windows mobile | The Coffeehouse

kitron

More than a year ago Iphone was unveiled, next week will probably see a new version, Android is shaping up to be a nice platform too, what happend to windows mobile? Is that going the way of Palm OS?

daSmirnov

Windows Mobile 6.1 was just released, and on the hardware/UI front, HTC are kicking ass. Do a search for HTC Touch Diamond and HTC Touch Pro.

kitron

In reply to daSmirnov

#Jun 7th, 2008 @ 5:45 PM

I've read the reviews and seen the videos, the phone looks cool but still seems a bit sluggish. Will WM 7 do away with the windows start menu button and design a ui that could be operated without a stylus?

Sven Groot
My name has 9 letters. Coincidence? I think not...

In reply to kitron

#Jun 8th, 2008 @ 12:19 PM

The start menu can be operated without a stylus. Just use your finger to press the start menu, then use the directional buttons to select an item.

TommyCarlier
I want my scalps!

In reply to kitron

#Jun 8th, 2008 @ 12:19 PM

I never use the stylus on my Qtek 9100. I have very *artistic* fingers so I control everything with my fingers. My Qtek has a keyboard I can slide out, but for simple text input I just use the onscreen keyboard. It takes some practice to use with your fingers, but it saves me time. Everytime I watch my boss take out his stylus to just tap a single button, I have to smile.

VB Man
Year of the Linux MCE.

I think that Microsoft needs to make Windows Mobile Pro more "touch-friendly". Some items on the screen are very small and hard to tap with your finger making you use a stylus. Windows Mobile Standard is great. Pro just needs to be more touch friendly.

The hardest thing I have trouble tapping with my finger is the red-x to "fully close out an app"[1]. I have attached an image if you are unsure of what I am talking about.

My biggest disappointment with Windows Mobile is that we must wait for the carrier to release and update. With other phones such as the iPhone, the minute the update is done, it's released. No waiting on Voda, Verizon, ATT, whoever to release the firmware update.

With the .NET CF and Java and Flash 7.0 being able to run on Windows Mobile, I don't believe that it is going anywhere soon. People will continue to make great applications to run on this great platform.

[1]Please fix this Microsoft. When I click the X in an application, I want it to be closed! Not minimise to the task manager.

Link to image - http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/7741/picture001pj1.jpg

(For some reason the Add Image in the editor isn't working)

HumanCompiler
Compiling humans...and code

In reply to kitron

#Jun 8th, 2008 @ 12:19 PM

I only use a stylus in one place in WinMo 6 (and only sometimes if I'm feeling clumsy) and that's the folder dropdown in Outlook. It's really small, otherwise I just use my finger.

Maddus Mattus
Do, or do not. There is no try. - Yoda

I have the S730, the one with the fold out keyboard and no touch screen.

I like it a lot, because it is primairly still a phone and a smart device second.

The touch thingies are more a novelty for me, cause I cant use them do dail when I am in my car. Also the fold out keyboard is excellent for typing messages. The screen could be a little bit bigger but I can manage.

Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that I think phones should be phones first (and do that well) and then a smart device. I love the way Windows Mobile manages to pull that off.

Pace
In The Mix...

In reply to VB Man

#Jun 8th, 2008 @ 10:44 PM

hi,

I am writing some data collection / bar coding applications using a hp ipaq 114 running mobile 6 paired with a bluetooth bar code scanner by flic and I have to say its been a complete doddle. We make large easy buttons to press for the menu's and main functions. The only thing which isnt large enough to easily navigate from a user perspective is our data grid (so we have started to barcode line items Tongue Out

which you can just scan to load up). But other than that ive found it really productive and easy developing these. Great documentation for mobile 6 im really impressed. The total cost (excluding development which is upto about 4 days) is approx 300 for the hardware. Thats impressive when you look at the market for mobile / barcoding solutions I think.

kitron

In reply to Pace

#Jun 9th, 2008 @ 2:35 AM

After seeing the 3g iphone and the new apps writted for Iphone, i don't think there is hope for microsoft. Seriously how can Microsoft one up Apple?

daSmirnov

In reply to kitron

#Jun 9th, 2008 @ 12:33 PM

After seeing the HTC Touch Pro, I saw my next phone.

