“New iPhone competitors continue to crop up, though most are mobile devices from companies that simply slap on a touch screen in hopes of fooling consumers. The real key to the iPhone’s success is its software, and finally, signs indicate that other companies are starting to pay more attention to making good software to go along with their hardware,” Katherine Boehret reports for The Mossberg Solution (The Wall Street Journal).
“One welcome sign is an effort by companies trying to improve Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile operating system, which has a reputation for confusing navigation and hasn’t had a major update recently,” Boehret reports.
“This week, I tried yet another software program that is designed to run on top of Windows Mobile software. But this time, the software is at the heart of a device designed by the same company: HTC Inc. I tested the HTC Touch Diamond, due out from Sprint sometime this month for $250 (after a $100 mail-in rebate) with a two-year contract,” Boehret reports.
“The Diamond has a touch screen, but it’s smaller than Apple’s iPhone — 2.8 versus 3.5 inches. This screen lacks the iPhone’s multitouch functionality, and its smaller size robs space used for touch gestures like flicking or scrolling with a finger. Yet like the iPhone, it relies solely on an on-screen keyboard for all text entries. Even with the Diamond’s stylus, the keyboard felt small and cramped. Using just your fingertips was next to impossible,” Boehret reports.
“After using the Diamond for a week, I can say that despite its handsome TouchFLO 3D software and animated icons like photos that flip from one to the next with a flick of finger, this device failed to disguise the frustrating interface of Windows Mobile often enough for my taste,” Boehret reports.
Full review – highly recommended (unless you just wasted your money on an HTC Touch Diamond) – here.
MacDailyNews Take: Featured related article: Gary Krakow: ‘Steve Jobs has either gotta get BlackBerry or Windows Mobile on iPhone’ – June 04, 2008
No, but lots of THC can.
“… though most are mobile devices from companies that simply slap on a touch screen in hopes of fooling consumers.”
Ah yes, the ever oversimplified explanation of Apple’s success. It’s just eye-candy/toy.
Nick,
Then perhaps they might be able to sell a few in Amsterdam.
Mr. Peabody,
Your response indicates a complete misunderstanding of Boehret’s point.
” And boy did we patented it “
“Then perhaps they might be able to sell a few in Amsterdam.”
Sure. The hashed together ones.
@ Nick Fury:
“No, but lots of THC can.”
Hmmm, Humboldt gold, nice.
Sony is doing the same thing with the Xperia. They even have an SDK for their “Panel Interface” lipstick.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/03/sony-ericsson-releases-sdk-for-xperia-x1-panel-interface/
How pathetic is Windows Mobile when these companies, who were supposed to do nothing more than manufacture the hardware, have to develop special skins to cover it up?
“How pathetic is Windows Mobile when these companies, who were supposed to do nothing more than manufacture the hardware, have to develop special skins to cover it up?”
Too much pig, not enough lipstick?
Skins for WM is also like an air freshener. The spray really only gives you a flower scented shit smell.
If you want a hoot, go to Mossberg’s website and read the comments from the Windows people. These folks say it is not fair to compare the HTC to the iPhone. Instead, the new HTC should be compared to the older HTC phones.
So let me see if I have this right. If you are sitting with a plate of dog shit, don’t look at the guy next to you eating a nice juicy porterhouse steak. Instead, look at the guy on the other side of you with a plate of cow shit and be happy.
Now I know how Windows users get through each day.
“If you are sitting with a plate of dog shit, don’t look at the guy next to you eating a nice juicy porterhouse steak. Instead, look at the guy on the other side of you with a plate of cow shit and be happy.”
Whoa! Where the hell are you dining out these days? I hope you’re not leaving a tip.
@ Nick Fury,
My example must have come from may last trip to Best Buy.
“Now I know how Windows users get through each day.”
ha ha ha
@ 84 Mac Guy:
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Hahahaha…. my hat off to you for that hilarious post!!!
We had a staff member who bought a brand new Blackberry. We had to tell him we can’t set it up, but had he bought and iPhone, it wouldn’t have been a problem. He went straight to the president — who said more or less the same thing. Too bad – can’t believe the amount of “mind-share” Blackberries still have.
Gruell. Bye bye HTC/LG/NOKIA/SONY/ERIKINPOIKA
Very funny!
I think you may have finally figured out the insanity of Windows…..
Soumipoika
@84 Mac Guy
I have to disagree, the plate of dog shit would be much worse to eat than a plate of cow shit, providing the portions are of equal size.