4 new WP7 devices revealed

[Puddle Jumper]

Also, you do realize the amount of everyday, end users that utilize HDMI output? Not many. It's about reaching the masses, not small sets of users who utilize odd features.

Having better hardware and extra's like a HDMI output has no downsides so their so no reason for manufacturers to not include them.

I think features llike that are more important than Microsoft realizes. When the average user goes to buy a smartphone and they see that one has a long list of features like HD Video playback, flash support, dual core and HDMI while another does not which one do you think they are more likely to pick?

 

[Deeko]

I think features llike that are more important than Microsoft realizes. When the average user goes to buy a smartphone and they see that one has a long list of features like HD Video playback, flash support, dual core and HDMI while another does not which one do you think they are more likely to pick?

It depends on what the user wants. A lot of people buy iPhones that don't have those things. There are some users that want that kind of stuff, there are some that don't care. Everyone has different priorities, and the average user as much different priorities than the average AT'er.

 

[shortylickens]

Having better hardware and extra's like a HDMI output has no downsides so their so no reason for manufacturers to not include them.

I think features llike that are more important than Microsoft realizes. When the average user goes to buy a smartphone and they see that one has a long list of features like HD Video playback, flash support, dual core and HDMI while another does not which one do you think they are more likely to pick?

For the average user a long list of features is always a better sell, regardless of what they actually intend to use or if they even know what the fuck all of it is.
Ditto the apps list.
Apple may very well indeed have 425 thousand applications but if you stop and think about it objectively WHO THE HELL CARES? Theres no way in bowls of Jupiters Cock you will ever look at all of them much download a significant portion or actually use most of the apps you download.
If the Touchpad only has 300 apps but they are mostly good quality and designed to work well with the platform, I am still only going to get at most 100 of them, and of those I'll probably only use a dozen regularly.

Which is why I was hoping the Playbook and Xoom would be able to do so much good stuff natively, and they couldnt. Thats when having a good vs. shitty app market makes a real difference. The WP7 OS does so much that I like right out of the box, I dont feel the need to milk their downloadable apps all day long.

 

[smartpatrol]

Having better hardware and extra's like a HDMI output has no downsides so their so no reason for manufacturers to not include them.

I think features llike that are more important than Microsoft realizes. When the average user goes to buy a smartphone and they see that one has a long list of features like HD Video playback, flash support, dual core and HDMI while another does not which one do you think they are more likely to pick?

I disagree. If this were the case, Android tablets would be trouncing the iPad. The "average user" wants something that looks attractive, feels fast/fun/intuitive to use, and has a brand name they recognize. Either that, or they just want the cheapest thing they can find.

Having a laundry list of features only really matters to geeks.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Also, you do realize the amount of everyday, end users that utilize HDMI output? Not many. It's about reaching the masses, not small sets of users who utilize odd features.

Hey now, that particular feature of the SGS2 is what draws me to it so much- enough to consider switching platforms. If I can play mkv files via a HDMI output that will officially allow me to go without a computer most of the time I travel. That is huge for me.

And HDMI port utilization is not just a nerd feature. I know a girl who has a Thunderbolt, and her least favorite thing about it is how it doesn't have an HDMI port like her boyfriend's X has. She talks about how nice it would be to play Netflix on any TV she wants, or game on a larger screen. She is far from being some uber-nerd...

 

[Puddle Jumper]

I disagree. If this were the case, Android tablets would be trouncing the iPad. The "average user" wants something that looks attractive, feels fast/fun/intuitive to use, and has a brand name they recognize. Either that, or they just want the cheapest thing they can find.

Having a laundry list of features only really matters to geeks.

If the average user only wanted the things you listed Windows Phone 7's market share would be more than a rounding error. Google sells as many phones in 2 days as Microsoft does in an entire quarter, something tells me they are the ones with the right approach.

 

[dpodblood]

It's not about the resolution so much as being able to use my existing collection of videos on my phone without the need to convert them.

