It turns out that users CAN control which programs run in the background and which remain open. That is the good news. However, the implementation is disappointing where each program is added to the list.
I would MUCH prefer the N900 way (shown below) or the Palm Pre way. It gives the user much more control, by making the choice so complicated I believe its a huge disadvantage and an oversight on the team.
This video shows all of the additions to Windows Phone, and gives you all a more visual look. Joe goes through all of the improvements from the improved app search on the phone to the in app access to hardware.
Things to note is the pretty darn awesome Amazon App implementation which allows you to scan bar codes in the app itself, and then pin that function to the start screen. The multitasking looks good and if it does that its pretty awesome, it should mean that IM will be much more of a pleasant experience.
But the MOST impressive is the last 5 minutes, where he shows the Qantas App. The function in this app is ridiculously cool. Besides showing you the rudimentary things like your flight time, your ticket information etc. it actually allows you to specifically pin down that function of when your flight leaving. Then it will alert you if you are getting late and the time for your departure is approaching. If you are STILL not moving it alerts you that you need XX minutes to reach, based on your location. Pretty cool huh? Windows keeps pushing out apps like these that’ll be quite attractive to users and other developers alike, since it shows its potential.
According to Bloomberg Nokia could be cutting almost 6000 jobs which is 38% of the Devices R&D workforce. This would also be the steepest job cuts in 2 decades. These reductions are said to come over 12 months since Symbian products are still in the pipeline.
In effect they will be cutting $1 Billion Euro from R&D when the transition to Windows Phone is complete. While this is bad news, one must remember that had Nokia continued its current strategy with low profits, from thin margins + losses in the high end smart phone market, the impact on Nokia would have been far, far worse.
During this transition jobs will be lost however, in the long term given they strategy succeeds they will be more flexible, which should allow them to react more swiftly to market changes. Moreover, if they are able to turn around building on their strong position in Asia, while making progress in NA there is no reason why Nokia will not be hiring again.
I would not blame the current management, but the past management which got us to this very situation. They have forced these tough decisions to be made.
I wish everyone leaving good luck and it is good that Nokia has provisions for workers getting laid off until they find another job.
The video above shows a quick comparison for all the copy/paste users out there. As is apparent Android is a pure copy of Apple, in terms of the method. Windows Phone 7 is similar yet different, especially the way text is selected. Symbian on the other hand is more apt for a physical keyboard, which is something that really needs updating.
In light of all the new Symbian devices launched, the Nokia E6, Nokia X7 this is disappointing. This in addition to the other limitations outlined by MobilesGuruji illustrate and emphasize that the move to Windows Phone was made simply because updating Symbian would cost too much time, effort and money. Had QT been ready earlier the market today would be very different.
Nokia is likely (as most of us can guess) to ship its 1st Windows Phone device not with the current version, but a fully updated version presumably with new maps, better email integration and features that Symbian users are accustomed.
Nokia has already stated that in its current state Windows Phone is not very appealing to the masses, or “useless in its current state” according to a Nokia employee. This is evidenced by the sale figures of current WP devices anyway. Despite being a lovely experience it falls short on many features that I have written about before relative to Symbian.
On the upside Nokia can get into the US market since WP extensively requires data, unlike Symbian, which is what the carriers in NA love and hated about Symbian. This should grant them more traction in a market that has challenged them for years, and is also the most profitable in the high end market.
Until Windows Phone 8 is fully ready to hit shelves, with Nokia’s own custom add-ons that gives Nokia Windows Phone a unique experience, Symbian phones will continue to dominate and be pushed out.
This is good to know, that they aren’t rushing something out for the sake of it, but are actually going to get it out when it is ready and closer to shipping date. Both of which are not characteristics Nokia is very famous for. Guess the new management will speak for itself as the year progresses, so far they seem to be going in the right direction. Only time will tell.
Just a heads up for all you folks that do a lot of research on a the go, a new Wikipedia app is available in the market place. This has been out for a week, I just tested it out. It is actually pretty cool and is fully part of the ‘metro’ UI.
