Perhaps we’ll all look back on MIX’10 not as a conference of success for Microsoft’s reinvention of their mobile platform, but for the week they let all the bad news out at once.
After we dismissed the platform editorially, Microsoft confirmed that not only are multitasking, open native code, and memory card support gutted from the platform (versus Windows Mobile), but the clipboard also won’t make the cut (no pun).
Microsoft says that like multitasking, they are trimming the features to focus on ones that matter the most, and that they intend to deliver clipboard functions through software updates. Updates, that Microsoft argues they can finally deliver in a steady pace by taking control of the platform end-to-end, and limiting the hardware that it can run on. At MIX’10, representatives for Microsoft confirmed the feature’s removal, noting the dramatic changes to the user interface. Windows Phone 7 Series runs “Metro”, a complete rebuild of the Windows Phone user experience.
The company has not, however, provided any timetable as to when these promised features will be added. Indeed, this is a constant complaint from users, who have noted that Microsoft promised similar additions in the past with Windows Update inside of Windows Mobile. The service went unused, and Microsoft has even shut down the update server that Windows Update for Windows Mobile used.
More great news from Microsoft regarding Windows Phone 7 Series. That OS is sounding better and better (sarcasm)…
I just hope someone makes a Touch Pro 3 running Android.
Chris- a great suggestion for an article…
You guys should write something up on how to switch from WinMo to Android. I’ve been a WinMo guy forever, and never owned an Android device. I’ve played with friends’ Android devices here and there, but not enough to know all the tricks and stuff. I don’t use Outlook or Exchange, my email is hotmail, and I use Microsoft’s MyPhone to backup contacts, calendar, tasks, etc.
What would be the nest way for me to switch to Android? How to get contacts, calendar, tasks, etc on the new device? What are the must have apps? What are the tweaks that need to be made?
I think that would make a great article, as there will without a doubt be tons of WinMo users looking to switch to Android in the near future…
You have to have a specific HTC phone, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to Android.
On Sprint, your only choice is the HTC Touch (original, aka Vogue), though progress is being made on the Touch Pro 2 (Wi-Fi works, but CDMA data does not yet). On AT&T, your best choice is the original HTC Tilt (Kaiser), though work on the Tilt 2 is similarly progressing (UMTS data works, but GPS doesn’t).
The good news is that it is pretty painless to switch between Windows Mobile and Android, the HaRET bootloader is installed on your SD card, and you can toggle between OSes from the Start menu after each boot. Alternatively, you can flash the phone’s ROM with Android only, though that’s more complicated.
We’re working on it, these Android “hacks” are about ready to enter the mainstream. Having an $80 (on eBay) HTC Touch trump an iPhone 3G is certainly impressive to watch.
Oh no, I didn’t mean dual boot. I meant if I buy the next hot new Android phone, what will I miss abotu WinMo and what do I need to do to make it a smooth transition? Plus, how do I get my contacts and all that over?
HTC has an excellent Sync program that will pull data from all the relevant places that ActiveSync does. If you’re using Google services (Gmail, Google Apps, etc), then it’s as simple as punching in your logins and passwords.
I haven’t found one component of the Windows Phone experience that you can’t sync up with in Android using free software. There’s a lot of picking and mixing to your migration strategy (Motorola has a different Android sync app than HTC, for example), but I have yet to suggest a person stick with Windows Mobile because of the migration path.
About No copy and paste
In the worlds of the robot AWESOM-O :
LAME!!!!!
I hope someone at microsoft reads these post.
What are they thinking getting rid of multitasking and copy and paste? These features are even in windows 6.0! Cmon! Iphone has them too. Why would you take features like this away? What kind of reasoning is “were trimming so we can focus on ones that matter the most”? How is copy and paste and multitasking not an important matter?
Microsoft you are really screwing up. Nobody wants to wait for an update for basic things like this especially knowing in the past you haven’t delivered on these updates.
My goodness, steve balmer really wants iphone and android to continue selling like hotcakes. Hes helping them sell more and more every day with these stupid announcements about windows 7.
Chistopher, Check again, Android for the Sprint Touch Pro 2 works with the CDMA data. Need to download the latest version. I do find on my phone that I have to make a phone call after booting Android before the data connection will work.
http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/7seriesphoneboycott/
Sign the petition first, then edit your tag line on all the forums you frequent to point to the petition. Then email the editors from your favorite websites, cnet, pcworld, maximumpc etc explaining why they should cover this and maybe if enough people do the same publicly Microsoft may listen. Don’t hold your breath for everything getting reversed but If history proves one thing, Microsoft does occasional listens. Windows XP got almost 18 additional months of sales after they wanted to stop selling it caving to public pressures.
I probably will skip the first gen of this phone anyway unless XDA has it fixed before release, but as the hacks and customizations occur I might reconsider it again down the road.