Windows Phone 7 OS: Rise of the Phoenix

March 6, 2010 | By rush24

We have decided to front-page this great user-submitted article, which deserves more exposure.

Admin

Part 1: The untapped potential

During the Mobile World Congress 2010 in Barcelona, Microsoft undoubtedly produced one of their best efforts when it comes to mobile computing with the unveiling of Windows Phone 7 Series. I was very impressed by the “Metro UI” concept of “hubs”, “live tiles” and the tight integration with Zune, Xbox Live and social networks. I think Microsoft has a once in a lifetime opportunity to leapfrog their competition in mobile computing with their new OS but in a totally different form factor than it was initially intended for.

I have read how MS was outmaneuvered by Apple when iTunes was introduced and how people dismissed the iPhone. I think the iPad presents a similar challenge, one that Microsoft needs to take head on before it’s too late! Most techies have dismissed the iPad as a bigger iPod touch but they miss the point that as it is designed, it will provide almost if not all the features most non-tech people use a PC outside work. Some people will argue that what is needed is a fully fledged Windows 7 tablet, well, that niche will be filled by products like the HP Slate. The iPad I believe follows the Wii gaming console approach. The Wii was lampooned by hardcore gamers but guess what? It has been more successful than anyone would have imagined because it went after the casual gamers market that far outnumbers the techies. The iPad is geared towards the non-tech crowd.

If Microsoft can expand the Windows Phone 7 series OS to a Slate/Tablet form factor of about 7”to 10” with added features to take advantage of a bigger screen, they will have a winner. Not only are they going to effectively compete with the Apple on the iPad front, they will also be able to fend off Google’s Chrome OS/Android offerings. The “Metro UI” is better than what any of their completion offers in both functionality and aesthetics. I like how Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore reiterated that a phone is not a PC and I think it should be applied to the tablet as well.

More after the break…

Part 2: How it may be used

The “MS Slate” (made up name for illustrative purposes) will be geared to for casual computer use. The users will most likely possess a PC for tasks that require heavy processing. When I come home from work, I don’t want to sit in front of a computer screen to check my email, Facebook, sports scores etc. A slate is ideal just sitting on the couch and accomplishing the aforementioned tasks. Other uses include a media player and a gaming device for kids during long trips, for use on plane, train and bus rides. With handwriting recognition and MS OneNote, it would be an excellent companion for students, writers, artists, researchers and the like. (Here is a great use case scenario for OneNote)

From my experience with my parents and older people, they mainly use the computer to check their email, share pictures, browse the web and play casual games (solitaire anyone!) “Metro UI” fulfils this task with the people hub and email integration perfectly. I can imagine being able to sync TV shows recorded from Windows Media Center, or live TV on a slate with a built-in TV tuner. You could also throw in home automation control pad to the mix. The possibilities are endless!

Part 3: Hardware: Design and specs

When I first saw that the iPad screen had 4:3 aspect ratio, I, like many tech enthusiasts thought it was mistake since everything is moving to 16:9. After much thought, a 4:3 screen makes more sense since the tablet/slate will be used both in landscape or portrait mode. A widescreen is only advantageous when it comes to videos and gaming. Web browsing, eBooks, pictures fare well in a full screen format. A 1280*960 resolution screen would be ideal in this respect (Please note that this is just my opinion and may be technically incorrect). The following is a rough sketch of what I envision it looking like.

Hardware specs

•1 GHz+ ARM based Cortex-A9 MPCore multicore processor. These include the NVidia Tegra 2, Texas instruments OMAP 4 and Qualcomm 8X72 series processor.

•Two screen sizes. A 7” for people on the go and a 10” for mainly home use.

•1280×960 resolution. 720p HD video capable

•Capacitive multi-touch LED backlit screen. A “Pixel Qi” option would be great for outdoor legibility. I personally think that a screen using “Stantum Technology” resistive multi-touch should be strongly considered. Microsoft should just by this company! Sample video

•2 microUSB 3.0 ports

•SDHC/SDXC slot

•Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, GPS, Bluetooth 3.0, FM Radio receiver/transmitter. All this can be provided by Texas Instrument’s new WiLink 7.0 chip

•1 GB Ram. 32 GB+ Storage

•3.5 mm headphone Jack

•2 Mp+ wide angle webcam integrated mic

•Stereo speakers

•HDMI mini out

•Removable battery (inductive charging back option)

•Accelerometer

•Ambient light sensor

•Digital compass

•Handwriting recognition

•Finger print sensor for easy login and enhanced security

•*Mic in

•*Express card 34 Slot

•*Internal 2.5 Hard drive bay

•*Digital TV tuner (Some phones have them now why not a tablet!)

