SuperSite Blog : Smartphone

Windows Mobile 6.5.1 on the Way?

pthurrott — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:21:36 GMT

I guess this is no huge surprise, but Download Squad reports that Microsoft is already working on a minor revision to the recently released Windows Mobile 6.5:

When Microsoft launched Windows Mobile 6.5 earlier this month, the latest version of the company's operating system for ~~cell~~ smart phones and mobile devices was met with lukewarm (if not hostile) reviews. In a nutshell, the biggest complaint is that the operating system was essentially unchanged from the previous few versions and didn't offer much to convince users to stick with the platform instead of switching to an iPhone, Blackberry, Google Android, or Palm device.

But there may be hope. Windows Mobile 6.5 does have a new and improved web browser and home screen, even if the calendar and contacts applications haven't changed in half a decade. And now it looks like Microsoft is working on an incremental update that may or may not be called Windows Mobile 6.5.1 that will bring a number of minor but significant improvements.

No real news here (they do quote Long Zheng, after all), but it looks like some of the new features include a touch-friendly Contacts application, the move of the Start button back to the bottom left of the screen (where it was originally, a la desktop Windows, back in the mid- to late-1990s), and an overall visual refresh.

iPhone Apps Store has 2 billionth download

pthurrott — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:46:28 GMT

It's hard to overstate how successful the iPhone Apps Store is. Check out the latest figures from Apple:

Apple today announced that more than two billion apps have been downloaded from its revolutionary App Store, the largest applications store in the world. There are now more than 85,000 apps available to the more than 50 million iPhone and iPod touch customers worldwide and over 125,000 developers in Apple’s iPhone Developer Program.

"The rate of App Store downloads continues to accelerate with users downloading a staggering two billion apps in just over a year, including more than half a billion apps this quarter alone," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "The App Store has reinvented what you can do with a mobile handheld device, and our users are clearly loving it."

And I want to highlight this little fact (see the bolded bit) because I think it speaks to the single greatest weakness in the Zune platform:

Today, iPhone and iPod touch customers in 77 countries worldwide can choose from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel.

77 countries. Yikes.

AT&T enters 21st century, adds MMS to iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS

pthurrott — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:47:05 GMT

Apple:

MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) is now available to AT&T customers.

AT&T MMS requires iPhone OS 3.1 and a carrier settings update.

Here's what it looks like (on a Mac) ...

Unlike other iPhone updates I've installed via iTunes, this one is actually very quick. Very quick. On the other hand, you do have to hard reset the iPhone to enable it. Once it's rebooted, which takes more time than booting a PC, you can use the standard Messages app to send one or more photos with a text message. You'll see the following new toolbar above the virtual keyboard:

Photos have to be added one at a time, which is no big deal. (But I wish Apple would drop the awful iChat-like "thought bubble" UI in this SMS/MMS app. It's just childish looking.)

Needless to say, this being Apple and AT&T, the complaints have already begun rolling in. I'm sure they'll get it right eventually.

Microsoft's smart phone strategy: Copy, copy, and then copy again

pthurrott — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:36:23 GMT

Sigh.

Today, Gizmodo revealed Microsoft's secret new strategy in the smart phone market: Copy what other people are doing. If you've spent any time on my site or listen to Windows Weekly, you know how I feel about this kind of thing. If you can't do something original, why bother?

Here's what they're doing.

"Turtle"
What it copies: The Palm Pre

"Pure"
What it copies: Every horizontal smart phone ever sold.

So. These things look OK, obviously. But really? This is the deeply secret phone stuff Microsoft is working on?

Yawn.

Google Sync: Now with push Gmail support

pthurrott — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:57:27 GMT

This is big stuff, and if there's anyone actually paying for MobileMe a year from now, well, you already looked like a fool, so what's the difference?

The Google Mobile Blog reports today that Google has added push email support to Google Sync, which previously provided that support for Google-based contacts and calendar on the iPhone (and iPod touch), Blackberry, Windows Mobile, and Nokia S60 devices. Here's the word:

Earlier this year, we launched Google Sync which allows you to synchronize your Gmail Contacts and Google Calendar with your iPhone, Windows Mobile, and S60 devices. Today, we're adding Gmail support to Google Sync for iPhone, iPod Touch and Windows Mobile devices.

Using Google Sync, you can now get your Gmail messages pushed directly to your phone. Having an over-the-air, always-on connection means that your inbox is up to date, no matter where you are or what you're doing. Sync works with your phone's native email application so there's no additional software needed. Only interested in syncing your Gmail, but not your Calendar? Google Sync allows you to sync just your Contacts, Calendar, or Gmail, or any combination of the three.

To try Google Sync, visit m.google.com/sync from your computer. If you're already using Google Sync, learn how to enable Gmail sync.

