Why I despise the iPhone. - Page 32

waveydavey · #**311** (**permalink**) 12-08-2009, 09:58 AM

I didn't say it was Touch friendly, I said I don't need a stylus to use it. I used both the X1 and Touch Pro using only finger Touch. Could it be better? Yes, but I don't find the experience painful. It's always function before form for me and for the 1000th time I used the iPhone for a week and it doesn't do what I want it to. I frankly don't care whether anyone deems my requirements to be valid or not, the fact is that it doesn't do what I want it to and the prettiest most child friendly interface in the world isn't going to change that. The point I was making is that the Elite RC4 ROM has a lot of good customisations that make the finger touch a lot easier.

Bassey · #**312** (**permalink**) 12-08-2009, 10:02 AM

> - Apple users don't have to traipse off to find, download and install a 3rd party ROM
> just to get usability on their pricey device - and I kind of admire that.

Actually, I think you've hit the nail on the head there Mikem. The two companies (MS and Apple) operate on an entirely different philosophy - and this goes through all of their products. Microsoft has designed a platform. it is a base from which anyone can build any tools they like. If someone wants to make a WM device work like an iPhone, they can. If they want it to look like Ubuntu, they can. If they want it to look like a 70s calculator, they can do that too. Manufacturers can use any set of hardware they wish. If a new technology comes along, anyone is free to implement it. Remote wipe, it was there straight away. Phone tracking. It was there. GPS, whatever you want. It is left to the free market to decide if there is customer demand and then the market will supply. MS (to an extent) model Windows Mobile on Free Market Economics. They supply the "Market" (in this case, an open set of API's) and leave the market to innovate and design.

Apple control everything. You want security. Wait 12 months until the next release and hope apple supply it. You wanted remote wipe. Wait 12 months for another release and hope Apple were listening. You want phone tracking, same thing. Proper GPS. Ditto. Want a keyboard. You never know. You want the interface to change to something more usable (and PLEASE don't say you actually like the homescreen on the iPhone) it "might" happen. But only if Apple do it - and they won't tell you if they are going to do it. It will just happen or it won't.

Of course, with Apples approach comes lots of "Free" stuff. Apple load their OS's up with Bells and whistles and that is often enough for a lot of people. But it's still Communism. It's still "any fruit you like, as long as it tastes of Apple".

Some people are fine being told what to do, when to do it and paying £500-£1000 for the privilege of using a phone that is still owned by Apple and that apple can remove paid-for apps from or change how it works or or or... For that, they get a stable system that works in a particular way and most of what they need is included. There are huge benefits.

Others don't like the idea of a secretive group maintaining almost complete control over something we have paid for and prefer to take our chances with the free market. Sure, it might be a bit more risky - it's certainly more hard work. But if things move, and the market changes, I change with it. Not the device. Not Microsoft. I'm not reliant on them. Microsoft could die tomorrow. It wouldn't matter because my device belongs to me and, with the support of the market, anything is possible. I keep hearing "I can't believe MS have left it until W6.5 or WM7 to move forward". That's nonsense. They've done no such thing. I haven't used WM5, WM6 or WM6.1 EVER. I've used Winterface. I've Used PointUI. I've used Mobile Shell. I've used HTC TF2d and HTC TF3d. You're just thinking the way APPLE want you to think. YOU have to wait for YOUR device to get up to speed when apple permits you. I don't. I can completely change the way anything works today. And I can do it again tomorrow. I don't recognise ANY of the limitations you complain about because they don't exist on MY phone.

It might seem like a ridiculously over-the-top analogy (Communism V Free Market) but think about it. Apple really do maintain absolute complete control over YOUR device. But, as far as I can tell, 99% of the arguments above come down to "The iPhone can already do this out of the Box whereas you need 3rd party software on WM". Well, I prefer to think of it the other way around. With 3rd party software, ANYTHING is possible with WM. You're stuck with what Apple will let you do with an iPhone.

You're happy with that, great. But it isn't for me.

