Gates Releases Details on New Mobile OS

rjelks writes "Microsoft's Bill Gates released details about the company's new mobile operating system, code-named Magneto, at the Mobile & Embedded Developers Conference in Las Vegas today. There has been a lot of recent speculation about the new OS. People have been describing it as a possible 'Blackberry killer.' Windows Mobile 2005 will be released to hardware manufacturers immediately. The OS will integrate Smartphone, Pocket PC, and Pocket PC Phone Edition operating systems into one platform. It will also include updates to the mobile versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint." Relatedly, ZDNet has an interview with Gates about the initiative.

Comments

Magneto?

[neuro.slug]

Is it just me, or is Microsoft attempting to re-invent their image? "Magneto", like "Underdog" (the new search engine) is definitely a far cry from "Longhorn" in terms of target audience.

Microsoft: The new Apple wannabe? I dunno.

-- n

Well

[Sv-Manowar]

It's good to see that they are targetting the Blackberry domination of the market, hopefully it will lead to manufacturers battling to achieve market share, which would mean better products for us, the consumer.

I just wouldn't want to be beta testing that ;)

Why spend hundreds of dollars on a phone?

[mcho]

Personally, I don't think an all-in-one phone is practical.

Computers are overly complex as it, why make phones the same way? For example, a friend of mine asked me to help him export/import his contact list from Outlook. He couldn't figure it out even though this is a feature that's been around for a good, long time, but probably a majority of users don't know how to use it.

That's why I've started messagingreminder.com so you can automatically recieve reminders on your appointments (which are stored in Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Sunbird) -- you don't have to do anything but run the software!

I rather have a $50 with a good battery life and reception than a +$300 phone that I can't figure out how to use and quickly drains its battery.

one device that will be running it

[utexaspunk]

drool... say what you want about windows mobile, but i don't see any other devices with other operating systems that can do what windows mobile does. sure, there's plenty of room for improvement- it seems i have to reboot my ipaq 6315 every day or two, but no other device does as much as it can...

Blackberry Killer?

[CynicalGuy]

People dont use blackberries because of the OS. They use them because of the small form factor (new ones are even better) and the push email.

Hell, I think PalmOne's Treo could kill the blackberry if it offered REAL push email and instant messanger applications.

But knowing Microsoft, this thing is going to end up bundled with Windows Media Player, Internet Explorer, the entire Microsoft Office suite, and be just slightly too big for my pocket.

I want: 1. small as possible 2. best screen possible 3. blackberry/treo keyboard 4. push email 5. IM

That's it.

Does anyone actually use Pocket Office?

[FatRatBastard]

I have used the Handcom Office software maybe twice on my Zaurus, neither time for anything actually work related. Working on Word and Excel documents is pretty difficult on a PDA form factor, I have to imagine its downright useless on a phone screen.

Is anyone really doing last minute alterations to presentations on their phone?

Re:What exactly is a Blackberry Killer?

[BewireNomali]

i agree with you on most points.

however, having used a blackberry, a treo, and a pocket pc device, i honestly have to say that the blackberry's design and form factor are geared more specifically towards effective mobile communication than the other two devices. for calls, both outgoing and incoming, most blackberries are a one-hand device. scroll wheel to a contact number, one click and i'm on a call. one click and I'm taking an incoming call. I can parse contact data from text messages and emails directly into my contacts, again with one handed operation... no stylus... no menus. Its practicality as a communications device more than makes up for its ugly form factor. As an end user, I'm no so much concerned that hardware and software protocols are closed. I care that it works and it's pretty f*cking useful. Well, I do care that exporting data from contacts is a f*ckin bitch, but it's my only major gripe. It works so well that I don't really care that it doesn't look so good. It's like that chick that isn't so hot but is a really good no-strings lay.

I know I'm gonna get flamed by all the treo fanboys, but I don't get the hype about this POS. I had a palm tungsten C and that's a great f*ckin piece of work... but the treo is a joke. It weighs a ton and is unwieldy. It requires the use of a stylus which means two handed operation which all but obviates the usefulness of a communications device because it precludes multitasking. It's slow, and unlike other palm devices, not cleanly organized and functional. It's like the suicidal really hot chick with an eating disorder who, if you catch her in between well-measured medication doses, might be a really good lay. You're willing to be around her cause she's really hot, but ultimately, it just isn't worth your time.

pocket PC devices have the most upside to me because they allow for the evolution of handheld devices. in that sense i think pocket pc devices will scale well. But that's the downside. having used many iterations of pocket pcs, you're so locked in by your hardware platform. The exact same build of pocket pc on one handheld could be brilliant on the one hand and excruciating on the other. hardware configurations are the monkey here. If you're not gettig top of the line hardware, you're f*cked. But pocket PC is definitely the dog's bollocks... and they're getting better about one handed use (again, depends on your hardware). this is like the really hot chick that you can only hook up with if you have all the bells and whistles that really hot chicks dig ($) - and she's a great f*cking lay.

That said... blackberries serve their purpose well, but they will be killed off because I can't see how they can scale their hardware and software. As consumers begin to demand more and more from their handhelds, blackberries will need top-down redesigns to compete. If they're not in the pipeline with that already, I'd say that thy're f*cked.