They say that it takes three goes to get a piece of software right. One piece of software that has broken the rule, and charred this expectation is Windows Mobile. So today I break a silence to join those who berate Windows Mobile: they say that 'Winmo' is a lame interface for a smart phone. I've used Winmo since it was called 'Windows CE' - this was a low-power operating system to embed in devices such as electronic diaries. This was lame too. My rogue's gallery of owned or loaned devices includes the successful HP Jornada 710; the well sized Samsung's Izzi Pro and well featured HP Ipaq 6550. Phone features were added to "Windows CE" and Windows Mobile was born, I went for the HTC TyTn II followed by today's HTC Touch Diamond2 running version 6.5. In this hardware collection you will find capable specifications with Bluetooth; WLAN; hi-res touch screens; video calling; fingerprint recognition; GPS and geo-tagging cameras. What you won't find is even one device that can use these conveniently. It can't display photos with any degree of speed or slick; similarly it can't jot a shopping list; show video without distortion and choppiness; install software; select music to play or make a phone call. An ipod Touch makes mincemeat on almost every point. It's even better at adding a contact or appointment for which it was not primarily designed.
I’ll agree it’s unfair to slam Windows Mobile and call it atrocious. But Microsoft has had the resources to change the phone world and numerous versions later, I still find it hard to use my HTC to send a text; make a phone call or do any of those ipod basics.
If anyone reviews Windows 7 mobile and says it's the dog's doodas, they might just find me already deaf. I’ve long believed that WinMo might provide what was missing elsewhere. I’ve done the good thing and put Google’s Android on my HTC (see www.androidonhtc.com). Both Google Android and iphone have had their irritations but by the second or third release they've been sorted.
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