Looks like some of the Windows Mobile enthusiasts are up to their creepy bashing of the iPhone 3G. Now it is quite funny that I am writing this since I AM a Windows Mobile enthusiast but the difference is that I am not biased. Today I noticed a story over at MobilitySite where Chris Leckness was complaining about two things.. battery life and third party apps. Now if you read his blog you will see he loaded a version of 2.0 that was NOT the official release by Apple. This firmware was one that was hidden on Apple’s website that clearly was not final build. Now everyone should also note that he is running the 1st Gen iPhone also. He also clearly stated the battery was dead by 4pm. If you look around the web you will read that many people who loaded this firmware were having similar issues as he was. The second issue he complains about are stupid third party applications for the iPhone. Dont get me wrong but last time I checked there are even more stupid apps for Windows Mobile which he clearly has never documented. This is a guy who clearly bashed Apple for not supporting developers and allowing third party apps to be installed on the iPhone. Oh yea he also complained about no Microsoft Exchange support which clearly he breezes right over and never gives credit for a fantastic implementation of Exchange push. So my question is when are these enthusiasts going to fairly report facts?
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14 Users Responded In This Article
>Now it is quite funny that I am writing this since I AM a Windows Mobile enthusiast
Don’t make me laugh. You handed in your badge years ago.
No badge to hand in SurSur as I am one of the longest Windows Mobile enthusiast sites on the web… I am glad you are reading my blog..Welcome..
Offenbuf- you bring up some good points but I didnt have issues with my GAL..
I partially agree with Chris regarding the apps available at launch. Most of them do indeed seem rather useless. I am running 2.0 on my touch and downloaded the nyt apps (slow as crap), apple remote, and a couple of games.
Jerry I dont think that was my point. My point was that he RIPPED into Apple for no third party support last year and now that Apple has done it he now complains the apps are stupid? 50,000 downloads of SuperMonkeyBall aint too shabby is it? I am also hearing huge numbers of downloads for apps..
But the apps are mostly junk. I don’t agree with Chris’ views too often but I have to side with him regarding this. Your point about 50,000 downloads of SuperMonkeyBall says it all….a game. Just because people are downloading apps doesn’t mean that the quality of apps are there. I have already downloaded 3 games a news reader and the Apple remote control. Not much in terms of quality applications, I have to say.
That being said, once the big software houses get their apps on-line, I think the landscape will change. Otherwise for now, it’s a bunch of semi-useless apps merged in with a spattering of games and tip-calculators, and the occassional “useful” app.
Jerry you must not be seeing the same apps as me? What games are even close to WM? Yes I know I said Games.. Also I have been asking for a MLB app like the one on the iphone for 4 years with WM and never saw it. These arent business critical apps but they certainly are useful ones for me. I also like the blogging tools that are already out for the iPhone too.. Remember this is day #3? I think Apple has done a great job so far with Apps.
Why is the alleged bashing “creepy”? Have you seen all of the people bashing Windows Mobile since the iPhone was released?
Regarding Chris, would it have been better if he’d said something like, “Well, after over a year, you can finally put applications on your iPhone. Too bad most of them are junk.” I think his point wasn’t that there *are* junk applications on the iPhone (which would be a DUH comment — there are junk applications on any platform), but that there were so *many*. (To be fair, I don’t have an iPhone and have no idea what’s in the store, so I don’t know if most are crap or not.)
Regarding Exchange support, I ask the same question. What did you want him to say? The fact is that everybody knew the iPhone 3G was going to have software available now and support Exchange. Why bother mentioning it unless it’s got problems or is better than existing solutions?
I’m not biased either (in the sense that I believe people should choose the devices that work best from them), but pointing out problems with other platforms seems fair if you’re also pointing out problems in your platform of choice.
And what’s up with bashing a WM MVP? You guys have both done a lot for Windows Mobile, and it’s kind of sad to see one attacking the other. (I don’t think Chris was the only WM fan criticizing the iPhone…. 
