108 replies to this topic 2 votes

[Petvas]

http://www.engadget....-depth-preview/

Engadget wasn't exactly impressed by this nearly finished version of Windows Phone 7. There are just too many things missing that give the impression that Microsoft rushed out to bring WP7 on the market.

It is really a shame but I get the impression that Microsoft is too late on this game.

[Tech Star]

Neither is BGR or cnet.

http://www.neowin.ne...hone-7-preview/

[-Razorfold]

That phone looks terrible =/ I understand its just a demo/test unit, but dam.

Also, I think everyone knew by now that the first version of WP7 will ship "incomplete" with more features getting added constantly over time. That's how it always has been in the mobile industry, the first iPhones shipped with a lot of things missing that slowly got added over time and Android was the same.

You can never really have a complete OS, unless you're saying that we're done with this and moving on. Take android for example, 2.1 was pretty good and had all the features one would expect in a phone and then suddenly 2.2 added a JIT complier that gives a major performance boost; now 2.1 seems like a unfinished product. What will 2.3 add?

Of course there should have been things added in from the very beginning of WP7, like copy and paste, but that doesn't mean MS is late to this game or this product will fail. Do I like WP7? Not at the moment since its just not aimed towards power users. Instead MS has decided to go down the general consumer route, and this first version will give them everything they want in a smartphone. Later versions should add more functionality, and at that time I'll make my decision whether or not its worth getting. Of course if MS fail to keep their promise of constant updates then well they'll have dug their own grave.

[Osiris]

/- Razorfold, on 19 July 2010 - 06:42, said:

That phone looks terrible =/ I understand its just a demo/test unit, but dam.

Also, I think everyone knew by now that the first version of WP7 will ship "incomplete" with more features getting added constantly over time. That's how it always has been in the mobile industry, the first iPhone s're hipped with a lot of things missing that slowly got added over time and Android was the same.

You can never really have a complete OS, unless you're saying that we're done with this and moving on. Take android for example, 2.1 was pretty good and had all the features one would expect in a phone and now suddenly 2.2 added a JIT complier that gives a major performance boost; now 2.1 seems like a unfinished product. What will 2.3 add?

Of course there should have been things added in from the very beginning of WP7, like copy and paste, but that doesn't mean MS is late to this game or this product will fail. Do I like WP7? Not at the moment since its just not aimed towards power users. Instead MS has decided to go down the general consumer route, and this first version will give them everything they want in a smartphone. Later versions should add more functionality, and at that time I'll make my decision whether or not its worth getting. Of course if MS fail to keep their promise of constant updates then well they'll have dug their own grave.

Whats wrong with the hardware of the phone? big screen, squarey, id buy it although id prefer to LG Pather.

Anyway +100 for the most sensible and smartest assesment of things.

[-Razorfold]

Quote

Whats wrong with the hardware of the phone? big screen, squarey, id buy it although id prefer to LG Pather.

I dunno, it just doesn't suit me. I guess I'm just too used to the way my HD2 looks (also Desire, Incredible, Droid X, Nexus one, Evo etc).

The phone just looks so much better with the screen literally taking up the entire phone, with minimal bezel around it. In this case, theres a gigantic Samsung logo right above the screen and then "wasted space." That said, the screen does look gorgeous and so does the OS when displayed on it.

I really want to see what HTC can come up with, since they seem to be the best at the moment when it comes to phone design.

[Tech Star]

/- Razorfold, on 19 July 2010 - 06:52, said:

I dunno, it just doesn't suit me. I guess I'm just too used to the way my HD2 looks (also Desire, Incredible, Droid X, Nexus one, Evo etc).

The phone just looks so much better with the screen literally taking up the entire phone, with minimal bezel around it. In this case, theres a gigantic Samsung logo right above the screen and then "wasted space."

I agree with the phone looking really ugly. Thankfully the design is never going to be released to the public and we have htc to make nice phones for WP7 and Android.

[+Frazell Thomas]

I'm on the fence here, but I'm not seeing WP7 being a major deal...

