Microsoft's Joe Belfiore, VP for Windows Phone, dropped by our CES HQ this week to discuss Microsoft's mobile future. He was classically reluctant to reveal the specifics of that future, though he did say that the words Tango and Apollo "sound nice." He did share his thoughts on how Windows Phone differs from iOS and Android, positioning it as the happy balance between the two leaders in mobile software. You get the greater variety of Android with the reassurance of tighter quality control that Apple offers. Quality, in fact, was the overriding theme of what Joe had to say. According to him, having a better user experience is what will differentiate Windows Phone from the competition, not extreme specs or barrel-scraping prices.
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This guy is the man. Belifore is going to make Windows Phone huge in 2012
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:28 PM EST reply Recommend (89) Flag actions
keep dreaming kid!
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:52 PM EST reply Recommend (12) Flag actions
Care to elaborate on why you think it’s a dream for WinPhone to get huge in 2012?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:27 PM EST reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
Lol, apparently not!
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:28 PM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
why? because he is as ass or something? :S
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 8:04 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
No. Because he didn’t elaborate….
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 8:10 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Try again in English or something? :S
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 10:37 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
OMG, a native speaker alert!
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 9:55 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Fanboy alert.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 10:37 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
best line of this interview: “solve the problems and then announce stuff when it’s ready”
I really like this approach.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:55 PM EST reply Recommend (66) Flag actions
Plus it was a (seemingly) genuine interview and not just canned non-answers. Also great interview Vlad and remind me never to play poker with you. That’s a definition of the ‘straight man’.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:47 PM EST reply Recommend (27) Flag actions
This approach seems quite familiar. Can’t quite put my finger on it.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:44 PM EST reply Recommend (13) Flag actions
#Siri
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 12:41 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Try to do any sort of voice recognition without collecting data first.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:21 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
There is definately another way of doing it. Crowd sourcing this data is only one approach which Google pioneered very successfully. Another model is to put effort in to polish a product and then aggregate data from the user before starting recognition. This approach worked well for Nuance. Apple saw more benefit in copying Google’s approach than releasing a finished product to the user.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 9:11 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
That literally makes no sense. There’s no way to aggregate voice data without actually aggregating voice data. And the only way to do that is to put it in beta.
What are you talking about? You think Nuance doesn’t beta test their products?
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:46 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
i’m thinking Nuance had a long arse time to beta their products—ie with actual products.
Mouse, Touch, Voice. These are 3 UI we have nowadays and Nuance blows away all and any competition. No way can Apple allow such a CORE function be outsourced to Nuance. SIRI is a framework that allows Apple to license Nuance, and then when Nuance becomes a nuisance, Apple can use the gestating data produced by Nuance to feed another speech recognition engine.
so yeah, SIRI is beta. but i’m not worried about SIRI. it’s already pretty good. I’m more worried about the apple cloud services(NOT fast enough).
Posted on Jan 14, 2012 | 10:39 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Have you used Dragon before?
It starts with a core recognition information that they have built internally. They then ask you to read some canned text to get a ‘feel’ for your voice (aggregate user data) and they continue to get better at the recognition as you continue to use it and correct.
Posted on Jan 16, 2012 | 5:28 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Microsoft have been doing a great job of mimicking Apple’s attention to detail and emphasis on quality and aesthetics with WP7 (and Zune and Xbox as well). It’s exciting to see products that implement this but also have Microsoft’s talent for software, openness, and without the sacrifice of function due to too much care for form.
I love that Microsoft are positioning WP7 as a mid-point between the pleasant but closed iPhone and the so-open-it’s-messy Android.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:17 AM EST reply Recommend (8) Flag actions
WP7 is just as closed as iOS.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:21 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
In the OS yes, in the hardware no – kind of. All the same chips, but you can get a Lumia 710 for $49, or (soon) a Lumia 900 or the Titan II, so you can choose different screen sizes, cameras etc.
Oddly I realised today this is really similar to the ultrabooks – which is an Intel trademark, and they are essentially dictating the basic hardware – see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultrabook.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:40 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Then I guess what you mean is there is more variety like Android. That’s inherently because of a different OS model.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:50 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Uh, yeah. Closed like Apple but open like Android. Like the man said – a mid-point. At least they’re trying to anyway.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:28 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Problem is, a lot of people interpret the concept of variety differently too. I’ve been told that WP7 offers almost no variety whatsoever because the interface is the same on each handset.
Essentially, it doesn’t matter which phone you choose because they’re all going to function exactly the same. Personally I think that’s a good thing. However I could see how an Android user might interpret that as a lack of variety.
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 12:08 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Lack of variety perhaps, but it’s also playing Russian Roulette in terms of quality.
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 3:33 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Your Intel remark reminded me of a convo I had with a coworker today.
What happens when x86 SoC’s make their way into handsets? Talk about integration….it’ll be practically the same device. Hopefully they can “roll back” the code (not a dev, forgive the dummied down speak) to work, literally, seamlessy between a handset and a tablet/ultrabook/console/PC, and really let this pig fly.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:38 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
“What happens when x86 SoC’s make their way into handsets?”
You get 30-minute battery life.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 2:37 PM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
Hardware is somewhat open. Multiple manufacturers and form factors and specs.
The OS is less closed:
there is an MS-sanctioned way to ‘jailbreak’ and sideload apps without compromising future updates, etc, and Microsoft’s policies for software are far more transparent than Apple’s approach of tightly controlling software for political and commercial reasons.
While Apple are ‘protecting’ its users from adult and political content, and protecting itself from competitors with superior products (e.g. the ebook business) Microsoft is essentially letting users sideload ANY software they want and they remain largely agnostic to 3rd party services.
Yes, WP7 is not as open as Android, but it is not as closed as Apple either.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 7:11 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
As a developer myself, I don’t like the idea of side-loading apps. The user should go through appropriate channels to get apps. WP7 may have Chevron but the OS is just as closed as iOS without the jailbreak. WP7 is a cross between iOS and Android, benefiting from the best of the two.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 7:53 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Why don’t you like side loading? Surely as a developer it allows you more methods of getting your product onto peoples devices. As far as piracy is concerned, pirates gonna pirate, a legitimate way of side loading apps may make it a little easier, but having to Jailbreak an iPhone is hardly a huge barrier for entry.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 7:59 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
One of the reasons the iOS app store is so profitable is because it lacks this ability. Sometimes less options is better. I’m obviously biased. It isn’t much at this stage and not a lot of people on iOS or WP7 pirate, it’s mainly kids who can’t buy it.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 8:06 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Not only is Wp7 more closed than iOS it’s also less customizable.
Posted on Jan 14, 2012 | 2:13 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
it’s cool to say things
it’s even cooler to do things
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:59 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Are you a “real artist”? They ship things.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:31 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Did he steal that from Sartre? :P
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:30 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
“solve the problems and then announce stuff when it’s ready”
They should also adopt that policy when doing WP7 demos on stage. Solve the problems before they fail on a live stage.
Posted on Jan 14, 2012 | 2:14 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
He seems a lot less unscripted compared to a lot of product leads.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:57 PM EST reply Recommend (24) Flag actions
Why? We have to see what actually happens. We always get these smooth talking execs, many of whom don’t deliver.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:37 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
a 40-something with a justin bieber haircut? hmm.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:59 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
The bad is that even Justin Bieber got rid of that hair cut..
I hope this isnt foreshadowing my Microsoft. No matter how cool they try to be they will always be one step behind..
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:25 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
then it is called The Beatles hair in that case.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:58 AM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
Have you ever visited the Windows Phone App store? It’s a wasteland, a desolate, barren, empty void. Apps sell phones, and Windows Phone has very, very few apps.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 3:26 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
yeah 50, 000 apps is so few…
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:03 AM EST reply Recommend (21) Flag actions
It lacks the apps I rely on. Any device without Audible is an instant non starter for me, as an example.
I also use my iPhone has a gaming platform, and so play a lot of stuff from Cave, SquareEnix, Kairosoft etc.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 8:14 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Well, isn’t that special.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 10:13 AM EST reply Recommend (8) Flag actions
It’s one thing to say that WP7 lacks some very specific apps that are essential to you as an individual, and there’s an entirely different thing to say that "It’s a wasteland, a desolate, barren, empty void. ". The first is a reasonble argument that applies to you, and you alone. The second is a stupid comment.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 4:50 PM EST reply Recommend (10) Flag actions
That’s an incredibly stupid comment. WP7 has around 50,000 apps (give or take a few that are only available in certain regions). I’ve been using this platform since almost day 1 (when the marketplace literally was barren), and now there are plenty of apps of every type.
