In general, I would have to day that Apple does give people every upgrade - at least where the hardware supports it, going back several years. That is a big difference. Any Android phone running 2.1 can easily run 2.2 or 2.3, but the updates aren't there.
and the omnia 7. but only with cable, not wireless, afaik (i never tested it so far).
i hope to get some way to make it a wlan access point. the only thing i miss from my wm6.1 phone. i don't need it much, but it was very useful those few times where i could use it.
I don't exactly see how catching up to your competitors is sending the message to them to "bring it." With the exception of the Kinect demo, every feature discussed has already been available with iOS and Android. And only two of the features discussed for WP7 even have release dates.
Microsoft is definitely going in the right direction, but it still has a ways to go. Gingerbread is among us and iOS' refresh is right around the corner.
The thing is that Microsoft with these two updates catches up on most of the things they were missing, multitasking and C&P, and imo the decks are better then the taskswitched on Iphone/Android.
And they still have the advantages that they already had with in Office, gaming and social integration. And they're even improving the lead in these areas.
IIOS for one needs a big UI overhaul if they want to compete. It's really starting to show its age.
The next two things WP7 needs to bring now is LYNC/Live video chat with 3G/4G support, and tethering.
DailyTech's report is slightly different in that it says CDMA support is coming in this next update. Is that true? I'm really anxious for this to release on either Sprint or Verizon.
That's right, and we also covered it in our update article back at CES. That same update with copy & paste, CDMA2000 support, and some app-launch performance improvements is the one launching in early March.
Oh goodie, WP7 just got another feature Symbian has had for years. Maybe at this rate, by 2012 Nokia will have all the features it originally had only under a UI simple enough for dummies and Apple fans.
Here's what was in Windows Mobile in 2007 (much of this in 2000): -file system access and USB mass storage -VPN support -SIP VOIP -almost full support for Exchange. -copy and paste -multitasking -directly installable apps -enterprise-standard security features
WP7 arrives with none of this in 2010. In 2011 we get two features back, C&P and multitasking. So when do we get support for the full range of standard features for businesses and serious users? 2012, 2013, 2014? When will WP7 be ahead of WM6 in these areas, as it should be? After all, enterprise features have moved on since then, with Lync unified communications for example.
Instead, Microsoft prioritizes giving teenagers the ability to wave their phone in front of their TV set, and letting them addle their brains with tweets.
This is glacial progress. Don't MS realize they have a war on their hands?
Given how completely unsuited for general consumer use WM6 was, if it means sacrificing most business support to get wider acceptance in the consumer space they probably made the right choice. When/if the platform gets off life support maybe they can consider adding features for smaller audiences.
you have to remember, people now a days are starting to want to use their own phones on corporate environment and if the people don't like the phone, feature rich becomes much less meaningful
from what i see and read so far, win mo 6.5 only kept loosing ground to the easier to use/fancier version of smart phones
give MS time, they are pushing updates faster than most other companies right now
feature rich can't be done in a year you know... at least unless you want half baked ones
All of those things can easily be done in a year if you have people working on each. The rate of progress as it seems to be: one year gets multitasking, copy and paste. Multitasking is already on Windows CE, which WM7 is built on. How many people does it take to enable this? One guy can do this in his spare time.
Microsoft can move fast if they have good people: most of the myriad .NET-related technologies get updates fast.
They are investing hundreds of millions in this platform, but the progress is not showing. On the core features it looks like they have years before they reach the point they were at years ago.
Win7 Phone is a VERY good OS, it's so integrated with Windows that for business users THIS is the phone to have. MS has done a fantastic job creating a phone for adults and people who are serious about getting work done without screwing around with a million little pointless apps and kiddie gee-wiz features. I can't wait for my contract to expire so I can go get a new Win7 phone.
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34 Comments
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EndlessChris - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
This is wonderful news. Now lets just hope they roll out some new phones soon!aegisofrime - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
Now they just need to ensure that every phone gets these updates, regardless of manufacturer.Note to Americans: I live in Asia where we don't have to deal with carrier Shenanigans.
erwos - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
A core principle of WP7 from day one has been "every phone gets every upgrade". Quite refreshing after Android's issues.Naturally, this will need to end up at some point, but it's nice while it lasts.
Samus - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
This on Nokia hardware *drools*DarkUltra - Saturday, March 19, 2011 - link
Nokia hardware? Does that mean super amoled display with good gradients and proper colorshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzCYJ1ss6ZQ
And a good camera like iphone 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbob4F5oT1w
+ real buttons with good tactile feedback
+ more protruding volume and power buttons
+ 16GB nand
I hope :)
designerfx - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
uh, what do you think the reasons for gingerbread and honeycomb are?Also, you do realize that ios doesn't give people every upgrade, right?
kmmatney - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
In general, I would have to day that Apple does give people every upgrade - at least where the hardware supports it, going back several years. That is a big difference. Any Android phone running 2.1 can easily run 2.2 or 2.3, but the updates aren't there.strikeback03 - Tuesday, February 15, 2011 - link
Right, the original iPhone really can't support MMS.If it couldn't download email attachments that might be more believeable
dsafcx4544 - Friday, February 25, 2011 - link
This on Nokia hardware *drools*mjz_5 - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
I really really wanna get a microsoft phone, but i'm still waiting for tethering.. i use that every day!ratlas - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
Apparently three's a work-around that allows tethering with the Samsung Focusmjz_5 - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
it should be a feature, not something that i have to work to get..i'm not an apple fun, but with my iphone 3g, i have tethering via bluetooth and it was easy as pie to setup
davepermen - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
and the omnia 7. but only with cable, not wireless, afaik (i never tested it so far).i hope to get some way to make it a wlan access point. the only thing i miss from my wm6.1 phone. i don't need it much, but it was very useful those few times where i could use it.
