Apple WWDC vs Microsoft vs Google I/O

[Bateluer]

Now that the big players have all taken the wraps off their upcoming products, who made the most waves?

Apple's iOS6 event was a dud, nothing new and just software gimmicks that have have been done. Microsoft's Surface had people claiming that Android and iOS were doomed, and it definitely looked better than their previous efforts.

Google looks to have launched the most and done the most, JellyBean, GnEx price cut, web Play Store tweaked, Nexus 7, Nexus Q, Project Glass, several overhauls in Play content stores, major upgrades to G-maps, etc. Spread too thin? Better to have focused on few products, those closer to market?

Now that the cards are on the table, thoughts?

 

[zerocool84]

I think it's been a great month for smartphone fans.

 

[dagamer34]

1) WWDC really was a dud unless you were interested in the Retina MacBook Pro. It certainly is an interesting product, but because apps and the web aren't built for it yet, it's ahead of it's time. There aren't any standout features in iOS 6. Maps is pretty, but rather neutered compared to what Android maps have. And no transit directions?!?? GTFO!

2) "Microsoft week" - showed some interesting hardware (Surface) and a heapton of APIs that developers will get to play with. Though they didn't show off any consumer features, Windows Phone 8 shows a lot of promise. If you are a current Lumia owner, you got shafted, but that's the reason why I didn't keep mine.

3) Google I/O - Interesting announcements. Jelly Bean was a minor update mainly focused on performance with a few tweaks. The Nexus 7 is an interesting product, but they haven't really addressed the problem of tablet app quality in the Google Play Store. I also think that the press is distracted by Project Glass (the demo was amazing), but the press wasn't able to actually interact with the device besides watching a video (it's similar to how Microsoft wouldn't let anyone actually USE the keyboard to type on the Surface and that caused a stink).

Here's how I'd rank them

Google I/O - 8/10 - announcing new hardware shipping soon
Microsoft Week - 7.5/10 - lots of new APIs, too vague on surface pricing
WWDC - 7/10 - finally turn by turn directions, but no real headline iOS 6 features

And that's how I see it.

 

[QueBert]

not impressed by Apple's sh*t, could care less about JB because my phone which came out less than 6 months ago won't get it, not officially any ways. The Nexus 7 is boring, the Nexus Q is waaaaaay too expensive so I couldn't care less. Microsoft actually showed something that caught my eye.

Samsung could surprise me and release JB for the Note, but unless this happens (which I doubt) my next device will 100% be from Microsoft.

 

[Mopetar]

Haven't had time to watch all of the Google stuff yet, so I can't comment in much detail. The Nexus tablet was leaked early, so no big surprises there. I heard there was more stuff with their glasses, which is nice since that's something that a lot of people thought might just be vaporware. I heard that had some roku/appleTV/boxee like thing that was more expensive than all of those put together. Probably needs to be pretty damned impressive to be worth the cost.

Everyone had already guessed that maps was coming (why else would Google have bothered to preemptively announce their own 3D mapping stuff) and that there would be some kind of retina Mac. The iOS stuff was nice, but nothing groundbreaking. I'm probably most disappointed that there weren't any announcements for new Mac Pros or retina iMacs. I wasn't expecting a phone or TV announcement, so I can't count that against them.

Microsoft's event was interesting for a few reasons. Probably the biggest standout for me was the keyboard cover. I haven't had a chance to use one, and for that matter I don't think any journalists got to touch one either, but the concept was definitely solid. I hope the execution lives up to it. Their multiple device strategy seems like they're trying to hedge their bets. I can see that pro version of the tablet doing well, if only because it fills a niche that other tablets don't, but their ARM version will probably have troubles unless they have an amazing price.

 

[zerocool84]

Google isn't finished though, there's still one more day left.

 

[Dominato3r]

+1 Google for announcing and releasing hardware with pricing

+1 MS for actually surprising people and getting people excited for your product

+1 Apple for getting an amazing screen in such a small form factor, with pricing and announcement day shipping

 

[Eug]

Out of all of the announcements, the Retina MacBook Pro was by far the most interesting.

Out of all of the announcements, the Nexus 7 was the most expected. We got pretty much exactly what everyone predicted.

Out of all of the announcements, the Nexus Q was the most bizarre.

Out of all of the announcements, the MS Surface was the one that was the biggest surprise to me.

 

[psych2]

Skydiving product announcement took the cake for me, so epic lol

 

[Dari]

Was the iPhone 5 announced at WWDC? I must've missed it. If I did not then the OP is being bias...

 

[Bateluer]

Was the iPhone 5 announced at WWDC? I must've missed it. If I did not then the OP is being bias...

No.

I believe the only hardware Apple announced at the WWDC was the rMBP and the IVB refreshes.

 

[Glitchny]

Out of all of the announcements, the Retina MacBook Pro was by far the most interesting.