•*Retractable high gain antenna for the TV, radio and possibly wireless connections

•*3G Capability (GSM and CDMA)

•*Voice command/Speech to text button

The starred items are features I think can be included in a pro version. The three buttons on the front serve a dual purpose
depending on whether the user presses and quickly releases the button or presses and holds.(The dual home button function would be great if it were also implemented on the new Windows Phone 7 Series OS phones. By holding down the home button, a screen with a list of profile panels like “work”, “home”, “school” “automatic” “leisure” etc. appear. These can also be automatically switched on by GPS location like in the
Locus OS concept or additionally be time based. This solves the problem of having an extremely long scrolling Start Screen list.)

Part 4: Software

Windows phone 7 already comes with most of the productivity and multimedia software necessary. Here is a list of more software that I think would be a great addition for the “slate”

•MS office “slate edition” This will basically provide more features than the standard office mobile package. They should be able to be purchased as standalone pieces or in a suite for a discount. The pricing for the standalone pieces would ideally not be more than $19.95

•Photo editing application Windows photo gallery) with layers and transparency capability.

•Video editing application Windows movie maker) please return the timeline feature!

•Book reader Microsoft reader) or a partnership with Amazon which would provide a great competition to the iBook store. Amazon needs to move to an ePub format though to enable compatibility across devices

•Money manager The defunct MS Money) or a partnership with Quicken + mint.com

•Audiobook application integrated into the Zune player

•Windows Home Server/Windows Media Center control & Integration, Home automation

Part 5: Three screens and a cloud

Microsoft’s “three-screens-and-a-cloud” idea is a great concept but I think it needs to be expanded to include Windows Home Server which will function as the nerve center for all the devices in the home for media, data and backup. I also hope that they will add the capability of installing TV tuners, Cable cards and DVB-S tuners directly on WHS So that all the media can be recorded and managed from one central place. The following is a diagram of how I think this would work.

There are new devices in addition to the “slate” that I’ve added to the diagram that don’t yet exist. These are…

•Microsoft Courier tablet as described in this article from gizmodo.com

•“Windows Media Center client box” based on a stripped down version Windows 7 OS with a WMC front end. This makes it better than an extender because it will be able to play a full version of Adobe Flash an MS Silverlight and can be expanded to include a Blu-ray drive and also act as a media server if Windows home server wasn’t available. “Project Natal” capability for touch less control would be the icing on the cake!

•A custom car stereo running Win CE6/7 that provides both navigation and entertainment and also can sync to the Windows Home Server when the car is parked in the garage.

•Zune HD2 that features everything the new Windows Phone 7 Series OS minus the phone part. It will also have an external speaker and a built-in mic unlike the current one.

Part 6: Marketing

When it comes to marketing Microsoft needs to implement a new marketing strategy. I hate the commercials like this and this that absolutely show nothing about the capabilities and use case scenarios of the phone. Here, the iPhone beats them handily. When it comes to TV ads please just show the different phone features apply to daily life!

It’s a shame when I walk into Wal-Mart’s electronic section and the Zune HD with a dummy faceplate is locked behind a glass case along with other mp3 players while the iPod touch has a fully working display model that a person can touch and actually have a feel of how the device works.

Microsoft needs to step up and have display booths at all the Big box stores with working models of the Zune HD/2, Windows phone 7, “MS Slate” and Window Media Center box. They will be manned by knowledgeable customer representatives ready to answer any pertinent questions. Just as an example, the Zune pass is an awesome deal but how many people know that? Setting up booths in the malls and local audio/video stores should also be considered. People like to see, touch and tryout electronic gadgets before they commit to purchase them. I think this is much more effective than opening Microsoft branded stores because it provides access to the products where the target audience already frequents.

Conclusion

I firmly believe that Windows Phone 7 Series OS provides Microsoft with a great opportunity in the mobile computing space if they can expand it beyond the smartphone sector it was initially designed for. The “MS slate” would succeed where previous tablets failed because it is an OS designed from the ground up to utilize touch as a primary method of input instead of an added afterthought.

The fall of 2010 could be a great time if Microsoft could release a Windows Phone 7 series phone, a Zune HD/2, a “MS Slate”, a “Courier tablet”and a “Windows Media center Box” all synchronized to Windows Home Server and the cloud. This would present a formidable set of devices that will match if not exceed that which Apple with the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad/Apple TV or Google with the Android/Chrome OS have to offer. This is just my dream but I bet there are a lot more people who think like I do.