Hey Pony thank you for taking the time out to comment on my blog. You have been around for a while and I do have respect for you. My point is that last year he could not stop saying how the unit is crippled and that you cannot sync with exchange. Nevertheless he called it a TOY. Now we all know that Apple has added some great functionality to the iPhone and he will continue to point out senseless negativity. I have never seen him post one positive point about the iPhone at all. Also take a look over at his senior editor’s comments at his blog (jack cook).. About DO NOT BUY AN IPHONE.. Pony I think if you are an MVP you cannot post positively about an iPhone. I speak from experience and one of the reasons I lost my MVP was that I did speak at times negative about Windows Mobile..
Dave,
Re: MLB app it is nice but nothing that can’t be had by using a mobile browser and viewing the mobile espn site. And I should pay 4.99 for it?
Only people who enjoy a nice interface and attention to detail would appreciate the MLB app and other aspects of the iPhone. For the rest… you would still love the iPhone if you got off your reset button and test drove it a few days.
I didn’t see Chris’ posts about the original iPhone, but I did find this one about the 3g: http://mobilitysite.com/2008/07/yet-another-iphone-post-my-1st-impressions-on-v2/ (I assume that’s the one you’re commenting on now. If not, let me know.)
Quoting the latter half, it says:
“I am very impressed with the Exchange Server support. Very impressed.
The app store is really cool, but there are a lot of stupid applications in there. Matt Miller asks the question, why do we need 10 Tip Calculators in there? I agree. Why?
I had an issue with some lag. It was real bad this morning. I did a reset and now it’s a little better, but still slower than it was before I put 2.0 on it.
Holdem Poker crashed 2-3 times, but it’s addicting as hell for me. I love poker.
Paypal App - Simple and to the point.
Twitterific - Awesome”
So he acknowledged the Exchange Server support and even complimented it. He said the App Store was cool, but said many apps were “stupid”, but also complimented a couple, including calling one “Awesome”.
His biggest complaint was the battery life — and he assumed that was just because of push E-mail and didn’t say the iPhone 3g sucked. He even posted another article today citing a test that showed the iPhone 3g has the *best* battery life among various smart phones: http://mobilitysite.com/2008/07/3g-apple-iphone-has-the-best-battery-life/
I also saw another story saying lots of people were complaining about battery life, too. I don’t know if all of the complainers used the “early” release (or whether that early release was in any way different from the official release), but it could be a real issue.
Having read only a few recent posts of his, it sounds to me like Chris gave a reasonably balanced view. If he was really negative about the original iPhone, maybe that influenced your view of this piece. Check it out again and I think you’ll find he did say *something* positive.
However, let me say that while I did think the original was cool, I think coming from a Windows Mobile world, it *was* crippled. Any Smartphone that doesn’t let you load applications isn’t all that smart. 
(Windows Mobile is certainly not perfect, either, but that’s another issue….)
Steve
Kevin,
First off, I am totally familiar with the iPhone as my wife had one for many months before she lost it. 
Secondly, as an iPod touch owner, I can take advantage of the 2.0 software and app store. Third, as to my original point, the quality (and usefulness) of apps at this point in time is just not there yet. That being said, the situation is totally understandable given the newness of the 3rd party platform.
As for getting off my “reset” button, my Touch Cruise has been the most stable WM device I have owned throughout my 8 year experience with the platform. I have it customized to the point where it “flows” nicely with the way I use a mobile device without any compromises whatsoever. The only time I “soft reset” is when I install trial software or make some kind of modification.
That’s another point that I don’t like about the app store - no trial for software. I think I will raise that point in this week’s podcast.
Well the time has come to start my personal blog. Wikipedia defines the word blog, a place to provide commentary or news on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. For me this will be a place where I share my experiences with all of you on what is involved behind the scenes of running my website 
I have three complaints about the iPhone for Exchange that would force me to say its not a slam dunk.
1. Error messages are vague. Had a client who reached their mailbox capacity and received an error of “Error sending message”. Windows Mobile and Blackberry both let you know you are over the limit.
2. GAL - I am not sure how the iPhone determines names in the Global Address List and since I haven’t gotten one (yet?) there may be a configuraton to change this but by default there are n (28 in our case) entries for John Smith and now way to differentiate who is who.
3. First sync of calender - had to reaccept every appoint.
Other than that no major complaints.
Fair and unbiased?