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Windows Phone 7 Series gets Timotei rinse

Microsoft has airbrushed the Windows Phone 7 Series into a Timotei-style web commercial that glosses over the operating system's limitations. The company has delivered an ad on YouTube featuring the Anthropologie family of Anna, Miles and Luca - plus the babysitter - smiling, taking photos, playing games and casually flipping …

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Anonymous Coward
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Redmond, start your copiers.

So WP7S doesn't support multi-tasking, Flash or copy/paste.

Sound familiar to anyone?

Anonymous Coward
Anonymous Coward
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Multi-taksing, copy and paste, flash

Bit unfair to bang on about multi-tasking when the iphone doesn't have,

So far, with several years to work on it apple have added copy and paste to the iphone. It still doesn't have multitasking or flash. And in case the only one of the three that's important in any is multitasking for background geo-location; but not if it destroys battery life (take note google).

Here's betting that MS will have background processing working before apple does.

from an iphone owner...

Anonymous Coward
Anonymous Coward
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Re-re-wind, and the crowd says "bo selecta"

Yeah, there's no business model in phones that don't have multitasking, Flash and cut'n'paste, right?

Wait, what?

No-one cares, and millions of people buy phones that they like even if they don't have these features?

NEVAR!

Piro
Coat
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Of course

Sounds like an Etch-a-sketch.

Useless garbage, really.

Mine's the one with the HTC Desire in it

Sean Timarco Baggaley
WTF?
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Weird.

iTunes and Mail run in the background just fine on my iPod touch. (I have a Nokia 2630 for phone duties; I don't make a lot of calls.)

OS X—which the iPhone OS is derived from—is a *BSD Unix OS, so it has no problems multitasking. Apple therefore aren't "working" on it: it's already supported. Apple have merely *disabled* it for 3rd-party apps. There's a good reason for this: it makes testing said apps a bloody sight easier, cheaper and quicker as they have far fewer combinations and permutations of software to test against.

As for Flash: that'll appear on the iPhone the day Adobe can make version which doesn't kill battery power and crash every ten minutes. Oh, and a 64-bit version would be nice too. It's a terrible piece of software, and every single one of its features is available through other means.

Just because something is "popular", that doesn't mean it's any bloody good. VHS was popular. Ryanair are popular. Popularity doesn't say a damned thing about quality; it's a reflection on marketing and PR, not engineering talent.

Unity Technologies' eponymous 3D game web-player plugin is more solid than Flash. And there's a 64-bit version. And the development IDE is pretty damned cool too. Seriously, if you've never checked it out, take a look. (Disclaimer: I used to work for 'em back in '07.)

Anonymous Coward
Stop
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RE: Multi-taksing, copy and paste, flash

"Bit unfair to bang on about multi-tasking when the iphone doesn't have,"

A common misconception, the iPhone DOES have multitasking - just only on certain apps. Those apps are currently all Apple ones but full multitasking is coming in with the next version of the OS.

"Here's betting that MS will have background processing working before apple does."

Apple have already got it working and I assume you'll be downloading it when the next patch is released... (Do you ever read the articles in El Reg? There was one all about this the other day!)

Argh
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Multitasking

Zzzzz.

Windows CE also has multitasking, which Windows Phone 7 and previous versions of Windows Mobile use as the core OS.

They've already said WP7 will allow various functions in the background, including music player.

Personally, I'd have preferred it if they'd allowed multitasking from the start, as well as the other features from previous versions of Windows Mobile, such as copy/paste and external storage. While enjoying the flexibility of WM in the past, I'm currently not tempted by WP7. I might try Android for a bit and hopefully MS will add the features back in the meantime.

skelband
WTF?

In what way is it like the Timotei ad?

Pipe music, no.

Boats, no.

Soft focus, no.

Shampoo, no.

"So mild you can use it every day", erm, check.

Just asking.

hplasm
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It sounds so 'flakey'

It should be a Head & Shoulders advert.

G_C
Jobs Horns
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Answer...

In the way they want you semi-naked over a barrel whilst giving you a good old Microsofting right up to the Ballmers...

Trevor Pott o_O
FAIL

I...but....just...now waitaminute....

*sigh*

Icon says it all.

IT specialist
FAIL

WP7S is headed down the drain

Just like Timotei shampoo, Windows Phone 7 Series will go down the drain. It is the joke of the industry, with basic functionality missing. It will fail, and cannot compete against Android and iPhone.

A 20
Coat

D'uh!

"... commercial that glosses over the operating system's limitations"

Meanwhile, in other news, animals of an Ursine persuasion have been known to defecate in forests. *sigh*

heyrick

YouTube links

That bun-haired Pre woman. Kinda reminded me of Macauley Culkin (sp?).

Anna was fairly cute.

But the icing on the cake? I read the article here, then saw this comment on YouTube (edited for pointless language):

"Are you serious? Windows Phone 7 is like the best thing msft has created in like years. Nobody gives a f--k about Ana and Mitch or Miles or whoever. You have a great product. Fire your ad people and show people the f--king OS."