Good stuff. Enjoy!

The 'blame anyone but Apple cadre,' Part 217: AT&T

pthurrott — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:55:00 GMT

So AT&T is finally adding MMS support to the iPhone 3G/3GS on September 25, about two months after Apple first announced the feature and other international wireless carriers provided it. Yep, AT&T sucks. And I should know, I've been using this horrible network, first in "EDGE" form, and then with their supposed 3G network, for two years now. God, how I miss Verizon.

There's just one problem. AT&T isn't unique, and all wireless carriers are horrible. And it's hard to credibly assert that Verizon's admittedly superior 3G network wouldn't simply buckle under the pressure of all those iPhone users. It just would. When I had my Verizon USB dongle, speeds were usually decent, but let's face, I was one of 17 people using the thing at any given time.

Also, I've taken my iPhone all over Europe. Allow me to dispel the rumor that any of AT&T's international competitors are any better. In Ireland, Britain, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Portugal, I've had all kids of connectivity issues on a variety of iPhone-compatible networks. iPhone connectivity is terrible everywhere. It will be terrible on Verizon if that ever happens.

There's a growing trend to just blame AT&T for all of the iPhone's troubles. I'm not sure that's fair, since most networks simply can't handle the amount of wireless traffic these devices bring. But if ever there was one example of Apple's hold on the press, it's this whole AT&T thing. Consider the Google Voice debacle. Even after AT&T asserted publicly that it had absolutely nothing to do with the Google Voice rejection, publications as credible as The New York Times were still blaming them. Nope, it's never Apple's fault.

It's kind of like the reaction to Snow Leopard, a service pack if there ever was one. There's so much here, I'll just cherry pick the most obvious: If Microsoft had the temerity to ship a mostly-64-bit OS that utilized a 32-bit kernel, the Mac community would be up in arms, ridiculing the software giant endlessly. It's hard to imagine Apple not making an "I'm a PC, I'm a Mac" commercial lampooning this. But Apple does just that and ... nothing. Meanwhile, because Apple has run out of ideas and had to improve the low level parts of OS that, three years ago, apparently needed absolutely no improvement at all, the Apple fan base accepts Apple's offering on blind faith: "Because Apple has provided this, this then is exactly what we need." It must be nice to have such a trusting audience, and one that is so eager to spend money, year after year. Even on a service pack.

So let's blame AT&T for everything, please. Just don't be so sure that whatever the next network carrier is will be any better.

Could Microsoft Office finally be heading to Linux?

pthurrott — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:14:05 GMT

Nine years ago, I learned about a skunkworks project Microsoft had handed off to an Israeli software firm that was to have seen a port of Microsoft Office to Linux. The port was seen as a just-in-case solution, but with Linux not ever taking off in any serious way on the desktop, it was dropped, never to be seen in public.

Now, it appears that Microsoft Office is once again going to appear on Linux, only this time I'm basing this prediction not on first-hand knowledge of the work, but rather on speculation. But it's not what you think. And it's really not that far-fetched.

First, Microsoft will never port Office to desktop Linux. The market just isn't there.

Second, Microsoft and Nokia have partnered to port Office Mobile (and other Microsoft mobile wares) to Nokia's smart phones. They're beginning with the E series, but have said that they will push Office to other Nokia devices after that. Here's where it gets fuzzy. The deal appears to be for phones based on the aging Symbian operating system.

But ... Third, Nokia appears to be moving away from Symbian. (The company says that is not the case, however.) Their N-series devices run Linux and the latest version, the N900, is a traditional smart phone, with a slide-out keyboard, GSM/HSDPA wireless, and all the smart phone goodness one could expect. It's a great looking smart phone. It'd be a natural for Office Mobile.

So will Microsoft Office finally make its way to Linux, by way of the N900, or a similar Linux-based smart phone? I think it might just happen.

Misunderstandings abound about the 'Windows Phones' branding. Head's up: Nothing has changed. Nothing.

pthurrott — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 09:41:55 GMT

I guess it's not just the desktop version of Windows that people are confused about these days. But at least this time it's not Microsoft's fault.

Over the past few days, a number of news reports have sprung up claiming that Microsoft was getting rid of the Windows Mobile brand and was changing it to Windows Phones. The Windows Mobile 6.5 name would be the first to go.

That's not what's happening.

Windows Phones is simply an umbrella marketing term for Microsoft's overall smart phone efforts (e.g. the entire smart phone platform). Not coincidentally, I used this name in my own article, way back in February, describing Microsoft's efforts this year to advance its smart phone platform: Windows Mobile 6.5, My Phone, and Windows Marketplace.

