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Software Windows Phone 7 Hits RTM
Brandon Hill (Blog) - September 1, 2010 10:53 PM

59 comment(s) - last by themaster08.. on Sep 5 at 3:05 AM

Windows Phone 7 reaches critical milestone

Many are expecting big things out of Windows Phone 7, and Microsoft is doing its best to make sure that the launch of its next generation smartphone operating system goes smoothly. Today, Terry Myerson announced on the Windows Team Blog that Windows Phone 7 has been released to manufacturing (RTM).

This means that all of Microsoft's hardware launch partners will have production-ready software to test on their upcoming smartphones. Windows Phone 7's official U.S. retail launch expected to happen this November.

Myerson had this to say about this milestone for Windows Phone 7:

Windows Phone 7 is the most thoroughly tested mobile platform Microsoft has ever released. We had nearly ten thousand devices running automated tests daily, over a half million hours of active self-hosting use, over three and a half million hours of stress test passes, and eight and a half million hours of fully automated test passes. We’ve had thousands of independent software vendors and early adopters testing our software and giving us great feedback. We are ready.

Microsoft has an uphill battle after Windows Mobile 6.x got smacked around by RIM, Apple, and Google. While Microsoft was once a dominant force in the smartphone market, Windows Mobile 6.x become an also-ran while Google has risen to the top of the ranks in the U.S. smartphone market.

Microsoft will also have to contend with the fact that such features as native multitasking, copy/paste, and memory card support won't be available in the initial release of Windows Phone 7.

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Very finished feel but ugly UI

By SHawk on 9/2/2010 12:03:39 AM , Rating: 2

Win Phone 7 definitely does feel like a very tested OS. Having played around with it, I gotta say that this OS is more responsive than both Android and iOS. Only thing I don't like about it, as you can see in the pictures, is that it is butt-ugly. It's got a host of cool new features, but gets a little getting used to because it's not laid out the same way as Android and iOS. Good luck to MS...we do need all the competition we can get in the smartphone market.

RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By geekgod on 9/2/2010 12:58:07 AM , Rating: 2

I sorta agree with the ugly part, but only on the home screen. Not sure what they are thinking, having big colored tiles over totally dark background.

They need to have some sort of background art/picture, transparency on the tiles and glass effect, to make it look better IMO.

Other screens look pretty good, and the transitions are buttery smooth.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Mitch101 on 9/2/2010 7:29:15 AM , Rating: 4

It provides information at a glance. Immediately you know you have Email, Texts, and Voicemail and can get to them quickly. I recall you can pin what tiles are on the main screen.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Mitch101 on 9/2/2010 7:53:20 AM , Rating: 2

Ahh now I recall the design was based upon signs we see like driving down the highway. Simple and informative. Sorry I am not caffinated yet.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Mitch101 on 9/3/2010 10:51:12 AM , Rating: 3

Oh and one more thing. :)

That 20 next to the outlook/e-mail in the picture. That means 20 new messages since the last time your checked e-mail on the phone. I love that. I know I have unread messages on my mobile device and this tells me instantly how many since I was last on the device. I think that's much better than telling you hoe many unread messages.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By themaster08 on 9/2/2010 11:49:20 AM , Rating: 3

quote:
Not sure what they are thinking, having big colored tiles over totally dark background.

Both the tiles and the background can be changed to a variety of colours. However I agree that a background image and transparency on the tiles would make it look far better.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By jvillaro on 9/2/2010 3:33:49 PM , Rating: 5

With AMOLED, the black background helps to save battery life. You can change it if you want.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By xaders on 9/2/10, Rating: 0

By xaders on 9/2/2010 1:27:33 AM , Rating: 0

finally, Windows Phone 7 (WP7) have appeal into Windows Ecosystem;
Windows Live, Xbox, Zune, Office, Exchange, Sharepoint & Bing.

microsoft finally can integrate all these services together. dont forget about the antitrust suit (U.S. versus Microsoft in the late 1990s) and that why microsoft is playing catch up because they cant bundle all this together. why do you think office is sold separate!!

-How a decade of antitrust oversight has changed your PC.
(http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/how-a-decade-of-ant...
-A closer look at Microsoft's "lost decade".
(http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/a-closer-look-at-mi...