Griph · #**313** (**permalink**) 13-08-2009, 03:10 PM

Hmmm according to Gartner:

"Comparing smartphone operating systems, Symbian (used mostly by Nokia) dropped from 57 to 51 percent year-over-year. RIM increased slightly to 18.7 percent, and Apple rose to third place with 13.3 percent. Windows Mobile dropped from 12 to 9.3 percent. Android is in seventh place with nearly two percent, and Palm's WebOS is still barely a blip on the radar".

No surprises there! Tick Tick Tick! Earth calling Microsoft ?

waveydavey · #**314** (**permalink**) 13-08-2009, 04:25 PM

It means nothing without a definition of what they class as a smartphone.

Bassey · #**315** (**permalink**) 13-08-2009, 04:38 PM

That's always been the problem with the Gartner data. I've looked around before and have never been able to find it on the open parts of their sites leading me to believe it is only available to those prepared to pay for the full report - rather than the summary.

Griph · #**316** (**permalink**) 13-08-2009, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waveydavey

It means nothing without a definition of what they class as a smartphone.

The response I expected!

Griph · #**317** (**permalink**) 13-08-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griph

The response I expected!

And perhaps a more realistic response over in thoughts media http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/f85/...9-a-94809.html

Oh dont get me wrong - I know about what WM still has going for it - and I really am not trying to convert anyone or say that iPhone can do more than WM with regards to functionality - but really guys - iPhone is here to stay and whilst users like you may hate it - there is a very rapidly growing group who do not. If WM can keep the flexibility of their device AND vastly improve the user experience for the A V E R A G E man in the street - not you Uber-Geeks who dont need it

then perhaps MS have a chance of getting in there again. I really hope they do - if not just to keep Apple on their toes. No one wants to see Apple succeed in the Smartphone Market like they have in the MP3 player - not even me!

I remember the old story of Brunel's broad gauge against Stephenson's standard gauge, Betamax vs VHS - it is nothing whatsoever about how brilliant a product is - it is which one grabs the majority of the market that counts - and then ensure they stay there! You might not like it - but iPhone have in a very short time grabbed the publics attention - they have a long way to go before they hit global domination - but at the growth rates we are seeing - it could be quick!

In the meantime - sticking heads in the sand ostrich wise will do nothing to halt the onslaught!

fowljr · #**318** (**permalink**) 13-08-2009, 07:59 PM

That's the key, mass consumerism... That's what the iPhone has, built on Apple's reputation for uber designer gear... There's no doubt that the interface is good, and will suit most people!!

Appealing to the masses is where WM7 needs to go...

waveydavey · #**319** (**permalink**) 13-08-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griph

The response I expected!

Actually I was more pointing out that there are a lot of Sybian devices out there that I personally wouldn't class as a smartphone, so the Nokia figures may be bouyed significantly by this. Which is exactly the same thing I've said about this report the last 5 years it's been out. Which you may be shocked to find out pre dates the iPhone. Yes really, there WAS life before the iPhone.

It depends whether your counting devices with the OS on, or actual real "Smartphones". The two are very different in my mind. I suspect that the Nokia figure is purely devices running symbian. Which I think is artificially high.

Griph · #**320** (**permalink**) 14-08-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waveydavey

Actually I was more pointing out that there are a lot of Sybian devices out there that I personally wouldn't class as a smartphone, so the Nokia figures may be bouyed significantly by this. Which is exactly the same thing I've said about this report the last 5 years it's been out. Which you may be shocked to find out pre dates the iPhone. Yes really, there WAS life before the iPhone.

It depends whether your counting devices with the OS on, or actual real "Smartphones". The two are very different in my mind. I suspect that the Nokia figure is purely devices running symbian. Which I think is artificially high.

I wasnt interested in the Symbian figure - and regardless of any arguements on whether it is 40, 50% it is still the largest. My point relates to WM/iPhone.

As I have had a WM device for the last 9 years I am not sure who you might think might be shocked that there was life before iPhone. My interest is in the future not what someone did before - that's all yesterdays news!