The Comforts of Home: A WP7 Story
Pocketnow.com has an article detailing how the EVO 4G is basically a “technology demo.” You can find the link here. The problem with cutting edge technology is its buggy. It is human nature to seek out something that is safe and familiar when venturing into the unknown turns out to bite us in the butt. This is the siren’s call to phone buyers. They don’t want something that is buggy no matter how awesome the tech is that they are using. Most users want something that is safe and comfortable. After 4 years the iPhone has proven to be just that. The estimated 600,000 preorders of the iPhone 4 is solid evidence to this. This is why I don’t believe that the Android can keep their marketshare under their current model. It is also the reason why I feel the need to reiterate that WP7 is positioned to rapidly gain marketshare.
I am purchasing a WP7 device this fall not because I think its the greatest thing since sliced bread. I’m buying one because it will just work and I have my choice of what phone best fits me. All the things that I find myself doing constantly throughout my day will be done and done right out the gate. Here is a list of things I do with my phone a lot during the day and how WP7 provides a solution to these tasks.
|
My Frequent Daily Task |
WP7 Solution at Launch |
|
01) Phone Calls |
Phone Dialer |
|
02) Browsing Tech Sites |
IE |
|
03) Text |
SMS program |
|
04) Check Email |
Outlook |
|
05) Web search |
Bing |
|
06) Listen to music |
Zune |
|
07) Being Social |
Deep integration built in facebook and twitter. |
|
08)Playing Games |
Xbox Live |
|
09)Write notes |
OneNote |
|
10) Navigation |
Bing |
Every task that I do multiple times in a day on my current WinMo TP2 I can and will be doing on WP7 at launch. Microsoft has stated over and over that what they are doing they are going to do great out the box and no features will be added until they can be implemented to that standard.
I am a dreamer so the past 48 hrs i’ve been getting goosebumps at the thought of WP7 + Kinetic. The thing is that even if the WP7 + Kinetic doesn’t work out so well i’ll still be tremendously satisfied because i’ll have all the comforts of home to enjoy on a daily, constantly working basis. So if you are in the market for a phone that just works, have all the things you use on a daily basis and like to have a choice in what your phone looks like WP7 may just be for you. Great thing about the phone market is that if WP7 isn’t your cup of tea you are free to do as you please. All Microsoft can do is show some hospitality and invite you in. Everything that I need is natively produced by Microsoft in the OS. Every single app and game third party developers bring to the table is my dessert. Something I can do without but its always nice to have. I look forward to dessert and with Netflix, Foursquare, Shazaam, AP Mobile, Hush Hush, and many more great titles coming soon i’ll be able to indulge myself a bit. Pig out even, that is one of the great comforts of home.
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I’m with you on the EVO remark, that’s a show-off phone. Haven’t had the opportunity to mess with one but from what I’ve read it’s just too big, clunky and battery guzzling for my taste. Oh and too much CDMA — gotta talk and surf at the same time, baby. Also because it’s tied to a carrier, unlike, cough, the Nexus One, updates like Froyo take much longer to hit. But what I do like about it is how it’s beginning to put a little guy carrier, Sprint, closer to the map almost single handedly. You’re not seeing many Sprint ads anymore like you used to with Dan Hess babbling, you’re now seeing a fancy EVO 4G brought to you by Sprint ad — though expect AT&T to do the same with WP7 devices. Also I like yet another Android contender against the iphone. My Nexus just leaves nothing to be desired, not yet.
Now as for your WP7 dreams, I would be completely stunned if Microsoft ends up releasing something that fails to impress and satisfy after all this effort and time they’ve thrown at it. They’re a little late in game but they’ve got a good shot, I think, between tying in enterprise stuff with game stuff at selling some damn phones finally. As much as we’ve criticized a long list of things they had announced they would no longer be doing with this WP7 project that they have/had been doing with WinMo, from a strategy standpoint to escape failure, it sounds like they’re doing everything right to get on the right track finally.
But Android is and will always kick its ass.