Yes, the store is still behind Apple and Google, but in reality not by much. Most major app categories and major services are accounted for. There is less clutter (i.e. not so many duplicate apps).
You’re either deliberately being a fanboy/trendy MS hater or you have little clue what you’re talking about.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:20 AM EST reply Recommend (13) Flag actions
People are saying 50,000 apps is a lot for a marketplace, and it is, but I agree with the above, sure WP7 has tons of apps, just not the ones we want. I own a windows phone and just browse the market hopelessly every week.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:46 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Excuse me, who is “we” exactly? and who gets to decide which apps do “we” want?
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 4:52 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
So, you’re disappointed by the countless boob and kama sutra apps as well? There’s also the nuclear fart app, if those aren’t your cup of tea.
It brings a tear to my eye when I see a growing marketplace include fart apps. They grow up so fast!
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 12:36 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I don’t know if you already have it or not, but if not, definitely download ‘AppFlow’ http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps/578ef361-c265-46b7-b6f4-63cbd7fbefe0
It’s pretty useful for discovering apps that you might not in the default Marketplace layout.
Posted on Jan 14, 2012 | 9:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Indeed, so tired of these dumb extreme spec whores. It means nothing, not one iota in the real world of consumerism and is just like the neighborhood clown with the souped up car who needs too make up for his own inadequacies. Windows Phone is great a OS and well executed and so looking forward to it doing well.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:03 AM EST reply Recommend (10) Flag actions
whats with all these sudden WP7 fanboys on the verge??
did they all get the wrong phone for Christmas and now HAVE to start rooting for it?
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 7:42 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
A wave of Microsoft shills seems to have invaded The Verge. I think this is another one of their astroturfing attempts.
Posted on Jan 14, 2012 | 2:17 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Windows phone huge in 2012? LOL No, the only this huge is 2012 is his nose.
Posted on Jan 14, 2012 | 2:11 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Wait thats what windows already does is barrel scrape prices?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:29 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
I thought quality had to do with specs?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:29 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
No? Plenty of high specced Android phones still perform horribly.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:39 PM EST reply Recommend (61) Flag actions
Example?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:44 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
all of them
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:46 PM EST reply Recommend (62) Flag actions
Stop exaggerating.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:15 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Most actual do run like crap, their over-speced and over-rated. Consumers just buy into this gimmick of hardware spec = smooth. There’s more to it than good hardware and WP done a good job proving that
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:03 PM EST reply Recommend (17) Flag actions
…come on, AND Apple.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 3:06 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Apple is okay, you’re just limited with what they give you.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 12:39 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Care to elaborate please?
Posted on Jan 14, 2012 | 2:55 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
well, if you mean “smooth = slow animations” and “buggy=very fast but capped framerate” in some case, then yes, wp7 is smooth and android is buggy. Otherwise wp7 is a joke, its marketplace has the most crappy implementations of apps, 90% of the third party apps are joke. My room mate got one wp7 for free from his work(MS) and now he is counting days for his contract with AT&T to expire. What a mess, WP7.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 2:11 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I think (and this is probably true for Android as well) it depends on the phone. I’ve used all three platforms for pretty long periods of time, I wouldn’t say that WP7 is a joke. I think that some of the WP7 phones are terrible though, things like the HTC Surround and such are just terrible gimmicks. Other phones like the Samsung Focus are awesome, and the Lumia 900 looks great. You’ve also got to consider that in an extremely short amount of time the Wp7 marketplace has grown exponentially.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:20 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
he makes a very good point.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:49 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Yeah some of the high end ones do not perform well, but others like the Galaxy Nexus, the S2 family, the Evo 3D perform well. LG have the weakest performing phones IMO. Motorola is not much better, but Samsung and HTC’s high end phones perform well.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The Evo 3D and Sensation perform horribly (I’m not talking benchmarks), the Motorola Atrix is horrible, the LG Optimus 3D is horrible, the Galaxy S2’s lock screen suffers from low frame rates, the Galaxy Nexus can’t pull 10FPS on the mobile IE speed test.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:06 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I find my Sensation just fine, thank you very much…
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 3:51 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
That says nothing about the device, as it could have been subject to excessive tweaking. Or, you could have lower standards / cast a blind eye towards lowered frame rates.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:02 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
I see what you mean. But it isn’t a slow device by any means. I’m running ICS on it, and boy is it smooth. The only lag that takes place is when it’s loading something over the net, which is understandable.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 9:28 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Android devices have the internals to provide a good experience, so with enough tweaking they surely are great – but you can’t use your heavily-tweaked experience to recommend Android or even represent it. Likewise, I can’t fully recommend Windows Phone because there are annoyances that I will run into if I had to use it stock – I’m developer unlocked, so I have some useful homebrew apps that makes the experience so much better.
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 5:37 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I use Android because I can modify it to my heart’s desire. I can make it look like WP7, if I want.
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 9:08 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
That’s fine, but if that’s the selling point, it can’t be applied to a regular customer. You will NEVER make it look like Windows Phone because it won’t have the ecosystem-wide design cohesiveness or the overall fluidity. Emulating is never the real thing.
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 9:18 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
My Bionic is just fine as well., but you’ll never convince the fanbois of anything.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 2:41 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The lock screen suffers from low frame rates . . . you’re reaching if you have to use this as an example.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 4:14 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m not reaching, the lock screen is the first bit of software a potential buyer will interact with and is also a part of the UI that can be accessed a hundred times each day.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:00 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
I understand your point, if over emphasized for dramatics. Judging a phone, hardware or software, based on lock screen performance is not truly valid. No matter how fast your computer maybe, it still takes seconds for it to load programs such as your internet browser, word, etc. To expect a phone, even if awaking from sleep mode or a lock screen, to have better performance is unreasonable.
Also, let’s be realistic, that hesitation is less than a second. If your friend uses applications such as gmail, I would think the improved productivity that android would provide would be make the lock screen a non-issues.
At the end of the day, it’s your friend’s money and he/she is free to spend it on any product he/she wants without justification.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:33 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I didn’t mean to judge the overall device performance on the FPS of the lock screen, sorry if it came across as that. My point is that these devices, despite often overpowering their iOS rivals, can be perceived as slower.
I’ve said it before: a half second freeze is more noticeable than a three second increase in loading time (where the screen remains responsive).
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 5:40 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
in his defense;
i’m a wp7 user, one of my friends got the chance to buy a sg II for a reletivley cheap price (not in the USA mind you) and asked me if he should go for it.
He has a dumb phone atm, i literally told him to go all out for it and it was a fantastic deal.
Nextday i call him to see what happened, he tells me that he found the touch experience laggy when compared to iOS (he doesnt own one but he could see the difference even so). I told him it wasnt bad and it only happened in some places which were dissmissable but he didnt go for it anywway.
Word for word “i’d much rather get your phone or iPhone, they are so much smoother”.
Personally, i dont think the occasional lag here and there on the sgII is a deal breaker or even noticable, but here is proof that people think otherwise.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 10:29 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
This is why I think it was unfair for Josh to call out Gruber on saying that iOS users “get it”, in reference to a quote about how Android still isn’t as cohesive or beautiful (IIRC).
Not every iOS user gets it, sure. But there are definitely people who take lag and design cohesiveness very seriously and seeing something like Android is a shock to them.
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 9:20 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
" the Galaxy S2’s lock screen suffers from low frame rates"
lol, abandon the Android ship and jump to WP, the lock screen stutters.
The problem is once you unlock the WP phone you’ll realize that probably wasn’t the best criteria to switch phones for.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 11:08 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Did I ever state that? No, I’m simply stating that a device considered “blazing fast” and at one stage “the best smartphone on the planet” can’t present a smooth lock screen. That’s poor in my opinion, very poor.
On the other hand, you brought no counter-arguments. There is no problem, as I evaluated the smartphone landscape for a good 10 months before my purchase – of an Omnia 7.
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 5:42 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Take ANY Android phone, go to any long list of anything, scroll it fast. Notice how its not super smooth? Notice the stutters? Just so you know iOS and WP7 doesn’t do that.
Historically Java based apps are very sluggish. I attribute Android’s NEED for high specs to perform anywhere near WP7 or iOS (but not yet achieving it!) are because of Java.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:50 PM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
i’m not an expert on the foundations of either platform or code languages, but i think android is NOT based on java? Even some apps dont use java at all?
Or am i mistaken?
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 10:30 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
No it is.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:49 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Android uses Java the language but they don’t use Java VM. Instead Android has its own VM called ‘Dalvik’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalvik_virtual_machine
So it is really not Java’s fault. In fact google can pick any language to compile to Dalvik byte code. They choose Java because of its popularity.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 12:04 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
“Take ANY Android phone, go to any long list of anything, scroll it fast. Notice how its not super smooth?”
