Filed under: Odds and ends, iPhone
Windows Mobile, Android, Flash make headlines at Mobile World Congress
Two of Apple's rival mobile platforms announced news this week at the 2009 Mobile World Congress, with Windows Mobile 6.5 on the way, and a new Android-based handset from HTC.
Windows Mobile has updated its user interface to more closely resemble the iPhone's. I can imagine the brainstorming session:
Developer 1: "It needs to look, work, and feel like the iPhone, but -- you know -- not be."
Developer 2: "Instead of putting the icons on a rectangular grid, let's do a (one two three four five six) hexagonal one!"
Developer 1: "Brilliant! Book it. Done."
I kid, I kid. I'm sure it was more complicated than that. Anyway, Windows Mobile will also feature two new services, a "My Phone" synchronization service, and a new marketplace that will sell mobile applications from both phones and desktops. It's like I've heard this song before, but can't remember exactly where.
Also at the conference, HTC announced the Magic, a handset to run Google's Android operating system. Unlike the G1, the Magic will not have a slide-out keyboard. It will first be available to Vodafone customers in the UK, Germany and Spain, among other European carriers. Cult of Mac's Ed Sutherland suspects T-Mobile will carry the handset in the U.S. because it can handle the phone's transmission protocols.
Both the Windows Mobile and Android platforms also announced they'll support Flash (along with Symbian and Palm's new webOS) in 2010. And what of the iPhone? No dice: Adobe lobs the ball back in Apple's court, saying during the announcement, "We would love to see it on the iPhone, too, but it's Apple's decision on when and how they support any new technology. So we will continue to work on it."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jash Sayani said 12:11PM on 2-17-2009
Doesn't matter. Neither Windows Mobile 6.5 nor HTC Magic can shake the iPhone!
However, I guess Palm Pre would be a thunder for Apple :)
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Level 5 said 5:22PM on 2-25-2009
I gotta tell ya buddy, people who do REAL business and want REAL customization for their device don't buy iPhones. This whole article isn't even relevant to TUAW aside from the mention of Flash for iPhone.
To the author, the honeycomb comment is 1 - false, and 2 - irrelevant. Windows Mobile icons have been in the grid formation since 2001. Palm has had theirs for about as long. How is this ripping off the iPhone? If anything I would say the iPhone rips these icon displays. But see, then I'd have to ask, HOW MANY WAYS can one arrange icons on a phone screen? REALLY?
I'll let you guys in on another little secret. Apple just does not want Flash on the iPhone. They may change thier tune in time, but as of now, they don't want it. Look at our aforementioned WinMo. Flash has been available on WinMo devices for YEARS. Here's the argument that makes the whole processor/battery/RAM argument moot.
In 2005, I had an HTC Apache. 400 Mhz processor, weaker than iPhone. 64MB total RAM, less than iPhone. No graphics acceleration, unlike iPhone. And the shittiest battery you can possibly put in a mobile device. Guess what sports fans, it not only ran Flash with very little RAM usage, on the EXTREMELY unoptimized WinMo 5.0, it ran it without a hitch, at full speed, up to 60FPS, and drained the battery no more than any other program being used on the device. In the 2 years with my Apache, it NEVER EVER crashed the phone. In the 1 year on my HTC Tytn, it NEVER crashed the phone. In my 1 month on the HTC Touch Pro, take a guess.. never crashed.
iPhone can handle Flash. Unless the iPhoneOS is somewhat unoptimized in itself (and let be real here, we know it's not), there is zero reason other than politics that it is not on this device. Even better, my HTC Touch Pro runs CIRCLES around Flash within Opera Mobile. Circles. It has similar specs to the iPhone (though the iPhone edges it out spec-wise I believe). Again, no additional battery drain, crashes, or whacked out RAM usage.
It will happen. Be patient. And good god guys STOP turning everything into an iPhone vs everything debate. The shit makes me sick.
Varun said 12:15PM on 2-17-2009
Y'know... I really love my iPhone and I enjoy using my little Mac Mini (and am waiting for an update to it), but every now and again, the fanboism and elitism starts to bug me.
Seriously. Competition is good, particularly in the fledgling world of mobile OSes. They're the future of how we interact with information, and having a variety of different approaches - including those from Microsoft and other older players - will help people decide what works, what doesn't, what needs work, and what is perfect the way it is.
I for one would welcome cut and paste and am still waiting for background notification messaging on my iPhone - things which Windows Mobile has done for a very long time. Don't hate the other players, even if you think you're using a superior product. What works for you and me may not work for others.
