Agreed. Windows Mobile tries too hard to appear like 'Windows' desktop. I have been, necessarily, a Windows Mobile user for years - it's lame. A necessary evil.
In the heat of the day, you do NOT want to be messing with a stylus, and so the natural (for me) choice has always been to resort to 'touch'. This can be even more annoying on WM because the UI's small on-screen buttons are designed to be 'pecked'. I know you can partially solve this via overlays, etc, but that's just wastage...
The sad thing is that they could produce a very capable touch phone... if they completely revolutionised the UI...
In other words, Apple wins this battle... easily.
It's interesting that Apple can come along and ace the UI at version 1 (well, Jack of Spades at least), instead of version 25 (and counting) for Microsoft... because really, Windows mobile just builds on a billion previous windowsMobile/pocketPc/iPAQ releases of WinCE. And no overlay in the world is going to fix that. And they still haven't aced it.
What's nice is that Apple haven't tried to put the OSX UI on to a small phone... who remembers all the 'artists impression' of what an iPhone would look like?
Still waiting on you MS. Depending on how the iPhone performs, I may not be waiting much longer... well, being located in the UK means I probably will be waiting much longer, lol.
"And as far as being able to dictate, I fear Google far less than I do MS. Google has done no evil, where MS has been nothing but."
With respect, I think that's short-sighted. While MS has done some shitty things... I know where I stand with them. With Google, they present this rosy vision to all - and almost all fall before them.
What concerns me is that Google has far more potential to do "evil" now than MS. I fear that. Now, while this might sound alarmist, history suggests otherwise.
When everything is benign, customers/humanity has allowed things to happen as long as said customers/humanity are benefiting. And right now, we are. But things change. And when they do, they will have set the framework up in their favour.
Sorry, but anyone who thinks that Google is nothing more than just another corporate entity is in for a surprise. Google and MS may as well be blood brothers.
The problem isn't apparent when everything is hunky dory... it's when things go tits up that the problem reveals itself.
Think of any country which had a benign leadership and which was subsequently replaced by a bunch of a-holes... it happens.
But he cautioned that the warning sign will come when Google becomes so dominant that customers cannot do without it. How well will Google deal with its customers' problems then?'"
This is so completely on point and timely, from a personal point of view.
I definitely classed myself as love-struck, dumb-struck Google fanboy... but just a few days ago Google Checkout customer care annoyed me so completely to the point where I am now phasing out Google.
I'll still use their search option, because I still class them as the best in that department (alternative suggestions welcome) but everything else has a better, and usually open source alternative.
Greatnews RSS Reader. Block Google via hosts. Etc.
For me, Google overstepped the mark. Sure, their high and mighty may still give a damn. But I got rough end of the stick. And I got to thinking about how much power and info they had in that situation. Ten years down the line and they'll probably be more powerful, and give even less of a damn. And the transformation will be complete. I don't want to be just another cog in their power play.
The only positive side of this is that they opened my eyes up to open source, secure, locally hosted alternatives out there that are... better.
If anyone could suggest an alternative to Gmail, I would appreciate it... I definitely got sucked into that one hook, line, sinker...
Great... I really hope that this so called format war will not be decided by Wal-mart... may as well be Toshiba or Sony choosing the winner instead of the customer... I say boycott this move by Wall-Mart on general principle!
so true:)... "wait for a train? or edit your Excel spreadsheet"...
should be:
"wait for a train, or edit your Excel spreadsheet... and, as a bonus, get to analyse that spreadsheet later that evening to figure out where all the formulas have gone... then spend the next 2 hours extracting the data and copy and pasting the new data back into the original spreadsheet"
The bottom line is (as others have said): if the core stripped down OSX has been set up effectively... the created widgets will be enough to do whatever we need to do on a phone.
Closed system but with widget add-ons.
Heck, Mobile Office apps should be consider sub-standard (read: bollox) widgets themselves, because that is my experience of them...