I just did. It’s fast and smooth. Now what?
Parroting conventional wisdom from people who haven’t actually used Android isn’t doing you any favors.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 2:43 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
yay anecdotal evidence by random internet denizen!
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:34 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You either wasted days of your life tweaking Android to be smooth, or you’re simply a person who doesn’t see the difference between “Android smooth” and “iOS smooth”. We’re not talking about jitteriness or freezes (though both are issues on Android more than competing OSes). Android can’t list scroll at a high frame-rate. The competition can.
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 9:22 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Nexus S stuttered on a ton of commands and apps when it was new. The Atrix is another good example of overly high specs with poor performance.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:48 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Just installed a pre-alpha ICS ROM on droid charge. Stock browser is still not smooth and the freaking OS STILL lags behind one’s touch. Maybe it’s imperceptible to some, but I used to play fps at a relative high level and it drives me INSANE. God gone it Google, rewrite your moronic OS so it runs native code and get rid of that stupid Dalvik VM.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:57 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
umm its PRE alpha by your own admission – do you expect that to run 100% smooth???
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:05 PM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
People seem to expect pre-beta of Win8 to run smooth, so who knows why not set the same standard lol
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:04 PM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
I am personally offended and hurt. You are putting windows and android in the same league? That hurts man :(
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:13 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Want a hug?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:14 PM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
pre-beta is not pre-alpha though :P
pre-beta would make it alpha code which is STILL later than pre-alpha!
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:16 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m just going to give you a dirty glare right now
.Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 12:25 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
How about the developer preview?
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:07 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Get a Galaxy Nexus, it may fix your anger issues.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 11:11 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Good God dude, stop installing alpha stuff on your phone and whining about it.
Posted on Jan 14, 2012 | 2:20 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
HTC Evo 3D, The Droid Bionic, the list goes on.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:51 PM EST reply Recommend (24) Flag actions
My EVO 3D performs awesomely, thank you very much.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:10 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Says someone who has only used android phones. (probably)
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:50 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I wouldn’t touch any of them with a 10ft pole
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:13 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
My Galaxy S II still can’t scroll list views smoothly with it’s 1.2GHz CPU and Mali 400 GPU, but my Lumia 800 can with a single core 1.4GHz CPU and Adreno 205 GPU.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:55 PM EST reply Recommend (38) Flag actions
Never mind a Lumia 800 my Omnia 7 1 Ghz single core is perfectly smooth too.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:01 PM EST reply Recommend (31) Flag actions
I assumed that’d be the case but didn’t want to say it since the Lumia 800 is the only Windows Phone device I’ve ever actually used.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:04 PM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
What’s great is how old WP7 didn’t scroll smoothly, but the very first update, Mango, made it run like butter. I’m so excited to get a 12 inch Windows 8 tablet with pen input. Whether this year or next, it’s going to be awesome.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:58 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Actually my original Samsung Focus has always scrolled insanely smoothly. That was, in fact, the one thing I was extremely worried about, and so I tested it an insane number of times before I bought it.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:32 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Bull. The Windows Phone UI has been breaknecking fast and buttery smooth since launch. Some 3rd party apps did have scrolling issues but it was clearly due to poor coding since others were capable of performing well.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 12:48 AM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions
As one of the first people (relatively speaking ofc) that has had WP7 before even NoDo was out, i can say he is sort of right.
Everything native scrolled VERY smooth, but ALL apps lagged badly on this. It was caused by the way the code was handled and NOT the devs, they remedied this by giving the scrolling a thread of its own.
It was pretty brutal on the apps back then and i was really pissed about it.
And if i remember right, it was in Mango that they fixed this, so technically it was the second update, not the first :P
Still, these are technicalities, and it’s been a blast to use the phone.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 10:49 AM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
And my 3GS running iOS 5 silkily whilst my friend’s Nexus S stutters around it’s browser. iOS runs on a 3 year old 600mhz CPU better than many 1Ghz+ android offerings.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:26 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
While iOS is smooth on current hardware, it’s in no way aceptable on 2 gen old HW. If you think your 3GS is acceptable in the “smooth as butter” then you should really see a iPhone 4 / 4s and ANY wp7.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 10:50 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Just realised I forgot to say the Galaxy S II’s dual core 1.2GHz CPU. My bad.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:12 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Mine can…
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:33 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Give it few months. It’ll eventually crap out.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:19 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You mean when it gets ICS, and better hardware acceleration? Perhaps.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 4:35 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
ah yes, the wonderful world of android.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:49 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I have an HTC TITAN and a Samsung Galaxy S. The Titan is smooth the Galaxy is OK. I also have an iPad and an Acer Iconia. The iPad is great the Iconia not so much.
They all have their strengths but the reality for me at least, is that the scrolling is not a big deal, a stutter here or there on Android rarely upsets me. The Titan is buttery smooth but so what.
What really hacks me off is that the Android devices crash ALL the freakin time. If I had a dollar for every force close on Android I could probably buy replacement devices! Android has a lot of growing to do, I’m sticking with WP and when it goes prime time I’ll be getting a Windows8 Tablet. Thanks Android but you just don’t do it for me.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:37 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Galaxy S with Telia was useless and it was the flagship for the 3 weeks or so before the next Galaxy whatever was launched. Seriously, the browser, home screen, widgets etc were soooo laggy. I installed Darkyrom on it and it was still frustrating so back to iPhone 4 for me. I hope WP7 replaces Android as the Apple alternative.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:58 PM EST reply Recommend (22) Flag actions
and it was the flagship for the 3 weeks or so before the next Galaxy whatever was launched.
To me, this presents another quality issue.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:05 PM EST reply Recommend (22) Flag actions
Why? Why is your identity so based on having the flagship device that when a newer one comes out you are hurt?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:30 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I don’t know how you took that from my comment, but here you go.
They could have waited three weeks and released the ACTUAL flagship device. They did the same thing with the Razr/Razrmaxx/Bionic/Droid##….all incremental spec bumps, all “flagship”. Flagship + 3 weeks isn’t really flagship at all, is it? More of a flagshit. It has nothing to do with MY identity, rather the identity of the manufacturers that will come out with 6 flagship devices in a year. It comes across a dissociative in my eyes, and it shows that the devices that they’d been calling flagship either missed the mark, or were intentionally underpowered/underspecced. And that’s a quality issue.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:35 PM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
Using the galaxy s was a very poor choice in this case. It was samsungs flagship phone launched March 2010 until galaxy s 2’s launch in May 2011. Thats over a year.
Its not samsungs fault that US carriers demand a shedload of different phones. The same is also being seen for WP7 in the US
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:12 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Agreed on both fronts. Devices become haphazardly manufactured because it’s cheap to do and hopefully somebody will like something that is out there.
This is in no way, shape, or form an attack on Android. I think it’s a great OS and that it deserves its place in this crazy mobile world of ours.
That being said, I hope that WP7 devices don’t dilute the market like Android devices have. It seems to me that would be hard to do, given Microsoft’s hardware limitations for their platform. But, I guess that’s just the nature of the competition when you have multiple OEMs running the same software, regardless of what the reference specs are.
Just please let me find a handset that I’m happy with. I’ll take anything that blows my f***ing mind.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:03 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
A Galaxy Nexus, then. A device that actually has good software-hardware integration, there won’t be another Google flagship for at least another year, and it will still get supported even after that.
Also awesome screen.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:03 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I love both Android and WP7 for different reasons, but if there’s one thing I know (I’ve owned a Galaxy S for over a year now) is that Android can be laggy regardless or specs. But, ICS looks to be fixing most of that :-)
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:02 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m underwhelmed by my Epic Touch’s performance. It’s fast, but it’s not as slippery smooth as WP7’s I’ve seen when it comes to animations.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:32 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
look at the LG range then check out the HTC Thuderbolt battery life and laggy operation. Need more?
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:07 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
He’s right you know. Look at the……..anything LG. The rest are usually fine though.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:17 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I am on an Atrix, and I do not know what the heck you are talking about. Stop spreading FUD.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:19 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
You can use all the same material Ferrari uses to make their cars. But you will not get a Ferrari without the engineering know-how that they put into/tune their cars. The same can be said about computers and specs. ‘Specs’ are baseline, but there are lots of mitigating factors. At the very end, the thing that Apple is very clear about and MS is learning to adopt as well, is the important final layer of judgement – the user experience (UX).
I don’t think Android UX is so bad, especially now the hardware seems to be matching the OS. But I do think Google needs to take more ownership of it.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:34 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
This guys great. He looks like he’s in the band Journey.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:30 PM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
LOL! True and awesome!
