PC World Slams Windows Phone 7

[Nebor]

http://www.pcworld.com/article/210522/windows_phone_7_microsofts_disaster.html

I've had a Samsung Surround for several weeks now, and I can't really disagree with many of his points. It's pretty, but functionality wise it feels like a huge step backwards from WM 6.5.

The only way to get .docs, .ppts or .xcls onto your device is by emailing them to yourself or syncing via Sharepoint 2010. You can't sync them via Skydrive or Zune software.

 

[gsaldivar]

Microsoft typically needs three failures in a row before they can pull off a moderate hit...

 

[finbarqs]

to be honest, Exchange works fine without the necessity to use a VPN. I guess i don't have one with me, so I wouldn't know the disadvantages just yet. But, I do HIGHLY Disagree about the comment on HP's Web OS 2.0: ALL OS's are still not up to par with Web OS's interface. It's the most intuitive, most functional OS i've ever used.

Multitasking is perfect, copy and paste is there, notifcation is the best I've had, and the OS just works. The only thing it lacked was the amount of apps. WebOS feels more polished than my EVO 4G device with Froyo. But then again, maybe I'm a sucker for consistency, and ease of use, which imho webOS beats android.

 

[Fingolfin269]

The only thing it lacked was the amount of apps.

I'm still using a Palm Pre (unfortunately) but think that in addition to apps they really need some good hardware. Web OS 2.0 on a device like the EVO? Sign me up.

 

[Blueychan]

that article is a FUD ...

he brought up copy and paste again? Didn't MS said this is going to be in early next year?

What's up with the hate for WP7? Are people fear that Microsoft actually going to succeed in the mobile market that they have to bash it any chance they get? It's a first gen phone, does he expect it to surpass Andriod and iOS at release?

 

[Nebor]

Powered my Samsung Focus off earlier due to the charging indicator flashing as if it were plugged in when it wasn't. When I turned it back on, all data had been dumped (apps, music, contacts, etc.) Guess my A Data 16gb class 6 card wasn't compatible after all. How annoying. I ordered a 16gb kingston class 4 off Amazon, should be here Monday...

 

[Pliablemoose]

I think WP7 will be a very capable OS in record time, a year from now, it'll be a great OS.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I'm still using a Palm Pre (unfortunately) but think that in addition to apps they really need some good hardware. Web OS 2.0 on a device like the EVO? Sign me up.

Great hardware would be nice but does the Palm Pre really suffer from slowness? I think the whole 1ghz thing is nice but in the case of Android, one really needs it. People chastise Apple for being "behind the game" and same with Symbian, but when you look at it both iOS and S60v5 and S60^3 don't really require a 1ghz processor and 512mb ram to run smoothly. On Android, this is a different story. Now what about WebOS? Does it truly need the hardware to run that well? If not, then you should ask yourself are you really missing out.

 

[MrX8503]

that article is a FUD ...

he brought up copy and paste again? Didn't MS said this is going to be in early next year?

What's up with the hate for WP7? Are people fear that Microsoft actually going to succeed in the mobile market that they have to bash it any chance they get? It's a first gen phone, does he expect it to surpass Andriod and iOS at release?

Being a first gen phone is not an excuse. It was MS's decision to release their WP7 late and it's their problem to bring their "A" game if they wanna compete/succeed.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Powered my Samsung Focus off earlier due to the charging indicator flashing as if it were plugged in when it wasn't. When I turned it back on, all data had been dumped (apps, music, contacts, etc.) Guess my A Data 16gb class 6 card wasn't compatible after all. How annoying. I ordered a 16gb kingston class 4 off Amazon, should be here Monday...