I think the original SonyEricsson P800 had it right...
Out of the box you were able to view, say, a.doc/.xls and many others... BUT, you could also FIND text on that document. It is essential to be able GO to a point in a document because of the phones small screen and review what is there
Really, creating/editing documents on a phone is a nonsense. It's nice to have, but very non-essential. If the iPhone can have this basic feature out of the box, to VIEW/FIND, that's all it really needs.
Bollox to Windows Mobile Office... seriously.
Someone mod this comment up to 5:The Truth and Nothing But the Truth.
People think they want it (5 years later, and I still think I do even if I don't need it). Does anyone use it in a practical sense? (And I mean use it on anything more important than your football stats... I would never trust editing a truly important biz doc on it. It's too much bother getting your formatting and formulas screwed up to make it worthwhile.
"I've read and modified both Word and Excel docs on my Treo 650. I'd rather not have to, but it's nice to be able to tell someone to just send you a file for revision on your PDA rather than having to find an actual computer."
Come on, you know the experience is bullshit. I have a Windows Mobile right now and it's tedious (and for a long while). I would NEVER trust it with a truly important document because of the formatting issues (on-board Mobile Office apps will screw up your formatting/formulas). I agree with you re: the other apps... but then, other phones can do that just fine also...
I think we need to wait for more info. on the iPhone. If it's closed, it will be a problem.... but what about those widgets... who knows.
Windows Mobile... irrelevant to business.
For my sins, I have had a Windows Mobile phone (and still do) for the last 4-5 years because I have an anxiety about the need to have access to my.doc/.xls data at all times.
However, should you ask me how many times this has actually come in useful... I would struggle.
Out of the box, the Mobile Office apps are next to useless... which is why people then opt to buy something like PlanMaker (which is closer to desktop app style spreadsheet, etc.).
If Apple can bring a 'desktop class app' (as they say they can) spreadsheet/word process to the iPhone, I'll be all over it. I don't care if it's closed/open/half-open.
Microsoft are the last people to be talking about words such as 'business', 'smartphone', 'relevancy' in the same sentence...
Believe me, I know.
Hmm, I guess MS think they can push this through or they wouldn't try. These tactics are obvious to/.'ers, but you can imagine some dude "out there" thinking: "wow, MS contacted me. I am not worthy. What's this open XML? Cool!"
Write to your overlords to ensure they understand what your other overlords are attempting here.
Agreed. I work at a relatively small company. Just a few days a go, I listened to my manager (a prospective customer of Microsoft vs some other competitors) talking about "backing Microsoft into a corner".
Actually is there an equivalent usage law to Moore's Law?
I mean, it's easy to bet that we will create more and more needs for 'ludicrous' storage needs... and so, high end iPods could cater for those needs...
80GB? GTFOH!
... and as the iPhone data capacity increases, so it will be for the high-end iPods... demand will fall for high-end iPods, but they will still be sold for users who need 'ludicrous' data storage capacity on the road... sounds strange, but those users will always exist... **looks around nervously**
Furthermore... whether intended or not, it seems highly ironic that the competitors response to the iPhone may in fact end up creating the market in which the iPhone will eventually flourish.
"I think it's the attempt to work the job and group mindset into every part of an employee's day and life. The insinuation (by default) that an employee will want (not just be expected to) to contribute to the company in this way; even in rare "private time" like this (*)."
Tend to agree. I use this very creative private time for thoughts on my own personal projects. It's a key battle line in the seperation of work and life. Google are tapping into the last bastion of slacker time at work.
The Human Rights lawyers should be all over this.
Lawyer: So, under oath, you say that Google made you work in the... John?
(gasps fromt the auditorium). Google Employee: Y...y...yes. I tried to stop them... b...b...but, they just kept sending me the flyers (bursts in a flood of tears).