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 3:08 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
lol yeah lol
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:09 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Too bad no one in the world (as evidenced by sales) actually wants this “better” user experience. Because, simply, its boring. And constrained. And just crap. And I feel that once they shove this interface on Windows users, they’re going to further annoy their base and push them to use competitors products even more.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:32 PM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
Thank you for your opinion.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:35 PM EST reply Recommend (28) Flag actions
You should like… you know… actually try using it before you say it’s crap.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:44 PM EST reply Recommend (42) Flag actions
Can’t say I agree with ya there. All 3 systems are great and have their strengths and weaknesses and it all depends on what it can do for you.
Short term ssales is a variable statistic that corporate pigs and fan boys use to try and make their point.
I feel as though you own an iPhone. Sorry. Random assumption.
for the rest of your crazy assumptions and empty I’ll founded opinions, ill just squash them all with mine. I own 3 iphones, 2 android devices, a beast windows machine and an imac. Oh. And a windows phone 7 which has blown me away in so many aspects i can’t remember the last time I was more excited to use a phone.
It looks great, its ridiculously fast and stable and so consistent of an experience it makes my iPhone 4s and and android tablet look like garbage.
I could go on and on about how amazing it is from a design point of view and a technical point of view compared to its competition.
Will I stick with it? No. But until Google gets off its butt and does a better job of offering services internationally, or apple tries to do something new I care about instead of adding a voice assistant, ill stick with blazing fast windows phone and its better then iTunes zune software. No joke.
What do you own?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:20 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend (11) Flag actions
You must not use many apps. That Great for you, but most people do.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:27 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
You might have 60 apps, but how many do you actually USE?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:04 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
I have 95 apps on my iPhone, but only use around a quarter of them often. The number isn’t important though, it’s the choice. Every time I check the Zune app marketplace I struggle to find even one of my favourite apps available. It doesn’t even have Audible, which is an instant deal breaker.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 3:31 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Any particular app you are missing on WP?
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 3:00 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
“Because, simply, its boring.”
People haven’t purchased windows phone because it’s boring or because they’re brainwashed by apple and also by what their friends have……
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:02 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
As an iPhone user, I’d much prefer to brainwash my friends into using a WP7 device. That way, I wouldn’t keep having to have the same conversation explaining why their brand-new Android device runs like dog-shit.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:41 PM EST reply Recommend (9) Flag actions
You’d be very surprised. Most people who I show Windows Phone to actually take to it very well. There might be an initial reaction where they think I’m referring to Windows Mobile but I close my mouth and show them the homescreen and as if by magic they’re all ears.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 2:36 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I totally agree. My mother bought herself a Lumia 800. I was shocked. She loves it and use it easily. That really made me think. She tried using my Sisters HTC sensation and nearly had a conniption.
Now if she can use Windows Phone ANYBODY can.
Still recovering from helping her top set-up and use the new Hitachi LCD TV she bought in the summer
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:13 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Lol sure.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:54 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Ok: so, as evidenced by sales, WP7 is crap
Other things that have low market share in their respective markets, therefore must be crap as well:
Ferraris
65" Pioneer plasma TV’s
Sonos sound systems
Mac OS X
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:08 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I like this. I prefer the software be properly tuned for the harware instead of the insane pissing contect on Android.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:33 PM EST reply Recommend (41) Flag actions
Well there’s a reason why Android has such high specs: the hardware essentially compensates for the awful performance of the OS.
In Windows Phone, the software is clearly optimised.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:44 PM EST reply Recommend (29) Flag actions
Actually, it doesn’t seem to compensate. Isn’t the Galaxy Nexus still laggy in some places?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:52 PM EST reply Recommend (23) Flag actions
Pippa Pip’s reply: Well there’s a reason why Android has such high specs: the hardware
essentially compensatesattempts to compensate for the awful performance of the OS.In Windows Phone, the software is clearly optimised.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:07 PM EST reply Recommend (20) Flag actions
Nah I don’t get any of that. Not after 4.0.3 Not trying to argue, just sayin…. Continue the Android Riot!
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:19 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I agree with Belfiore here. WP7 is fantastic and, even though the internal hardware isn’t as flashy as Android, it can beat them in performance tests as Ben Rudolph is proving.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:35 PM EST reply Recommend (22) Flag actions
is there an update for that, because I don’t see any videos of the competition.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:43 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Found it!
http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/windowsphone/archive/2012/01/11/day-1-results-from-the-smokedbywindowsphone-100-challenge.aspx
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:43 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
What, a companies platform doing well in a competition designed to show off it’s strengths, shocker! But seriously, this is a great marketing ploy by Microsoft, but trying to use it as evidence that the platform is inherently better than others is a little naive.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:50 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
This is ironic considering that the Windows OS competes on spec and not quality.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:38 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
This is moronic because phones and computers are different.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:39 PM EST reply Recommend (30) Flag actions
this is moronic because phones are now computers.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:48 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
This is where WP7 users and Android users essentially diverge. While we both accept that phones are getting smarter, I think many WP7 users agree to MS’s position currently, that the ‘Phone is not a PC’. The experiences and expectations on the handset is different from the PC.
I hazard a guess that MS actually wants to provide the ‘mobile computing’ solution in the tablet running W8, not the phone per se. The eventual loser in the market will not be the smartphone or the tablet, but the laptop. Properly bridging the laptop capabilities on a tablet is what makes W8 an interesting/exciting prospect, and probably why WP7 is not going to be as feature-rich as Android smartphones.
If W8 launches well, the best scenario MS can expect is that they make other OS tablets irrelevant, and provides a good complement for the smart phone – any phone. The main draw of WP7 still remains the consistency of the Metro UI.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:13 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
You should tell Ballmer that because he quite clearly has said the phone is a PC. It’s their “3 screens” strategy and they want windows in them all.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:28 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Yes, I actually do remember him mentioning this. I think the difference is still there though. If Apollo brings W8 to phones it would be excellent, but I think its too premature for this yet. So, I think the divide between phone and tablet/laptop will still remain at least for a while longer.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:03 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
It depends on what you define as a PC. By its literal, broader definition (Personal Computer) all smartphones, tablets, anything with a CPU running an Operating System,. are indeed PC’s. I think that’s what Ballmer was talking about.
But, if you narrow your definition to the traditional use of the term, that is, PC’s are desktops and laptops, that’s were the divergence is: while Android tries to do everything a laptop could do (the Transformer being an excellent example), tying to replace the traditional PC, both Microsoft and Apple make a point at keeping a specific mobile user experience tat has nothing to do with a full-blown desktop OS, therefore, they’re “not PC’s”.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:22 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
That would be demonic! in the 1500’s
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:14 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Actually, No.
You can see the difference between Vista and Windows 7 on the same hardware, and the newer iteration is actually less resource intensive.
Microsoft are changing. Windows 8 will be a bigger step in this direction.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:49 PM EST reply Recommend (28) Flag actions
WP7 doesn’t need to compete on specs because like iOS and unlike Android its operating system was built from the ground up to work on a touchscreen phone. It is lean and mean and requires fewer resources (ram/CPU) to achieve the same level of performance. Android has to do all kinds of crap just to register a finger press on the OS level. This is why we are just now seeing 1.5GHz dual core phones with 1GB of ram provide an experience that approaches the level of smoothness that iOS and WP7 provide.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:42 PM EST reply Recommend (24) Flag actions
I read that the reason for the lagginess is just how Android handles different threads with the CPU. On iOS, as soon as there is something to animate on the screen every other task the phone is doing is given less priority and the UI thread is given highest priority. Thus buttery smooth user interface.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:01 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
One of their engineers did point that out, I can’t source it , but you’re right.
But regardless of the reason…it’s still an issue.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:09 PM EST reply Recommend (8) Flag actions
Here’s the link you’re looking for, I believe.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:34 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
iOS processes things in the background even if you touch the screen.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Nailed it.
You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:40 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Nah, just a deliberate bookmarker.
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 4:29 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Lol, either way, thanks.
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 4:28 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
True or not, that explains specs like RAM and processor speed. It doesn’t explain specs like HD screen resolution, LTE, microSD-swapping, wireless tethering, and other things WP7 are just now getting or have yet to get.
Windows Phone doesn’t compete on specs because it can’t. Not yet.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:21 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Ms just tries to make sure that everything that IS available on the OS actually works butter smooth, then they’ll move on to the next feature.
They did start from scratch for this OS (I do realize it’s on top of Win CE)
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:54 PM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
Resolution is related to processor speed. He mentioned it in the video. If you up the resolution, the processor has to draw more pixels, which means it works more and sucks up more battery. Tethering is supported, but not on all phones. LTE are starting ship. I agree with you about SD swapping.
