vB Easy Archive - Sidekick to go Windows Mobile????

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Sidekick to go Windows Mobile????
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Posted by: CoolWireless

It looks like the Sidekick might go Windows Mobile operating system after all...

See this article:

Article: What Ballmer plans to keep from Yahoo, Danger - Posted by Ina Fried
Date: March 6, 2008 3:34 PM PST
Source: www.Cnet.com - CNET [dot] com news

Link: http://www.news.com/8301-13860_3-98...etfd.blogs.item

SNIP
AS VEGAS--With the acquisition of Danger and the proposed bid for Yahoo, Microsoft is looking at taking on a whole lot of non-Windows technology.

Danger's Sidekick device uses a Java operating system, while Yahoo is known for its extensive use of open-source software to power its services.

Speaking at the Mix '08 conference, Ballmer said that Microsoft would likely take on some of the open-source PHP applications that Yahoo relies on for its services, again assuming Yahoo ever starts returning Microsoft's phone calls.
/SNIP

[ . . . ]

SNIP
On Danger, Ballmer said that Microsoft was attracted to the way the Sidekick gets applications and data to its users as well as the consumer interface and appeal. However, he made clear that he believed those things could be brought over to the Windows Mobile operating system and still preserved.

"The Danger acquisition is really about building up an application and service aspect on top of our Windows Mobile platform," he said. "Danger is really a service application experience and we want to make sure we get that in market on a great set of phones."
/SNIP

[END]

Posted by: DDRMacintosh

IT doesn't sound like they want Windows Mobile on the Hiptop. It sounds like they want to incorporate aspects of the Hiptop OS into Windows Mobile. Hiptop OS just plain works, which is why people use it, that and the Sidekick is a fad kind of thing. Windows Mobile, well it doesn't always work so well.

Posted by: kingrome_1

so would that mean that would replace danger os

Posted by: MarsVolta

this is the time i get rid of my sidekick, hello helio

Posted by: DDRMacintosh

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarsVolta

this is the time i get rid of my sidekick, hello helio

LOL the Ocean has even more problems than the SK.

Again, I don't think they are replacing the OS. Remember, Microsoft will still want to use Danger's data compression techniques and that would be pretty hard in WM.

Posted by: donovan1983

I'm guessing they will use some of Danger's techniques for syncing all of the contents of a handheld and combine it with ActiveSync and Exchange in order to roll out a closer competitor to BlackBerry Enterprise Server. Right now ActiveSync is limited to PIM data but if they can get it to work with user data and settings, as well as do things like remote wiping and security restrictions, and keep it all on a customer's Exchange server without it going through a central data center then RIM will finally have a real competitor for corporate-issued wireless handhelds. Danger likely has some very valuable intellectual property in regards to device syncing with a server.

As for putting Windows Mobile on a Sidekick, there'd be no point. Danger's OS is a tightly controlled environment while Windows Mobile is comparatively open and they are intended for rather different audiences. Microsoft would be very smart keeping things as they are at Danger but using some of Danger's technology to improve Windows Mobile, ActiveSync, and Exchange.

Posted by: diesel828

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDRMacintosh

LOL the Ocean has even more problems than the SK.

.

No it doesn't. I have both the Ocean and the Sidekick LX and the Ocean works fine for me... no bugs. I prefer to the Sidekick.

Posted by: manchuia

Quote:

Originally Posted by diesel828

No it doesn't.

Are you serious? There is a sticky that is a bug list for the Ocean. There are several LOOONG threads about known issues with the phone. There is nothing of the sort with the SK (most complaints are lock codes, gripes about locked down OS, and having to pay for software / ringtones).

Not saying your preference for the Ocean is "wrong" or anything of the sort, but saying that the Ocean doesn't have bugs is indeed wrong.

Posted by: diesel828

I'm not saying it doesn't, but a lot of those bugs hit the phone when it came out. I suppose it's different for everyone. I've had mine for over a month now and I use it incessantly. Haven't had any problems with it... maybe I'm just a lucky one? Who knows.

Posted by: diesel828

Wow, I just read another article on this subject...

"When asked by c't about the future of the smartphone software from Danger, the company recently taken over by Microsoft, Ballmer said that Danger's strengths were in applications and services for user groups and within social networks. Microsoft would be mounting these programs and services on Windows Mobile. So Danger's Java-based operating system for the Sidekick devices has had it."

Windows Mobile ruins everything. I hate it.

Posted by: sanza_blanco

Personally I'd welcome the Windows Mobile environment because the current OS has so many limitations. At least you would be able to d/l java apps and free ring tones...along with video play back. Not to mention d/l a browser that is more like the PC experience. Skyfire and Opera Mini are both better than the browser on the LX, with Skyfire being able to play flash videos. Also with some of Microsoft's office apps you could really open the door to a wider age graphic for the device...just as long as they don't strip out all the good things that make this phone attractive to kids as well.

I also like Donovan's theory of using "Danger's techniques for syncing." As this would then add to what I was saying by making this device better well rounded for both fun and business a like. And with probably the best keyboard on any mobile device it would make perfect sense to capitalize on that.

To those that are against the Windows Mobile OS, I would suggest playing with the T-Mobile Shadow. What Microsoft, T-Mobile & HTC did was really take something bad and make it really user-friendly. I personally like the home screen appearance and its really not that much different from the current Sidekick format.

Posted by: MarsVolta

no the ocean is no where near as buggy as the sidekick, join any sidekick forum and you'll only see post of this isn't working and how do i fix this etc.
goto a helio forum and it's all fun and games... literally

not to mention the danger forums are so kiddish, the moderators suck if you say helio twice in a sentence your pretty much banned from the site, but back on topic...

i've had so many problems with my sidekick AND service its unbearable, radom data outages, having to reset my phone multiple times a day since my lx... still... has the same amount of memory as previous sidekicks can barely handle the little things it can do, not to mention how locked and limited the OS is... you can literally do nothing custom on the phone except themes... but the helio supports opera, custom tones etc.
but idk, i think Microsoft is gonna ruin the danger os but i really don't care, im not gonna stick around to see, i just ended my contract today with tmobile... yessss

Posted by: IHZT15

smh @ microsoft....they are always trying to incorporate things into their infrastructure. I personally could never see a WM OS on a sidekick, and if they do manage to implement it...........It would not be appealing at all.........But what it would mean is MORE CUSTOMIZATION...I MEAN C'MON, if you cant hack a windows Mobile OS. Then something is wrong wit you

Posted by: kingrome_1

Quote:

Originally Posted by diesel828

Wow, I just read another article on this subject...

"When asked by c't about the future of the smartphone software from Danger, the company recently taken over by Microsoft, Ballmer said that Danger's strengths were in applications and services for user groups and within social networks. Microsoft would be mounting these programs and services on Windows Mobile. So Danger's Java-based operating system for the Sidekick devices has had it."

Windows Mobile ruins everything. I hate it.

man anybody that knows how to work a pc can work a wm phone so if sidekicks in the future have wm it would be better...there would be more to do more options an easier to mod then dangers os an ther is way more you can do with wm phones...so in a way this is kinda a good thing

Posted by: DDRMacintosh

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingrome_1

That's not the problem. It's STABILITY. WM is horrible for stability.