We will have to see how smooth these "constant updates" are. Sprint has ALWAYS been VERY slow approving OS updates on their network. Is Microsoft going to get special treatment? If consumers will end up languishing in limbo hoping for Carrier approved updates or new product releases Microsoft is doomed.

[Raa]

I must agree. Everyone was pushing WP7 as being the next biggest thing at the announcement early this year. Now it all seems to be falling in a heap...
Really, who didn't see it coming? With the changes they announced, it sounded more like a whole new platform than an upgrade - essentially it is.

[-Razorfold]

Frazell Thomas, on 19 July 2010 - 06:59, said:

I'm on the fence here, but I'm not seeing WP7 being a major deal...

We will have to see how smooth these "constant updates" are. Sprint has ALWAYS been VERY slow approving OS updates on their network. Is Microsoft going to get special treatment? If consumers will end up languishing in limbo hoping for Carrier approved updates or new product releases Microsoft is doomed.

I think the update system works in two ways:

1. Minor version updates (bug fixes etc) will be OTA (and possibly even through the Zune client)
2. Major version updates will be through the Zune client

Hence even if carriers take weeks to approve OS updates OTA, a user can simply just plug it in and the zune client will update the phone accordingly.

[Tamilboy86]

I think WP 7 looks really nice and its different from the other phones out there...

[+Frazell Thomas]

Raa, on 19 July 2010 - 07:01, said:

I must agree. Everyone was pushing WP7 as being the next biggest thing at the announcement early this year. Now it all seems to be falling in a heap...
Really, who didn't see it coming? With the changes they announced, it sounded more like a whole new platform than an upgrade - essentially it is.

Yep they threw the baby out with the bathwater. Only time will tell if throwing their existing Windows Mobile customer base off a cliff will help them or harm them...

At the very least it will give their competitors a large influx of customers (as many have delayed purchases to see how 7 shakes down) as many switch from Windows Mobile to something else...

They are starting not only the OS over, but their customer base too. Not to say it will make Windows Phone 7 a failure, but it definitely makes the success story a lot harder to achieve. And if they don't get strong sales early on they might run into a problem convincing OEMs and Carriers to pickup the platform.

They aren't too late, but they do need to be gambling wisely.

[M_Lyons10]

Hm... Thanks for the heads up, I'll have to give these previews a read... I do agree with the one mention that in the text messaging screen that your messages and received messages should be different colors... Hopefully Microsoft will take some of these suggestions into consideration for refinement before release...

[Osiris]

Unlike other companies MS has the dollars to play the long-game. This is the same sort of strat we saw for xbox and what I suspect we will see with WP.

[+Frazell Thomas]

/- Razorfold, on 19 July 2010 - 07:05, said:

I think the update system works in two ways:

1. Minor version updates (bug fixes etc) will be OTA (and possibly even through the Zune client)
2. Major version updates will be through the Zune client

Hence even if carriers take weeks to approve OS updates OTA, a user can simply just plug it in and the zune client will update the phone accordingly.

We will have to see as this has been a tight area of contention with Carriers. Sprint, for instance, won't allow any phone on their network they haven't approved, same for updates (officially, of course). So I can see there be a lot of issues in the future with updates being banned by Carriers or delayed severely.

If this is a core part of their strategy though, constant updates, they will need to expose their agreements with Carriers early and honestly...

Osiris, on 19 July 2010 - 07:10, said:

Unlike other companies MS has the dollars to play the long-game. This is the same sort of strat we saw for xbox and what I suspect we will see with WP.

For sure. Microsoft will be in this game for the win. WP7 might not be anything more than a flop (or a iPhone Killer who knows? I can't predict the market), but Microsoft knows their future depends on it. So like a prize fighter smacked across the head with a lead pipe. Microsoft is stumbling to recollect their composure and sense of the world and is throwing wild ignorant swings, but they will become more focused and powerful over time.

[guru]

so

1. its different.
2. its not finished and looks like it'll be a beta when launched. considering some important features are missing

to beat iphone and Android, MS has to be better than them. WP7 doesn't even match them

then there is the entire thing about, distribution channels. zune+xbox = win but when about apps, books, tv and movies ?