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Smartphones and Cell Phones

Matthew Miller
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Windows Mobile is better than you think

By | November 23, 2009, 6:45pm PST

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.

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.

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Topics

Microsoft Windows Mobile, Mobile, James, Mobile Operating Systems, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Mobile Applications, Handhelds, Advertising & Promotion, Wireless And Mobility, Software, Hardware, Marketing, Matthew Miller

Matthew Miller started using a Pilot 1000 in 1997 and has been writing news, reviews, and opinion pieces ever since.

Disclosure

Matthew Miller

Matthew is a professional naval architect by day and a mobile gadget freak at all other times. He purchases his own devices and then sells them on eBay or Craigslist to buy more. Many other devices are sent for review on a 30-day loaner basis and then returned to the carrier or manufacturer. If any are provided as “long term loaner units” this will be clearly disclosed in his reviews.

Biography

Matthew Miller

Matthew Miller started using a mobile devices in 1997 and has been writing news, reviews, and opinion pieces ever since. He is a co-host with GigaOM's Kevin Tofel on the MobileTechRoundup podcast and an author of three Wiley Companion series books. Matthew started using mobile devices with a US Robotics Pilot 1000 and has owned over 125 different devices running Palm, Linux, Symbian, Newton, BlackBerry, iOS, Android, webOS, Windows Mobile, and Windows Phone operating systems. His current collection includes an HTC Radar 4G, Dell Venue Pro, Apple iPad 2, HTC Flyer, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Nokia N9, Apple iPhone 4S, MacBook Pro, and many more, along with tons of accessories and classic devices like the Apple Newton MessagePad 2100 and Sony CLIE UX50. Matthew can be found on various discussion forums under the user name of "palmsolo".

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Re: IE Mobile
Third of Five Updated - 4th Dec 2009
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").
View in thread
0 Votes
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My main gripe
honeymonster 23rd Nov 2009
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.
0 Votes
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I suppose there is hope. But, the iPhone and Android are so far ahead, and
DonnieBoy 23rd Nov 2009
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.
0 Votes
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You don't own any of those phones Donnie
markbn 23rd Nov 2009
Why do you want to lie to people?
0 Votes
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Well, I have never owned a Pinto either, but, I have seen them, read the
DonnieBoy 24th Nov 2009
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????
0 Votes
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Yes, James Kendrick appearently says that WM
GuidingLight 24th Nov 2009
beat out Android, so are you saying that since he scored the google OS lower in marks then WinMobile, that his review (and those that support his review) are all innocorrect?
0 Votes
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Main problem is it's MS, and they're all about them
fr0thy2 24th Nov 2009
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.
0 Votes
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Apple and Google are the same
Djblois 24th Nov 2009
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?
0 Votes
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Yes, he was rather provocative!! But, the main issue is the quality of the
DonnieBoy 24th Nov 2009
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.
0 Votes
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I just burst out laughing once I connected "the dots"
GuidingLight 24th Nov 2009
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!!
0 Votes
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Hmmm. Me thinks you shout too loudly! Microsoft is in fear and so you are.
No More Microsoft Software Ever! Updated - 25th Nov 2009
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!
0 Votes
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What proprietary service?
storm14k Updated - 24th Nov 2009
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.
0 Votes
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You are failing to understand the motivation of any business
Djblois 24th Nov 2009
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.
0 Votes
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Ummm...are you apologizing? Nothing like MS saying 'Sorry'!
No More Microsoft Software Ever! 25th Nov 2009
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!).
0 Votes
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What MS lock-in do you speak of???
UncleBubba 24th Nov 2009
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?
0 Votes
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Lockin is new PC's. Windows is the lockin. Try reading more! (NT)
No More Microsoft Software Ever! 25th Nov 2009
NT
0 Votes
+ -
I think you'll find....
mrjoctave@... 25th Nov 2009
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.
0 Votes
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MS use closed code to leverage people to their proprietary services.
fr0thy2 24th Nov 2009
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.
0 Votes
+ -
LOL! You are SO WRONG!
Joe_Raby 24th Nov 2009
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.
0 Votes
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Djblois: Wake up dude! You're a bit paranoid! (NT)
No More Microsoft Software Ever! 25th Nov 2009
NT
0 Votes
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Re: IE Mobile
Third of Five Updated - 4th Dec 2009
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").
0 Votes
+ -
Ok, well, maybe you could say that a Ford Pinto was also funcional and got
DonnieBoy 23rd Nov 2009
you where you needed to go, did everything you
needed out of a car. Never mind all the
snickering.

