… it’s because they want to get it right.
Recently, Microsoft announced the newest version of Windows Mobile… awkwardly titled, “Windows 7 Phone Series”. While I agree that it s by far the best looking release of Windows Mobile to date, there are a couple funny quirks that people are finding as details are discovered. For instance, there’s no copy and paste, nor is there multitasking functionality.
I’d like to know what the Microsoft devotees say about the lack of copy/paste especially. Back in 2007, everyone was bashing Apple for not having copy/paste on the iPhone. When version 2.0 rolled around in 2008, notably absent from the feature list was copy/paste. The Microsoft fanboys began to continually bash the iPhone, as it was missing such features as copy/paste and multitasking.
Hmm, looks like their favorite phone OS won’t have those either. Or is Microsoft maybe taking the stance that Apple takes- the stance of, “We won’t do it until it’s perfect.” When iPhone 3.0 was available in mid-2009, copy/paste functionality came with it. And it was an incredible implementation. Everything about it was fluid and very native feeling- it worked in every application that accepted text.
Compare that to Android- it had copy/paste functionality from day 1- but it was awful. Not every application supported it, selecting text to copy was a pain, and the whole thing overall was a very poor experience. Today, most people say that Apple’s implementation of copy/paste is the best one out there for mobile handsets. While I have not used other handsets, I have to say that I’d be hard-pressed to find a solution that worked better than the one Apple instituted with iPhone 3.0.
When Apple waits, it’s because they want to get it right. And typically they do. Is Microsoft perhaps waiting until they have a half-decent solution? After all, the currently available version of Windows Mobile (6.5) does have copy paste- but it is pathetic. If you are using a non-touchscreen phone, it’s about a 6 step process to even select the text you want to copy. The version used on a touchscreen is a bit better- it only takes 3 steps. Once you want to paste, the process is still somewhat kludgy- you have open the program you want to paste into and get the cursor positioned correctly. This isn’t too hard with a touchscreen, but with a non-touch enabled phone, it involves another 3 step process.
Even if you have only seen a video of the copy/paste procedure on Windows Mobile 6.5, it’s not that hard to see that this is not exactly an enjoyable experience.
To employ copy/paste on the iPhone, simply double tap the text you’d like to copy. A software loupe will pop up. You then drag this over the text you’d like to copy. Then you let go, and tap copy (or cut if you want). Then double tap where you want to paste. And tap paste. That’s all there is to it.
What else is Microsoft changing in the model? Well, all programs will be sold through a central store, where they must all be approved before being sold.
Hmm, sounds just like the iPhone app store. In fact, the more I find out about W7PS, the more it looks like the iPhone system. Will the Microsoft fanboys drink their kool-aid as fast as they accuse us Apple geeks of doing?
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a couple bones to pick with some Windows Mobile fans…
