Comments on: Loving the Competition Between the “App Phones” http://www.keenerliving.com/loving-the-competition-between-the-app-phones A retired professional talks about life, technology, learning Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bruce Keener http://www.keenerliving.com/loving-the-competition-between-the-app-phones#comment-37054 Bruce Keener Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:53:09 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/?p=1807#comment-37054 You hit the nail on the head with Apple changing the paradigm on this, Grant. Thanks for the in-depth discussion. I, too, used the Palm devices extensively when they first came out, and still consider them to be among the best PIM devices around. I also went to paper for a while when Windows Mobile overtook Palm, although I eventually bought plenty of WM devices, too. But, the game has really changed with the iPhone and Touch. My calendar and contacts sync seamlessly with Google via their exchange servers, and my OmniFocus apps are great for most of my task and project management needs (Mac and iPhone). I must say, though, I am loving the good reviews that Droid is getting. Sounds like it is still not up to snuff with the iPhone, but is off to a really good start. And for those who dislike AT&T (damned near everybody), having an option with another carrier is great. You hit the nail on the head with Apple changing the paradigm on this, Grant.

Thanks for the in-depth discussion. I, too, used the Palm devices extensively when they first came out, and still consider them to be among the best PIM devices around. I also went to paper for a while when Windows Mobile overtook Palm, although I eventually bought plenty of WM devices, too.

But, the game has really changed with the iPhone and Touch. My calendar and contacts sync seamlessly with Google via their exchange servers, and my OmniFocus apps are great for most of my task and project management needs (Mac and iPhone). I must say, though, I am loving the good reviews that Droid is getting. Sounds like it is still not up to snuff with the iPhone, but is off to a really good start. And for those who dislike AT&T (damned near everybody), having an option with another carrier is great.

]]> By: Grant http://www.keenerliving.com/loving-the-competition-between-the-app-phones#comment-37053 Grant Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:33:57 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/?p=1807#comment-37053 I have been an avid user of pda's and smartphones since the first Palm was released. In fact I recently discovered to my horror, these devices had became such an important part of my world, that when I moved from a PalmOS based machine to a Windows mobile platform (Palm Treo 750) my lifes plans came unhinged. This may sound a little dramatic but I found myself trying to shoehorn my thinking and support processes onto a very retrictive world. Not one to give in without a fight, I persisted but I think Palm found themselves with a similar situation when they started to use Windows CE/Mobile. To cut a long story short, I found myself reverting back to a paper based system and purely using the Treo as a mobile phone and calendar. This in fact has been a positive experience, allowing me to get back to using tools, like mind mapping etc, that has rekindled my creative juices. The next step was to find a device that would support and not limit my new found freedom, enter the iPhone GS. Being in IT management in the Arts, the IPhone presents itself as a potential security nightmare. I tried, but to no avail, to discourage it's use. Ever tried to hold back the tide ? When the GS was released I watched in horror as techo's rushed out and bought it. Now I understand why! It still has some security nasties and NO todo/task app as standard, but a few bucks well spent soon had me back on track. So thanks to Microsoft for being so below par and Apple for setting the new paradigm. I have been an avid user of pda’s and smartphones since the first Palm was released.

In fact I recently discovered to my horror, these devices had became such an important part of my world, that when I moved from a PalmOS based machine to a Windows mobile platform (Palm Treo 750) my lifes plans came unhinged.

This may sound a little dramatic but I found myself trying to shoehorn my thinking and support processes onto a very retrictive world. Not one to give in without a fight, I persisted but I think Palm found themselves with a similar situation when they started to use Windows CE/Mobile.

To cut a long story short, I found myself reverting back to a paper based system and purely using the Treo as a mobile phone and calendar.

This in fact has been a positive experience, allowing me to get back to using tools, like mind mapping etc, that has rekindled my creative juices.

The next step was to find a device that would support and not limit my new found freedom, enter the iPhone GS.

Being in IT management in the Arts, the IPhone presents itself as a potential security nightmare. I tried, but to no avail, to discourage it’s use. Ever tried to hold back the tide ?