Disclaimer:

I am just a fan of technology and the article is based on my opinions of what I would like to see happen. I like Microsoft products and this should not be construed as an expert piece in regards to the capability of technologies offered by Apple, Google or even Microsoft for that matter. The trademark names used are reserved copyrights of their respective owners and are used only for description purposes.

About Rush24

Rush24 loves everything Microsoft and is fascinated by the influence of technology in everyday life.

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Tagged microsoft, mobile computing, windows phone 7

http://intensedebate.com/people/Lennard Lennard

nice article, I feel the same way too about the Metro UI, I think Microsoft should expand as it as far as it can go. they should even make it as another "layer" to the regular windows OS installation that the user can bring it up at anytime.

admin

Should I font page this user-submitted article? If I get 5 Yea comments I will.

Tola

Yes! Front page it already. I'd also suggest hinting at this on the main page, I bet you'd get the "5" you need in no time.

Gakubuchi

I hope someone at Microsoft reads this article because this is what I think the future must be. I've been years wandering why they don't do this kind of software/hardware.
Very good article!
rush24

Thank you guys for all your comments. I too would like to see it on the front page to see what people think about it but I guess biased after all
Jim S.

Excellent article. Nice Job.
http://intensedebate.com/people/shanonkam shanonkam

Wow! You hit upon every facet of the potential product in this article. Great job! You've definitely put a lot of thought into this.
Mark

This would be amazing, I could set this down on the coffee table as a LIVE digital picture frame and pick it up to see what is going on live, or glance over from time to time so I would not have my pc on my lap all night. and with the Zune interface its gorges on a picture frame.. I could even hang it on the wall … very very amazing ..
Ben Hearn

Ummmmm Zune HD 2!!!!!!!!! That's intense!!!!
Fundamentle

I like the concept. Good thinking.
BChau

The MS Courier may be an answer to this. I hope this is real.
polytec95

Great Idea!!! One of the hardware OEM's could easily produce such a full featured device in partnership with Microsoft if they wish to do so.
On the Hardware specs, what about adding KickStand similar to HTC Imagio and make it also work as TV antena. It's great for all those landscape applications such as digital photo frame/calender, movies, tv shows, picture slideshow with music and more.
Jos Dewey

Microsoft has the Courier to go at the iPad with… why do they need to make an enlarged ZuneHD again?

I don't get this logic of "well most people dismissed the iPhone and it succeeded beyond everyone's expecations, and many people are lambasting the iPad pre-release so that too must become a hot-seller and reshape the market."

Yes, the iPad will sell… it will sell because of the price and building material premium of Apple products, it will sell because of Apple's cunning marketing, it will sell because thanks to the ubiquity of the iPhone there's billions of apps for the platform already and what's more, many people have probably already been suckered into buying DRM'd junk from iTunes.

None of those mean the iPad actually serves a real purpose, or that it is anywhere as useful as a real laptop/netbook or something like we think Microsoft is aiming at with the Courier.

This Metro UI looks nice, but God, it will get tiring so quickly. There's a reason why Apple, the king of eye candy, haven't even approached the level of animation and moving junk on the screen of their mobile devices. It's different for an MP3 player like the Zune where you select an album and then it plays. You're using a phone constantly, who has the time or patience to wait for these carousels to load in? And don't get me started on all the cut-off text… yes, I know that doesn't pose a problem given the way the human brain reads words but they just look so annoying and 'hip'… they should have called this interface Metrosexual UI instead.

And, no thanks, I wouldn't like to see MetroUI being available as an added layer in Windows 7. Are we getting a little carried away? There's already Media Center that is tuned to big-screen TVs, and it sucks enough on its own. Plays too few formats, ties too much into WMP, etc.

http://intensedebate.com/people/rush24 rush24

You must not have read the disclaimer because the article is my opinion of what I would like to happen that a lot of other people share. You may not see it that way so go find products that fit your needs instead of spewing negative comments against something you already dislike! If you believe a "real laptop/netbook" is the only way to go, the choice is yours go for it. You seem to be quite a miserably person and think of yourself as the arbiter of what all technological gadgets purposes should be!

As for the Courier, I think it will be used mostly for content creation while the "MS Slate" will be mostly for content consumption. There will be areas where their uses overlap or are redundant but that's the great thing about choice.

The article was meant to be a "possibility thinking" piece which is apparently something you desperately lack.