AT&T is suggesting waiting till there are WP7 endorsed MicroSD cards available...

http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/12/...focus-customers-not-to-buy-microsd-cards-yet/

Once inserted and properly formatted, the memory card becomes an inseparable part of the phone.
A microSD card inserted into a Windows Phone 7 device and integrated into the device's file system is intended to be a permanent modification to the device. Once a microSD card has been integrated into a Windows Phone 7 device's file system, it will no longer be readable or writable on any other devices such as computers, cameras, printers, and so on. This includes an inability to format the microSD card for use in these devices. Improper use (including inserting or removing) of microSD cards on Windows Phone 7 devices may result in one or more of the following:

• System error while powering on the device that prevents the Windows Phone 7 operating system from loading. Note that emergency dialing will function properly.
• Inaccurate reporting of available storage.
• Loss of access to or removal of installed applications.
• Loss of access to or removal of user data/media stored on the microSD card.
• Loss of access to or removal of user data or media stored internally within the Windows Phone 7 device.
• Overall file system performance degradation.
• Device lockup or reset.

http://ars.samsung.com/customer/usa...ID=2&PROD_SUB_ID=557&PROD_ID=558&AT_ID=344529

If your Windows Phone 7 device contains an SD card, you should think of it as a permanent component of your phone, not as removable storage. The Windows Phone 7 operating system treats the SD card as an integrated part of the phone. This is in contrast to other devices, where you can use an SD card to increase the memory available to the device at any time or to transfer files to other devices. The phone’s operating system integrates the SD card with the phone:

• When you start your phone for the first time.
• When your phone is reset to its original factory settings. This is called a factory reset. This is a task that is typically only performed by OEMs or MOs.

When the operating system integrates the SD card with your phone:

1. It reformats the SD card.
2. It creates a single file system that spans the internal storage and the SD card.
3. It locks the card to the phone with an automatically generated key.

From this point on, the phone’s operating system uses all of the available memory as a single storage space for storing applications and data. The phone will stop working properly if you remove the SD card, and the SD card cannot be read by another phone, device, or PC.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2450831

 

[Nebor]

Yeah, I read all that on the forums. XDA forum says the Kingston 16gb Class 4s are good to go though.

 

[gsaldivar]

When the operating system integrates the SD card with your phone:

1. It reformats the SD card.
2. It creates a single file system that spans the internal storage and the SD card.
3. It locks the card to the phone with an automatically generated key.

The phone will stop working properly if you remove the SD card, and the SD card cannot be read by another phone, device, or PC.

W T F ... ?

 

[YoungGun21]

Now that is what I call innovation!

lololol

 

[Deeko]

We already had a thread about this guy's thoughts on WP7 half a year ago:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2090143&highlight=galen+gruman

He doesn't try hard to hide the fact that he's hated this OS for a long time. Copy and paste is coming, yet he harps on it constantly. He talks about how "shockingly bad" the office apps are - that's flat out untrue. No, you can't copy and paste (again the crux of his argument there), but other than that, the Office apps are fantastic. He talks about security - while yes, it does lack some of the more secure features WM 6.5 had, it also has a lot of Exchange security features under the hood that other systems lack.

Plus, he wrote an entire paragraph about how they're "abandoning" their customer base, like its such a horrible thing! Has he not looked at the market share numbers for Windows Mobile over the last year or two? Its very obvious that customers don't want that, so if they have to hurt the feelings of the handful that do...well, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. He talks in this paragraph about how this OS can't be used for business...that's just flatly untrue, in many ways its a great business phone.

If you look at some articles: (http://www.infoworld.com/author-bios/galen-gruman) - there sure seems to be a lot of Apple articles. Would you really shocked if this were just another iFan trying to hide that fact and act like an unbiased reporter?

 

[QueBert]

So if I get a WP7 phone, put an SDcard in it and the card dies I'm screwed? It says it won't operate without one once you put one in. But if one dies and I put another in what happens? I've had at least 4 micro/miniSD cards crap out on me, so I'm not a big fan of them really.

 

[Skel]

that article is a FUD ...

he brought up copy and paste again? Didn't MS said this is going to be in early next year?

What's up with the hate for WP7? Are people fear that Microsoft actually going to succeed in the mobile market that they have to bash it any chance they get? It's a first gen phone, does he expect it to surpass Andriod and iOS at release?

Same thing happens everytime MS releases anything. You have a ton of people still stuck in the 90s "it's cool to hate M$" and will find any and every reason to slam and declare fail on every MS product. Look around here and you'll see it all over the place.. Kinect? The console area had them slamming it and saying it'll be a huge failure months before anyone could even get hands on with it.