When the GS was released I watched in horror as techo’s rushed out and bought it. Now I understand why!

It still has some security nasties and NO todo/task app as standard, but a few bucks well spent soon had me back on track.

So thanks to Microsoft for being so below par and Apple for setting the new paradigm.

]]> By: Bruce Keener http://www.keenerliving.com/loving-the-competition-between-the-app-phones#comment-37012 Bruce Keener Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:05:07 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/?p=1807#comment-37012 Agreed, Thomas. I even considered my old Treo 600 to be a smartphone. To me, smartphone didn't mean that the phone was smart, but that it helped us to be smart by giving us the information we needed when we needed, wherever we were. Agreed, Thomas. I even considered my old Treo 600 to be a smartphone. To me, smartphone didn’t mean that the phone was smart, but that it helped us to be smart by giving us the information we needed when we needed, wherever we were.

]]> By: Thomas R. Hall http://www.keenerliving.com/loving-the-competition-between-the-app-phones#comment-37011 Thomas R. Hall Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:57:56 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/?p=1807#comment-37011 gdgt also ran into issues because they said that BlackBerry <a href="http://discuss.gdgt.com/rim/general/What-constitutes-a-smartphone-/" rel="nofollow">wasn't a full smartphone</a> because it runs Java applications, then changed their tune and said "well, since they have an App Store, maybe they are". But they were talking about J2ME Java programs (which run on "feature" phones), not the actual BlackBerry SDK, which is what all apps you are familiar with are written in. It's odd to me that everyone feels that there were no smartphones prior to the iPhone... gdgt also ran into issues because they said that BlackBerry wasn’t a full smartphone because it runs Java applications, then changed their tune and said “well, since they have an App Store, maybe they are”. But they were talking about J2ME Java programs (which run on “feature” phones), not the actual BlackBerry SDK, which is what all apps you are familiar with are written in. It’s odd to me that everyone feels that there were no smartphones prior to the iPhone…

]]> By: Bruce Keener http://www.keenerliving.com/loving-the-competition-between-the-app-phones#comment-37008 Bruce Keener Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:48:43 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/?p=1807#comment-37008 I don't think it's just you, Thomas. I've seen others criticize Pogue's choice of a new term for smartphone. I kinda liked App Phone at first, but now I think it's stupid to invent a new term for a smartphone, which, as you point out, the new phones are. I don’t think it’s just you, Thomas. I’ve seen others criticize Pogue’s choice of a new term for smartphone.

I kinda liked App Phone at first, but now I think it’s stupid to invent a new term for a smartphone, which, as you point out, the new phones are.

]]> By: Thomas R. Hall http://www.keenerliving.com/loving-the-competition-between-the-app-phones#comment-37007 Thomas R. Hall Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:45:36 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/?p=1807#comment-37007 I actually _like_ the term smartphone. It's a phone with more features. It's odd to me that David Pogue doesn't think that smartphone means a phone can run applications. The first Treos were arguably the first real smartphones and they ran the full set of Palm OS apps. BlackBerry also has applications as well. Maybe it's just me, though. :) I actually _like_ the term smartphone. It’s a phone with more features. It’s odd to me that David Pogue doesn’t think that smartphone means a phone can run applications. The first Treos were arguably the first real smartphones and they ran the full set of Palm OS apps. BlackBerry also has applications as well.

Maybe it’s just me, though. :)

]]> By: Bruce Keener http://www.keenerliving.com/loving-the-competition-between-the-app-phones#comment-36957 Bruce Keener Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:02:13 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/?p=1807#comment-36957 Hi Helen, Yes it would be nice if all the App Phones came with office apps standard, but of course MS is the only company that can pull that off without it costing them. I did a quick search to see when the Droid might hit the UK, and found nothing firm, but <a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/moto-droid-heading-to-europe-as-milestone-646177" rel="nofollow">this article</a> suggests that it shouldn't be too much longer: Good luck on getting it soon. Hi Helen,
Yes it would be nice if all the App Phones came with office apps standard, but of course MS is the only company that can pull that off without it costing them.

I did a quick search to see when the Droid might hit the UK, and found nothing firm, but this article suggests that it shouldn’t be too much longer: Good luck on getting it soon.

