While Android, iPhone and others battle it out for smartphone dominance, it has been a tough period for Microsoft to keep manufacturers tied to Windows Mobile., which once used to be the premium OS for smartphones.
Having used Windows on an XDA 1 around half decade back, I can tell you that there wasn’t really any competition back then. The game has changed dramatically since then. The recently released Windows Mobile 6.5 failed to impress our reviewers and the Android, WebOS from Palm and the iPhone are getting regular updates and positive reception. The recently announced Maemo 5 based Nokia N900 also impressed us. So where does this leave Windows Mobile? Many have written off WM and the chances of a resurgence anytime soon is bleak. But as Steve Ballmer says, the golden words in the technology business ‘we will fix it in the NEXT RELEASE’. We already know that Windows Mobile 7 is in works and its something Microsoft expects to use effectively against the iPhone and the Android.
Apparently an early preview of Windows Mobile 7 was shown to some technology journalists under a NDA (non disclosure agreement) today and the leaked reviews look pretty good. While Windows 7 for PC seems to have all new charm for Microsoft will WM7 also hit the right note? Mobiletechworld has a review from SoloPalmari translated using Google Translator. However the original post was taken down (probably on Microsoft’s request?). (quoted text below)
There was also a tweet by Engadget founder Ryan Block which is believed to be about Windows 7 (the tweet also seems to be deleted, adding to the suspicion).
@ryanblock: watching a really amazing demo. Really. Amazing.
Text translated from Solopalmari:
Revolutionary, no need to take away: the next version of Windows Mobile, as shown by the leaks and the first screenshots of the new system, the Web will soon be spring, we are faced with an upheaval of the logic of interaction and not just a substantial revision of the interface. The concept of “applications”, as the programs continue to live their important identities, will bend to the principle of “user experience”.
Finally the performance, the fluidity in the display of screens, images and icons becomes a priority. As powerful and versatile Windows Mobile will be next, will never submit to slowdowns and delays in the response. How will, indeed, as they did to achieve this result is not yet technically clear. But developers say Microsoft is certain: the experience of use to forget the “old” Windows Mobile.
iPhone / iPod touch downloads
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Why it will never work…
Microsoft’s business model still expects handset makers to pay for the OS. The iPhone OS only runs on apple phones and android is free. This model didn’t work on the desktop, because of inertia. Basically, MS had the platform with all the applications. Hardware vendors went where the customers were — Windows.
That’s not true anymore. The iPhone has a huge base of installed apps and droid will get there soon too. Why would a handset maker use an OS that costs more, has fewer customers and fewer apps?
Unless MS gives the OS away for free, they’re done in the mobile sector.