GordonKelly.com » iPhone OS

Microsoft Announces Multi-touch Windows Mobile 6.5.3

Gordon — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:31:29 +0000

Now here’s a surprise: Microsoft has quietly released a significant new version of Windows Mobile 6.5 for Sony Ericsson’s upcoming Aspen handset (pictured), ahead of the expected unveiling of WM 7 at Mobile World Congress next week.

Windows Mobile 6.5.3 on the Sony Ericsson Aspen

ZDNet has been sent the official feature list and it’s impressive:

Capacitive touchscreen support
Platform to enable multitouch
Touch controls throughout system (no need for stylus)
Consistent Navigation
Horizontal scroll bar replaces tabs (think settings>system>about screen)
Magnifier brings touch support to legacy applications
Simplified out-of-box experience with fewer steps
Drag and drop icons on Start Screen
(Mobile) Internet Explorer Page load time decreased
IE Memory management improved
IE Pan & flick gestures smoothed
IE Zoom & rotation speed increased
Updated runtime tools (.NET CF 3.5, SQL CE 3.1)
Arabic read/write document support
Watson (error reporting) improvements and bug fixes

Is Microsoft back in the game? Not solely with this, but it is a promising stepping stone for Windows Mobile 7. Let’s hope Microsoft gets its finally gets its act together in the smartphone market. After all, the more competition the better…

Apple iPad

Gordon — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:16:46 +0000

iPhone or iPad? It is a close call which is the most hyped product of all time and you can read my full analysis here. That’s not what Just the Bad Points is about, however, so – in a nutshell – here are the main potential deal breakers in Apple’s new toy…

The preamble: My cult and contentious reviews’ system. Designed as a time saver to highlight the potential deal breakers in a product before you commit to reading lengthy reviews on your favourites sites and/or magazines. For a more detailed description please read: THE RULES

Just the Bad Points Review: Apple iPad

: Apple iPad – the backlash starts here?

No multi-tasking (just typical iPod/email and push notifications)
1024 x 768 pixel display isn’t widescreen video friendly
No integrated camera [so no augmented reality!]
No GPS in the WiFi only model!
Network unlocked, but most networks don’t use the micro SIM format
The usual limited codec support (AAC, MP3, H.264)
Mono audio speakers
Still no Adobe Flash support
No USB ports
Non-expandable memory
Non-removable battery
No Ethernet Port
No HDMI/Displayport
No card reader
No breakdown of ‘up to’ 10 hours battery life
Prolonged typing on glass?
No mains power cable included
Hardware keyboard dock is kinda handy, but it only holds the iPad in portrait mode
242.8 x 189.7 x 13.4mm and 730g (WiFi and 3G) not a huge advantage over 900g/1Kg smartbooks and netbooks given compromises
$499 starter price is tempting, but $629 (32GB & 3G) is the more realistic minimum, then case, dock and USB/SD card adaptors on top are likely to make this more expensive than any netbook, smartbook or even Intel CULV laptops.

Yep, that’s a big long list for what ultimately turned out to be more of an enlarged iPod touch than enlarged iPhone. Will I be biting? No. I simply can’t see any advantage over ARM’s Linux-based smartbooks, Windows 7-based netbooks, 11.6in CULV laptops or even the iPhone and iPod touch themselves…

Apple iPhone 3GS

Gordon — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:04:09 +0000

Here we go again. The Apple ‘iPhone 3GS’ is now on sale and it is already shaping up to be even more controversial than both its predecessors. On the hardware side it brings a slightly improved camera (3 megapixels with autofocus, compared to 2MP fixed focus), video recording, marginally better battery life and up to 3x faster performance. It sounds good, but more importantly what’s NOT to like…?

Just the Bad Points Review: Apple iPhone 3GS:

: Apple iPhone 3GS (the original space between ’3G’ and ‘S’ has now been removed – go figure!)

Evolution not revolution. This is the old model tweaked, not an overhaul
iPhone OS 3.0 brings most of the software benefits to iPhone 3G owners that the 3G S offers. Find a full features list here
Price. The iPhone 3G S is far more expensive than the iPhone 3G was at launch. Check with local telco before setting your heart on it
Push Notifications bring third party app alerts but do not represent full multitasking. When a programme closes it closes completely
Addition of turn by turn GPS still requires the purchase of third party software such as from flagship partner TomTom, which is extra expense
Low light camera performance is worse than the iPhone 3G (big problem if you want to take photos on nights out)
Screen not improved at all. Same resolution (320 x 480 pixels), jump not made to OLED
Searching emails across the server only checks the recipient and subject line details, not the body text
Looks just like the old iPhone 3G. There’s not even an ‘S’ on the back

Flaws still present from before:

A new model should be announced by June judging by Apple’s past track record
Camera lacks a flash
16GB & 32GB options capacities available but no SDHC/microSDHC expansion slot to add to it
No second camera for video calling
iTunes tie: media content locked to specific computer, no simple drag & drop way to add files
Limited codec support excludes likes of Ogg Vorbis audio and – crucially – AVI video so lengthy format conversion required with third party software
Non-removeable battery so it can’t be swapped out on long journeys & requires expensive procedure to replace at an Apple store should it degrade outside the warranty
No Flash support in the mobile Safari web browser