Also you do realize that numerous Android phones have HDMI outputs?

I agree. Though likely Zune will have to convert whatever 720p video's you have to the appropriate format regardless of resolution anyway.

 

[dpodblood]

If the average user only wanted the things you listed Windows Phone 7's market share would be more than a rounding error. Google sells as many phones in 2 days as Microsoft does in an entire quarter, something tells me they are the ones with the right approach.

Android has been around much longer than WP7...

 

[Deeko]

If the average user only wanted the things you listed Windows Phone 7's market share would be more than a rounding error. Google sells as many phones in 2 days as Microsoft does in an entire quarter, something tells me they are the ones with the right approach.

That's short sighted - Apple fans would have said the same thing the summer of 2009 when Android was still a minor blip on the radar. The Mango + Nokia storm is still brewing on the horizon, we'll know a lot more about WP7's future in the market this time next year.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

That's short sighted - Apple fans would have said the same thing the summer of 2009 when Android was still a minor blip on the radar. The Mango + Nokia storm is still brewing on the horizon, we'll know a lot more about WP7's future in the market this time next year.

I doubt the average consumer cares about Nokia one bit, heck I don't and I follow the smartphone market pretty closely.

The problem is it isn't 2009 anymore, the smartphone market has two major players that are growing at the expense of everyone else. Plus it's not the fact that WP7 is selling slowly but it isn't even selling enough to stop Microsoft's market share from continuing to fall.

Come to think of it I can't even remember seeing a single WP7 device in the wild and I've never heard anyone mention wanting one either.

 

[Deeko]

I doubt the average consumer cares about Nokia one bit, heck I don't and I follow the smartphone market pretty closely.

The problem is it isn't 2009 anymore, the smartphone market has two major players that are growing at the expense of everyone else. Plus it's not the fact that WP7 is selling slowly but it isn't even selling enough to stop Microsoft's market share from continuing to fall.

Come to think of it I can't even remember seeing a single WP7 device in the wild and I've never heard anyone mention wanting one either.

Well, that's the thing - Nokia isn't selling well with people that follow gadget news, but they still sell hordes of phones to the average consumer.

In 2009, Apple was the rising star, Blackberry was still king in the US, Microsoft still had a sizable foothold. You could have spun it to be just as unthinkable for Android to do what they've done in the last two years. Before the Droid came out, I didn't know a single person with another Android device, despite the fact that I'd sung the praises of my G1 since I got it on launch day.

The smartphone market is fickle. Not only do people replace their devices fairly frequently, by the time they do, they're usually pretty disgruntled with their current device, due to how fast the technology improves. One company being on top today does not mean they'll be on top tomorrow.

People use the whole "but they've bought apps!" argument against that, but it hasn't held up. People might buy a few $0.99 apps, occasionally something more expensive, but that's not going to prevent someone from shifting platforms.

Obviously Android is in a good place, and Microsoft has work to do, but its quite foolish to assume that a company will be on top tomorrow solely because they're on top today.

 

[smartpatrol]

If the average user only wanted the things you listed Windows Phone 7's market share would be more than a rounding error. Google sells as many phones in 2 days as Microsoft does in an entire quarter, something tells me they are the ones with the right approach.

You honestly think Android's success is because of HDMI/USB/SD ports and dual-core processors? Android has the advantage of a 2 year head start, and of having the iPhone only available on AT&T until recently. A LOT of Android owners bought them simply because there wasn't much of an alternative. To them, "Android" means "anything other than an iPhone or Blackberry".

Things are going to change in the next year or two:
1. iPhone available on all major carriers
2. the world's biggest smartphone manufacturer, Nokia, is switching to WP7. . . meaning we will finally see some high-end, flagship-level devices with WP7
3. Mango & second wave of WP7 phones
4. Samsung and others paying patent royalties to MS, making the cost of Android much higher
5. Relatively early Android adopters (think Droid and Evo owners) will be ready for an upgrade

We'll see where things stand a year from now.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

You honestly think Android's success is because of HDMI/USB/SD ports and dual-core processors? Android has the advantage of a 2 year head start, and of having the iPhone only available on AT&T until recently. A LOT of Android owners bought them simply because there wasn't much of an alternative. To them, "Android" means "anything other than an iPhone or Blackberry".

