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Marty_J

asininity wrote: »

I only mention it because windows 7 is meant to be very scalable unlike certain others of their OSs and because of THIS video on the BBC news site about windows 7s touch capabilities, from what is shown somewhat like the iphones.

I saw that; it doesn't seem to be as smooth as the iPhone but I guess (a) I would say that, and (b) it's still in beta.

Be prepared for lawsuits though! Apple has a whole bunch of patents covering multi-touch gestures and the like, and has threatened to "aggressively" go after anyone who infringes them.

Personally, I don't have the energy to sit in front of my computer and wave my arms around, and I don't think what's appropriate for a handheld device is appropriate for a desktop computer. Remember the ridiculously inefficient and time consuming way Tom Cruise's character controlled the computer in Minority Report?

But I'm told by Microsoft it's the future, so what do I know? :rolleyes:

anewhope wrote: »

Huh?

You don't need to get a new phone in order to update Windows Mobile. Manufacturers of the devices such as HTC provide updates and so do the network carriers in time. Going back a few years when I used to be with O2, they provided an update from PPC 2003 to Windows Mobile 5, and so forth in coming revisions. Whether the manufacturers or carriers decide to release the update is another thing.

I seem to recall reading that you'll only be able to install Windows Mobile 6.5 on devices released from last week onwards or so. And even then, as you point out, you'll only be able to update it if your carrier decides to let you.

Hardware wise, there are hundreds if not thousands of combinations of Windows Mobile devices and not all of those are adequately specced for an upgrade not to mention networks locking their customers into bespoke branded editions. Networks aren't exactly speedy at reacting to something like that.

Which is why Apple and Nokia have a big advantage.

It's in Microsoft's best interests to have their latest offering of Windows Mobile available, but unfortunately for the end user, there's a lot of obstacles preventing them getting it legally as part of their agreement with their chosen network.

Microsoft don't seem to be in a big hurry to release Windows Mobile updates. When you compare the number of updates it has released with the number Apple have released, that's abundantly clear. Both Apple and Symbian are way out in front; I believe Symbian are planning to release an update every six months. If Microsoft want to compete in the smart-phone market, they'll have to keep up.

Personally, I don't like phones that don't have physical keypads which I'm hoping HTC for the foreseeable future remain making devices with both input methods.

Well, that's very much personal preference. I happen to like touch screens, as the possible controls aren't, as Steve Jobs put it, "set in stone".

asininity

Marty_J wrote: »

I saw that; it doesn't seem to be as smooth as the iPhone but I guess (a) I would say that, and (b) it's still in beta.

Be prepared for lawsuits though! Apple has a whole bunch of patents covering multi-touch gestures and the like, and has threatened to "aggressively" go after anyone who infringes them.

Personally, I don't have the energy to sit in front of my computer and wave my arms around, and I don't think what's appropriate for a handheld device is appropriate for a desktop computer. Remember the ridiculously inefficient and time consuming way Tom Cruise's character controlled the computer in Minority Report?

But I'm told by Microsoft it's the future, so what do I know?:rolleyes:

If you look further down the page you'll see what market they're targeting with it plus notice apple look to be doing the same for macs, though I dont know which one will do it first. You'd only use it where its a disadvantage using a keyboard/mouse.

As to apple suing thats up in the air, they can't hold patents for all gestures, and their claims to need tested by law but I suppose time will tell when the pre is released.

nicbates

ndarby wrote: »

I bought my 3g PAYG iphone on ebay by selling my nokia N95 and my iTouch. Made a profit. I bought a turbo sim (ebay again) so I could use my current contracted SIM at £19.95 per month, 600 texts, 800 mins and unlimited internet per month.
I cut, copy, paste, send mms, use google earth and a load of other apps.

I'm paying a good contract plus I have a very nice phone/ipod to boot !

IT CAN BE DONE !!!!

can you port your current number with a turbo sim?

sidneycarton

Hey Cluedo,

What O2 discount are you talking about that allows you cut your monthly tariff to £24?

Thanks.

asininity

Heres an interesting take on the multi-touch issue: Treonauts

Marty_J

asininity wrote: »

If you look further down the page you'll see what market they're targeting with it plus notice apple look to be doing the same for macs, though I dont know which one will do it first. You'd only use it where its a disadvantage using a keyboard/mouse.

I guess it might make sense in some situations. Apple are indeed doing the same thing in Snow Leopard, and their laptops already have some multi-touch gestures using their trackpads. I still think it's a waste of time for general desktop computing though.

As to apple suing thats up in the air, they can't hold patents for all gestures, and their claims to need tested by law but I suppose time will tell when the pre is released.

Well the pinch gesture Windows are using for zooming in and out seems to be exactly the same as the iPhone, and Apple's COO Tim Cook said "we are ready to suit up and go against anyone. However, we will not stand for having our intellectual property ripped off and will use whatever weapons we have at our disposal."

Apple are a funny bunch though, and they play their cards very close to their chest. As you say, time will tell.

asininity

Since its obvious thats the way the industry is going, I cant see apple winning anything much. Anti-competitive.

Either way the technology has been around a long time and there are a lot of companies with interest in it who might back each other up.

Marty_J

asininity wrote: »

Heres an interesting take on the multi-touch issue: Treonauts

I saw that, however, it was blown out of all proportion. Tim Cook said that he couldn't comment on any product that was unreleased, and then he made the comment I quoted above. He wasn't talking about Palm or any other company specifically.

Apple's patent covering the multi-touch gestures and iPhone interface is 358 pages long, so it's pretty extensive:

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/01/26/apple_awarded_key_multi_touch_patent_covering_the_iphone.html

Marty_J

asininity wrote: »

Since its obvious thats the way the industry is going, I cant see apple winning anything much. Anti-competitive.

Either way the technology has been around a long time and there are a lot of companies with interest in it who might back each other up.

Oh, don't get me wrong, the Palm Pre being a huge success would be great for Apple. It'll be available in the US on Sprint. Verizon are the biggest network in the US, and hence AT&T's main competitor, so anything that chips away at their market share will be regarded as a good thing.

It's a fine line Apple are walking. They've learnt the hard way what happens when you don't protect your intellectual property after licensing much of the GUI we take for granted in PCs to Microsoft in a very broad agreement, which resulted in them eventually losing any claims over it at all.

On the other hand, they pretty much gave the OS market to Microsoft by suing everyone else into oblivion for ripping them off. Apple are one of the main reasons why Microsoft have an effective monopoly. I'm sure they don't want a repeat of that, and unnecessarily stopping Palm competing with Blackberry and the like would be a silly move on their part.

isofa

The lack of copy and paste will be a non-issue soon - it will be added to the new iPhone OS (v3) later this year and this new OS upgrade with many new features will be available FREE to all iPhones...