Windows Mobile latest vapour

Well a startup is giving a to go to tactics that are made famous by Microsoft itself; cheap vapourware tactics. As in touting software that doesn't exist. Their latest attempt for Windows Mobile: Skyfire... err... note to Microsoft and its affiliates: if you can't stop copying everyone else's products, can you try being original in at least naming the copied products? you know... just to differentiate yourself from software pirates.

ok so what is Skyfire? well its a browser for Windows Mobile, akin to one Microsoft had promised in December it will kick iPhone's butt (laughing already? waite, there's more to come). Ok so couple of questions:

Q: Why does Windows Mobile need Skyfire?
A: cuz its current browser sux.

Q: So what makes it so cool?
A: well it can browse the web that will support features which... umm... well some of the other smartphone browsers already support and have been in the market for a while. (check S60 based smartphones for instance)

Q: So its like a normal web browser?
A: Not really, normal browsers download webpages direct to your phone as opposed to Skyfire's approach which uses a proxy-server to send out web content to your Windows Mobile phone. Meaning, another computer does the browsing then sends out supposedly cached content to your Windows Mobile based smartphone (Ahem! does anyone else hear several alarm bells ringing?)

Q: So if the actual processing is done on some other server not my phone, they can see what I am browsing?
A: Interesting question, and here is some really interesting read from Skyfire's private info:

""When you use the Browser, Skyfire has access to, and in many cases will monitor, your Browser Usage."

"Browser Usage Information includes such information as which websites and programs you access or download on your Device, how long you visit such websites and use such programs, your activities (such as products purchased or advertisements viewed) on such websites, which specific areas of a website or webpage you use and for how long, websites you bookmark, search terms you use, referring/exit pages, browser and platform types, the geographic location in which your Device is being used and information you provide on third party websites."

Whoa.... like are you serious? Sounds to me if the US government had gifted Osama with a Windows Mobile phone running Skyfire, he would be long caught and dead by now, they could have monitored his every move! With this kind of browser, who needs spyware or viruses??

But wait, there is one more question...

Q: Where is Skyfire?
A: At the moment, nowhere actually. Like no one has seen it or used it, or download it or allowed to test it or know if it really exists. OK of all the people, even the staff of msmobiles.com, which provides daily news and information to help Windows Mobile users make better use of their devices, has to say this "...we must conclude that it is just another vaporware product ... that in reality may never materialize as a commercial product." - 28 Jan 2008.

not laughing yet? well neither are the Windows Mobile users. So what about the one that Microsoft had promised in December? Here is some interesting buzz their announcement is creating like from electronista.com:

• Pfft. More like, "Microsoft copying iPhone Safari in next WinMobile."
• Always, MS is saying their next version of vapor/crapware will attempt to copy what [already] works now, except to add 10 steps and requires help from IT department.
• more vaporware from Micro$oft..... Promising tomorrow what already exists on the market today.
• Ha Ha Ha... "Microsoft has not issued a schedule for when it expects any of the updates to appear", oh that brings tears to my eyes .. good luck with that Microsoft..

Umm... what can I say.... they've already said it all.

Bilal
http://elanist.com/bilal

Who chooses Windows Mobile?

I know i'm going to ruffle a few feathers with this one, but what the heck, I actually HOPE I ruffle more than a few! Windows Mobile is now in its 6th version and what is it biggest draw back? its still "Windows".

OS being one of the most important factors when getting a smartphone, there are still a number of OS options in the market for smartphones. However, Symbian is the most prolific and mature OS for these devices by far. So for the most users this choice is made easier compared to other factors when looking for a smartphone. Though there is a small faction of users, who still feel Windows Mobile might be the right choice when getting their first (and possibly second) smartphone. A little puzzling as it might be, lets consider what type of users might fall under this category:

a. American users:
Obviously not the smartest of the smartphone users on the planet. Many of the American mobile phone users are still learning to SMS. No wonder its the only place on earth where Symbian users are still a minority. The cave dwelling Taliban are rumoured to be more mobile savvy than the average american citizen.


b. First time smartphone users:
Many smartphone users are still first timers and coming from a PC background so they feel a Windows Mobile based phone might be easier to use than a Symbian one. An unfortunate assumption which often leads such users to a lengthy cycle of frustration from one WM phone to another till they finally make the jump to a better OS (google on it a bit).

c. Mislead by the name "Windows" Mobile:
Some new users are under the impression that having Windows Mobile means the smartphone would have better support for MS Office files, and sync better with their PC windows. This might be an unfortunate assumption and they cant be blamed for it. One would expect a Microsoft OS to work better Microsoft's own products. New users somehow believe that a Windows Mobile phone would give better usage of MS Office files or online services from MSN, and better synchronization with their Windows based PC. But then again... what a silly assumption. How can someone not be aware of the unreliability and sluggishness that is synonymous with Windows name. Ironically Windows Mobile is probably the worst OS in this regard (arguably right? so go on and argue).

d. Little hand-held PC:
There are still people who think having a smartphone is like having a hand held PC that can make phone calls. Such users might feel that "rebooting" the phone now and then, just like the PC, is normal. That it is normal for their smartphone to keep getting sluggish if not rebooted now and then (google on it, will ya?), it is normal for the OS to suck the life (battery life) out of the phone. They have just learned to live with the frustration and take it as the norm. So with such low expectations, they can kinda cope with the frustrations of Windows Mobile.

You're not getting the picture yet? let me share one of the postings on Gizmodo. This message was posted as a response to an article about frustrations with Windows Mobile 6 on the Moto Q9m:

"Maybe using a touchscreen Pocket PC makes me immune to these frustrations. I dont see how a non-touchscreen Q should be compared to a touchscreen Iphone for usability".

Fortunately, users tend to change our phone (even smartphones) far quicker than they change their PC or any of their other electronic devices for that matter. So its still not a big loss if their first smartphone is not the right one.

And by the way... if any of you got any issues with this post, let me give you some idea what kind of mobile phones I use:



Bilal
http://elanist.com/bilal