Microsoft Secret Prototype Phone Stolen

bossanovalithium writes to tell us that details are emerging about the theft of a top secret prototype mobile device stolen from an executive's pocket. Time to start watching eBay. "There are fears that leaks regarding the features and early bugs in the software could mar the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 which the company hopes will give it the edge over the iPhone and the new Google Android operating system. The new product includes support for touch-screen technology similar to that found on the Apple iPhone. Among the features offered in the new service unveiled by Microsoft's chief executive, Steve Ballmer, on Tuesday, is a version of Windows Marketplace for Mobiles, which is set to compete with the popular Apple's App Store and provide easy ways to download music and products to mobiles. "

Re:An edge?

[MrEricSir]

The real edge is that the Exchange client actually works on Windows Mobile.

Can't say this for the iPhone, sadly.

Who cares?

[Anonymous Coward]

I've completely given up on the Windows Mobile platform. Slow, buggy, and syncing sucks. And birthday reminders defaulting to 12AM? WTF? Who gives a crap about a birthday reminder notification at 12AM?

Re:andnothingofvaluewaslost

[Anthony_Cargile]

Or was this just a way to generate hype?

Reminds me of the South Park episode where they were trying to figure out who was behind 9/11 (started with Cartman saying the Jews did it), and towards the end President Bush said "Ha! and all along the plans were right here in my hands, and you'll never get them!" - then he turns around and yawns while looking over his shoulder and dropping the "secret plans" on the floor.

Yeah, I could see this being something like that, and if so then they learned from their "leaks" of Windows 7. But that's just me.

An Engadget Editorial on Windows Mobile 6.5

[alvinrod]

I caught this article [engadget.com] the other day and it seems like Windows Mobile 6.5 isn't anything to get excited about or a serious threat to any of the other mobile OS's. Seems like more wishful thinking and promises from Microsoft. They're really not making any headway in this area and probably end up throwing more money into it than they'll get back out. Why don't they abandon some of their non-core businesses and find some uncharted areas to expand into instead of throwing money into non-profitable areas where they have no chance of gaining marketshare or mindshare?

Re:An edge?

[Xest]

The things that might give Microsoft the edge are proper Windows integration (Exchange etc.) which is important in the business world where the majority of systems are Windows based and also the massive hoarde of .NET developers that can easily develop for Windows mobile.

Whether they will in practice is a different story of course but Microsoft do have some advantages with their platform, the idea is if they can close their disadvantages - i.e. provide the things Apple has, whilst continuing to provide the things they don't have then that would indeed give them the edge.

Re:andnothingofvaluewaslost

[von_rick]

Things that are "stolen" from M$ usually show up on torrent sites just before the launch of a beta. This being an actual object, it might show up on freecycle [freecycle.org] lists :-)

Re:how much you want to bet...

[roc97007]

Something like that actually happened to me. I picked a custom ring tone for calls from home, and the only time it would play correctly was just after a fresh reboot. If an audible alert - say, from the calendar - had previously sounded, a call from home would lock up the phone. I'm told it was something about part of the OS not releasing the audio driver or something. The solution was not to use custom ring tones.

I understand how this could be considered a feature, but you have to go home sometime... If wife can't reach me on the phone during the day, I pay for it that evening. And the next day, and the following weekend...

Re:andnothingofvaluewaslost

[Cornelius the Great]

The phone wasn't built by Microsoft. It wasn't even MS-branded- it was an HTC Touch Pro 2.

This is pretty much non-news. WM 6.5 beta has been leaked in various iterations and some of the guys at xda-developers have already cooked these into roms for several devices. I've even flashed it onto my HTC Touch Pro just to see what it's like. Guess what, (surprise!) it's slower and even more bloated than WM6.1. It didn't last for more than a couple hours before I got fed up and rolled it back. Honestly, 6.5 didn't add anything useful to 6.1. Just a honey-comb UI that looks crappier/more jerky than TouchFlo/Manilla or Spb Mobile shell.

I don't really think MS has to worry about trade secrets about its "new and improved" mobile OS being leaked to Apple, RIM, or Google. The only benefit a competitor would gain is a quick laugh.