 

[Eug]

I don't see the big deal about limited editing functionality of Office on a phone.

I've never been a Windows Mobile fan, so I am skeptical about Windows Phone 7, but that article sounds like a heavily biased rant.

 

[Nebor]

So if I get a WP7 phone, put an SDcard in it and the card dies I'm screwed? It says it won't operate without one once you put one in. But if one dies and I put another in what happens? I've had at least 4 micro/miniSD cards crap out on me, so I'm not a big fan of them really.

You lose everything on the phone if your SD card dies. It's integrated with the internal memory once you add it. Furthermore, once you use an SD card in the phone, it can never be used by anything else. My PC won't even detect my A Data 16gb Class 6 card, which as it turns out, is incompatible with the phone.

 

[Deeko]

So if I get a WP7 phone, put an SDcard in it and the card dies I'm screwed? It says it won't operate without one once you put one in. But if one dies and I put another in what happens? I've had at least 4 micro/miniSD cards crap out on me, so I'm not a big fan of them really.

You can do a hard reset on the phone after taking out the SD card and it will go back to just using the internal memory.

 

[Patranus]

You lose everything on the phone if your SD card dies. It's integrated with the internal memory once you add it. Furthermore, once you use an SD card in the phone, it can never be used by anything else. My PC won't even detect my A Data 16gb Class 6 card, which as it turns out, is incompatible with the phone.

Maybe people should actually read the instructions before they try and use a feature?

*shocking* concept I know.

 

[Nebor]

The instructions weren't clear on what kind of card should be used. Nor what happens if you use a card that doesn't meet their (unknown) requirements.

I mean it's whatever, I've got a new card on the way, it's only $40.

 

[gsaldivar]

Maybe people should actually read the instructions before they try and use a feature?

Maybe people should actually read the posts in the thread before they try to criticize the actions of others?

"...only microSD memory cards certified for Windows Phone 7 should be used. This information is not currently marked on any microSD packaging in market today. As a result, we are advising customers to delay purchasing an external microSD card until the cards identified as "Certified for Windows Phone 7" are available commercially or in AT&T stores..."

 

[QueBert]

I bet these "WP7 certified" sd cards that will be out soon will cost more, sad. I'm still confused why MS couldn't have made the card use a standard format like FAT32. My Droid's FAT32 so I can pull it out and my PC see's it fine. If I get a WP7 handset and put a 32 gig card in it I'm basically stuck if I get a new phone and want to pull the wp7 card and re-use it.

 

[WelshBloke]

We already had a thread about this guy's thoughts on WP7 half a year ago:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2090143&highlight=galen+gruman

He doesn't try hard to hide the fact that he's hated this OS for a long time. Copy and paste is coming, yet he harps on it constantly. He talks about how "shockingly bad" the office apps are - that's flat out untrue. No, you can't copy and paste (again the crux of his argument there), but other than that, the Office apps are fantastic. He talks about security - while yes, it does lack some of the more secure features WM 6.5 had, it also has a lot of Exchange security features under the hood that other systems lack.

Plus, he wrote an entire paragraph about how they're "abandoning" their customer base, like its such a horrible thing! Has he not looked at the market share numbers for Windows Mobile over the last year or two? Its very obvious that customers don't want that, so if they have to hurt the feelings of the handful that do...well, ya gotta do what ya gotta do. He talks in this paragraph about how this OS can't be used for business...that's just flatly untrue, in many ways its a great business phone.

If you look at some articles: (http://www.infoworld.com/author-bios/galen-gruman) - there sure seems to be a lot of Apple articles. Would you really shocked if this were just another iFan trying to hide that fact and act like an unbiased reporter?

Thing is every one that hated WinMo has already moved to Android/iOS. If they piss off the WinMo users as well it doesn't leave them much of a market.

<WinMo user

 

[Deeko]

Thing is every one that hated WinMo has already moved to Android/iOS. If they piss off the WinMo users as well it doesn't leave them much of a market.

<WinMo user

People buy new phones quite frequently - more than they do new computers. Just because someone has an iPhone or Android doesn't mean they can't get something else. Most non-tech types don't become huge fanboys of a product like people here do.