mjz_5 - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
also, no builtin support for RDP.. seriously microsofthvakrg - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
Microsoft just told Google and Apple to bring it. They need to step things up now.bplewis24 - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
I don't exactly see how catching up to your competitors is sending the message to them to "bring it." With the exception of the Kinect demo, every feature discussed has already been available with iOS and Android. And only two of the features discussed for WP7 even have release dates.Microsoft is definitely going in the right direction, but it still has a ways to go. Gingerbread is among us and iOS' refresh is right around the corner.
Brandon
flatline403 - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
If Android has a (built-in) feature/service that is equivalent to Microsoft's skydrive, I am unaware of it.Google Docs support on Android is lacking, there is no dedicated app and the browser support is mediocre.
hvakrg - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
The thing is that Microsoft with these two updates catches up on most of the things they were missing, multitasking and C&P, and imo the decks are better then the taskswitched on Iphone/Android.And they still have the advantages that they already had with in Office, gaming and social integration. And they're even improving the lead in these areas.
IIOS for one needs a big UI overhaul if they want to compete. It's really starting to show its age.
The next two things WP7 needs to bring now is LYNC/Live video chat with 3G/4G support, and tethering.
madseven7 - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
Will Swype ever come to Windows Phone 7?LostPassword - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
With all these upcoming wp7 updates, I will definitely consider nokia's new phone.FlvPlayer - Wednesday, March 2, 2011 - link
Ya, Nokia's new smartphone looks really cool............ i will surely buy it soon!MrEgo - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
DailyTech's report is slightly different in that it says CDMA support is coming in this next update. Is that true? I'm really anxious for this to release on either Sprint or Verizon.Brian Klug - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
That's right, and we also covered it in our update article back at CES. That same update with copy & paste, CDMA2000 support, and some app-launch performance improvements is the one launching in early March.-Brian
munky - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
Oh goodie, WP7 just got another feature Symbian has had for years. Maybe at this rate, by 2012 Nokia will have all the features it originally had only under a UI simple enough for dummies and Apple fans.Penti - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
So when does Silverlight in the browser and full Silverlight 4.0 appear?Brian Klug - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
That's actually a really good question, I'll see if I can follow up with Microsoft today.-Brian
CSMR - Monday, February 14, 2011 - link
Here's what was in Windows Mobile in 2007 (much of this in 2000):-file system access and USB mass storage
-VPN support
-SIP VOIP
-almost full support for Exchange.
-copy and paste
-multitasking
-directly installable apps
-enterprise-standard security features
WP7 arrives with none of this in 2010. In 2011 we get two features back, C&P and multitasking. So when do we get support for the full range of standard features for businesses and serious users? 2012, 2013, 2014? When will WP7 be ahead of WM6 in these areas, as it should be? After all, enterprise features have moved on since then, with Lync unified communications for example.
Instead, Microsoft prioritizes giving teenagers the ability to wave their phone in front of their TV set, and letting them addle their brains with tweets.
This is glacial progress. Don't MS realize they have a war on their hands?
strikeback03 - Tuesday, February 15, 2011 - link
Given how completely unsuited for general consumer use WM6 was, if it means sacrificing most business support to get wider acceptance in the consumer space they probably made the right choice. When/if the platform gets off life support maybe they can consider adding features for smaller audiences.CSMR - Saturday, February 19, 2011 - link
Business is not a small audience, and it is not an unimportant audience.WM's problem is it stopped receiving investment, for several years very little happened.
The fact that a system has features doesn't make it bad for consumers. Extra features don't hurt anyone.
RIM has done well on business features and nothing else. Android has most of the basic features too and is doing best of all.
Nataku - Thursday, February 17, 2011 - link
you have to remember, people now a days are starting to want to use their own phones on corporate environment and if the people don't like the phone, feature rich becomes much less meaningfulfrom what i see and read so far, win mo 6.5 only kept loosing ground to the easier to use/fancier version of smart phones
give MS time, they are pushing updates faster than most other companies right now
feature rich can't be done in a year you know... at least unless you want half baked ones
CSMR - Saturday, February 19, 2011 - link
All of those things can easily be done in a year if you have people working on each. The rate of progress as it seems to be: one year gets multitasking, copy and paste. Multitasking is already on Windows CE, which WM7 is built on. How many people does it take to enable this? One guy can do this in his spare time.Microsoft can move fast if they have good people: most of the myriad .NET-related technologies get updates fast.
They are investing hundreds of millions in this platform, but the progress is not showing. On the core features it looks like they have years before they reach the point they were at years ago.
p05esto - Tuesday, February 15, 2011 - link
Win7 Phone is a VERY good OS, it's so integrated with Windows that for business users THIS is the phone to have. MS has done a fantastic job creating a phone for adults and people who are serious about getting work done without screwing around with a million little pointless apps and kiddie gee-wiz features. I can't wait for my contract to expire so I can go get a new Win7 phone.meike - Tuesday, February 22, 2011 - link
Our Business is to provide you with the most hot goods at hot price from China. www onseeking comlili75 - Tuesday, March 22, 2011 - link
welcome