Things are going to change in the next year or two:
1. iPhone available on all major carriers
2. the world's biggest smartphone manufacturer, Nokia, is switching to WP7. . . meaning we will finally see some high-end, flagship-level devices with WP7
3. Mango & second wave of WP7 phones
4. Samsung and others paying patent royalties to MS, making the cost of Android much higher
5. Relatively early Android adopters (think Droid and Evo owners) will be ready for an upgrade

We'll see where things stand a year from now.

Nokia may be the worlds largest manufacturer at the moment however they aren't know for high end hardware. The last phone they released that was high end for it's time was the N900.

Everyone keeps assuming all of Nokia's current customers will stick with them when they move to Windows Phone 7 when they could just as likely jump ship to Google or Apple.

 

[Deeko]

Nokia may be the worlds largest manufacturer at the moment however they aren't know for high end hardware. The last phone they released that was high end for it's time was the N900.

Everyone keeps assuming all of Nokia's current customers will stick with them when they move to Windows Phone 7 when they could just as likely jump ship to Google or Apple.

Ah - the N8, N9, and E7 are all recent phones with high end hardware. You have to remember - there's more to having "high end hardware" than having the fastest processor. Symbian didn't have fast processors because it didn't really need it, it was a rather efficient OS. However, those phones still had some very high end aspects - the build quality, for example, is fantastic, with a very premium look and feel. The cameras are top-notch.

Combine the specs required for WP7 and the premium build & camera quality of a high end Nokia, and you've got a device that is far superior to the WP7 options on the market today.

Also, no one has said that every current Nokia customer will switch to WP7, but obviously adding the world's biggest smartphone manufacturer to your list of partners is going to have a big impact on your sales - especially when its coupled with a huge upgrade to the OS.

 

[shortylickens]

Yeah Nokia still makes the best quality hardware even if their OS is behind the times. Waiting enthusiastically for their first Windows phone.

 

[VashHT]

I'm pretty excited about the next round of phones, I put mango on my focus today and it flies circles around NoDo. They improved everything I was hoping for, now all I need is some really nice hardware (like the searay is looking to be) and I'll be really happy with WP7. Anyway to me WP7 is the most exciting os to me right now out of android or iOS (I have all 3 btw), mango is a huge step in the right direction and really solves a lot of complaints I've seen vs the platform.

 

[finbarqs]

you can get a venue pro unlocked now!

 

[Deeko]

you can get a venue pro unlocked now!

No kidding - unlocked, no contract, $299...that's a deal: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...=VIP:watchlink:top:en&clk_rvr_id=247415943058

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Ah - the N8, N9, and E7 are all recent phones with high end hardware. You have to remember - there's more to having "high end hardware" than having the fastest processor. Symbian didn't have fast processors because it didn't really need it, it was a rather efficient OS. However, those phones still had some very high end aspects - the build quality, for example, is fantastic, with a very premium look and feel. The cameras are top-notch.

The N8's (AND E7's) cpu are roughly half as powerful as the one in the Droid 1, that isn't high end by any definition of the word. Even the N9 is very dated, it has the same SoC as the Droid X and it hasn't even been released yet.

Build quality alone doesn't make a device high end since using that definition some flip phones could be considered high end. I do agree that Nokia tends to use good camera's but that's the only part of their devices that could be considered cutting edge.

 

[Deeko]

The N8's (AND E7's) cpu are roughly half as powerful as the one in the Droid 1, that isn't high end by any definition of the word. Even the N9 is very dated, it has the same SoC as the Droid X and it hasn't even been released yet.

Build quality alone doesn't make a device high end since using that definition some flip phones could be considered high end. I do agree that Nokia tends to use good camera's but that's the only part of their devices that could be considered cutting edge.