It doesn’t compete on specs because it doesn’t want to. It is putting overall performance ahead of just specs.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:20 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
The problem with SD swapping is that the SD card that ships internally is married to the device storage. Swapping the SD voids the warranty. You can do it, but at your own risk… :/
That being said, I would seriously appreciate some removable storage. Namely, this removable storage :)
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:47 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I think they need internal storage for some content but an external card for media such as music, video and office files would seem to be a good compromise. Even if you had to effectively reset the phone when you remove that card it would be an improvement.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:50 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Word. Removable is always better! Gimme a dang slot, WP7!
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 7:26 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Removable is alway better…except it isn’t. Not always.
It has been explained before, but Microsoft has no way to tell which SD card will you use.¿will it be fast? ¿will it be reliable? or will it be the cheapest, crappiest mini-SD card the user will find?
Slow, unreliable external storage may compromise the general performance of the device, and SD manufacturers haven’t agreed on any reliable quality standard Microsoft could support foer external storage. So Microsoft did the only thing they could to ensure that the SD card you’ll be using is one that will play nicely with WP7: putting it in the device already and making it non user-removable.
And to be completely honest, the iPhone has been out there for almost five years now and i don’t hear iOS users complaining about lack of removable SD cards.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:36 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
it all sounds good.
…let’s see if the carriers and handset makers keep things in check.
Ultimately, carriers are the ones who want the bullet points and amp up the spec wars. Thus far only Apple has really been able to step outside of this because they have a product that generates such a massive level of demand that it doesn’t matter what the specs are.
It’s interesting to note that nokia wasn’t exactly being bashful in talking screen size, battery size, processor speed and camera – not to mention LTE with their announcement.. That’s typically a lot more than Apple mentions.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:48 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
looking in from the UK it is scary how much power the US carriers have. I hope there is an uprising and revolt soon.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:17 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Windows LULZ!
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:48 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You’re real entertaining, are you in a circus? It’s nice to see even the intellectually deficient ones participate in society. Want a banana?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:10 PM EST reply Recommend (9) Flag actions
He is the Banana…
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:17 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 4:32 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
nice profile pic LULZ!
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 4:51 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I like this guy. Really good answers, and the WP team has a clear vision on where they want the OS to go, and are intent on ensuring that the quality of the product is top notch.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:49 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
guess this is why windows Phone is so far behind..
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:52 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
that was a good interview – what part makes you feel that the lack of marketshare of the wp7 is caused by?
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 11:24 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
They really need to take carriers completely out of the update process.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:53 PM EST reply Recommend (24) Flag actions
^
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:10 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
For that to happen, the carriers will need to step out of the device business alltogether, especially device support etc.
I’m not from the USA and our carriers are literally dancing around us, would suck for them to have that kind of power.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 11:25 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Are you talking about WP7 or Android?
Because, with WP7, it’s Microsoft that handles the updates, not the carriers. That is actually one of the reasons carriers don’t like WP7 very much, because users may end up with features the carriers don’t want them to have.
But in general, yeah, carriers, get off my devices…you know, the ones you subsidized 75% of their cost! get off those!
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:57 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
This wont work at point of sale. 2 Phones side by side, both 199," well this android phone has a dual core processor, the winpho has a single core." All the customer heard is that the android phone has 2 of something and the winpho has 1. Specs don’t need to be understood to matter. I’ve seen this firsthand.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 6:57 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
you can’t generalize as soon as it comes to people. Every person is different, you might pick a different phone for a different reason than I do. I can say for a fact that a lot of non-techie people I know don’t give a damn about cores, they want a fast and usable phone.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:03 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Your might seem like a good point at face value, but the fact is that the iPhone had a single core up until last year and it was still outselling any Android smartphone with dual core.
What Microsoft is looking for is that people will want a Windows Phone or a Nokia phone just like they want and iPhone, and are less worried about consumers making narrow decisions based on things like the number of cores in the CPU.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:04 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
And the past year has shown Microsoft has COMPLETELY failed to pull off that kind of consumer desire.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:30 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Yes, all new mobile platforms should be dropped completely if a huge market share is not gained within 13 months. that’s what they did with Android… oh wait.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 3:24 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Or the Xbox…
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:27 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Of course, you’re assuming that U.S. customers are itching to buy a ‘Nokia’ brand phone, and is held with the same product quality association as something from Apple.
Truth is, the Finns haven’t been actively selling things to American consumers, on a wide scale, for over a decade and as a result, the ‘Nokia’ brand has been forgotten, fallen by the wayside. It doesn’t have a modicum of the cachet that it has (had?) in Europe.
The brand among the younger than 30 set, is a total unknown. It may as well be called the XYZ Company for all they know.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 12:26 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Fads come and go. Yesterday people only wanted Blackberrys, today it’s iPhone, tomorrow who knows… whatever product is popular people will want. Most people don’t buy an iPhone because they’ve tried all the platforms and make an informed decision, they buy it because they see other people buying it. If something becomes trendy it’s a matter of time before it catches up with the masses. I think the Lumia 900 is a gorgeous looking phone, perhaps more than a few will notice.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 3:27 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
This is part of the reason I think the Lumia is a step forward – I can so see people just saying “I want the blue one”, “I want the pink one”.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:13 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Most people out of techie circles do not care about specs.
Exhibit A: the iPhone,
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:32 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Damn it, just say that Windows Phone 8 is based on the Windows 8 kernel and that theyll share apps already!!!
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:00 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
They already showed that last year. Metro Apps created for Windows 8 need two lines of code to make them run on Windows Phone. They did a demo onstage and it was pretty amazing.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:03 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I never saw that, but dammit I want to. Googles I think dagamer34 was referring more to a joined Marketplace like on iOS.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:15 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
that would be awesome
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:19 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
All of the sessions are listed. I don’t remember which video it was in but they build a gallery app in like 4 minutes that worked on both Wp7 and Win8. Pretty cool IMO.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 9:59 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Found it. http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/BUILD/BUILD2011/KEY-0001
The gallery app starts around 59 minutes into the video.
Pretty awesome for sure. Hopefully MS will release some good docs on how to take Windows Phone apps and run them on Windows 8 and vice versa. Makes we wanna boot into Windows 8 and copy my Windows Phone WIP project into a Windows 8 app and see what happens.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:27 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I want the exact same app to be designed to run on both devices with unmodified code (like iPhone and iPad). That way any Windows 8 app can run on Windows Phone, exponentially increasing the number of apps available.
I have a strong suspicion this might happen as all Windows 8 apps are required to have a docked sidebar view which is the perfect size for what you’d be seeing on your Windows Phone.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 9:33 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Ive been using WP7 since the moment it came out. The UI is truly unique (The reason why I still using WP7) but it’s far behind Android in certain aspects of mobile OS. The 3 things that I REALLY miss from android are:
1. Notification “hub”. What is the point of notifications when it disappears into oblivion a minute later? I would love to see a ‘metro style hub’ that lists the history of notifications that i received in recent history.
2. Battery status. I know I can go into system>battery saver and look at the actual percentage of battery life, but its quite annoying. Why not let 3rd party developers access the battery information? At the very least allow users to show the remaining battery life in percentage instead of a vague icon status.
3. Disappearing status bar. I want the option to have a permanent status bar that will not disappear after a few seconds.
All the three things I mentioned should be available after the mango update. (Which went quick & flawlessly. The same cant be said when gingerbread came out, so props to MS). Please dont ignore these 3 VERY important options for the next update. I say its important not because I feel its important, but the growing WP7 community.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:01 PM EST reply Recommend (9) Flag actions
I’m testing the Lumia 800 right now and I couldn’t agree more. Those three things should absolutely get fixed ASAP.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:05 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The status bar really bugged me for a while but I’ve come to accept that things are ok if I don’t see anything. If there is no wifi it shows the icon in the status bar. If there is a problem with network I will see the network level. Idk it was a weird feeling coming from blackberry where you know exactly when you phone is sending and when it is receiving data, but I’ve gotten used to it. An option to leave it on wouldn’t be bad, although they’d have to redesign a lot of the OS around that.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:05 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
0. Skype
5. Seperate ringer volumes for alarm, ringer, music.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:07 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions
Apparently 5 comes after 3 .. who knew..!!
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:08 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
let’s just say 4. is giving updates directly to customers, without carriers holding them back.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:13 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Notifications are handled by the start screen. That’s it. It doesn’t give you a text preview or anything but using the home screen as a notifications list is the philosophy windows phone is going for I think. Your calendar tile does list upcoming events, Facebook, twitter notifications are shown on your me tile, etc. I understand its not very specific, it won’t tell you on the home screen if you missed a call from Mom but it does have those number indicators. Would be cool if the tiles flipped over giving you more info on the messaging and calling apps. I’ve been using an HTC Trophy since VZ release and I’ve never found notifications an issue. But I get what you’re saying.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:12 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I know the titles are tiny notifications screens, but its not enough. It tells me I have “X” numbers of text, or IMs, but DOES NOT tell me from who. It would just be awesome to have a integrated metro style hub where notifications from the entire OS is located.
