Microsoft's Andy Lees answers a few questions on languages, Chassis 2 and microSD cards
Following up the Ballmer keynote, Andy Lees, President, Mobile Communications Business was available for a few questions regarding the recent announcements and more importantly, things that weren't mentioned.
First off, Windows Phone 7 will be getting greater language support by year's end--specifically they'll have 88% of all languages covered, which is large jump from the current 45% (give or take a percent or two). That should be welcomed news for those who have been struggling with not having their native tongue supported. In addition, we're told that keyboard character issues related to specific languages e.g. Polish, will also be fixed this year.
Next up we asked about the Chassis 2 aka the Blackberry/Treo style of Windows Phones with a smaller landscape screen but dedicated front keyboard--what's the progress on that?
We haven't announced any details on when that form factor is coming out. We are seeing is more interest in larger screens as opposed to smaller screens...but that doesn't mean we're not going to do it but we haven't announced anything yet
So in short, the Chassis 2 spec is still planned but as of now, the focus and consumer demand seems to be on larger screen devices so that is evidently where their resources are being concentrated. C'est la vie.
We did ask a few people, including Any Lees and even Sandisk about that microSD compatibility list and there seems to still be some confusion (the Sandisk rep was unaware) but both parties are going to get back to us on details on how that "certified" system is coming along, stay tuned...
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Drewidian says:
I want a Chassis 3 Style that is an Xperia Play style slide out controller with XBox functionality. Makes all the sense in the world, given Xbox and Kinnect integration we saw today.I'd also like an update to the Chassis 1 spec to allow support HDMI out, gyroscopes, HDRadio (like on the ZUNE HD), Tegra, OMAP, and Atom support, and removable MicroSD card support. Android is moving the bar higher and further away from our devices and it's getting embarrassing how much we are being let down by Microsoft's "Partners" as they move forward with their Android designs and not their WP7 offerings.
JohnCz says:
Me too. The Nokia concept has HDMI and front facing camera...so I suspect there will be some update to the Chassis 1 spec. Why they didn't say anything today I'm not sure.As far as Atom support, that may come with Windows/Phone 8.
GP07 says:
Well the Xperia Play is directly from Sony, so that sorta hardware push (really it just seems to me like they had leftover parts from that POS PSPGo that no one wanted to buy) so they can do that sorta thing directly.A 1Ghz cpu and 512MB ram is still pretty high for a phone imo, unless we start seeing a flood of games that need a dual core ARM cpu or something like a tegra2 I don't see the real need. The only part that needs a boost is storage, need some 32GB WP7 devices.
Drewidian says:
I hear you on the Xperia Play, but having a reference platform means that any manufacturer could build it unlike the Sony model which further adds to the Android fragmentation issue. If MS pushed a chassis version it would give all WP7 manufacturers the capability to make a phone with slide out controls, making it easier for developers to invest in support for those controls. Unless Sony sells alot of Xperia Plays, it might not be beneficial to the devs to write code to support it. The one thing that nags me about my HD7 is that I have to hide valuable screen real estate with my "man-thumbs". Having a slide out game pad gives me full use of the controls and it would make developing for cross platform gaming better. You could still add in support for non-gamepad devices, but the preferred experience would be for a systems with a gamepad for serious gamers.Upgrading the CPU and RAM would allow for a more cohesive development environment for say gaming in conjunction with the XBox like what we saw earlier today. Since the XBox has greater processing capabilities than the phone, better textures, depth of view, and the like could be implemented to give a closer to console experience.I agree with you on the storage. I'd love to see support for a minimum of 32GB of built in memory and a removable microsd solution where every time you swap it, it would get scanned and media would get added to the database. It could even tag (add a file) the card so it could remember where specific files are located. It would just be great to be able to swap in different SD cards like I did with my touch pro 2.
GP07 says:
Pushing the hardware ahead is fine, and I agree, more cpu/ram/storage will sell more devices but I'm of the opinion that maybe MS doesn't have to fource it. The thing is, if MS comes out and say that from now on the min specs are a dual core 1Ghz cpu, 1GB ram and 32GB storage then sure that's good for OEMs cuz they can make and sell new devices BUT what happens if apps/games start to only use the higher hardware phones and leave older ones behind? I mean do you want to get it to a point where you're forced to upgrade your phone to get the newest game like you are on the PC with a video card? Or are you find running a 6month old phone with a bit lower specs but running games slower etc?I think MS is smart by setting one base hardware req like they did now and keeping that till WP8, then with WP8 they can bump those up, remember WP8 should be coming around at some point in 2012 so not really that far off. But no reason to really push higher hardware with any new 7.x OS updates because then even though you're not fragmenting based on software you could be doing it with hardware. I paid a good chunk for my LG Optimus 7, I wanna upgrade and keep it for a good 2 or so years and not be forced to change it next year because I don't have the RAM or CPU power to run some app smooth, you know?
pNoyz3Ro says:
I would love/die for a Chassis 2 Spec! With the partnership of Nokia it should be closer than we expect! Hopefully by Q1/Q2 of 2012.It would be sick if they made a Nokia E72 WP7, but with a slightly larger screen. I know they can do it, it would be one badass/beautiful phone.
hvakrg says:
Any word on Zune/Marketplace expansion?
JohnCz says:
Good question, when it comes to music I think it makes a lot of sense for Nokia OVI Music Store and Zune to be merged somehow. Probably under the Zune brand but those details are still to being hammered out.
GP07 says:
They said that the Ovi store and Zune marketplace WILL be combined in some fashion so that's something we can expect later this year.
GP07 says:
They sorta talked about it after the keynote actually, it was a question that someone asked and they said that they'll be expanding language support to over 85% iirc, that alone should also bring Zune marketplace expansion so more people can finally buy apps, like me.As for individual Zune services like the Zune pass coming to more countries, they didn't say. Then again this isn't the right show for that topic, we'll have to wati for MiX, unless MS has some other event in March (which they might, I wouldn't be surprised if they have a media event for the first update actually).
hvakrg says:
There has been released some more news here in Norway now and it seems we're getting WP7 in 2nd half of this year, so probably with Mango. Only thing we wouldn't be getting is the Zune Pass that all came down to how big part of the market they would get, so chances probably aren't that good.
1jaxstate1 says:
Why can't they get the frickin microSD card issue fixed! I'm waiting to get a 16G for my focus!
HD7guy says:
You could always go buy a boat load of cards and try them. But good luck with that. I place full blame for this situation on the card manufacturers, not Microsoft.For comparison try finding a SanDisk USB memory stick for Xbox. SanDisk makes the Xbox-branded sticks, so it should be a no-brainer, right? WRONG. I was able to track down a specific model number for an 8GB stick that works reliably. But go for the 16GB version, and it won't work. Not only that, but performance tests between the two on a Windows box will easily show that SanDisk is using inferior components in the 16GB version of the same stick. (The only difference in model number between the two is 008 vs 016.)Until the memory manufacturers can reliably crank out a quality product, there is no way MS is going to put their stamp of approval on any of them. Why the public doesn't have access to the supply of good chips is another question we need to be hounding the manufacturers about.
Rugby Boots says:
I'm only after the music applications. As long as they can provide the best features then I'm in with that. A combination of the two would surely be a great bonus for users. Rugby Boots