Apple & Google can do these bundling because they are not regulated by the FTC and have newer ideas, linux and something new, different.
one comment from steve jobs in the 2007 in D5, "Apple wasn’t and there was jealousy " at microsoft & "in the Apple ecosystem playing the game of, for Apple to win, Microsoft has to lose. And it was clear that you didn’t have to play that game because Apple wasn’t going to beat Microsoft. Apple didn’t have to beat Microsoft. Apple had to remember who Apple was because they’d forgotten who Apple was."
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3tUkyCRp0A)

Now, what i see from this is a "cat & mouse trap" and who can build a better one now. im not a fanboy for microsoft nor apple, not even hater, "id dont care who make it and now have choice. " it is a capitalism system where consumer decide. more competition is good!!

now times for ISP to offer discount internet service plan both on land & wireless.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By dark matter on 9/2/2010 2:40:36 AM , Rating: 2

Office is sold separate because it gives them more revenue, why else?

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Dwayne Bozworth on 9/2/2010 10:18:38 AM , Rating: 2

No, Microsoft's anti-trust issues of the 1990s were the result of a number of technologies including Internet Explorer as well as how Microsoft modified system APIs to in some cases, break compatibility, or perform better using it's own software than competitor products (Novell was slower than WinNT File sharing for example.)

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By bug77 on 9/2/10, Rating: -1

RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By eskimospy on 9/2/2010 7:07:23 AM , Rating: 2

You do realize that the only thing he criticized was a subjective feature too, right?

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By bug77 on 9/2/10, Rating: -1

RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Mitch101 on 9/2/2010 7:49:12 AM , Rating: 5

iPhone did very well without copy and paste hardly see it as a deal killer and there is some copy and paste to a degree in the device. Same for Multitasking which just kills the battery but that depends on what were talking about.

Can someone explain to me a situation the majority of people would be doing on thier phone where multi-tasking is necessary? Im wondering if people think they cant switch in and out of an application as multitasking. Ive also seen demos of the Windows 7 phone opening 6 web pages at one time on the device. I really cant come up with a scenario where multitasking would benefit me of being on a phone?

Im thinking this is the typical bash a device before anyone has tried it because its Microsoft talk. Just like everyone says Microsoft cant beat the iPhone completely ignoring that Android is passing it by.

Has no one seen the video's of it booting in under 25 seconds? Much faster than Android and significantly faster than the iPhone! Has no one seen the web browsing abilities or how to e-mail pictures. Those of which rival the Android and is much nicer than the way its done on the iPhone?

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Mitch101 on 9/2/2010 7:51:42 AM , Rating: 3

Windows Phone 7 Email Client Comparison (Video)
http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/exclusive-windo...

Windows Phone 7 Web Browser Comparison (Video)
http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/exclusive-windo...

Windows Phone 7 Startup Speed Test (Video)
http://pocketnow.com/windows-phone/windows-phone-7...

Windows Phone 7 puts BlackBerry 6 to Shame on the Engadget Show
http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/06/the-engadget-sh...

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By bug77 on 9/2/2010 8:17:59 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
iPhone did very well without copy and paste hardly see it as a deal killer and there is some copy and paste to a degree in the device. Same for Multitasking which just kills the battery but that depends on what were talking about.

When iPhone came out, the playfield was empty. Not anymore. Technical excellence alone won't win you marketshare, many buyers don't look for that. But an "ooh, I can sync with iTunes, too" or "hey, I can check Google maps out" will.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By tdawg on 9/2/2010 1:44:06 PM , Rating: 3

Zune and Xbox Live integration may very well more than offset full-featured multitasking and missing copy/paste for users. I for one am looking at this as a potential replacement for my Nexus One simply for the zune integration, as I'm not wholly satisfied with Android's media handling capability.

In my opinion, WP7 isn't just a "me-too" device, but something that offers buyers a new option (radical UI difference vs iPhone and Android app grid layout, Zune Marketplace/Zune Pass capability, Xbox Live integration with good gaming hardware for a phone).

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By themaster08 on 9/5/2010 3:05:38 AM , Rating: 2

I think WP7 has many perks that are different and appealing compared to their counterparts. It just looks/feels like something I've never used before, yet seems like it would be as easy as pie to just pick up and go. It's an extremely polished OS, transitioning effects are buttery smooth (even on prototype hardware), real-time live tiles are very different compared to multiple homescreens and widgets which are becoming the norm. It has an extremely consistent UI through all applications on the device.