Microsoft confirmed this is still the case with the following statement:

"Microsoft started using the term Windows Phone within the industry at Mobile World Congress on February 16, 2009. It is a simple way for consumers to identify the new generation of Windows phones that will be available this fall through our mobile partners; and will include new services on them such as My Phone and Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

Huh. Those are all the things I mentioned in that aforementioned article. It's like nothing has changed. Oh! That's because nothing has changed.

The operating system is still Windows Mobile, folks. Microsoft confirmed this as well.

"We will still use the term 'Windows Mobile' to identify the operating system releases (e.g. - 6.1, 6.5)."

OK, enough with the silliness. That's what you get for trusting a site like The Inquirer. Or, sadly, PC World. Come on guys. At least try.

Microsoft My Phone Beta open to the public

pthurrott — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:35:53 GMT

It looks like My Phone is available now to the public.

Microsoft My Phone syncs information between your mobile phone and the web, enabling you to:

Back up and restore your phone's information to a password-protected web site

Access and update your contacts and appointments through your web account

Share photos on your phone with family and friends

Find out more

Try it out (You'll need a Windows Mobile device)

So I wrote a bit about this service last week for the book (Windows 7 Secrets) and will try and get something up on the site soon. My Phone is free, of course, but it pretty much requires that you have gotten data into the phone; there’s no way to use the web site to import contacts, calendar, or whatever from the desktop directly. That said, once it’s there, it’s pretty easy to managed. Overall, it’s not bad.

More soon.

Thanks to Zlatko Z. for the tip.

Wolfenstein 3D for the iPhone ... DOOM is coming soon

pthurrott — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:56:24 GMT

Nice! Id Software has released a version of the classic DOS game Wolfenstein 3D for the iPhone, and they promise a version of the original DOOM soon as well.

The grandfather of the FPS is at your fingertips!

Wolfenstein 3D Classic is non-stop action and all of the memorable enemies are there for you to conquer, from Hans Grosse to MechaHitler!

Includes all six original episodes with 60 classic levels and unforgettable weapons like the brutal chain gun.

Search levels for hidden secrets that reveal stolen Nazi treasure, health packs, ammo and weapons or even short cuts.

Choose clever new touch controls or drive with the tilt controls to halt the diabolical Nazi schemes.

Wolfenstein 3D Classic makes use of an all new control system designed for the iPhone by technical
visionary and id Software founder, John Carmack.

More: John Carmack on developing for the iPhone

Download Wolfenstein 3D Classic for iPhone (Direct FTP download)

Dell dumps smart phone plans

pthurrott — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:56:21 GMT

I railed against Dell's unnecessary $2000-and-up MacBook Air clone, the Adamo, the other day. Today, I salute another bit of Dell news because this time they're actually making some sense.

Dell's anticipated effort to release a mobile phone has stalled after suffering from "a lack of interest" among cellular carriers, according to a research note published Friday.

Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu wrote that Dell's prototype devices, designed to run software from both Microsoft and Google, have so far failed to distinguish themselves from a growing field of competitors.

"From our conversations with supply chain and industry sources, it appears that it ultimately came down to lack of carrier interest," Wu wrote.

Rumors of a branded Dell mobile phone have been swirling since January, when speculation surfaced that the company might unveil a device at a high-profile event such as last month's Mobile World Congress.

But the potentially small subsidies from carriers operating cellular networks to help sell Dell's devices meant it would be difficult for the Round Rock, Tex.-based PC giant to make a profit.

Wu wrote that Dell has not abandoned its effort to release a mobile device, though it has "gone back to the drawing board" to design a more distinct model, which may involve making related acquisitions.

Sounds good to me. If you can't make a dent, don't bother.

Microsoft Unveils Its Developer Strategy for the Next Generation of Windows Phones

pthurrott — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:38:35 GMT

Microsoft talks up its plans for Windows Marketplace for Mobile in this press release. I'll write up a news story later but figured this would be immediate interest:

Microsoft Corp. today announced new details about how developers can build and sell applications for Windows phones through Windows Marketplace for Mobile, the recently announced application marketplace available with the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. In its commitment to helping developers create new and exciting applications, Microsoft will provide developers with 70 percent of the sales revenue of their applications from Windows Marketplace for Mobile, transparency throughout the certification process, and guidance and support from the stage of development to the final sale to the consumer. Developers can get the tools to begin developing for Windows phones at http://developer.windowsmobile.com.

Developers who sell applications through Windows Marketplace for Mobile will receive 70 percent of the revenue from the sales of each application. In addition, they will be able to set the price for their applications in each market, maximizing their revenues based on targeted pricing strategies. Developers can also choose to distribute their applications at no cost. Up to five application submissions to Windows Marketplace for Mobile is included in the introductory annual registration fee of $99 (U.S.). Each additional submission within the annual period will cost $99 (U.S.). The registration fee is waived for student developers who want to reach Windows phones customers, through enrollment in the Microsoft DreamSpark program.