You will have to shell out a $1.29 for it, which may be a tad bit expensive given the mobile version is hardly unusable. But it has definite improvements as you would expect a stand alone app to have, and this does not disappoint. You can trial this application, t decide if you are on the fence but for all you hardcore Wikipedia users I would recommend.
Features are:
– Browse the pages in Wikipedia mobile version
– View summary
– Show all images of a page with a built-in viewer, including pinch to zoom.
– Search with autosuggestion
– Complete Metro Interface
– Manage favourites
– User interface in English and French
– Using Wikipedia in 50 different languages
Good to see the app market growing at a rapid pace. In addition, the marketplace reached 11,000 applications on Wednesday. Which is an awesome growth rate, given it hit 10,000 just a short time ago, which is a faster rate of growth than any other marketplaces at this stage of maturity.
Go to the marketplace to download it now and I will keep a look out for neat applications, hit the links for more details.
Just a heads up to all the Windows Phone owners out there. You should be seeing the ‘NoDo’ update within the next few weeks. If you are still waiting for the ‘pre NoDO’ update then assured that this update includes it.
Main features are copy/paste, better search results in the Marketplace, improved WIFI performance, improved application load time in addition to Outlook, messaging, Facebook, audio and camera improvements.
Patience is a virtue with phone updates, and this is no different. Hope it rolls out relatively soon for all given the lack of fragmentation, and this time with no issues.
According to an article by Forbes, Nokia will be looking to make CDMA phones in addition to GSM according to USA Vice President and General Manager Mark Slater. This is a change under Elop, helped by the end of the legal battle between Nokia and Qualcomm that holds most CDMA patent.
To succeed in the the US they would initially need to address the CDMA market given the 2nd largest carrier (post the T-Mobile and AT&T merger) is Verizon and 3rd Sprint. Given the expansion of LTE, and the investments all the providers are making, it should not take very long for all carriers to be on the same page and all have SIM cards (yaay!).
Nokia’s latest phone in the NA market, the C7, is an awesome entry. Slater asserts that is not positioned as high, which is apparent with the price but is extremely good value.
Other comments by Mark are below:
Nokia will continue to be very, very aggressive around Symbian even as it adopts Windows Phone and even though Nokia intends to make Windows Phone devices that are more affordable than the current crop. We will have high-end Windows smartphones, but with Nokia’s scale, Windows will have to play in all parts of our portfolio.
Mark Slater, Nokia US VP and GM
Read on for the full article
According to the infamous Eldar Murtazins tweet, there are 4 Windows Phone devices and 1 Tablet presumably Windows 8 in Nokias labs.
This could of course be true. Nokia is exploring their options for tablets and Microsoft would be a potential partner given their partnership. Of the 4 Windows Phone, Eldar says that 2 devices are Chasis 1 i.e. minimum 1 GHZ processor, capacitive screens and two Chasis 2 devices that are 800 MHz with resistive screens.
I would guess that the high end phones would be released first, followed by thee Chasis 2 phones in 2012. This supports Elops assertion that Windows Phones could be pushed to lower price points very quickly indeed.
Take this with a grain of salt, Eldar was the same guy that said Android is coming on Nokia phones soon and Nokia had no money for a booth at MWC.
According to Reuters, Nokia is still considering the OS to use for its Tablet strategy. They have not necessarily decided to go with Windows, and are looking for options including Meego.
If true I would guess it is because there will be no differentiation with all the Windows 8 tablets out there. Going Meego would be interesting but given the talk about it being for ‘future disruption’ only it seems unlikely.
According to the post:
But Nokia wants to get its first tablet right rather than rushing to join the party at this late stage, and hopes to come up with something distinctive that will also help it with strategies for other screens including televisions.
Reading the above, you would wonder why they didn’t stick to Meego since it would unify the phone, car, TV and tablets, much like Android is doing.
Hit the source to read the full article.
The Nokia Ecosystem 