Yes that means I, like many other people, won't be buying an iPhone. Apple have a long way to catch up, not only on sales but on being a decent platform.

brian.shapiro
things go on as always

In reply to daSmirnov

#Jun 9th, 2008 @ 12:53 PM

I'm interested in the HTC Raphael more. If I'm going to buy a PDA and not just a phone, I want to be able to enter text quickly. Onscreen keyboards suck, and using a stylus on a tiny device doesn't work as well as with a tablet pc (forget that Windows mobile doesn't have good stylus input options).

daSmirnov

In reply to brian.shapiro

#Jun 9th, 2008 @ 12:58 PM

That image right there is of the HTC Touch Pro.

I've got the XDA Mini S (HTC Wizard) at the moment, and although the Diamond is cool I don't think I could survive without the qwerty keyboard, I've just got too used to it.

As for the stylus, although I started using it initially with my first Pocket PC phone, I rarely use it anymore on my Mini S.

brian.shapiro
things go on as always

In reply to daSmirnov

#Jun 9th, 2008 @ 1:18 PM

Oh sorry you're right. Actually the HTC Touch Pro is the HTC Raphael, I thought you were talking about the Diamond

kitron

In reply to daSmirnov

#Jun 9th, 2008 @ 12:53 PM

Tell me what's wrong with the new Iphone, how do they have a long way to catchup?
-A better browser than anything else out there.
-fluid animations, response
-great graphics
-great sdk
What else is needed?

daSmirnov

In reply to kitron

#Jun 9th, 2008 @ 1:35 PM

Opera 9.5 bundled with the new HTC devices is pretty fine, zooming stuff, plus changes text layout to make things more readable. I use Opera 8 on my XDA Mini S and it is quite usable.

Fluid animations, response. See new HTC devices, hardware-accelerated 3D UI.

Great graphics? New HTC devices have VGA screens!!! *drools*.

SDK? Development not up to scratch with Windows Mobile, plus you don't need to register with Apple.

What else is needed? How about not forcing people to use iTunes, especially not now its forcing an insecure browser on people.

Bass
www.spreadfirefox.com/5years/

In reply to daSmirnov

#Jun 9th, 2008 @ 4:52 PM

Where do I purchase this HTC "iTouch" Professional Edition?

VB Man
Year of the Linux MCE.

HTC... Hates Their Customers...the camera on my Kaiser is by far the worts camera I've ever used. HTC blames it on graphic drivers and yet they won't release an update.

The camera on my 2 year old motorola flip phone is better than the Kaisers!

Pace
In The Mix...

In reply to kitron

#Jun 9th, 2008 @ 12:33 PM

Well from a business functionality pov msft have already donned Apple. Like I said, I took a smart phone / pda and wrote my own barcoding application for shop floor data collection in less than 4 days. Its making db calls and updates leveling the stock levels and providing up to minute order tracking for my customers via an asp.net webservice, its calling prints from SSRS to various printers out on the floor with a bar code renderer for line items of orders, so instead of having to navigate a menu they can just scan the item (or use the menu), its sexy cool. All possible because of the mobile platform and all at a cost less than $400... can you do that with an apple device? Oh wait its locked out isnt... Annoying that. Apple can get MS in nik-nak over bundling wm player with the os because not everyone has the internet, well why is your mobile platform locked down Apple? Even nokia's you can write apps for. I think Apple are scared because they just cant keep up with msft. Even Steve Jobs is showing signs of not being able to hack the ...Pace?...*evil laugh*

BlackTiger
If you stumbled and fell down, it doesn't mean yet, that you're going in the wrong direction.

In reply to Pace

#Jun 10th, 2008 @ 1:33 AM

After "iPhone 2.0" demonstration... Everything else sucks... Big Smile

I had plans to buy a "diamond"... But now I'm going to buy a new iPhone.
£100 + £30mon for literally everything! Amaizing...

TommyCarlier
I want my scalps!

In reply to Pace

#Jun 10th, 2008 @ 1:33 AM

I agree with Pace, developing software for Windows Mobile is pretty straightforward and you don't need any special license to be able to run your applications on it. And .NET Compact Framework makes it very easy to write software for Windows Mobile. When I got my Qtek, I immediately tried to write an application for it. I was so happy the first time I saw my own software run on a mobile device.