Monthly Archives: March 2010

iPhone + Android + ? = Windows Phone 7

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Windows Phone UI and Design Language

Microsoft really outperformed themselves with Windows Phone 7. They took the best ingredients of both the iPhone and Android, added some of their own and created something that has a lot of potential. I’m saying potential, because until we see the actual device and feel the experience, it’s impossible to know if they succeeded or not.

I really like their attention to details/perfection in the UI for this device and the effort they put in conveying this to the developers. Windows developers are usually less UI-centeric (as opposed to Mac developers), so extra work required here.

I also love the fact that they didn’t just create another take on the iPhone experience, but created something of their own. Because when I say they took elements from the iPhone and Android, I mean just concepts – like the attention to details and one-consistent experience from the iPhone or the back button and multiple integration points from the Android. The overall experience is completely theirs and I like their concept that an application is one wide canvas, that part of it is being revealed at a time.

I’m really curious to see what affect the release of this phone is going to have on the mobile market. This phone isn’t iPhone-killer, but it certainly has the potential to be the Android killer…

What do you think?

There’s nothing wrong with Apple suing HTC. It’s the whole concept of patents that is wrong

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Today it's Apple filing a lawsuit against HTC, alleging that HTC infringing some of their patents – tomorrow it's Facebook who will file a lawsuit against the new kid in the block that will dare to implement newsfeeds. Patents on such things should be prohibited, they counteract innovation and competition. While HTC could afford buying rights from Apple for these patents (in case Apple would be willing to sell rights), I don't think the same is true for some bootstrapped social network that would like to compete against Facebook.

Patents make sense for industries were by just copying some process you can compete with the patent inventor on the same level. It was meant to protect the inventors investment. But this no longer applies to products such as the iPhone or Facebook (or their features). They aren't selling us some features, they're selling a user experience. And this no one can copy from them, and even if someone does – they should just innovate and become better and not file lawsuits.

At least that is what I think.

Arik