Mary Jo Foley offers up an interesting comparison of this strategy to Apple's:

Like Apple, does for iPhone developers, Microsoft plans to provide developers writing for its mobile platform 70 percent of of the revenues generated for each app that is sold.

Beyond that percentage, however, Microsoft’s new mobile development policies and procedures are designed to be the antithesis of Apple’s.

Microsoft My Phone update

pthurrott — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:01:00 GMT

Microsoft updated its My Phone blog the other day with good info:

The buzz and excitement around the service has really invigorated the team both in Braga, Portugal and Seattle to continue to work very hard to ensure a stable and solid service. The feedback we have received from you all on forums and blog comments has been really useful. We are taking this feedback into account for our future plans so please continue to share your thoughts. While it is not possible to comment and respond to all the feature requests, we would like to acknowledge the most frequently discussed topics on the forums:

Tighter integration with Windows Live services: Window Live suite of services provides a fantastic user experience around Contacts, Calendar, Photos and other user needs. We too are big fans and ardent users of these services and it is natural for you all to ask for tighter integration so that all of your personal data is consolidated in one single view. The initial goal for My Phone service was to test the concept and validate that we are solving a real problem for the users. Now that we have a resounding vote of confidence for the service our future plans are moving in this direction.

Support synchronizing additional data: Your phone is a very personal device for lot of us. For some of us it is akin to having all of life in your hands and it is not fun thinking about losing all of this information. We have tried to support syncing the most frequently used data types keeping in mind the current and future trends but at the same time we have room for growth in this area for syncing additional information. There has also been active discussion around providing flexibility to select folders and files from the phone for syncing it with the service and also providing the option to sync Contacts, Calendar and Tasks even though they are managed by Exchange/ActiveSync.

Suggestions on improving the experience on the My Phone Web Site: There have also been number of suggestions on further improving the overall usability of the web site along with the phone application. These are being evaluated on case by case basis and we will be taking those into account for future updates.

Thanks again for your feedback and keep it coming.

Microsoft's Windows Mobile moves: Too little, too late

pthurrott — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:31:20 GMT

So. I'm on vacation this week with spotty connectivity, so it's hard to keep up with the outside world, let along blog about it. (I'll be home Friday.) That said, I feel like I should comment on this week's Windows Mobile news. Here's the word from Microsoft:

Today at Mobile World Congress, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made significant announcements regarding the company’s mobile software plus services strategy. Some major milestones announced include the next generation of Windows phones, running Windows Mobile 6.5 that combine the power of the platform with rich integrated services, namely My Phone and Windows Marketplace for Mobile. Additionally, LG and Microsoft also announced an expanded alliance making Windows the primary mobile platform for LG to dramatically increase the number of LG phones running Windows.

Understanding that people need phones to span all areas of their life, the new Windows phones will have the same security, manageability, and enterprise features that you come to expect, but are also coupled with exciting items such as a new UI and widgets.

My Phone is a next generation mobile Web service focused on the movement of content between your phone, the Web and your PC. Our other new service, Windows Marketplace for Mobile, makes it easier than ever to purchase and download enterprise and LOB applications so employees can do more while on the go.

I've also written up a news story for WinInfo.

Long story short, this is too little too late.

Here's why:

The iPhone will be in its third generation by the time Microsoft's partners get around to shipping Windows Mobile 6.5-based phones.
Windows Mobile 6.5, itself, is an interim solution created on the fly as a response to the iPhone.
My Phone looks interesting and useful.
Microsoft can talk up 20,000 apps all it wants. Virtually none of them are any good. Plus the disparity of Windows Mobile hardware types means that these things won't work consistently across devices. That's the dark side of choice, I guess.

I just can't get excited about this though I will of course check it all out as soon as I can. I'm ready and willing to have my mind changed here, but I have this nagging feeling that it ain't happening. Why can't they move quicker than this?

My Phone open for sign-ups (US only?)

pthurrott — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:33:39 GMT

Microsoft My Phone page now has a sign-in button which lets you get on the waiting list. It may be US only, not sure. But it is first come, first serve. (Sorry for the late notice; we’re on vacation this week.)

Microsoft My Phone pre-registration

As we launch Microsoft My Phone, registration is limited and being made available to new users on a first-come first-serve basis. Please indicate if you would like to be notified (by e-mail) when you can sign-up for the service. We appreciate your interest and patience.

Add to wait list

Or

Sign up using promotional code

Use your Promotional Code to sign up and continue with your registration.

Thanks to Sebastian V. for the link.

UPDATE: I should provide a link back to JCXP, which originated this story.