And, that is the problem with Windows Mobile,
sure, it does work, but, who wants to be thought
a fool????
0 Votes
+ -
Travel by hobby-horse is the future.
fr0thy2 24th Nov 2009
That must be in Microsoft's vision somewhere ... control the media and deny reports of cars on roads, Microsoft hobby-horse is the way ...

"There's a buzz about this miraculous new way to travel", said one Microsoft executive to all of the main media outlets ...
0 Votes
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RE: Windows Mobile is better than you think
Peter Perry 23rd Nov 2009
The newer versions handle flash and java so my bet is Apple quickly gets left behind in this war too... It actually looks a lot like the 80's so I guess some things never change.

Yeah I know they're way ahead but they're managing to alienate people these days and many aren't liking the politics. The only way around this though is to drop the hardware and sell the OS like MS does then you would have an OS X and OS X Mobile setup that would likely compete with any OS on the planet.
0 Votes
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Microsoft is way ahead...
dogbreath1 23rd Nov 2009
on alienating people and Ballmer is king.
0 Votes
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One problem!!!
mrjoctave@... 25th Nov 2009
would OS X still be as stable and reliable if they chose the path you suggest. No more hardware screening, but then i guess they could continue screening hardware and develop a HCL (Hardware Compatibility List) as a guideline for PC builders.

However, i still believe that this route would expose the OS X as just another OS, sure it will rip into market share with immediate affect but once people start to use un-screened hardware i fear OS X will suffer the same problems as Windows, at which point, things could take a turn for the worst.
0 Votes
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RE: Windows Mobile is better than you think
dogbreath1 23rd Nov 2009
After a couple thousand dollars spent on periodic upgrades,
every version of Windows Mobile I used over about a 7 year
period had a cr@ppy browser. Okay, I admit I was a fool, but
I still don't know how Microsoft can be excused.
0 Votes
+ -
Not Necessarily Are They...
clindhartsen 23rd Nov 2009
The only point to be made by some of us out there is that we want Microsoft to have a chance.

Hearing the constant love for Apple, and the fawning over the Andriod option from the crowd that wanted Linux to sweep the world, some of us have a bit of pride for Redmond and are hopeful that things will change for the better, as they already have with Windows Live, vs MSN, and Windows 7, vs XP/Vista.

Hopefully next will be mobile, but who knows. Still, even if MS improves their mobile browser, they need to hide the name of the browser. The websites that see it blindly as IE6 kind of make the experience that much worse.
0 Votes
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BS!
Linux Geek 24th Nov 2009
is like saying that windoze is better than Linux.
...yawn!...we know better!
0 Votes
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OOOH! Flame bait!
ericesque 24th Nov 2009
I'll bite. Linux sucks, dude. While the fine folks at Redmond are still turning out new versions of Windows, there will never be a single compelling reason to run Linux.
0 Votes
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You bore me! (NT)
No More Microsoft Software Ever! 25th Nov 2009
NT
0 Votes
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RE: Windows Mobile is better than you think
tburzio 25th Nov 2009
Any mobile phone company that partners with Microsoft finds that Microsoft will steal their technology and give it away with Windows xxx.

Beware!
0 Votes
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It's worse than you think.
HypnoToad72 25th Nov 2009
It's a whittled down Windows 95, complete with registry and all.

Even when I had my old iPaq, replacing PocketPC 2002 with Linux showed improvement.

Windows mobile has flexibility.

A shame it's so poorly written that it crawls on many smartphones (e.g. AT&T Fuze, the HTC Touch Pro). Blackberry and iPhone are so much superior, and having to wait for a screen to come up is embarrassing. That only happened under windows mobile.

Been there, done that, moved on.
0 Votes
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Umm? Did you get paid to write this? How sad! ZDNet should sue for wages!
No More Microsoft Software Ever! 25th Nov 2009
NT
0 Votes
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RE: Windows Mobile is better than you think
ADRz 26th Nov 2009
It always perplexes me that the anti-Microsoft crowd, even when dealing with the most open of platforms such as WinMo, still fret about "lock-ins" as they buy their latest iPhone!!!
0 Votes
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Typical myopic anti-MS hatred!
ADRz 26th Nov 2009
It always amazes me that the anti-Microsoft crowd would fret about lock-ins while buying their latest iPod and iPhone!!!
0 Votes
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Another typical anti-MS lie
ADRz 26th Nov 2009
Can you mention the carrier and/or manufacturer who suffered loss due to its association with Microsoft? In fact, WinMo suffered because MS has given the various manufacturers too much latitude.

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