Slashdot Mirror
Agreed. Windows Mobile tries too hard to appear like 'Windows' desktop. I have been, necessarily, a Windows Mobile user for years - it's lame. A necessary evil.
In the heat of the day, you do NOT want to be messing with a stylus, and so the natural (for me) choice has always been to resort to 'touch'. This can be even more annoying on WM because the UI's small on-screen buttons are designed to be 'pecked'. I know you can partially solve this via overlays, etc, but that's just wastage
The sad thing is that they could produce a very capable touch phone
In other words, Apple wins this battle
It's interesting that Apple can come along and ace the UI at version 1 (well, Jack of Spades at least), instead of version 25 (and counting) for Microsoft
What's nice is that Apple haven't tried to put the OSX UI on to a small phone
Still waiting on you MS. Depending on how the iPhone performs, I may not be waiting much longer
... and given that Locke appears Job'esque at times in appearance, I've wondered what their relationship might produce. Cue puns.
Actually, for the record, it's not. And no, I didn't.
Have a nice day though.
"And as far as being able to dictate, I fear Google far less than I do MS. Google has done no evil, where MS has been nothing but."
... I know where I stand with them. With Google, they present this rosy vision to all - and almost all fall before them.
With respect, I think that's short-sighted. While MS has done some shitty things
What concerns me is that Google has far more potential to do "evil" now than MS. I fear that. Now, while this might sound alarmist, history suggests otherwise.
When everything is benign, customers/humanity has allowed things to happen as long as said customers/humanity are benefiting. And right now, we are. But things change. And when they do, they will have set the framework up in their favour.
Sorry, but anyone who thinks that Google is nothing more than just another corporate entity is in for a surprise. Google and MS may as well be blood brothers.
The problem isn't apparent when everything is hunky dory ... it's when things go tits up that the problem reveals itself.
... it happens.
Think of any country which had a benign leadership and which was subsequently replaced by a bunch of a-holes
But he cautioned that the warning sign will come when Google becomes so dominant that customers cannot do without it. How well will Google deal with its customers' problems then?'"
... but just a few days ago Google Checkout customer care annoyed me so completely to the point where I am now phasing out Google.
... better.
... I definitely got sucked into that one hook, line, sinker ...
This is so completely on point and timely, from a personal point of view.
I definitely classed myself as love-struck, dumb-struck Google fanboy
I'll still use their search option, because I still class them as the best in that department (alternative suggestions welcome) but everything else has a better, and usually open source alternative.
Greatnews RSS Reader.
Block Google via hosts.
Etc.
For me, Google overstepped the mark. Sure, their high and mighty may still give a damn. But I got rough end of the stick. And I got to thinking about how much power and info they had in that situation. Ten years down the line and they'll probably be more powerful, and give even less of a damn. And the transformation will be complete. I don't want to be just another cog in their power play.
The only positive side of this is that they opened my eyes up to open source, secure, locally hosted alternatives out there that are
If anyone could suggest an alternative to Gmail, I would appreciate it
Cheers
Great ... I really hope that this so called format war will not be decided by Wal-mart ... may as well be Toshiba or Sony choosing the winner instead of the customer ... I say boycott this move by Wall-Mart on general principle!
so true :) ... "wait for a train? or edit your Excel spreadsheet" ...
... and, as a bonus, get to analyse that spreadsheet later that evening to figure out where all the formulas have gone ... then spend the next 2 hours extracting the data and copy and pasting the new data back into the original spreadsheet"
should be:
"wait for a train, or edit your Excel spreadsheet
This is the reality.
Don't lose hope, just yet. I'm counting on the widgets to solve it all. What's the diff between a widget and a program (really).
The bottom line is (as others have said): if the core stripped down OSX has been set up effectively ... the created widgets will be enough to do whatever we need to do on a phone.
...
Closed system but with widget add-ons.
