Just Duke - Mostly Tech Ponderings

One of the best Smartphone Platforms out there today is Palm's  (Now HP's) Web OS. It's probably one of the best mobile Operating Systems for Multitasking, and user interface!  So why is it a dying platform? Palm for several reasons was a struggling company when they finally did get around to releasing this OS! And when they did, they really didn't have the clout to flood the internets, and print media with an Apple style hype. But even bigger than that, the OS was released with hardly any 3rd party apps, and developers were slow to migrate to the platform.

Apple released the 1st iPhone with NO 3rd party apps! But it did have a sleek, intuitive user interface, and marginal competition! And the 3rd party apps came and boy did they come! Apple's Appstore has still got more apps and games than any other smartphone platform. And many of them awesome! Anyone who knows anything about Smartphones, knows that the iPhone offers some incredible abilities!

Android has come a long way in Two years! I give Motorola's "Droid" credit for elevating the Android OS to cult status! Probably the best choice for Maps, and navigation out of the box is Android's 2.2 Froyo! The Android market is getting better and better every day! The last I heard, Google was activating over 160,000 new Android phones per day! It's on track to unseat "RIM's Blackberry devices as the number one smartphone platform in about a year! 

So just where does that leave Microsoft's new Windows Phone 7 scheduled to be released soon? Early reviews have been favorable! But can Microsoft hype and buzz this product to the point where it creates the fanboys that Apple and Google have managed to create? Will it be good enough to entice any of those fanboys to switch? Will it offer any third party apps when it's released? To me these are two of the issues that Microsoft needs to concentrate on when they do go to market with these devices! Advertising campaigns and a healthy 3rd party selection are must haves! If they aren't prepared in these two areas, in this guys opinion, they are wasting their time and money to bring these devices to market at all! Who wants to buy a Microsoft smartphone that is tied to my Xbox, when I can pick up an iPhone or an Evo that does just about anything else! Now, let me ask you a question: Name two Microsoft  products that Microsoft has made that people just go crazy over. . . . . . . I'm still waiting . . . .

Let's look at the Zune HD for a second . . Many say it's the best MP-3 player out there! Yes! Better than the iPod. But how many people would really consider purchasing a Zune over an iPod, because after all, what is a Zune?? When they can have the real deal! I noticed the other day at Best Buy, that a kid didn't call any of them MP-3 players.  They were all iPods! As if Apple invented digital music and a place to put it!  How many Zune HD commercials have you seen on cable? Compared to Apple's iPod? There is no doubt in this guy's mind that if Microsoft isn't prepared with slick advertising, hype, News Conferences where they appear truely excited about this product, and by excited I mean Steve Jobs Giddy-like, Windows Phone 7 won't die a slow death. It will be swift and ugly! The Pre and Pixi will still be dying when LG, HTC and Samsung bury their new Windows Phone devices. 

A Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Commercial I'd like to see: A parody of I'm a mac and I'm a PC. "I'm an iPhone" I'm a WP7 Phone". "I'm locked to one Carrier" I'm available on all" I still can't do true multitasking" - "I can".  That sort of thing . .  I personally think that would be very effective in getting the potential consumer to pay attention. 

What I don't want to see? A Windows Phone Logo, with some guy you never see telling you that you can take Windows with you . . .

I have a tendancy to believe the early reviews I have read on Windows Phone 7. And that  is that this is a  great Mobile Operating System, with a lot of potential that is more than a "Me-too" mobile phone operating system. But without third party offerings out of the gate and an advertising campaign that would make Steve Jobs jealous, I don't see Microsoft as having a chance in generating any kind of sustaining excitement about this product!

Steve Balmer! You know what is riding on this, don't you? Suddenly this is one very crowded genre! BlackBerry OS is fading! Palm Pre is dying. Android is HOT and iPhone OS4 is awesome! The World seems to know this fact! What will you do Microsoft to warrant any consideration? Office Mobile won't do it! Zune interface helps! Easily ported Zune Games is GREAT! Slick navigation is also a must! Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter, and Kindle needs to be available and GOOD at launch! Easy upload of Photos and Videos to more than Microsoft Live services is crucial. 

I'm still loving my Nexus One and Android 2.2! I'm not planning on replacing my device anytime soon! But I will be watching WP7 when it debuts later this year, and I am hoping Microsoft can make it worthy of my consideration when the time does come to take a new Smartphone Plunge.

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