Why I despise the iPhone.

[mikem]

Not keen on re-igniting this contentious topic, but just heard (via a sane iPhone user) of another feature which as far as I know is sorely lacking from WM.

Apparently, if you sign up to some Apple service (their names always escape me, probably due to trendy-name factor) you can a) track your phones location if it gets nicked, b) remotely wipe it totally.

These features are ones I personally need (due to senstiive information being held on Outlook on device) and no doubt many other people do too.

Frankly, hearing this was almost enough to make me run out and buy an iPhone, and toss my Serra to the wind...

Anyone heard of a (non-Exchange Server connected) WM device/app offering these features?


Thanks

[Mr X]

The Apple product is called Mobile Me and a feature within it is called Find my iPhone.

Having lost an iPhone before I love this new element. Enables you to track on a map, send a audible alert even if the phone is switched to silent, send a visual message to the phone and if the worse comes to the worse, remotely wipe it.

[Griph]

I believe it is possible for those who sync with MS Exchange Server to have a remote wipe facility on their WM device. For those who dont - I dont know of a simple way of tracking and wiping one. I have subscribed to MobileMe to use this function and also to use iDisk. Find My iPhone works as advertised although the accuracy of location can vary depending on local circumstances.

[mikem]

Originally Posted by Mr X

The Apple product is called Mobile Me and a feature within it is called Find my iPhone.

Thanks - very depressing news for a WM user...

They really should arrest whoever has been managing the Windows Mobile team up to 6.0/6.1 - they had years and years headstart on the OS, and frankly all they've done is twiddled their fingers as far as I can see.

6.5 screenshots look like someone has started to use their brain, but if it is just lipstick on a pig's face, i.e. cosmetic rather than a full rethink of internals, WM's future is not rosy.

[mikem]

http://www.apple.com/uk/mobileme/whats-new/

gives full details.

[windows]

I have read on the web somewhere that by the time MS MyPhone comes out fully it will have remote wipe facilities. Not sure of it will have the tracking though.

I've not tested it yet but I believe MS remote wipe starts nearly instantly and is difficult to abort and does not take too long. The iPhone wipe I believe can take hours and can be interrupted.

[mikem]

Thanks - that sounds a little more hopeful

The Microsoft page says little
http://sn1-p1.myphone.microsoft.com/mkweb/Start.po

But - ironically - the MacWorld site has a better explanation:
http://www.macworld.co.uk/business/n...m?newsid=26054

Wipe feature seems to be for WM6.5 and above unfortunately.

[kevwright]

Originally Posted by mikem

Apparently, if you sign up to some Apple service (their names always escape me, probably due to trendy-name factor) you can a) track your phones location if it gets nicked, b) remotely wipe it totally.

Have you read this?

http://happywaffle.livejournal.com/5890.html


Kev

[windows]

Pretty amazing I must admit. MS seriously need to activate something like this!

[mikem]

Interesting, thanks.

Had to laugh, because the guy and his crew sound like stereotypical Apple Followers - and becoming one of those is about the only reservation I have left about leaving WM and heading Jesus Phone way...

He made some good observations at the end also I noticed.


WM, the stylus really has to GO... when the HTC hardware and WM are kind of in sync, you don't notice the stylus aggro so much - like with my Orbit, and Orbit 2. But on my Serra (ironically supplied with keyboard) I am forever stopping to switch to stylus, or optimisitc stubby finger. Hopeless - and I'm not really that self-conscious, but even I am beginning to realise how dumb this looks compared to people breezing along with iPhones and using elegant, smooth gestures.

I can see that WM6.5/7 starts to resolve this issue, with huge X to close windows etc - but of course, given the variety of screen sizes compared to the huge wodge of the iPhone, there needs to be a bigger rethink.

Just noticed this:

"Windows Mobile 7 according to Steve Ballmer will be coming out next year as Microsoft ramps up on the mobile operating system which some 2,000 dedicated employees are working on it with nearly a billion dollars in yearly operating expenses. Somewhat unprofitable, Microsoft hopes to turn the tables around with the new OS as they face stiff competition with Android and Apple as they take up the momentum in the market share."

Jeez, a Billion a year and they still can't come up with anything original... (