Heck, Mobile Office apps should be consider sub-standard (read: bollox) widgets themselves, because that is my experience of them
I think the original SonyEricsson P800 had it right ... .doc/.xls and many others ... BUT, you could also FIND text on that document. It is essential to be able GO to a point in a document because of the phones small screen and review what is there ... seriously.
Out of the box you were able to view, say, a
Really, creating/editing documents on a phone is a nonsense. It's nice to have, but very non-essential. If the iPhone can have this basic feature out of the box, to VIEW/FIND, that's all it really needs.
Bollox to Windows Mobile Office
Someone mod this comment up to 5:The Truth and Nothing But the Truth.
... I would never trust editing a truly important biz doc on it. It's too much bother getting your formatting and formulas screwed up to make it worthwhile.
People think they want it (5 years later, and I still think I do even if I don't need it). Does anyone use it in a practical sense?
(And I mean use it on anything more important than your football stats
"I've read and modified both Word and Excel docs on my Treo 650. I'd rather not have to, but it's nice to be able to tell someone to just send you a file for revision on your PDA rather than having to find an actual computer ."
... but then, other phones can do that just fine also ... .... but what about those widgets ... who knows.
Come on, you know the experience is bullshit. I have a Windows Mobile right now and it's tedious (and for a long while). I would NEVER trust it with a truly important document because of the formatting issues (on-board Mobile Office apps will screw up your formatting/formulas). I agree with you re: the other apps
I think we need to wait for more info. on the iPhone. If it's closed, it will be a problem
Windows Mobile ... irrelevant to business.
For my sins, I have had a Windows Mobile phone (and still do) for the last 4-5 years because I have an anxiety about the need to have access to my .doc/.xls data at all times.
However, should you ask me how many times this has actually come in useful ... I would struggle.
Out of the box, the Mobile Office apps are next to useless ... which is why people then opt to buy something like PlanMaker (which is closer to desktop app style spreadsheet, etc.).
If Apple can bring a 'desktop class app' (as they say they can) spreadsheet/word process to the iPhone, I'll be all over it. I don't care if it's closed/open/half-open.
Microsoft are the last people to be talking about words such as 'business', 'smartphone', 'relevancy' in the same sentence ...
Believe me, I know.
"I always thought the name of the game was to keep your focus and not dilute your efforts."
I wonder about the strategy though. Microsoft sniffs DoubleClick's leg, Google buys it.
If I could get Microsoft to sniff my 10 year old laptop, would Google buy that too?
Is it MS or Google that's being clever here? I'm leaning towards Google - but it's damn expensive move.
Hmm, I guess MS think they can push this through or they wouldn't try. These tactics are obvious to /.'ers, but you can imagine some dude "out there" thinking: "wow, MS contacted me. I am not worthy. What's this open XML? Cool!"
Write to your overlords to ensure they understand what your other overlords are attempting here.
Agreed. I work at a relatively small company. Just a few days a go, I listened to my manager (a prospective customer of Microsoft vs some other competitors) talking about "backing Microsoft into a corner".
Actually is there an equivalent usage law to Moore's Law? I mean, it's easy to bet that we will create more and more needs for 'ludicrous' storage needs ... and so, high end iPods could cater for those needs ...
80GB? GTFOH!
... and as the iPhone data capacity increases, so it will be for the high-end iPods ... demand will fall for high-end iPods, but they will still be sold for users who need 'ludicrous' data storage capacity on the road ... sounds strange, but those users will always exist ... **looks around nervously**
Furthermore ... whether intended or not, it seems highly ironic that the competitors response to the iPhone may in fact end up creating the market in which the iPhone will eventually flourish.
Tend to agree. I use this very creative private time for thoughts on my own personal projects. It's a key battle line in the seperation of work and life. Google are tapping into the last bastion of slacker time at work.
The Human Rights lawyers should be all over this.
Lawyer: So, under oath, you say that Google made you work in the
(gasps fromt the auditorium).
Google Employee: Y...y...yes. I tried to stop them