone????
          DonnieBoy
          Reply Vote

          • Yes, James Kendrick appearently says that WM

            beat out Android, so are you saying that since he scored the google OS [i]lower[/i] in marks then WinMobile, that his review (and those that support his review) are all innocorrect?
            GuidingLight
            Reply Vote

    • Main problem is it's MS, and they're all about them

      not consumers. And it's 100% guaranteed that it involves sneaky megalomania based lock-ins.

      There's only one way for Microsoft to go, and it's not up. Get used to it.
      fr0thy2
      Reply Vote

      • Apple and Google are the same

        if not worse!! They try to tie you in to their proprietary services. What do you think Chrome OS is and Android? They are ploys to tie you in to their services. What do you think the iPhone is they tie you in to iTunes and Safari. So tell me how they are different?
        Djblois
        Reply Vote

        • Yes, he was rather provocative!! But, the main issue is the quality of the

          offering here. Windows mobile, by almost any
          measure is a has been.

          On the other hand, Android is 100% open source,
          and any other company could make a version of
          android pointing at their services, and not
          Google's, including Microsoft.

          It might be a good strategy for MS to field
          their own Android based phone (not called
          Android obviously) but, then they would have to
          admit how bad Win Mobile really is.
          DonnieBoy
          Reply Vote

          • I just burst out laughing once I connected "the dots"

            I just realized your posting pattern:

            When Google has an outage, or an issue or security flaw discovered in their products, you are nowhere to be found.

            Silent as the proverbial church mouse.

            But yet have someone rate a Microsoft product better then the Google offering, or have an article showing the Google offering as comming up short, then suddenlly you are here, multiple posts, multiple insults, multiple silly stories, non stop untill the article is relegated to the archives.

            Having people choose a Microsoft product over Google actually frightens you!!
            GuidingLight
            Reply Vote

          • Hmmm. Me thinks you shout too loudly! Microsoft is in fear and so you are.

            You are so tight up Microsoft's arse you can't even write an opinion piece that is not shoved down your throat by M$. Time for you to go!
            No More Microsoft Software Ever!
            Reply Vote

        • What proprietary service?

          Does Android TIE you into? I can get email from any email provider. I can use any IM client. The music store is not even a part of Google. And to top it off I can write applications to connect to other services that have every privilege on the phone that the apps that ship with it have. Oh and then theres the fact that the platform is open and OEM's have already bought in and customized it. So tell me again how Google has me locked in here???

          I think some of you all fail to understand what we mean when we talk about MS lock-in. So you get mad and try to call anything you see lock-in in defense.
          storm14k
          Reply Vote

          • You are failing to understand the motivation of any business

            Apple, Microsoft, Google, Adobe, almost any business always acts the same way in the same circumstances. You seem to not understand that - if you look everything that Microsoft has been accused of over the years Google has done and so has Apple and so has many other corporations - so sorry no Microsoft is not the all mighty conveyor of death!! They are just like every other corporation - a profit maximizing one!! So think before you accuse Microsoft of being evil.
            Djblois
            Reply Vote

          • Ummm...are you apologizing? Nothing like MS saying 'Sorry'!

            Won't work. MS is Bad, others are Good. Microsoft needs to work harder to get folks back into their fold (very, very, very, very, very, very, very HARD!).
            No More Microsoft Software Ever!
            Reply Vote

          • What MS lock-in do you speak of???

            WinMo has IE, if I don't like it, I can install Opera... I can install Skyfire... What other browser can I install on the iPhone or Android? Windows Marketplace has recently opened for apps, but I can also install apps from anywhere on the web. Where else can I get an app for my iPhone or Android device except their stores?

            I don't like the interface WinMo has, I'll start up TouchFLO 3D, hmmm, still don't like it, maybe I'll install a skin to make it look like an iPhone, nope, I'll install SPB Mobile Shell, or wisbar, or Winterface to change the entire look of the device. How can I change the look of my iPhone or Android interface?

            You know, I'm tired of WinMo 6.1 on my FUZE. Think I'll download and flash the latest Winmo 6.5.3 that hasn't even been released yet. Where can I get an updated version of OS X or Android to install?

            Where is this MS lock-in you speak of?
            UncleBubba
            Reply Vote

          • Lockin is new PC's. Windows is the lockin. Try reading more! (NT)

            NT
            No More Microsoft Software Ever!
            Reply Vote

          • I think you'll find....

            There is no lock-in, your free to install what ever OS you feel like on a PC, hell you can even design your own OS. But as one person so eloquently put it in another blog... If Apple where to open up there OS and make it available to install on any PC then maybe there would be a competitor at last that could break into the MS monopoly.

            Cause and Affect:

            Apple are actually assisting MS in maintaining a monopoly on PC OS's.

            In regards to Win Mobile, i've never had no problems with win mobiles, the XDA i had back in 2001 served me well, i agree with the assessment of the UI but i believe HTC are leading the way in that direction. SPB aint to bad either.

            But why would WM bother with the UI when they know that other companies can create their own UI's to further enhance/personalize their product offerings, and like i said, HTC are doing a pretty good job in that department, now just sit back and watch as the other mobile manufacturers take heed.

            In regards to functionality, WM is simple miles ahead of the rest, WM has always been a business class mobile OS.

            The iPhone is not a business phone, its a consumer phone hence it doesn't figure in this article where as S60 and Android are upping their game, there still catering to consumer demand as opposed to business needs, hence they will always fall short.

            The gap between said mobile OS's will lessen but the question is, will those consumers settle with those mobile OS's while they catch up or will they convert to an already established business class mobile OS in WM, we are yet to see.
            mrjoctave@...
            Reply Vote

        • MS use closed code to leverage people to their proprietary services.

          Win 7, Office "Live" etc.

          Google and Apple haven't spent the last 20 years keeping everybody stupid and Google aren't even hiding behind the source code unlike MS.
          fr0thy2
          Reply Vote

          • LOL! You are SO WRONG!

            Ask Google for their marketing collection and advertising algorithm API's.

            Ask Apple for the source code for their EFI, Quicktime, Core X technologies, or drivers.
            Joe_Raby
            Reply Vote

        • Djblois: Wake up dude! You're a bit paranoid! (NT)

          NT
          No More Microsoft Software Ever!
          Reply Vote

    • Re: IE Mobile

      I actually kind of like IE Mobile. It suits its purpose well enough for what I
      typically do with it (reading pages formatted for a phone as opposed to a
      regular computer).

      Also, to me Opera Mobile seems a little imprecise when it comes to using
      the stylus for clicking links--I'm never entirely sure whether I've clicked
      on it because it doesn't seem to immediately acknowledge it in a way I'm
      used to with browsers (I've used IE, Safari, Firefox, Camino, Chrome, and
      Opera on the desktop, so this isn't just "IE is how it should be done" but
      rather "this is what I've come to expect from a browser and Opera Mobile
      doesn't seem to do this for me so whatever").
      Third of Five
      Reply Vote
CNET Join | Log In | Privacy | Cookies Close