I personally disliked the look of Windows Phone 7 when I first saw it, but it has really grown on me. I'm not saying it's without its shortcomings, but that's another story. I feel it will appeal more to the teenage crowd with the integration of Xbox Live.

The closed nature is what is holding me back from purchasing a Windows Phone 7 device. I currently own a Palm Pre and I love the openness. Being able to modify the kernel and overclock my Pre lets me know that I'm in control.

If Microsoft can find the right marketing angle and let Windows Phone 7 be known, then I think it can be a complete success.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By HotFoot on 9/2/2010 9:52:03 AM , Rating: 2

I multitask on my N900 platform every day and would find it very annoying to be missing that capability. Why not run chat, email, browser, media player and map software all at once? I often go from one to the other cross-checking information, or browse online for information on the current topic while on speakerphone/headset.

One thing at a time would make me want to have a second device, like a laptop, in order to fill in the other functions.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Mitch101 on 9/2/2010 10:57:15 AM , Rating: 4

I think your confusing multitasking with application switching.

The demos Ive seen shows them in a call surfing the web looking for a restaurant or checking an e-mail. If that's the definition of multi-tasking on a mobile device then Mobile 7 Multitasks fine. I could be wrong but from the demo's it appears to do what I would call application switching others might call that multitasking.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By FITCamaro on 9/2/2010 12:05:36 PM , Rating: 2

I'm under the impression that an application just suspends when it isn't the primary task. Yes this would prevent a web page loading while you go type a text or chat with someone.

In the end I'll mostly likely end up waiting until the first update to it gets released that will hopefully add some of these features. And hopefully that will coincide nicely with my upgrade ability with Verizon.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By lamerz4391 on 9/2/2010 12:32:03 PM , Rating: 2

Apps like IE will continue to run in the background, loading pages, etc. Most 3rd party apps will suspend.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Mitch101 on 9/2/2010 5:15:39 PM , Rating: 4

I just got out a demonstration with Microsoft and can confirm stuff like Text Messaging, Web Pages, E-mail, can run at the same time. So its not like your on a phone call and not getting your text messages or cant surf the web. Its multitasking to a degree. You can listen to music and surf the web.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By nafhan on 9/2/2010 10:23:43 AM , Rating: 2

I think MS is hoping Zune subscriptions and Xbox Live are going to be killer features. I'd personally call them "interesting features worth considering" rather than "killer". WinPhone 7 v2 (or WinPhone 8?) will probably be the real deal. This is likely more of a feature parity get something out there ASAP OS, and it looks like they are concentrating on stability and usability rather than features.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By FITCamaro on 9/2/2010 12:03:31 PM , Rating: 2

One of the biggest reasons I'm interested is for the Xbox Live integration. It will be interesting to see what Microsoft and games developers do with it.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By cfaalm on 9/2/2010 2:42:39 PM , Rating: 2

Or we could think outside the (X)box, like having your phone as a mouse/pointer/remote control for anything that runs on a desktop/laptop through WiFi or Bluetooth controlling apps like Powerpoint, audio/midi sequencers, mediaplayers etc. Or do such applications already exist?

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By nafhan on 9/2/2010 4:42:32 PM , Rating: 2

I think a good bit of that stuff exists as "apps". MS is going after a simple and compelling experience this time around, rather than being able to do everything. So, we probably won't see much if any of that out of the box with WinPhone7.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Mitch101 on 9/2/2010 5:19:04 PM , Rating: 2

The full Office suite is in there including one note and I saw the icon for Access. So Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, Access, and One Note.

The voice control like the ford sync system is cool too.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Chaser on 9/2/2010 7:51:48 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
You do realize that the only thing he criticized was a subjective feature too, right?

So that makes it legit then?

Back to "responsiveness", comparing to Android my snapdragon powered 1Ghz Android phone has been reviewed to be very responsive. And I concur. Point being I don't think the OS is the most prevailing factor in evaluating that attribute.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Da W on 9/2/2010 9:08:27 AM , Rating: 3

I love my Zune HD and will not look back to my iPod.
I love the Zune marketplace and i will certainly not look back to itunes.
So if zune HD really is the philosophy behind the WP7 UI, i think it's gonna work. Gonna wait a few months though.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By bug77 on 9/2/2010 9:13:09 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
So if zune HD really is the philosophy behind the WP7 UI, i think it's gonna work.

