Today at MWC, Microsoft got to announce to the world one of their most ambitious product updates in a long time, if not ever.
What’s so ambitious about an update to Windows Mobile? Well, for starters, its NOT Windows Mobile, Its Windows Phone 7 (Series?). This is more than just a name change- Microsoft seems to really want to make it clear that 7 has absolutely nothing to do with the previous mobile operating system which started off as “Pocket PC” about 10 years ago.
To be perfectly honest, I think Microsoft should also have done away with the number “7″ in the title. You see, this isn’t the next evolutionary step… this is a new and fresh start from scratch.
The focus now is to shift away from being like a desktop PC, and be more like a totally consumer-oriented interface. “Its not a PC, its a Phone!” was a line repeated throughout many of the speakers, as they demonstrated the integration of social networks, live media, and some sort of Xbox services into a personal device that could juggle work and personal information while still being able to differentiate the two. Oh yeah, and it also makes phone calls.
The new UI is mostly border-less panels with images and text, that are arranged in a reconfigurable grid. The panels appear to be “live”, updated in real time, and move with very striking visual transitions.
The best word I can think of to describe the UI is “pure”, and I can honestly say to their credit, it looks like nothing I’ve ever seen before. They shouldn’t even call it Windows, honestly, because there aren’t any window-borders or anything resembling Windows at all. If it reminds you of Microsoft’s Media Center or the Zune interface, it should. Its designed by the same people, and that’s exactly what they are going for- they want to bring this to the masses.
I have extremely mixed feelings about this…
On the one hand, I commend Microsoft for realizing the Windows Mobile UI needed a complete overhaul. They are taking a lot of risks with one, and I can honestly say I know a lot of people who will be interested in this platform who would never have touched Windows Mobile before.
Its almost hard to believe that this is the same company who released WM6.5 a year ago, which proved to be a minor update to 6.1, which was in turn a minor update to 6.0 and even 5. In comparison, this is HUGE, and groundbreaking.
On the other hand, they may be alienating their current market, who actually enjoy having the power of a desktop on their phones. A few days ago, I shared some sour feelings about where 7 was heading based on rumors. Many current Windows Mobile users have stuck with Microsoft because of the power and versatility of the platform, with 10+ years of compatible applications available, true multitasking and nearly total UI customization. The new platform, however, will only allow “marketplace” applications to be installed (no more homebrew, or installing off a storage card), only run a single application at a time, and not allow any third party plugins or UI “enhancements” (at least at first, according to MS). That means no SenseUI/Touchflo, SPB Shell, etc. Basically, all the limitations that iPhone critics complain of. As I said before “If I wanted an iPhone, I’d buy an iPhone!”.
However, in its defense, I must admit that I didn’t expect to be so impressed with the bold steps Microsoft is taking here. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if many of the iPhone demographic find this alluring. I predicted previously that this concept would fail since “you can’t beat Apple at their own game”, however I’ve got to say this might actually win over a few hearts. I may yet eat my words.
But, what about the current Windows Mobile demographic (of which I am currently a shameless member of)? I don’t want this fancy social networking, single-app, locked down, and controlled experience. Hardcore users who are looking for the power of a desktop were looking forward to a fresh new UI that wouldn’t make them choose between style and function. Microsoft is now making us choose- stay with WM6.x and have a versatile platform. Or, go with something snazzy like 7 and give up all the reasons you haven’t already jumped to iPhone.
All I can say is that I’m glad Google Android is around to even out the playing field- something tells me the Droid community is about to get a few new recruits. It saddens me to feel this way, but I feel like Windows Mobile died with this announcement. This is not Windows Phone 7… This is Zune Phone 1.0.
Welcome to the future.
UPDATE: It looks like PPCGeeks.com is reporting a set of allegedly “leaked” development docs that point to Windows Phone 7 having some form of multitasking support. Hope on the horizon?