Jos Dewey

Here's a tiny bit of advice asshat, if you write long-winded articles like this then learn to handle the criticism.

And I wasn't even being critical of your brilliant proposal of mating WP7 to a slate device that much, I was focusing more on Microsoft having a pretty good iPad competitor in the Courier, unless they seriously gimp it and now allow any multimedia but only 'journal' type work.

Seriously though, grow up. You wrote this article that got all the praise but I can't respect you personally if you throw out insults at the first sign of a an indirect critique.

http://intensedebate.com/people/rush24 rush24

I'll grant you that it is a long article. A better writer maybe even you could made the point using half the words I used. I guess I missed the "brevity is the soul of wit" memo but you can rest assured that I wasn't trying to impress anyone with my "awesome writing skills"

It is statements like "… it will sell because of Apple's cunning marketing" "This Metro UI looks nice…they should have called this interface Metrosexual UI instead" and such that do little to gain any respect. Why make an indirect critique when could just have been direct and said something like " You think the courier provides the best alternative to the iPad and and MS should spend all their time bringing it to fruition" There are quite a few commentators here who share that opinion. That's fine.

I disagree and think that a "slate" device running WP7 will coexist nicely with the courier. They serve different needs just as netbooks coexist with laptops. Just bring them both to market and let the consumers decide. That's all I'm saying.

http://intensedebate.com/people/djguapo djguapo

WMPoweruser seriously needs an editor to go through these articles so that they're not so embarassingly unprofessional.
Rico

A tablet like we see here won't do a fraction of the iPad's sales if it were released this year. The iPad has the enviable position of coming from an industry darling and marketing powerhouse, riding on the mindshare shoulders of the iPhone, and having the massive support of the App store. MS really can't claim much of that, and it's not like they'd release a tablet themselves. They'll take their usual hands off approach of selling an OEM a license and then wishing them the best on their product. That's really unfortunate. To paraphrase Joe Belfiore at MWC, your tablet is not a computer. If a WP7-based tablet is to truly take on the iPad, it's needs to be designed from the ground up for a clear use (ahem *Courier*), and just as important, it needs the support of developers and apps out the gate.

Courier looks quite interesting and more in along the lines of something i'd use. Courier's not a mass market device though; it's basically for business and creative use. i'm kinda interested in one for design work, but wondering how useful it'll be in addition to a smartphone. i do have the feeling that it'll end up like ZuneHD, an experiment and likely, a one-off.
boomKABOOM

No, no, no, no, no. again, no!

Slate and screen-only portable devices should have Windows 7.
I want a full featured OS on my lap if I am going to spend the price of a netbook, simply with no keyboard.
90% of the users want to use it the same as a PC.
I want a noraml PC with screen-keyboard and all my normal dekstop stuff + STEAM and can see my self lying on a couch come Sunday with L4D2 or MW2.
I see the HP Slate as my first option but some other guys out there may overtake the Slate.

Android, WinPho7 or Ipad are nice ideas to have on mobile devices but to replace a full feature OS with them is insaine. Ipad will fail and so will an Android or WinPho7 device.
uest

This is a good idea for one part of the tablet market, but not all of it, without the abilities to copy/paste and having two different programs side-by-side, specifically Word and IE it really isn't a good option for a student, or at least it shouldn't be if they want to be effective. And the lack of a real keyboard is also a no-no for this market segment , the Ipad dock is imo a poor solution, the best solution is the simplest so have a stand that you can pull out on the back to have the tablet stand, and use a Bluetooth keyboard, or perhaps a USB one if you don't want the "risk" of wireless.

But for a non-productive environment the WP7-OS can be a good option for those that do not need to run Windows-programs. I am a MediaPortal user, and if I buy a tablet I want it to run MediaPortal so that I can bring my media around the house so this is not a option for me, but for others it can be a good solution.

WP7-OS can be a good way for MS to enter the "consume-market" but they need a second OS to handle the "productive-market" and that is where the HP-Slate comes into the picture. The Courier seems to be something completely different.

guest

I would actually go as far as to say that the Courier isn't even a tablet in the traditional way, It's more of a digital version of a those little black books businesspeople walked around with before they got smart-phones, I used call them "PM" but don't know if that is the correct English name, combined with a workbook/scrapbook.

Henry

Awesome, awesome, AWESOME article!!!! It's like you read all my thoughts, concerns and hopes and put it all out there. Microsoft, I'm on your side. Are you on our side?……are you listening?
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