The Microsoft Ultra-Mobile Platform (Origami) Two Years On

[IJ Reilly]

Almost exactly two years ago, Microsoft tried to build a huge buzz over the pending release of the first device based on the Windows Ultra-Mobile OS platform, code-named "Origami". The first product to be released was a small handheld PC from Samsung. This product was discussed (and ridiculed) quite a bit around here at the time.

The Samsung device is apparently still manufactured as the Q1 Ultra-Mobile, but I don't know of any other computer sold with this OS, and I have never seen a Samsung Q1 in the wild. Has anybody else seen one? For all appearances, Microsoft's efforts in this market appear to have been a failure -- at least so far.

I think this makes for an interesting comparison with Apple's efforts in the handheld computing market, the iPhone and iPod touch. They aren't precisely comparable products of course, but it seems to me that Apple is succeeding where Microsoft has not, by taking a very different approach to the problem of handheld computing.

So, based on what we've seen to date, who's solution to mobile computing is likely to succeed in the long run, Apple's or Microsoft's?

 

[wrldwzrd89]

I definitely see Apple's approach having success, especially if they decide to expand their mobile computing initiatives - the iPhone and iPod touch have proven that the idea is sound, it just needs to be done in a user-friendly way.

As for Microsoft, they need to get their act together first, especially when it comes to Mobile Internet Explorer. Sure, it works, but the browsing experience really isn't as good as it should be.

 

[gkarris]

It seems the more mobile the device, the more user-friendly it needs to be.

Palm managed to kind-of pull it off back in the day.

But with OS X Touch, for the iPhone, the Touch, and the new iPad(?), MS will be hard pressed to still come out with mobile platforms using Windows.

They need to come up with something totally different to compete...

Like their Zune, the competition will be welcomed.

 

[IJ Reilly]

If Apple does release the "iPhone grande" as rumored, then the battle of approaches to handheld computing will be truely joined. Microsoft has been trying to squeeze Windows onto a smaller hardware platform with very limited success, while Apple has figured out that handheld computers aren't simply desktop computers made smaller. The really brilliant part is the way Apple is leveraging the iPhone. If Apple continues to play their cards right, they could end up owning the handheld market before Microsoft even knows what hit them.

 

[Shadow]

If Apple does release the "iPhone grande" as rumored, then the battle of approaches to handheld computing will be truely joined. Microsoft has been trying to squeeze Windows onto a smaller hardware platform with very limited success, while Apple has figured out that handheld computers aren't simply desktop computers made smaller. The really brilliant part is the way Apple is leveraging the iPhone. If Apple continues to play their cards right, they could end up owning the handheld market before Microsoft even knows what hit them.

You hit the nail on the head.

Squeezing a full-blown OS and its interface (ie, Luna, Aero, etc) down onto a 3 inch or whatever display is not the right way to go about it. Those kinds of interface were designed for a large screen and a mouse. Apple, on the other hand, seem to realize this and don't just try to squeeze Aqua onto the iPhone/iPod touch/etc, they make a new interface while still keeping the important bits, and that is the right way to go.

 

[Cepe Indicum]

I hope this isn't off topic too much; this is an interesting thread, and I just thought I'd throw this in.

I found this, an interesting article from 2003, where Steve Jobs talks about tablets and PDAs at the D: All Things Digital Conference.

He basically says (in answer to a question from Walt Mossberg) that only rich people want tablets; he says "We look at the tablet and we think it's going to fail." But then he also says "We [Apple] didn't think we'd do well in the cell phone business..." Interesting. In 2003, Apple had no intention of entering the cell phone market... Less than 5 years later, they are (arguably) being seen as an industry innovator.

Now, I know that what Apple may (or may not) be announcing at WWDC is unlikely to be - strictly speaking - a "tablet Mac", but it's not far off. The question now is will Steve Jobs do a similar u-turn on tablets as he did on the cell phone and - when you read the article - video on the iPod...?

 

[bartelby]

The question now is will Steve Jobs do a similar u-turn on tablets as he did on the cell phone and - when you read the article - video on the iPod...?

Not really a u-turn is it. 5 years in technology is a long time.

 

[BornAgainMac]

5 years ago, the iPhone would not have had a touch screen. It would have been like the iPod Classic interface with those simple iPod apps and not be much different than all the other phones on the market. Imagine using the scroll wheel to dial if Apple figured the keypad uses too much space.

 

[Cepe Indicum]

Not really a u-turn is it. 5 years in technology is a long time.

Point taken; u-turn was probably the wrong term to use. But at that time, (apparently) Apple had no intention of joining the cell phone market; neither did they have any intention of joining the "tablet" market. I am just wondering whether - with the changes in technology, as you rightly point out - does Apple now see the tablet market in a different light?

 

[bartelby]

Point taken; u-turn was probably the wrong term to use. But at that time, (apparently) Apple had no intention of joining the cell phone market; neither did they have any intention of joining the "tablet" market. I am just wondering whether - with the changes in technology, as you rightly point out - does Apple now see the tablet market in a different light?

I think at the time what Apple would have liked to do with a phone was near impossible, therefore they'd rather not enter a compromise product. Same with tablets.

 

[PlaceofDis]

Point taken; u-turn was probably the wrong term to use. But at that time, (apparently) Apple had no intention of joining the cell phone market; neither did they have any intention of joining the "tablet" market. I am just wondering whether - with the changes in technology, as you rightly point out - does Apple now see the tablet market in a different light?

well you have to remember that the r&d on the iphone has gone on a long time, and they brought it to market when they thought it was acceptable. probably back in 2003 they had done some work on a phone, and it just wasn't where they wanted it to be, they've probably done similar things all along with a tablet; testing it out, but never happy with the results, perhaps with the multi touch and success of the iphone they feel like they can bring it to market though, but who knows, tablets may remain a very small niche, or might be one of the next iterations of portable computing.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Apple doesn't need to do a u-turn on tablet computers, they simply avoid using that term to describe the product. Remember when Steve said that Apple wasn't interested in releasing a PDA? So what is the iPod touch if not a PDA? Apple avoids stigmatized terms like "tablet" or "PDA" even though the products may be those things in all but name. This is another reason why I think Apple has been successful where Microsoft has failed. Apple is doing an end-run right around concepts which have been dead ends in the past. Subtle perhaps, but very important I think.

 

[bartelby]

Remember when Steve said that Apple wasn't interested in releasing a PDA? So what is the iPod touch if not a PDA?

I don't know who's more caught up in semantics, you or Apple.

 

[kamm]

Dunno what planet you guys live on but there are plenty of Windows Mobile-based devices, literally dozens of devices and all together they sell a LOT more than iPhone.

 

[PlaceofDis]

Dunno what planet you guys live on but there are plenty of Windows Mobile-based devices, literally dozens of devices and all together they sell a LOT more than iPhone.

this isn't talking about Windows Mobile, this is talking about Windows "Ultra-Mobile" aga Origami.

Link

 

[kamm]

this isn't talking about Windows Mobile, this is talking about Windows "Ultra-Mobile" aga Origami.

Link

Ahhh, OK. I think that was or eventually will be merged with Windows Mobile, I'm pretty sure.

 

[IJ Reilly]

I don't know who's more caught up in semantics, you or Apple.

Sorry, was I supposed to understand this remark?

My point is that Apple isn't hung up on the semantics, not that they are.