Huh? it's a MacBook with a better screen. how is that "interesting"?

I'd say
MS and Google were both pretty good WWDC was rather bland.

Also the press did get to try out the Google Glasses, or at least some did. TheVerge had pictures up of Josh wearing them and he was going detail what he though of them, not sure if that's out yet.

 

[TuxDave]

Huh? it's a MacBook with a better screen. how is that "interesting"?

It's interesting because it's a clear example of what it takes to get "no compromise ultra thin laptops". All the OEMs are going to follow.

 

[Dari]

No.

I believe the only hardware Apple announced at the WWDC was the rMBP and the IVB refreshes.

So then why are you comparing PC hardware from an Apple event to mobile hardware from MS and Google?

This is what you wrote in the OP:

Now that the big players have all taken the wraps off their upcoming products, who made the most waves?

It's clear that Apple has more hardware to announce later this year...

 

[WelshBloke]

So then why are you comparing PC hardware from an Apple event to mobile hardware from MS and Google?...

Because that's what was announced?

We could just make up some products if you like?

 

[Eug]

Huh? it's a MacBook with a better screen. how is that "interesting"?

This is the beginning of the laptop screen revolution, with an OS and software that actually supports it.

2012 marks a huge shift here, for something I've been wanting for over a decade since I first tried out an IBM T221.

It's interesting because it's a clear example of what it takes to get "no compromise ultra thin laptops". All the OEMs are going to follow.

Yep, that too.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

not impressed by Apple's sh*t, could care less about JB because my phone which came out less than 6 months ago won't get it, not officially any ways. The Nexus 7 is boring, the Nexus Q is waaaaaay too expensive so I couldn't care less. Microsoft actually showed something that caught my eye.

Samsung could surprise me and release JB for the Note, but unless this happens (which I doubt) my next device will 100% be from Microsoft.

Samsung will likely release Jellybean for the Note, good luck getting At&t to do the same.

Google I/O and Microsoft's Surface announcement were both very interesting, WWDC was a dud as far as mobile devices are concerned.

 

[Deeko]

Google announced the most breadth of things - but realistically, in the short term at least, things like the Q and Glass aren't going to impact people. Microsoft announced the most depth, they took big steps forward in their offerings. It will be an interesting fall.

 

[Red Storm]

The only thing Microsoft really showed me is that x86 tablets aren't there yet (cooling fans on a tablet? lol).

The Nexus Q is DOA, too expensive and limited (though the community will open it right up).

Jellybean really surprised me though, I was not expecting that much out of it. It's actually making me consider a Nexus over the S3.

Apple showed off turn by turn, about friggen time.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I'm more biased towards Google, so I certainly enjoyed their keynote the most. I have a Galaxy Nexus and I'll get Android 4.1 soon, Project Butter looked real good, the widget and notification improvements looked nice. I pre-ordered the Nexus 7 tablet and am excited about that as well. Nexus Q will flop of course, Google should have focused and an improved $100 Google TV to compete with Apple and Roku I think.

With Apple's keynote, the main thing I was personally interested in was iOS6 for my iPad, but it really disappointed me. Nothing I'm really looking forward to. The Retina Macbook Pro looked great. I'll never buy one, but am happy to see someone doing something good with display technology on laptops.

I was least interested in Microsoft keynote. Windows Surface tablets look okay, but they won't be available for a while, they are expected to be more expensive, and the more affordable of the two probably won't have much in the way of apps at first. I don't really want a Windows tablet in 2012.

 

[Eug]

The annoying thing about the MS presentation was that it was incredibly vague about release dates and pricing, and nobody actually got to try out the hardware. Although the idea of MS getting into the laptop/tablet market was interesting, it was a classic paper launch.

 

[finbarqs]

the main difference between microsoft's is that their surface product is a competitor TO the laptop and tablet world.

 

[Eug]

the main difference between microsoft's is that their surface product is a competitor TO the laptop and tablet world.

Well, yes and no. As far as I'm concerned, the entry-level Surface, at least in 2012, is not a real competitor to Windows or Mac laptops. It's an ARM machine with software restrictions, just like Android and iOS tablets.

The Surface Pro is a direct competitor to laptops, but then again is in the same price range as ultraportables.

 

[Ravynmagi]

the main difference between microsoft's is that their surface product is a competitor TO the laptop and tablet world.

Probably another reason why I'm not excited about Surface. A tablet that tries to replace a tablet and laptop, just ends up not being very good at either. To be powerful enough to replace a laptop it'll need to be the x86 version and that's going to be heavier than normal tablets. And a 10 inch screen and it's keyboard are just going to be too small to use as a laptop for me.

Though I certainly understand the appeal for some people.

 

[Red Storm]

I personally love that I've been able to move more and more away from Windows. All we need now is for game devs to branch out more and I'll be completely Windows free at home.