Windows Phone 7: The AnandTech Guide
by Brian Klug on March 21, 2010 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Windows Phone 7
- Mobile
Final Words
At the end of our discussion, I talked with Andre about the work the WP7S team has ahead of them. It's hard to not get excited about just how dramatic this platform reboot is, but there's obviously still much to be done before launch Q4 2010. What really stuck out in his response was one line - he mentioned that the Microsoft team is approaching WP7S with a "crawl, walk, run" philosophy. Right now, they're still at crawl.
That isn't to say the team is crawling forward, but rather that they're nailing down core things first and plan to rapidly deploy extra features later. They call these extra features "delighters," and although copy and paste and multitasking won't be among them at launch, it's very likely (if not critical) that they come later. I asked about whether they're going to update WP7S devices continually - the same way older Zune hardware saw software platform updates years later - he confirmed this would be the case. There's something very Apple-like about this approach; focusing on what you have time for, only delivering what's done, and steadily updating. It's a refreshing difference from the oft-uncertain upgrade path most Windows Mobile devices were left at.
WP7S will have a hard case to make this holiday, against heavily entrenched competition - the same competition which will very likely have compelling updates of their own rolled out by Q4 2010. We'll likely see iPhone OS 4.0 before the year is over, and more flagship devices and software updates from Android. Microsoft needs to plan and develop for the future, and they're already behind - but they know it. The team will have to finalize and carefully decide on the remainder of their Marketplace criteria, get a number of carriers on board, nail their launch hardware with OEMs, build a large catalog of applications ready for launch, and keep their third party developers excited. The WP7S dev team knows it has this hard work cut out for them, but what we've seen so far is a promising and compelling deviation from the past. They've demonstrated they're not afraid to purge themselves of the old, and start anew.
It's a philosophy that's radical for Microsoft, a company that has built its empire on backwards compatibility. To have a key OS team within Microsoft accepting the fact that sometimes you need to douse the place, light a match and walk away is huge. That's exactly what Windows Phone 7 Series feels like. I only hope that the rest of Microsoft is willing to do the same, if necessary.
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glynor - Monday, March 22, 2010 - link
I don't know... I'm no Apple fanboy but I've never understood why people get all excited about the supposedly superior Nexus One hardware:1. Crappy 6-bit dithered screen with horrible super-saturated color reproduction.
2. Multitouch broken in hardware.
3. 512MB of onboard Flash memory all that's available for applications.
Yes, it does have a really nice main processor, but that's really about all it has going for it hardware wise. The rest is at best equal to the much-earlier iPhone 3GS, and at worst isn't even up to that level.
Don't get me wrong... I love the open nature of the platform. But I really don't like MANY of the choices that both HTC and Motorola made in these current iterations.
n0nsense - Sunday, March 21, 2010 - link
LOL :)iPhone is a gadget. It has tons of apps, but has to be tweaked to be a powerful tool.
As for crap hardware, Nexus is one step ahead of iPhone, while many others on pair. Of course there are tons of cheaper (crappier)devices, but they are good for market share. More devices, more developers.
Don't get me wrong, I prefer plain Linux on my mobile (something like MeeGo), but if i had to choose, iPhone and Winmo sharing the last place.
bupkus - Sunday, March 21, 2010 - link
I'm sitting here with my Palm Treo Pro with Windows Mobile 6.1 and while understanding the douse and flame approach I'm wondering why just because my desktop Windows gets service releases I had imagined my phone would receive the same?Silly me.
gnesterenko - Sunday, March 21, 2010 - link
Droid for me. Thanks for clarifying.kanabalize - Monday, March 22, 2010 - link
unless android has lotsa eyecandy(icon style, chic GUI design) like iphoneOS, its going to be dead....Remember the real consumer is the non-technological savvy users not people who reads alot of reviews and familiar with the technology...
when people have to choose between iphone and other android phone they aren't really care about what is behind the OS but what is right there in front of their eyes....
dhaoracle - Sunday, March 28, 2010 - link
I'm mad that this world is still naive idiots when it comes to things of any such. I might do that with a nice piece of ass but i will at least to get to know whats her name and what she's doing here(wherever).And why is anyone talking about Windows Mobile 6.5. stop hating and do your research. Google is nothing but eye-candy nothing else but a pretty balloon with lots of helium and pastry at the bottom. thats it nothing more nothing less.I would go with iPhone before Android and i hate iPhone...
darwinosx - Sunday, March 21, 2010 - link
Looks like the juvenile Droid ads found a sucker.CSMR - Sunday, March 21, 2010 - link
It makes sense. Android is competitive or almost competitive with WM6.5. Now WM has lost most of its features while android will only improve.deputc26 - Sunday, March 21, 2010 - link
Seriously why no Android review? It is the most power-user friendly mobile platform. 2.1 is far superior to WinMo 6.5.Anand Lal Shimpi - Sunday, March 21, 2010 - link
I'm working on a review of the AT&T Nexus One :)Take care,
Anand