I *so* hope this guy gets one. And cries when he sees what his friends can do in their phones now, that his phone might do in the next release... But, hey, this commentard is looking at a mobile phone advert and asking to be shown the OS. That's a whole class of fail on its own!

alexferrie

Get the facts right

In fact winphone 7 does support multitasking, if the author of this piece had bothered to check his facts. MS apps will immediately support multitasking, while 3rd party apps will be suspended when the user switches app. MS have taken great pains to stress that this is only in the initial release, they are working on a proper multitasking mechanism for 3rd party apps.

Regarding cut/paste, it's accurate, but misleading to say that winphone7 doesn't support TRADITIONAL cut/paste. MS are also planning to implement these functions in a different way, which better suits the UI of winphone 7.

Not sure about the flash support, so I can't comment. What I will say is that I am very tired of seeing so called tech journalists spouting inaccurate statements about MS products without bothering to tell their readers that this is opinion, and not necessarily fact.

Not saying that MS are a fault free organisation, but they don't deserve the constant stream of attacks they get from certain members of the press either.

Just my opinion.

Anonymous Coward
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RE: Get the facts right

"Regarding cut/paste, it's accurate, but misleading to say that winphone7 doesn't support TRADITIONAL cut/paste."

Are they implementing "cat and pooste" instead? How does a non-traditional cut and paste work? You "cut" (or copy) and later on you "paste". How can you do that in any way that doesn't involve "cutting" and "pasting"?!?!?!

"MS apps will immediately support multitasking, while 3rd party apps will be suspended when the user switches app."

Oh, you mean the same type of multitasking that the iPhone has then? I've heard that described as "not multitasking" a large number of times (usually by MS fanbois). Frankly, given MS track record in software, I'm surprised it multitasks at all.

"Not saying that MS are a fault free organisation, but they don't deserve the constant stream of attacks they get from certain members of the press either."

I would disagree. They're very smug about having leading market share for their desktop OS. Their own ads are always so saccharin-coated they make me want to vomit. I could understand it if their OS and other software was great but it isn't. It's second rate in every way and riddled with security holes... (do I need to go on?!?)

G_C
Pint
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hehe...

That's one MS Fanbois with their pants yanked up over there heads and spun round till htere dizzy!

I always suspect pro-MS posters on here are Microsoft employees...

Do any non affliates have anything good to say about any of this???

alexferrie
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@ anonymous coward

Traditional cut and paste involes highlighting a section, clicking a designated button and selcting from a context sensitive menu. MS have stated that they will support cut and paste, but not using this approach, as the winphone 7 UI is designed to be used with fingers only as much as possible.

I think you'll note from my original post that i made no criticism of the Iphone - I think it's a great device and have no issue with it.

Regarding the desktop OS, your opinion, not mine. I run Windows 7 x64 and have no issues with it at all. I'm not getting drawn into an argument about who's OS is better, MS or Apple - horses for courses my friend, use whichever one you prefer. Like I said, my issue with this article is the lack of factual accuracy. IN MY OPINION, the tech press are much more prepared to kick MS than they are to recognise the good work they do.

If it makes you happy, feel free to label me as an MS fanboi. I prefer to think of myself as a pragmatist - I use whatever OS and apps suit the job in hand. I use Linux for certain aspects of my work and I am perfectly happy to do so. I just choose to use an MS operating system as my primary choice.

Big-nosed Pengie

Excellent

The more often Redmond releases crap and tells people it's chocolate, the more their reputation will descend to an appropriate level.

Antidisestablishmentarianist
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Ummm....

I like it. Much 'fresher' than the now dated looking iPhone OS.

Anonymous Coward
WTF?
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RE: Ummm....

"I like it. Much 'fresher' than the now dated looking iPhone OS."

You're supposed to mark your post as a joke if you're going to write stuff like that.

It is "fresh" in the same way that things that fall from dogs behind can be considered "fresh" when there's still steam coming off and the dog is still straining...

Anonymous Coward
Anonymous Coward

Flash

It doesn't support Flash because this would provide access to video & game content without M$ getting a cut of any fees. It's an anti-consumer business move conjured by that psycho Jobs, that M$ appear all too willing to buy into. Scumbags. All this talk of buggy/HTML5 etc is a smokescreen.

Rod MacLean
FAIL
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RE: Flash

You've obviously never visited a web page where flash crashes your browser. (or slows it down, or makes annoying noises, etc etc)

If you think there are any Flash games that are going to keep someone entertained for more than 1/2 an hour or which can compete with commercial games then please let us know!

Flash is also crap for video. Some of us use a video format for those files instead!

Anonymous Coward
Anonymous Coward
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Rubbish

I've never met one living, breathing person in my life with this opinion. Only corporate trolls pushing propaganda push this nonsense.

G_C
Big Brother
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hehe...

I wonder if Microsoft have someone in marketing tasked with posting pro-MS blah-blah on here?

There's no way anyone would say anything positive like some of the things on here if they weren't cap and badge wearing brain washed minions...

YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!!!!