Actually, that's the point I was trying to make. Without a new killer "something", it's going to be iPod vs Zune all over again. Based on what I've seen so far; maybe M$ will unravel some new service that will make it worthwhile though.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Mitch101 on 9/2/2010 11:04:57 AM , Rating: 2

Choose your phone carrier and hardware manufacturer. Thats a pretty good pair of options right there. iPhone still locked into AT&T.

I personally like a slide out keyboard which is available on a mobile 7 device and droid. Not an option for iPhone.

Free Development tools which have exceeded 300,000 downloads and that was a while ago.

Microsoft paid some of the developers of the top iPhone apps to port their programs to the Mobile 7 Device.

About 30-50 ok to great games for download.

Office Integration including one note a very under rated application.

X-box live integration.

Windows Media Center synchronization - A Zune Favorite.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Dwayne Bozworth on 9/2/2010 10:26:05 AM , Rating: 1

I love my Zune HD and will not look back to my iPod.
I love the Zune marketplace and i will certainly not look back to itunes.

Exactly, and that's what I've been saying since day one. People should try both out, and understand why Zune has 4% marketshare and iPod has 72% marketshare.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Mitch101 on 9/2/2010 11:13:01 AM , Rating: 2

I still love my Zune 30. I went that route because it had an FM radio. Sure its a brick compared to today's devices but that's the only advantage I would gain is a little thinner if I replaced it.

Battery is still going strong and it syncs perfectly. Part of me wished it would die so I could justify a replacement but it keeps going. I like Sansa's too and my Zune 30 has outlived 3 of them. Ok one Sansa was lost the other crushed third is a clip thats going strong.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Smilin on 9/2/2010 12:01:56 PM , Rating: 2

I finally got rid of my old 30 but there was one thing that rocked about it:

Each time they released a new version the 30 would get a free upgrade with all the new features.

When the iPod classic and 30 Zune30 were competing neither had sync via wifi. Go look now. Zune30s sync via wifi just like the Zune HD. Not so with Apple.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Dwayne Bozworth on 9/2/10, Rating: 0

RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By FITCamaro on 9/2/2010 12:09:58 PM , Rating: 3

Apple has been streaming HDTV for years. And they've sucked at it. Apple TV was a complete and utter failure.

And iPads are just another device that sapless Apple fans go out and buy because Steve Jobs tells them to. $500+ for a big iPod. Thanks but I'll pass.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By lamerz4391 on 9/2/2010 12:30:11 PM , Rating: 2

You are freaking kidding with the HDTV stuff, right? Microsoft has had a far more advanced TV platform for nearly a decade in Media Center, and are also powering AT&T Uverse with Mediaroom. What a joke.

In regards to the phone platform, Microsoft has an OS, but doesn't own the hardware platform. They specify the minimum requirements and OEMs build the phones and sell to the carriers. It would be good if you knew what you were talking about.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By Smilin on 9/2/2010 3:24:21 PM , Rating: 2

Apples products are starting to show some age. Their UI looks like windows 3.1. The new iPod refreshes are a yawn. They need to get on the ball as their commanding early lead is slipping.

Besides who really cares who is in the lead now? The smartphone business is in it's infancy.

Does it matter today who was in the lead on personal computers in say 1982? This battle has only begun.

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RE: Very finished feel but ugly UI

By UnWeave on 9/3/2010 8:41:29 AM , Rating: 2

Obviously that's subjective anyway, but I gotta say, I really like the blocky-tile look. I think it's a good way of making information clear, and it means it doesn't get all cluttered like an Android UI can with all the widgets (maybe I just cram too many on to one screen...)

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Missing features

By phatboye on 9/2/2010 1:46:15 AM , Rating: 4

I knew about the fact that WM7 would be lacking in multitasking and copy/paste but I never realized it would also not have support for memory cards. What was MS thinking when they first started on WM7? That they can play catch to IOS, Android and Blackberry OS without these important features? Can someone tell me why should anyone be excited about WM7? I just don't get it? I am not even trying to flame WM7 either, I just don't understand what is so good about it.