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Swimatm said 1:08PM on 2-17-2009
I totally agree.
ack154 said 12:21PM on 2-17-2009
I don't know about everyone else... but I really dislike that "honeycomb" look for the new Windows Mobile. Just ends up looking like there's a ton of wasted space and looks like things are out of place.
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ramond said 12:24PM on 2-17-2009
They never even bothered to center the icons in the hexagons. To reorder you have to hold click and do move to top or move down that is going to be tedious.
Dave said 12:31PM on 2-17-2009
One thing i have noticed is that people whine about the exclusivity of the iPhone on O2, AT&T ect, but there was less of a fuss with the G1 on T-Mobile and to be honest networks have had exclusivity agreements for years and it still happens with the Storm and now the Magic.
Windows Mobile 6.5 looks slick, but Vista looks pretty, doesnt mean it works...
And C'mon, gimme flash already...
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Ed said 12:33PM on 2-17-2009
I'd be surprised if we didn't hear a flash announcement for the iPhone, between now and June...
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DrWho said 3:19PM on 2-17-2009
I'd be surprised if we did hear a flash announcement for the iPhone, between now and June...
elean said 5:32AM on 2-18-2009
Flash will not come to the iPhone for about 1-3 Years at least (if ever). This is a political desiccation to make the new web (the mobile web) more open than what the old web is / has become with all the proprietary plugins and bad CSS, DOM and JS implementations.
That's because apple (and google as they need an open web for indexing) are afraid, the web could be bound to one single platform or company they canot control, so they try their best to keep the web open and bound to (open) standards. And that's exactly the spirit of the web. It lives because it's open, it's as widespread because it's open.
Flash is not. Silverlight is not.
SigmaPiShrek said 12:59PM on 2-17-2009
I'm confused as to why there is a "Read More" link. I've noticed it on a few articles that show the full story on the main page. Way to get our hopes up thinking there's more!
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lx said 4:08AM on 2-18-2009
My thoughts exactly!
koogz said 2:39PM on 2-17-2009
I'm looking forward to the competition, it's just not going to be from Microsoft Mobile Windows.
Linux w/ Compiz would be cool.
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Jools said 3:07PM on 2-17-2009
The Sony Ericsson IDOU looks like fierce competition for the iPhone, and betters it in a few departments:
- 12.1 MP camera, 4256 x 2832 pixels, autofocus, xenon flash
- Video recording, video LED flash, secondary VGA videocall camera
- Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP
- 360 x 640 pixels, 3.5 inch TFT touchscreen, 16M colors
- MicroSD cardslot
- MMS
- FM radio with RDS
- Voice memo/dial
- Java MIDP 2.0
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David Robison said 4:34PM on 2-17-2009
Yes, the specs do look good and the video glimpse I saw on Engadget Mobile looked interesting. The real proof will be in the usability pudding. Will it be a pleasure to actually use? Apparently the touchscreen will include haptic feedback. Not sure why. I've tried a phone with haptic "buzzing" and it was just st00pid and distracting. If the device focuses on frivolous, that would be sad.
jonathan said 4:52PM on 2-17-2009
i've never understood the reason to throw a 12 or even 5MP camera in a device that has a lens the size of a pushpin. who cares the resolution of crap that you're getting, its still crap. upgrade the lens and maybe i'll take that part serious. i've tested at least 20 photos of the same shot from my iJesusphone to many other phones, crackberrys, storm, g1, treos etc. n95 etc none match the clarity the iphone has given...tho itd be nice to see this IDOU in action.
dont get me wrong, i'm just harpin on the megapixel thing.
David Robison said 5:10PM on 2-17-2009
I agree about the MP. I get some great shots with my iPhone too. I do wish it had an optical zoom though.
I would think that the Idou would have good quality though since it's a Sony camera.
Rhys said 7:12PM on 2-17-2009
I guess the only advantage of fitting a high MP to a tiny camera (provided it is a true MP and not interpolated or upscaled) is the ability to have a reasonable digital zoom. Optical zoom is almost impossible with such tiny lenses, but at least if you have 12 MP to play with, you could *zoom in* and take a (supposedly) decent shot at 5 MP.
I kinda wish the iPhone would have the option to expand its memory... but at the same time, 16GB is a lot for a phone. But that said, if someone wants to fork out for a 32GB SDHC card... why not? I'm sure el Jobso has a reason for it.
I think one of the reasons that Apple aren't keen to support flash, is the load on the processor, and it would take away from their AppStore. Especially in terms of games. Who is going to buy games when you could play free ones with Flash? (Well, many of us would if they are good... but you get my drift?) Again, as much as we'd all like to see it... I'm sure there's a valid reason for it.