Anonymous Coward
Anonymous Coward
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more than one

There are a few more than one mate. All manner of special interest groups, and of course corporations have *many* trolls crawling boards. It's the best way to manage public perception of your group today. Thought the internet would free public opinion and allow free discourse? Fail. It's just a way for propaganda to become more pervasive and inescapable. Boards that wish to remain high-quality will have to address this issue somehow in the near future. Most will not though, and will simply become little propaganda/advertising machines.

alexferrie
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For the record

Just for the record chum, I don't work for MS, nor am I a marketing troll. I have an opinion different to yours - so sue me.

Anonymous Coward
Anonymous Coward
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Rod McLean

You used the wrong login to reply to me. I was responding to "Rod McLean".

Lon Bailey

Not a patch on the Motorola/Megan Fox ad

Forget the music and the nice family- instead put Megan Fox in a bathtub like Motorola did. Probably politically less correct but much more memorable.

blackworx
Coffee/keyboard

Didn't check out the MS ad

But I did click that "Anthropologie" link.

Jesus wept.

Dirk Vandenheuvel

Flash

Seriously... people need to stop whining about Flash. I turned it off on my desktop for two weeks now just to see if I would miss it. Result? Less annoying ads.

FreeTard
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Don't agree with multitasking on a phone

As each process uses up precious interrupts, which in turn drains the battery faster.

A phone is not a bloody computer.... battery life is vital...

Dan 55
FAIL

No multitasking for 3rd party apps

They had it in WM, they've taken it out of WP7 for 3rd party apps (or rather they've added 3rd party app suspend code), now they've got to put it back in again for WP7.1 (or rather take it out again). And how does this improve the user experience?

(I don't believe for one minute WP7 is new, the install new font option in Windows 3.1 survived all the way up to Vista.)

My Alter Ego

Big floating screen

What I want to know is whether it can do the big screen projected into mid-air. I'd buy it just for that.

Eponymous Cowherd
Gates Horns

Of silk purses and sow's ears.

Making a Windows Mobile turd look like an iPhone, Android or Pre is asking a lot, but the ad men have come through.

The disappointment when users get their hands on the real thing is another matter.....

Rob Moir

video

I know right, its like totally radical not supporting flash when everyone totally knows that flash is the only way to support video in the whole wide world wide web right?

Did bill gates once steal your pencil case? You seem awfully bitter about something, that's for sure.

G_C
FAIL
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Paperless Office...

That was his plan... but we still have pencil cases...

SlabMan

iHope

Just hoping that Windows Phone 7, and Android, drive the iPhone price down to where cheapskates like me can afford one

sleepy

As it stands

This ad is going to sell more iPhones than it does Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Series phones.

Bilgepipe
Alert

Gasp

Microsoft in misleading product promotion materials shocker. More at 11.

Anonymous Coward
FAIL

Bias anyone?

This article completely lacks some basic facts....

1. Flash is an *Adobe* product. Therefore it is entirely Adobe's responsibility to make a plug in. Adobe is in fact working right now with Microsoft to bring Flash to Windows Phone. Which may or may not be ready when it is realeasd. Again this is dependent on *ADOBE*.

2. You point out lack of Cut & Paste without pointing out the fact that they are automatically recognizing text such as html links, phone numbers, addresses, names, etc. So the need for Cut & Paste will be lessened. Regardless it has been stated that Cut & Paste will be made available in a later update.

3. You point out lack of multitasking, but don't point out the innovations that GREATLY reduce the need for it. The front tiles on the phone can be automatically updated by any application alerting the user to events happening in an application. There is a notification service that allows any application to pop up alerts to the user while they are using the phone. There are also plans to allow applications like Pandora tap into the Zune music service so that those applications can stream audio in the background. All applications can be suspended or closed/restored to the exact state you left it without losing information.

So no you can't have halo running in the background while you're browsing the web, but most scenarios where multitasking would be useful are covered....

Oolong
FAIL

Bias Much?

This article completely lacks some basic facts....

1. Flash is an *Adobe* product. Therefore it is entirely Adobe's responsibility to make a plug in. Adobe is in fact right now working with Microsoft to bring Flash to Windows Phone. Which may or may not be ready when it is realeasd. Again this is dependent on *Adobe*.

2. You point out lack of Cut & Paste without pointing out the fact that they are automatically recognizing text such as html links, phone numbers, addresses, names, etc. So the need for Cut & Paste will be lessened. REGARDLESS it has been stated that Cut & Paste will be made available in a later update just not at launch.

3. You point out lack of multitasking, but don't point out the WP7 innovations that GREATLY reduce the need for it. The front tiles on the phone can be automatically updated by any application alerting the user to events happening in an application. There is a notification service that allows any application to pop up alerts to the user while they are using other applications on the phone. There are also plans to allow applications like Pandora tap into the Zune music service so that those applications can stream audio in the background. All applications can be suspended or closed/restored to the exact state you left it without losing information.

So no you can't have Halo actively running in the background while you're browsing the web, but most scenarios where multitasking would be useful are already covered....

Anonymous Coward
Anonymous Coward
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Deja vu

Cut & paste eh !

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