]]> By: Helen http://www.keenerliving.com/loving-the-competition-between-the-app-phones#comment-36955 Helen Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:47:07 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/?p=1807#comment-36955 I love these smartphones too. I adore my iPhone, but I'm interested in Android. Anyone know if and when the Droid might hit the UK? I think WinMo is becoming obsolete, but there are a few things that help it hold on. Why, why, why for example, do other smart phones not come with a built in office suite? I don't want to have to download apps for that, I want it to work straight away, since I often use phones SIM-free. WinMo is the only OS I've used that has one built in at all! But it might well be that WinMo dies a slow and lingering death at the hands of it's up-and-coming competitors. I love these smartphones too. I adore my iPhone, but I’m interested in Android. Anyone know if and when the Droid might hit the UK?

I think WinMo is becoming obsolete, but there are a few things that help it hold on. Why, why, why for example, do other smart phones not come with a built in office suite? I don’t want to have to download apps for that, I want it to work straight away, since I often use phones SIM-free. WinMo is the only OS I’ve used that has one built in at all! But it might well be that WinMo dies a slow and lingering death at the hands of it’s up-and-coming competitors.

]]> By: Bruce Keener http://www.keenerliving.com/loving-the-competition-between-the-app-phones#comment-36943 Bruce Keener Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:55:47 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/?p=1807#comment-36943 Things sure can change quickly. I would have thought 2 or 3 years ago that WM would stomp Palm and BB, instead of working its way toward irrelevance. Yup, a year from now, innovation will have produced some really good choices for you. It will require some homework, but should be kinda fun. Things sure can change quickly. I would have thought 2 or 3 years ago that WM would stomp Palm and BB, instead of working its way toward irrelevance.

Yup, a year from now, innovation will have produced some really good choices for you. It will require some homework, but should be kinda fun.

]]> By: Bill Myers http://www.keenerliving.com/loving-the-competition-between-the-app-phones#comment-36942 Bill Myers Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:52:07 +0000 http://www.keenerliving.com/?p=1807#comment-36942 What's funny, Bruce, is how things can change in a truly competitive market. Palm pretty much defined the PDA market initially and became synonymous with PDA. Microsoft's first foray into the market, Windows CE, was clunky and not much of a challenger. Palm made a bunch of missteps and lost its market dominance, while Windows Mobile got better. Then both were kinda blown away in terms of public perception by the Blackberry, which became synonymous with mobile email. Then came the iPhone, and now Android. Palm is trying to come back with the Palm Pre. You can't keep up without a scorecard. . I know you enjoy the iPhone, but I'm hesitant to invest in a platform that doesn't come with a good built-in PIM out-of-the box. I don't want to have to purchase and learn third-party software. I want something that just works so I don't have to think about it. . Anyway, when it comes time to upgrade to a new phone next year, I'm really going to have to do some homework. I've defaulted to the Windows Mobile platform out of complacency and laziness, but next time I intend to take advantage of the fruits born of a highly competitve market. God only knows what innovations we'll be talking about next year! What’s funny, Bruce, is how things can change in a truly competitive market. Palm pretty much defined the PDA market initially and became synonymous with PDA. Microsoft’s first foray into the market, Windows CE, was clunky and not much of a challenger. Palm made a bunch of missteps and lost its market dominance, while Windows Mobile got better. Then both were kinda blown away in terms of public perception by the Blackberry, which became synonymous with mobile email. Then came the iPhone, and now Android. Palm is trying to come back with the Palm Pre. You can’t keep up without a scorecard.
.
I know you enjoy the iPhone, but I’m hesitant to invest in a platform that doesn’t come with a good built-in PIM out-of-the box. I don’t want to have to purchase and learn third-party software. I want something that just works so I don’t have to think about it.
.
Anyway, when it comes time to upgrade to a new phone next year, I’m really going to have to do some homework. I’ve defaulted to the Windows Mobile platform out of complacency and laziness, but next time I intend to take advantage of the fruits born of a highly competitve market. God only knows what innovations we’ll be talking about next year!

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