Once again - there's more to a device being high end than the raw speed of its SoC. My Vibrant might have a much faster processor than my Venue Pro, but build-quality-wise, it feels like a toy next to the much more sturdy VP. Not to mention, looking at raw power is misleading - despite that power advantage, the Venue Pro handles almost every task smoother & faster than the Vibrant. Yes...Fruit Ninja does run at a higher frame rate on the Vibrant, but that's about it. Nokia's phones haven't need high end SoCs because their software was efficient and didn't need it. Read a preview of the N9 and tell me if the reviews complained about the lack of speed. An excerpt from Engadget:

What we can say about all these aspects of the interface is that they're done exceedingly well and make the somewhat aged OMAP3630 processor look terrific. Fluid animations are evident throughout, navigation is natural, and this marks a major advance over anything else Nokia has given us on the software front in terms of touch-based UI.

Besides, arguing the speed of the N9 was both not the point and entirely irrelevant when it comes to Windows Phones, as Microsoft sets the internal hardware, so the real differentiation between devices is the quality of the build & the camera, which are both areas that Nokia's top end phones excel at quite a bit.

 

[finbarqs]

wow... too bad the screen isn't Super AMOLED+ or the newest AMOLED... but it's not bad... that's still one of the better devices of WP7 current on the market!

 

[hellfire88]

No kidding - unlocked, no contract, $299...that's a deal: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...=VIP:watchlink:top:en&clk_rvr_id=247415943058

Man, I've been eyeing that auction all day. I've used all the current mobile OSes and really like Windows Phone 7 for its "out of the box" experience. I find that, for myself anyways, I'm too lazy to customize/tweak my smartphone (Android) or download 50 apps to improve upon stock core apps or the launcher/home screen (iOS). I had a Samsung Focus for a week and really liked it but couldn't get my company emails working on it (issue with Exchange server and certs not the phone/OS itself) so returned it. Missing it with its awesome screen and built-in Zune player (Zune Pass is awesome). Tired of lugging around my 2 phones and Zune HD so thinking of getting this $299 Dell Venue Pro. Just hesitant to spend $300 on a phone now when the 2nd gen WP7 devices will be released in around 4-5 months. Seems to be a 1day sale so have to decide quick; but on paper/specs the Dell VP seems to be the best "overall" WP7 device out right now.

 

[finbarqs]

heck yeah!

 

[Deeko]

Man, I've been eyeing that auction all day. I've used all the current mobile OSes and really like Windows Phone 7 for its "out of the box" experience. I find that, for myself anyways, I'm too lazy to customize/tweak my smartphone (Android) or download 50 apps to improve upon stock core apps or the launcher/home screen (iOS). I had a Samsung Focus for a week and really liked it but couldn't get my company emails working on it (issue with Exchange server and certs not the phone/OS itself) so returned it. Missing it with its awesome screen and built-in Zune player (Zune Pass is awesome). Tired of lugging around my 2 phones and Zune HD so thinking of getting this $299 Dell Venue Pro. Just hesitant to spend $300 on a phone now when the 2nd gen WP7 devices will be released in around 4-5 months. Seems to be a 1day sale so have to decide quick; but on paper/specs the Dell VP seems to be the best "overall" WP7 device out right now.

I've had the Venue Pro since launch day and I love it - I also have the Mango update installed on it, and its a huge improvement. Even with new phones coming soon, with a phone this awesome and a deal this good, its tough to lose. The vertical sliding keyboard is very, very good.

 

[Muyoso]

2. the world's biggest smartphone manufacturer, Nokia, is switching to WP7. . . meaning we will finally see some high-end, flagship-level devices with WP7
We'll see where things stand a year from now.

No, you won't. You will see the exact same hardware as all of the other manufacturers produce with MAYBE a slightly better camera and a "crazy" color on the back. All WP7 phones use the EXACT same SoC and are boring. The differentiation is ridiculously small between phones.