Windows Phone 7: Good, bad, or ugly?

Windows Phone 7: Good, bad, or ugly?

The two words and number on the collective lips of the mobile space are “Windows Phone 7.” Everyone, especially developers like the Phone Halo team, is anxious to this platform plays out. While a lucky few have gotten their hands on one of the (many) phones releasing, us mere mortals are left to speculate on its success or its demise.

via dailymail.co.uk

One aspect of WinPho7 that I first noticed is the lack of a modular, customizable experience that the app-based iPhone and Android operating systems have. With being so late to the party, many smart phone users will expect this sort of functionality and be left disappointed. Differentiating your self doesn’t help if you’re going the wrong direction. There is a segment of the population that wants a prepackaged system, but I don’t think there is much overlap with ones buying high-end smart phones.

Don’t get me completely wrong, the operating system looks great. Everything looks clean and well-designed, even though it looks like you’re going to have to scroll a lot. The lack of good content is going to drag it down despite all the great things about the operating system. Although at the end of the day, this is still Microsoft we’re talking about. It’s going to be sufficiently popular no matter what, but I don’t think it’s going to be dear to users’ or developers’ hearts like some of the other OSs are.

-Brian