And pre-mango it was rumored that Mango would fix the battery status issue. So you can guess how disappointed I was when I upgraded and have “500 new features” but not a battery status update. :(
Of course this isnt a HUGE issue for me, or else I wouldnt use WP7. There are pros and cons to any OS, and so far the pros outweighs the cons, I know WP7 is the new kid in town, but please dont fall too far behind the competition. Im not asking for something most people dont care about (VPN access, VM, etc). Im asking for something that should be available in all mOS.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:23 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You can recall the status bar at any time from the home screen by touching the status bar area.
The thing that hugs me is not being able to check the time and battery while I’m within an app, especially while browsing the web.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 12:47 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
if MS wants to add notifications they should inherit the features from the N9
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:36 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
It’s stupid easy to compete on specs. They’re gonna focus on the differentiating factor, making WP a better experience than other mobile counterparts.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:06 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Like Joe Belfiore. Hate Joe Belfiore’s hair.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:08 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Yeah, sure, because specs aren’t related to quality :rollseyes:
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:13 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Not to mention this BS of “competing with Android on specs” has to stop. Apple’s pushes the hardware as much as any Android OEM, The iPhone 4S runs the latest Core A9 (clocked at 800 Mhz to save battery) and the best GPU on any smartphone (by a long shot).
Windows Phone is extremely slow on many tasks, like web rendering (I know it, I have one), the games performance is pretty bad too.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:40 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
How is it slow exactly? Shall I create a video comparing WP7 Angry Birds and other cross platform games to iOS and Android counterparts to show you this isn’t exactly true?
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:05 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Let’s call the world, the really taxing game we use to compare performance is “Angry Birds”, forget all the graphic intensing games (Shadowgun or Infinity Blade, don’t count, because there’s nothing comparable on WP7) and the fact the GPU is crap, oh, and also let’s forget about about all objective way of meausing it, i.e. benchmarks.
And go, do it. You’re commiting suicide, because WP7 games are locked at a max speed of 30 fps, which is going to severly make it look like shit against on a simpletone game that could easily be run at more.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 4:20 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Also, I forgot to to mention there’s no native code access for WP7 developers…
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 4:28 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
(this is Joe Belfiore— the guy in the interview)
Actually — WP games are NOT limited to 30fps. That was a limitation in WP7 at launch, a year ago. Mango lifts this limitation. Mango version games can run at up to 60fps.
thx
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 9:20 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Shadowgun on Android isn’t available for every Android device, whereas Angry Birds is, and I have seen that game freeze up on a Galaxy S (admittedly heavily laden with apps) – no freezes on WP (also heavy on the apps).
Adjustment – have seen that Shadowgun has been adapted to Adreno now, so perhaps the issue isn’t the hardware, but simply lack of interest from the developer, which might change in the future, who knows?
Posted on Jan 24, 2012 | 10:36 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Specs are related to quality only in the sense that specs are one way to quality. Not the only way, and it doesn’t always work (plenty of crappy high-speced devices out there).
Another way to quality: hardware-software integration.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:34 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
What is up with the verge video player? Sometimes it works, sometimes not. I’m using chrome and ff. And ironically playing it on my windows phone is pretty slow, but that’s Verizon’s fault.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:15 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
This 100×. They pushed an upgrade just before CES. Code suicide. Now it works less than it ever has.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:12 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
i’ve used android devices (htc hero, htc desire hd, xperia arc, xperia arc mini pro), and recently jumped ship to iphone and lumia800, yes android has more features/functions based on my experience than the iphone and wp, but given wp is relatively “new”, overall its a fantastic os and i can see it become the best os…its just so stable, buttery smooth (if you havent tried, you wont have any idea how slicky/oily smooth the os is), and fast…btw, i left android for obvious reasons – stuttery, freezes, laggy, forcecloses, and most annoying, these things happened to ALL my touch-screen android devices (my mini pro ’coz it had a physical keyboard so it was ok).
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:15 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
is it just me, or does in some points with his mouth closed, but Vlad looks like he is going to turn into a werewolf or something lol
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:17 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Dunno, but I never realized how young Vlad looks. He looks like a wittle boy!! :\
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:13 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
For some reason this looks like it was shot in 1987. I like it.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:18 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I like Windows Phone but man, Windows Phone elitists are awful. Almost as bad as Apple fanboys.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:21 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
And the Android fanboys in here are any better?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:47 PM EST reply Recommend (12) Flag actions
In here being this article or the actual Verge community?
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:04 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
If you think about it, it doesn’t matter, really.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:42 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
What exactly do you mean Windows Phone elitist? I thought the majority of celebs and such people automatically went the iphone route.? Just b/c we rep out phones a lot it doesn’t mean we’re elitist, it just means we love it a lot and we hope other people would try as well and not bash it b/c the user base is small or doesn’t have as much “advanced” features as Android.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:14 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
This guy makes.some convincing points. Would be good to see a solid third player in all this.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:22 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions
Some folks here are downing WP7 because of specs yet at CES they had thing going can your phone beat WP7 I think as it stands WP7 is blowing away other devices. WP7 doesn’t need duel core this or taht because there is no bloat to the OS. it works smooth. and that is a fact!
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:25 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
at the end does joe say “yeah, good to see you and shit” ??
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:26 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
It certainly sounds like it.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:34 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
No, Joe says “Yeah, good to see you.” while Vlad says, “Appreciate it.”
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:07 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Vlad has something in his mouth… some say crap, but who really knows. <3 Vlad
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:15 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Honestly I think that windows phone should start to use new chipsets. Yes everyone agrees they don’t need it for the OS to be smooth, but come on, no change at all? I think they should allow one processor update each year. And more Ram upgrades. For example, allowing use of a new snapdragon chipset with the release of apollo, as well as 768mb of ram. Why, because better processors allow for better games, and more ram allows for more apps running at once. Oh, and 1080p video support. I know, we don’t need it, but why not? It’s a cellphone, after a certain point it isn’t need, but rather want
If they make it incremental like this, then they’d be able to maintain control of the user interface, and the incremental bumps in specs would allow for more functions. Right now the only incentive there is to buy a new windows phone (over an old one) is build quality, and I don’t think that’s enough.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I think the problem they’re wrestling with is not ‘if’ they should start on a new chipset, but ‘what’ are the new requirements going to be – particularly in terms of screen res display. Considerations on battery usage and how to add multi-core support properly (hyperthreading?) would be issues as well.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:26 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
When the person being interviewed tries to steer and direct the interviewer in the line of questioning, its a total turn off. I don’t want to watch it, it makes the whole thing seem more of a plug for a product than something for the news. Thankfully there was some useful and informative information gleaned.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:48 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I can’t fullscreen the video on Chrome.
Also, why do I have to accept the Verge terms and conditions every single time in order to comment? It also refreshed the page, which messed up the video.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 7:54 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
His wig is really distracting.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:01 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Somebody’s jealous they lost their hair long ago and have nothing but graying sides left. Rock on Joe!
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:05 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
I want to know why no one is asking about the whole storage issue. I know I’m not the only person out there wondering why every WP has to be capped at 16gb of storage, and that’s before the OS is installed. Why cant we have 32gb or at the least have a micro SD slot to be able to expand the amount of storage we have. I think this is a very. valid question and i want to know why its not being asked. Dont get me wrong, i love WP and plan on getting owning one as soon as my contract is up on sprint (since sprint cares nothing about getting a WP ever)….
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:05 PM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
That’s actually a good concern. I hope they can address it.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 12:01 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
That’s because everybody is pushing us towards the Cloud. No matter how many features and conveniences they add, a cloud based solution is complete GARBAGE until 1) Cell reception issues are resolved (We’re living in the 3G/4G/Wi-Fi era, and we still have spotty coverage) 2) Data caps/Bandwidth restrictions are removed 3) Cities with underground subway systems offer Free Wi-Fi available. Until then, onboard storage is very important, and something that needs to be addressed.
Until users are given a viable onbeard storage option, I will refuse to even acknowledge that Windows Phone 7 exists (I personally find the live tiles dreadfully boring, but I could learn to adapt to that, but not being able to carry a large selection of my music makes WP7 a non-starter). At least the iPhone comes in a 64GB flavor…that I can accept (just don’t care for their tiny screen or outdated non-changing look of their OS).
