Archive for February, 2010

Who’s Laughing Now? Windows Mobile to Copy iPhone?

Ballmer’s famous reaction to the iPhone seems all the more funnier now, looking back. According to claims, Microsoft is planning some changes for Windows Mobile 7:

  1. No multitasking
  2. Use a push notification for updates
  3. Use the iPod Touch ZuneHD interface
  4. Force apps to be installed via the iTunes App Store Windows Marketplace

While these changes aren’t confirmed yet, even if one or two of those changes are true, they scream jealousy. Why these changes? Microsoft needs to be able to compete with Apple on speed, battery life, and stability. While I am certainly not in any inner-circles close to this, I’m sure Microsoft is finding that people want stability, responsiveness, and good battery life in their cell phones. I know that responsiveness and stability are top on my list (I haven’t been overly happy with a phone with the exception of my BlackBerry ((no AT&T coverage in my area))  for some time now over those very things).

Whether Microsoft wants it or not, the world is slowly drifting away from do-it-all devices that have to be setup by power users. The world wants phones that they can turn on, install apps, and start using without having to worry about one application slowing down the phone or having too many open causing the phone to crash.

But not to worry, to those now doubting Microsoft, they thought of all of these radical changes all on their own..

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Filed under News, Tech Trends : Comments (0) : Feb 9th, 2010

Gmail to Add Twitter-Like Clutter

While I can’t say that I’m surprised, I’m a bit frustrated and disappointed in Google over the recent news that they are adding a Twitter-like clutter status to the Gmail interface. While I appreciate fancy new tools built into apps I already use as much as the next geek, I really, really don’t need yet another social networking tool to update, integrate, and look at. Seriously, it’s not new content. Does anyone really put unique content on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and every other social networking site they belong to? I certainly don’t and don’t know anyone who does. My accounts are all inter-twined and I’m tired of having to filter out the duplicate data on those sites. Adding yet another list of the same things from my friends is just clutter in a used-to-be clean interface.

UPDATE:

According to a Slashdot article today, the problem looks like it may be much worse. According to the article, Gmail will be adding Facebook-like photo albums and comment feeds. Fortunately, the Gmail social networking tools are opt-in, so perhaps I won’t have to see the clutter when I don’t want to? We’ll see.

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Filed under News, Tech Trends : Comments (0) : Feb 9th, 2010