And, your anticipated satisfaction notwithstanding, I will be collecting fifty bucks from David K next year as he posts rants on how Google cheated its way toward the top with all the fragmentation or whatever by handing it out for free to anyone who wants to sell a phone.
Android sucks. When WP7 is released it will surpass it on day one in terms of quality apps. Silverlight and XNA on a flipping phone. Xbox games…just port them over. Silverlight web pages – just port them. Or you can write for Android which is all over the place in terms of versions of the OS (just like WM 6.x you need to see how it will work across other devices which is a waste of time) and their marketpalce is already filled with so much shit you can’t get past the gate.
Wp7 will promptly wipe the floor with it.
Android has its merits like customization but openess leads to defragmentation. It means people will come up with something that works in a particular set of conditions but not as well in others.
WP7 as you can see definitely will satisfy my needs and everything they add on to it will be gravy. I might even start back developing apps since I like that my graphic design skills could be fully utilized with WP7’s panoramic UI.
When Windows Mobile was all fragmented, myself, DavidK and others supporting the OS claimed it was an abundance of choice. Now everyone and their mother is praising the iPhone model like Microsoft had never been any different. This is a shame. Those who trully loved WinMo will most likely be using Android. Everyone who’s been green with envy the past two years can buy a new Windows Phone.
hey wekebu, if you don’t mind my asking, what is or isn’t it about android that hasn’t nudged you over the fence?
Thanks for this article. Good points. I’m on the fence about WM7. I’m up for a new phone in Nov and that gives me time to watch this new OS and decide on it or Android.
Could not have said it better myself Matt. I think the market for unsold or reconditioned WinMo phones will be around for a while, unless Microsoft decides that not in the best interest of WP7.
Regarding the list above, aside from 6, 7 & 8, I think our phones do a pretty good job with the other tasks today, and I would be dissapointed if any phone didn’t. Third party apps have filled the void for 6 & 7 rather well and not being a big gamer, 8 doesn’t do much for me. I admit the new interface looks interesting, but I will need to fully understand what I am giving up, and what will be held back or coming soon. Think my early adopter days are over. Want to hang on to the bit of gray hair I have left.
@Doug Simmons. I wish I could say it’s because I’m one of the faithful, but if I were eligible for a new phone, I might have gone Android by now. However, after watching Android for almost two years, I see no OS is perfect. I’ve had 3 Windows phones, they’ve been good to me. I’ll give WM7 a equal look when my stupid 2-year contract is expired.
However, it better have a 4.x” display. 🙂
@Wekebu: Amen brother! After having the HD2 I cannot go back to my TP2. It saddens me greatly to see it on the charger behind me witha fully charged light and a Cooked ROM flashed. IT works sweet. It’s not a snapdragon, but I got it dialed and it is fine. But after having the HD2 and that incredible 4.3 WVGA screen, there is no turning back. In fact, I am ready for the Dell Streak to get released cause I’m all over that. That may be pushing it, but I still think it is portable enough for a phone. (With BT earpiece)
@Doug, Who you calling a brother? Try sister!
I’m with you on the Streak. Did you see the video of Engadget stabbing a pen repeatedly into the display and it suffered no effects? Amazing. The problem with the Streak is 1.6, obviously you’ll throw on a new ROM, but I’m a bit timid just yet. Once I get a new phone, I’ll have freedom to play with my old one (Touch Pro) and get used to adding ROMs. I wish I weren’t stuck with dang 2 year cycle on a phone. I’ve been watching the EVO and the Galaxy S since March, then the Streak, now there’s the Droid X, and who knows what tomorrow. Every phone is stunning, I want to use them all !!!!
Oooops! I hear ya my Sista from anotha Mista! I actually did am article on the screen and grouped some other cool info about as well. Check it out. I feel your pain on waiting 2 years on getting a new device. There are too many new devices that I simply must have. I want the Dell Streak bad. Hopefully att will get it.
Great articles. Thank you. Oh, this is such a hard decision!