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 2:15 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
sign up and vote either here
or here
they give you a couple of votes that you can use to vote for multiple ideas. cool thing is, i guess the product development team really looks through those for suggestions. and once a suggestion is implemented they clear the votes that you had tied to that implemented suggestion and allow you to vote for more.
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 2:30 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
wow, nice to see that the verge’s own linking system doesn’t work. here it is
http://bit.ly/wTbgTB and
http://bit.ly/zAAT0Q
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 2:31 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Windows phone 7 will take off, there is no question about it. The quality and intuitiveness of the UI is too good to fail. As a iOS user I really appreciate what Microsoft have done, providing an ORIGINAL experience that is totally different to iOS.
If someone asks for advice on buying a phone, and they don’t want an iPhone, I always recommend Windows Phone. To me it is the best alternative to iOS, now that apps are starting to appear.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:28 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Either the compression of the video is bad or this guy has fake hair..
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:39 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Actually MSFT can compete on Spec in mobile space. They can do it with Windows CE or some other OS they have.
Just brand it differently. A brand for the Edge user, Geek, Nerd, hardcore tech hobbist. Maybe they can call it ‘Xune’.
It might not be wise to surrender this market segement to competitors.
Nokia is using Meego for the next tech disruption. MSFT can also have OS and devleoper platform for the next disruption.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 8:55 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Really… what variety does WP7 offer like Android? All WP7 phones look the same, have exactly same internals and exactly the same (looking)software. What variety? They have the tight control like iOS but not the good looks, what with all the blocky black and white lines interface.
They don’t have the variety of Android. And offer nothing over iOS.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:00 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
The Metro UI is beautiful and I choose it over any other UI. Android UI is garb up till ICS, and ICS is just a mash up of Metro and iOS UI. Have you used WP7 yet? The UI is wonderful.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:12 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Yes, used WP7. It looks very ugly IMO, too 2D. WebOS is much better looking, so is Meego/Harmattan, Maemo 5, iOS, BB10 or even BB7. It is like comparing black and white tv with color flatscreen tv’s. I guess it is personal. I agree though how the WP7 UI works is novel/different.
Android is rubbish though. At least until ICS.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:54 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
It’s personal opinion. I find ICS’ UI to be the best IMO. Windows Phone is a close second with WebOS in third. I despise IOS’ UI.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:46 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I threw a Metro-style launcher onto my Evo 3D & got bored with it in about 3 days. I do have to admit that it made the phone a little quicker, but my time is not precious enough to worry about a quarter or a half of a second at a time & I’d much rather tinker than save a fraction of a second 10 times a day.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 10:58 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
you tried a “launcher” and thats your basis on the UX ? really?
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 12:37 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
You have a handful of OEMs to choose from, as opposed to iOS requiring you to buy only from Apple. At the very least, you have more choices when it comes to screen size, camera abilities, pricing. This is one of the strengths of Android, of course. WP7 has some of that – e.g. Lumia 710 is very competitively priced for the overall experience/capabilities it offers.
And having more control over how the WP7 OS is distributed means that phones are getting updates, and the overall app and user experience on the WP7 is more consistent. iOS has a step up over Android for this, and WP7 is emulating that – one reason why WP7 seems to have a steady no.2 rating on customer satisfaction over the Android.
This ‘in the middle’ strategy may not work out for MS. But there certainly are advantages.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:23 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Microsoft should do the same as what they did with the XBOX, lower the price and lose some money until enough people are using the device.
The software giant is known for having a lot cash, so I think they could pull it off.
Thanks,
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:28 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
One little problem with that…it’s the OEMs (Samsung, HTC, et al) that would lose lots of cash…not Microsoft.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 2:22 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
That is true! But if all of these companies want to get more market share, they should think on something drastic. At the end of the day, you have to lose money to make money, right?
Thanks,
Posted on Jan 14, 2012 | 9:26 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
something android has always lacked
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:48 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The way he is skirting the resolution question makes me think that maybe they made some bad software engineering decisions and took a lot of shortcuts when initially developing WP7… it’s weird when changing the CPU seems a difficult thing to do, or changing the resolution.
Also, noticing that he says they want to match price, while at the same time not competing on specs or crazy new features (think padFone)… not sure how that is supposed to work: “Look here is this 720p/dual-core/lapdock/padfone/… Android phone. And there is a Windows Phone, that is just like any other windows phone. For the same price as the crazy/cool Android.”
Just some random thoughts after watching the video…
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 9:48 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Upgrading the resolution means you need to upgrade the processors to maintain an equal level of performance. Upgrading the processors and resolution means your userbase can start to get fragmented. Android moves really fast with spec upgrades, but it also leaves it’s customers behind and the Android market is getting seriously fragmented by processor and resolution type.
It seems like a better idea to put the HD resolutions and dual core processors only on phones that ship with Windows Phone 8. That is the right time to draw the line in the sand for consumers and developers.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:23 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
gasp Maybe they’re waiting for 1600×960 screens.
Or maybe not.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 3:28 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
If they wait any more they could actually move directly to that resolution. Would be interesting to see if the smoothness suffers.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:03 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Resolution is tricky, especially with Apps. A designer has access to using any of the pixels on screen. Therefore, by introducing different resolutions, applications can become quite different from phone to phone.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:31 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I said in another thread they should have gone for using vectors in the OS – then everything could be percentages, like if you did a floating width web site – so 10% gutter, 30% live tile, 10% gutter etc. etc. Vector would be totally scalable to any resolution. No idea if it would be slow though. Then the only constraint wouldn’t be the resolution but the ratio, e.g. currently WVGA (480×800) is 15:9, so you could go up to 768×1280 or 960×1600, and no extra coding would be necessary to scale it up. Hell you could go to 1440×2400 if you wanted to (in a few years maybe).
I don’t see the point of PNGs when everything is so typographical.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:14 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
quality will differentiate MS? yeah because Apples products are such low quality..
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
He’s probably referring more to Android
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:51 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I agree with him that the focus Microsoft should have is on quality and certainly not the specs. I prefer them to develop an OS which ideally suits my everyday use. If a phone can provide me with that + it being buttery smooth in the process, than who am I to ridicule it for only using a single-core processor.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:16 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Android in my opinion will eventually win as the dominant Mobile OS for one main reason. While Apple and Microsoft are releasing new version of software every year, Android is doing it 2 to 3 times a year. Technology is not moving at a yearly cycle and if Apple and Microsoft are over time I think there will be a huge gap.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:32 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Really? The multiple software updates i had on my iphone between ios4 and ios5 disagree with you. Also how many Android phones are out there that get ONE software upgrade after they’re released. Admittedly the manufacturers are getting better but phones are still being sold that will never be upgraded past Froyo.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:46 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Half of the Android phones in the world right now have Gingerbread. A good other chunk are Froyo. I seriously doubt that there are still phones shipping with Froyo. If there are, they are probably from some unknown brand.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 10:50 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I was speaking of major OS releases, not the .1 or.2 updates. I have a GN and got it on 4.0.1 and its not on 4.0.3 but I dont count those as a new version.
I agree some phones will never see an update but that fact has nothing to do with Google releasing new versions of Android, Worst case in America you buy a phone on a two year contract. If you keep it for the entire term and get a new Android device when you upgrade you will get a device with a OS that has had 4-6 major releases. On the other hand where as on Apple of microsoft you will have 1 or 2 major releases. The issue I am talking about is not a 2 year problem it is a long term issue. Google has spent the last 3 years catching up to Apple and will spend the next 3 superpassing Apple in my opinion.
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:08 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Even if you’re right that Android will always be at the bleeding edge in terms of the features of the OS itself and the new hardware technologies it supports , I don’t think that necessarily has any bearing on how well it will do in the marketplace or as a generator of revenue for Google and its partners. The average consumer isn’t even aware of most of the capabilities of their smartphone software or the latest hardware technologies it supports. They don’t rush out to buy a new phone every year just to get a certain feature – otherwise phones supporting NFC would be flying off the shelves right now (they ain’t). From what I’ve observed, the things that consumers value in a mobile OS over all others are its ease of use and the quality (and not necessarily the quantity, although certain key apps must be available e.g. Facebook, Twitter) of apps available. If Android “wins”, in terms of sheer number of units sold at least, it will because it costs manufacturers very little to implement thereby allowing them to release a large volume of cheap (but often low quality) phones in volume.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 8:08 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I agree, Android may win because of Volume of devices. And NFC hasn’t been a huge success to date but with beam available on ICS and Visa Mastercard all getting on the NFC bandwagon it will be something people will be happy to have. With technologies the bleeding edge always becomes the middle,. With the release of the Galaxy Nexus you saw people that would have never gave Android a second thought looking twice, some even bought a GN.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:21 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I can’t even watch this video….just use YouTube for god sakes…
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:19 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I thought I would just included my 2 cents on the constant debate about specs in phones, and people trying to insinuate that any WP7 sucks because it is only gasp single-core!.
