Now that software giants Apple and Google have created the world's first super-smartphones, Microsoft has apparently made the decision to join their efforts to bring users the best and greatest of smartphone technology. With their new windows phone about to go on sale, Microsoft is set to enter the market that has been dominated by the iPhone and the Droid for the last four years.
Microsoft hasn't been completely out of the smartphone picture-- devices running windows mobile have been available for a long time. But their most recent set of operating systems, windows mobile versions 5 and 6, and updates 6.1 and 6.5 were met with less than overwhelming enthusiasm. Critiqued as buggy and not a great step up from predecessors, windows mobile 5 was the least popular, while versions 6, 6.1 and 6.5 were better received. But all of these operating systems ran phones with significantly less capabilities than either the iPhone or the Droid phones, thus relegating them to the category of 'smartphone' rather than super-smartphone.
Performance-wise, the latest windows phone has been lauded for accomplishing most of the major functions that its competitors employ, but has also been received as not quite up to the task of competing with the established names -- at least not yet. Lacking some features that many users consider important, such as video calling and using the phone to connect other devices to the internet (called 'tethering'), the phones may be seen as inferior to the other options.
One of the major things that Microsoft will have to contend with is the lack of an app market for their phones, at least at first. It takes some time for apps to be created after the system becomes available, and as new Droid users could attest two years ago when the phones first come on the market, there are very few programs to be had. This, along with the fact that most Windows-only software, such as the Microsoft Office suite offered on the new phones, can be replicated by third party apps in iPhones and Droids, may make it hard for them to take off.
There are certainly things to recommend the latest and greatest from Microsoft, however. The new system is lauded for its great design and ease of use, with reviewers noting the ability to quickly launch the camera, even when the phone isn't on, and great search capabilities.
With so many features, it's hard to make one summary of what the new Windows phone will be like. Reviewers cite their opinions on the music player, the email program, contacts, internet browsers, calendars, games and everything in between. Given this many features, users are undoubtedly going to have diverse opinions about the overall quality of the phones.
A major disappointment for many has been the lack of flash player in the internet browser, a feature that Droid offers and can be added to iPhones, though it is not native. The new phones are clearly Microsoft's attempt at re-entering the game of super-smartphones, but only time can tell if they will be successful.
Microsoft hasn't been completely out of the smartphone picture-- devices running windows mobile have been available for a long time. But their most recent set of operating systems, windows mobile versions 5 and 6, and updates 6.1 and 6.5 were met with less than overwhelming enthusiasm. Critiqued as buggy and not a great step up from predecessors, windows mobile 5 was the least popular, while versions 6, 6.1 and 6.5 were better received. But all of these operating systems ran phones with significantly less capabilities than either the iPhone or the Droid phones, thus relegating them to the category of 'smartphone' rather than super-smartphone.
Performance-wise, the latest windows phone has been lauded for accomplishing most of the major functions that its competitors employ, but has also been received as not quite up to the task of competing with the established names -- at least not yet. Lacking some features that many users consider important, such as video calling and using the phone to connect other devices to the internet (called 'tethering'), the phones may be seen as inferior to the other options.
One of the major things that Microsoft will have to contend with is the lack of an app market for their phones, at least at first. It takes some time for apps to be created after the system becomes available, and as new Droid users could attest two years ago when the phones first come on the market, there are very few programs to be had. This, along with the fact that most Windows-only software, such as the Microsoft Office suite offered on the new phones, can be replicated by third party apps in iPhones and Droids, may make it hard for them to take off.
There are certainly things to recommend the latest and greatest from Microsoft, however. The new system is lauded for its great design and ease of use, with reviewers noting the ability to quickly launch the camera, even when the phone isn't on, and great search capabilities.
With so many features, it's hard to make one summary of what the new Windows phone will be like. Reviewers cite their opinions on the music player, the email program, contacts, internet browsers, calendars, games and everything in between. Given this many features, users are undoubtedly going to have diverse opinions about the overall quality of the phones.
A major disappointment for many has been the lack of flash player in the internet browser, a feature that Droid offers and can be added to iPhones, though it is not native. The new phones are clearly Microsoft's attempt at re-entering the game of super-smartphones, but only time can tell if they will be successful.
About the Author:
Hungry for more details? visit freebiejeebies, and you will see just how easy you too can claim your own free ipad or any of the great free gifts..
0 comments:
Post a Comment