So am I the only one that has noticed the complete hypocrisy when it comes to Microsoft and their phones?
Here's an ad for the old Microsoft "Your phone is your life" phone, Kin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZl9esYi2KE
(Notice that about every 5 seconds, someone is on their phone... and it's a good thing? Woo 100% synchronization between your life and your social life!)
And here's an ad for the phone to save you from your phone, Microsoft Windows 7 Phone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHlN21ebeak
(In this one, everyone's on their phone, but it's a bad thing. Live life, get off Facebook!)
So, Kin was a disaster. It was a clunky phone directed towards social networking at it's core. It failed because it was an awkward piece of hardware that didn't focus on being a phone. No apps, no UI customization, practically a Facebookphone.
In answer to their failed platform, Microsoft spins 180 degrees in the opposite direction with their new phone who's ad campaign that says "A phone to save us from our phones." So in theory, it's UI is so quick and easy, that it minimizes time spent on your phone... but wait a second... Let's look at what has made successful phone OS's in the past...
Google Android Benefits:
- Customization. You can make it look and act however you want.
- Unlimited user development. As Verizon states for the Droid "When there's no limit to what Droid gets, there's no limit to what Droid does."
- Hardware/software "hacking" that's legal, ROMS, etc.
- Top-of-the-line models are available for reasonable new contract prices.
- Ability to functionally emulate other phone OS's.
Drawbacks:
- No limit to where Android goes, means that sometimes it's placed on "POS" hardware that makes it a clunky, non user friendly experience.
- New platform means a small user base and limited number of apps, though this is growing.
- Updates to firmware/software take forever because of different carriers testing and loading custom software.
So the main competitor of Android is iOS, Apple's iPhone...
Apple iOS Benefits:
- Solid hardware, every time. Some think to a fault, Apple makes sure that its iOS is only on solid hardware that can run it extremely well.
- Large user base/advertisement campaign: Apple is a well known brand and has a myriad of developers at it's disposal. Huge app market.
- Hardware is constantly improving, whereas Android phones are at the mercy of many manufactures.
Drawbacks:
- Apple's iOS is limited by what Apple approves. Many developers shy away due to having to jump through hoops to get their apps approved.
- No customization, aside from wallpapers.
- Only ONE piece of hardware. No options.
- One (soon to be two) carrier(s). Some people are just SOL because iOS isn't on their carrier.
So what is the Windows 7 phone seem to be?
Microsoft Windows 7 MobileOS Benefits:
- Hardware choices. Many different devices to chose from. (+ than iOS, = to Android)
- Top-of-the-line models available. (= to iOS, = to Android)
- Unique interface. (= to iOS, = to Android)
- Probable easy sync/access to Windows PCs.
Drawbacks:
- Closed market (though more open than iOS). Developers must jump through hoops. (=to iOS, - than Android)
- No customization. The UI has almost no customization options and is held tight to it's regulations. (= to iOS, - than Android)
- New platform means a small user base and limited number of apps, though this is growing. (- than iOS, soon to be - than Android)
- Windows 7 phone has no set hardware. Like Android, low end versions will appear. (- than iOS, = to Android)
- Updates to software/firmware will take forever due to many different phones. (= to Android, - than iOS)
It seems to me that Windows 7 Phone is another doomed failure. It has all the drawbacks of both platforms, and very few of the perks of either. I don't think what the world needs right now is another smart phone, unless this Windows 7 Phone series is going to revolutionize the phone experience, I'll pass. Personally, I bought my smart phone because I can do more on it. Not because I want to spend less time on my phone... just saying.
Your thoughts?
Here's an ad for the old Microsoft "Your phone is your life" phone, Kin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZl9esYi2KE
(Notice that about every 5 seconds, someone is on their phone... and it's a good thing? Woo 100% synchronization between your life and your social life!)
And here's an ad for the phone to save you from your phone, Microsoft Windows 7 Phone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHlN21ebeak
(In this one, everyone's on their phone, but it's a bad thing. Live life, get off Facebook!)
So, Kin was a disaster. It was a clunky phone directed towards social networking at it's core. It failed because it was an awkward piece of hardware that didn't focus on being a phone. No apps, no UI customization, practically a Facebook
In answer to their failed platform, Microsoft spins 180 degrees in the opposite direction with their new phone who's ad campaign that says "A phone to save us from our phones." So in theory, it's UI is so quick and easy, that it minimizes time spent on your phone... but wait a second... Let's look at what has made successful phone OS's in the past...
Google Android Benefits:
- Customization. You can make it look and act however you want.
- Unlimited user development. As Verizon states for the Droid "When there's no limit to what Droid gets, there's no limit to what Droid does."
- Hardware/software "hacking" that's legal, ROMS, etc.
- Top-of-the-line models are available for reasonable new contract prices.
- Ability to functionally emulate other phone OS's.
Drawbacks:
- No limit to where Android goes, means that sometimes it's placed on "POS" hardware that makes it a clunky, non user friendly experience.
- New platform means a small user base and limited number of apps, though this is growing.
- Updates to firmware/software take forever because of different carriers testing and loading custom software.
So the main competitor of Android is iOS, Apple's iPhone...
Apple iOS Benefits:
- Solid hardware, every time. Some think to a fault, Apple makes sure that its iOS is only on solid hardware that can run it extremely well.
- Large user base/advertisement campaign: Apple is a well known brand and has a myriad of developers at it's disposal. Huge app market.
- Hardware is constantly improving, whereas Android phones are at the mercy of many manufactures.
Drawbacks:
- Apple's iOS is limited by what Apple approves. Many developers shy away due to having to jump through hoops to get their apps approved.
- No customization, aside from wallpapers.
- Only ONE piece of hardware. No options.
- One (soon to be two) carrier(s). Some people are just SOL because iOS isn't on their carrier.
So what is the Windows 7 phone seem to be?
Microsoft Windows 7 MobileOS Benefits:
- Hardware choices. Many different devices to chose from. (+ than iOS, = to Android)
- Top-of-the-line models available. (= to iOS, = to Android)
- Unique interface. (= to iOS, = to Android)
- Probable easy sync/access to Windows PCs.
Drawbacks:
- Closed market (though more open than iOS). Developers must jump through hoops. (=to iOS, - than Android)
- No customization. The UI has almost no customization options and is held tight to it's regulations. (= to iOS, - than Android)
- New platform means a small user base and limited number of apps, though this is growing. (- than iOS, soon to be - than Android)
- Windows 7 phone has no set hardware. Like Android, low end versions will appear. (- than iOS, = to Android)
- Updates to software/firmware will take forever due to many different phones. (= to Android, - than iOS)
It seems to me that Windows 7 Phone is another doomed failure. It has all the drawbacks of both platforms, and very few of the perks of either. I don't think what the world needs right now is another smart phone, unless this Windows 7 Phone series is going to revolutionize the phone experience, I'll pass. Personally, I bought my smart phone because I can do more on it. Not because I want to spend less time on my phone... just saying.
Your thoughts?