A Formula One engine is a 2.4 litre V8, a Nascar engine is a 5.7 litre V8. Spec’s do not matter, it is design that matters. and Windows Phone is clearly a Formula One kind of phone,
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:40 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
I wonder if Vlad is as pompous day to day as when he’s interviewing someone…wow
Posted on Jan 11, 2012 | 11:58 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Belfiore is a good guy.
Horrible interviewer.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:21 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Sorry but I don’t think anyone cares about quality. If they did then why would Droid be selling so well. Everyone wants specs…
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:27 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Androids sell well because they are ubiquitous and they are pushed by every phone salesman out there, it doesn’t have all that much to do with specs.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:54 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I bought a windows phone because of this man. Thanks Joe!
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:29 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I love how when microsoft talks about windows phone, they always point out how linked in they are with social networks in a way to differentiate themselves from android or iOS, which is interesting because the KIN phones also used that point of differentation, and we all know how successful that phone was
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:33 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Kin’s failure was nothing to do with social integration. They were phones that basically cost the same as an iPhone with far less functionality.
Your statement makes about as much sense as saying the Kin phones and WP7 phones both have screens and look what happened to Kin.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:40 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Is it just me or does Joe Belfiore look like he could be Vlad’s father?
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:50 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Also, Loosen up Vlad. You’re too vertical and script-like.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:54 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
How? I guess if he’s referring only to the hardware, but when none of the current handsets begin to compete with the iPhone or top of the line android handsets, that’s hardly something to brag about. Besides, he specifically referred to mobile software. So then what is Microsoft doing to get greater software? Currently if you want variety go with the other guys. Also, variety is not the same as different. WP7 is different, and I can appreciate that much.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 3:28 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Good interview thanks Vlad
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 4:15 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Specs I care about:
Screen size and quality (and pixel density a bit, but not much)
Battery Life
Call Quality
Sensors and things like NFC
STORAGE SPACE STORAGE SPACE STORAGE SPACE
Specs I don’t care about:
System RAM
GHz
Cores
As long as it’s smooth and will play videos smoothly.
Over speccing CPU leads to poor battery life
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 4:27 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
Same by me, besides I don’t write storage space that big :)
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 4:29 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I’m interested to see what the ‘spec whores’ think about the ‘smoked by Windows Phone’ stunt from CES. Windows Phones with obviously lower specs than the Androids and iPhones was winning clearly in almost every test, and when WP7 lost (only a couple of times) it was by small margins to people who were clearly ninjas with their thumbs.
It seems that Microsoft’s goal of designing an OS from the ground up to do the things you do when you’re out and about works better than the iOS/Android approach of a mini computer with separate apps for most tasks and little sharing of data or organisation.
It is very interesting when the Microsoft guy explains why WP7 was quicker at the tasks – it was always because the OS is designed more elegantly.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 7:16 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Not true at all, the tests were designed to show off features of windows phone, I have nothing against this, it’s a Microsoft promo, but it doesn’t demonstrate an elegant design, just on that handles those use cases particularly well.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 7:54 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Exactly. I’m certain they compared all of the common tasks between OSes & chose the 10-15 that they performed best at. If the challenger could choose the task to compete against it’d hold a lot more water…with me at least.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 10:53 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Did you watch the videos? The challenger basically did choose what task they wanted to do
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 10:56 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
clueless
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 12:45 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Vlad, do us all a favor and please never conduct an interview again. Please.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 5:57 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Not nice!!
Though I would recommend he has a drink or two before the next one to loosen up a bit. It is Vegas, after all.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:27 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Can anyone tell me why bother giving an interview and then refuse to talk about anything other than repeating what has already been announced. Heck why not just issue a press statement and be done.
Great interview Vlad but this whol, we cant talk about that right now is just because noone wants to commit – get that because we were told by JoeB that we would have Skype last year ….
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:48 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I’m a Mac user myself but I’m impressed with this guy. He talks a lot of sense in my view and it seems that MS’s focus is on the right things – user experience first and foremost, not getting involved in a race to the bottom in terms of price etc.. Quite impressed with a lot of stuff that MS are doing right now (Kinect, Windows 8 to mention a few). They just need to cut down on the number of products they’re working on, get a more focused vision for the future of their company and join up the dots to form a cohesive ecosystem and product range. They’re headed in the right direction though. I don’t think they’ll ever be as dominant as they were in the 80s and 90s but that’s surely a good thing.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 7:53 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
If fragmentation is the disease, and WVGA graphics and crummy Qualcomm CPUs are the cure, I’ll take the disease, thankyouverymuch.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 8:21 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I’m getting the feeling that we won’t be hearing about Apollo at MWC this year. Probably to keep Nokia happy.
I’m guessing MWC will be all about Tango. I hope I’m wrong.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 9:14 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
For the love of God, please make those videos work. You are using HTML5 just to show us ads over and over again? :(
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 11:40 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
Yeah, it is broke for me too – can’t watch many videos here :(
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 2:05 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Please for the love of all good gadgets, past, present and future, make full screen work properly in your video player. I want to watch your great videos, but not in a tiny window in my browser. I’m using the latest updates of both OS X Lion and Safari (and Chrome for that matter).
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 11:45 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Is full screen not working here for anyone else? Macbook air 13", Safari 5.1.2
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 12:03 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Different hardware, same software, same problem. Unfortunately.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:02 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
i had a WP7 device for a short amount of time. i actually love the look and feel of it but i left because of the lack of features. if they can fill out the feature list i’d be happy to go back.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Ok, I can understand that WP7 doesn’t need to compete on specs due to the elegance of the OS, but surely it should try and compete on Price.
If the hardware is not absolutely bleeding edge then surely we should expect the best WP7 phones to be that little bit cheaper than the Top Android phones. The’re not.
Consider the Lumia 800, it’s £430 off contract in the UK, a true hardware peer is something like the Galaxy
S Plus which costs £260. They both have 1.4Ghz processsors and WVGA Pentile Super AMOLED screens.
Now consider the HTC Titan, it’s is £449, whilst the Sensation XL is £399 and in this case it is the same phone. The Sensation even has better headphones.
I have an Omnia 7, but I waited months until it hit what I thought was a competeitive price.
They are however more than competitive with the insane prices of off contract iOS devices.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 2:46 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
He’s the man and has the job, not me. However, I believe WP will have to compete on customer perception, because however the market sees the product/offering/value proposition/ecosystem, whichever, is the way they’re going to have to compete.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 6:20 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
If you close your eyes, he sounds a little like Jim (John Krasinski) from The Office….especially when he says “probably”.
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 9:02 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Joe Belfiore describes Apple as a narrow set of devices. It is maddening that Apple is able to offer 32GB and 64GB iphones while WindowsPhone in all it’s variations seems stuck at 16GB with a few exceptions (Dell VenuePro, Fujitsu, Samsung Focus with 32GB aftermarket class4 microSD that is not officially supported).
Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 9:02 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
The real compromise in the choice between opensource and the opposite is not so much between speed and quality. It is between user freedom and company profit. Microsoft knows this well enough.
Posted on Jan 13, 2012 | 12:31 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
I would get one, if there were a nice large Windows Phone for Verizon with LTE. So far, nothing, but perhaps by 2013 when I can renew my contract Windows Phone will be evolved enough for me to not care. I have an iPad so it is not as if my Apple App Store apps would be forever gone.
Posted on Jan 14, 2012 | 6:32 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Vlad is great here, he pushes the questions further and doesn’t just nod and agree with everything. Great word Vlad.
Posted on Jan 14, 2012 | 3:01 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Sadly the carriers market on specs not quality so there is a fail right there. They have made people believe the specs = quality, meaning Windows would have to change the markets position somewhat if they wanted quality to stand a lone
Posted on Jan 14, 2012 | 7:20 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
08.56
waaaait A minute! did he say that they require 4 point symmetric multitouch?! Does that mean I can use 4 fingers on my Lumia 800? What can I do with that?! Tried it out a bit, but can’t say I’ve discovered anything… This sounds awesome!!!
Posted on Jan 15, 2012 | 6:47 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
he would really look like hitler if he cut his hair and grew that moustache…
Posted on Jan 17, 2012 | 12:22 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
“Windows Phone will compete on quality, not specs”
Which was the exact opposite strategy that worked so well with.. um.. the original Windows.
Posted on Jan 18, 2012 | 9:30 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
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