RE: Missing features

By PorreKaj on 9/2/2010 4:33:01 AM , Rating: 2

I have removed my memorycard from my Milestone, only once. Since i got it.

Why do people make such a big deal out of it? :S

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RE: Missing features

By Mitch101 on 9/2/2010 8:02:30 AM , Rating: 2

Thats fine if you start off with overkill in memory.

Most of these devices have Megapixel Cameras and HD video recording. Having a memory slot for those items would help. If you have a lot of Apps and Music seems like you would be able to take less pictures and video. Its a nice convenience if your on a trip and dont have a laptop to download the images/video too you can swap out the memory card. Or could swap from Pictures/Video to a memory card full of music for when you go to the gym. Or just get an even bigger memory card to hold everything.

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RE: Missing features

By Mitch101 on 9/2/2010 5:31:52 PM , Rating: 2

In my meeting with Microsoft they give you 25gig of space on Live. So you can upload you Pictures and Video through your carrier or through a wifi spot freeing up space on your device. When your at home log into your PC and download the stuff.

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RE: Missing features

By joedon3 on 9/2/2010 8:35:28 AM , Rating: 2

I remove my memory card from my Captivate several times a day, I use the crap out of that thing to transfer files back and forth.

I don't want to eat up my 2GB data cap by transferring files when I can use my SD card.

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Lot of wasted space...

By Azsen on 9/2/2010 1:52:41 AM , Rating: 3

Should look more like this:
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6523/windowspho...

RE: Lot of wasted space...

By BruceLeet on 9/2/2010 5:56:48 AM , Rating: 3

Sick PS skills brah.

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RE: Lot of wasted space...

By PorreKaj on 9/2/2010 6:21:33 AM , Rating: 2

Nah... Perfect for right handed users :)

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RE: Lot of wasted space...

By Smilin on 9/2/2010 3:16:42 PM , Rating: 2

it only seems wasted because you're looking at a static picture.

When you see a gap on the side like that it means you're in the foreground and there is something background to the side.

The home screen doesn't illustrate a good example of it.

Yeah this is utterly impossible to explain. selflolz. Find someone with a ZuneHD and have them give you a demo.

The interface rocks man. It really does.

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RE: Windows 7 Phone = Uncool

By dark matter on 9/2/10, Rating: 0

RE: Windows 7 Phone = Uncool

By straycat74 on 9/2/2010 7:24:09 AM , Rating: 3

Did you forget the sarcasm tag? Were you poking fun at the cult of Apple?

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RE: Windows 7 Phone = Uncool

By lamerz4391 on 9/2/2010 11:16:48 AM , Rating: 2

Wow, you sound like a complete ass . I'm glad I don't know you.

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RE: Windows 7 Phone = Uncool

By FITCamaro on 9/2/2010 12:14:55 PM , Rating: 2

And what pray tell is representative of a typical Windows 7 Phone purchaser?

Do you work at Toys R Us or something? Because the mentality of "oh he has it and he's not cool so I don't want it" is that of junior high school. And one I have NEVER seen in a professional environment. You could say one of my coworkers is the epitomy of "uncool" and he has a Droid just like I do. Doesn't take away from me liking the phone.

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RE: Windows 7 Phone = Uncool

By Smilin on 9/2/2010 1:37:27 PM , Rating: 2

You sound like a shallow dxck but I would be a hypocrite to criticize. I have a similar prejudice.

I find both Apple and many of it's users to be stuck up condescending @sses who think they are better than everyone else, and judge things and people merely by their appearance. I don't want to be like these people and it's one of the many reasons why I don't buy Apple. I see them as the paris hilton of the tech world.

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Zune HD

By MGSsancho on 9/2/2010 3:32:53 AM , Rating: 2

IF I can write my own apps for it and its DAC is as good as my Zune HD then ill look into it when my contract expires. sorry just bought a droid 2 last week and it sounds like crap compared to my zune hd or my old as (5 years) creative zen w.

RE: Zune HD

By Smilin on 9/2/2010 12:06:33 PM , Rating: 2

Yeah I'm curious about the sound chips as well.

I'm using my wife's Kin2 until wp7 arrives. It sounds like crap next to my ZuneHD...more on par with an iPod. The zunepass over 3g is pretty nice though.

The ZuneHD indeed sounds awesome. I think the Zen and the Zune30 shared a common chip too didn't they?

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