What if you could design the perfect pocket pal, the ultimate PDA, the most fantastic phone? What would you like to see? Here's my template.
Of all the phones out there, some of which call themselves “smartphones,” I don’t pay much attention to any that are not compatible with computers. That means the most serious productivity platform is Windows Mobile devices because they use the same programs that I use on my desktop and laptop. I want to be able to read, edit, and compose my Word docs, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations on my handheld. I want to be able to sync my Outlook information, and I do not want to have to use some mickey mouse third party work around.
Yes, Nokia, Symbian, Palm OS, and iPhone have some nice features, but they are all playing catch-up as far as I’m concerned. Probably iPhone is the most innovative of the group, but it is a long way from what I would consider a real productivity tool; it is mostly a flashy consumer product with some fun, flashy stuff for finger fixated nose miners.
Out of the box a Window Mobile device certainly comes with a myriad of features for instant productivity and entertainment. However, as you learn more about the potential of the device, you begin to wish it could do even and long for more applications to make it happen.
Of course, there are thousands of third party programs that will do just about everything on my wish list and more. Perhaps the advantage of installing third party applications is that they add more features than just the main one on my wish list. Probably, if Microsoft included all these features, it would put a lot of other companies out of business, which I would not want to see. It would no doubt also make the device that much more expensive. On the other hand, installing all the third party software to make my wish list come true could cost a tidy little bundle too.
The Wish List
My ideal machine would have almost every application and system information as well as files and folders available within a tap or two right on the desktop. Accordingly, we need a good desktop program launcher that allows tabs and nesting of programs within folders. System monitor indicators for battery and memory should be displayed on the desktop too.
For some strange reason, Window Mobile does not really close programs when you terminate them. They remain running in the background using up system hunk. Accordingly, we need a built-in task manager that actually closes the programs without having to do a tap dance to get at them deep within the system.
There should also be a wireless manager available on the desktop for easy access that would display the current status of the various systems.
A native SMS and MMS client should create threaded conversations, allow copy/cut/paste editing, with character counts, and easy access to contacts.
All Windows Mobile devices should come equipped with built-in voice command for ease of use and safety when driving.
Taking a cue from iPhone, as much as I hate to admit it, WM devices should have finger friendly navigation to take better advantage of the touch screen. While we’re at it, there should be a better input panel too. Why not just adapt the one Tengo has developed, which in my opinion is the best. It should be a system that allows one-handed or two-handed input.
I don’t know about you, but one of my biggest headaches is duplicates in my contacts and appointments from syncing multiple devices. Wouldn’t it be nice if WM offered a native deduping program? SK Tools has one that I can’t live without, but it should be part of WM.
SK Tools offers other utilities for keeping your system lean and mean. Junk tends to pile up from Web surfing, installation files and whatnot. An onboard system clean-up mechanism would be most welcome to free up memory and scour out the crud. SK-Tools should make a deal with Microsoft for this purpose.
Security is always an issue. I am amazed that Microsoft has neglected this important consideration. There should be a way to encrypt files, assign passwords, and compress files to save valuable storage space.
I have to say that I miss the way it used to be possible to adjust the ratio manually between main memory and storage memory, which you can’t do in the current versions WM.
Taking a cue from Palm, there should be an intuitive input panel on the today screen for telephone contacts, email, and Web addresses.
I would like to see at least 3 or 4 MPX dual cameras on every device or at least as an option poised for televideo transmission if the telcos ever get it together in this country. In the meantime, however, I find plenty of uses for dual cameras.
Another enhancement worth mentioning is VGA output for optical eyewear devices and for PowerPoint and other presentations through a projector. It won’t be long before we have pocket projectors to go along with our Pocket PCs, and it would be advisable to able to output to them.
The first thing I look at when I turn my device on is the time. There should be a nice big clock for easy reading on the today screen in the manner of Mobile Shell. The next thing I look at is the weather. I would like to see at least an optional weather panel for the Today screen with tabs for different locations. Others may wish to see stocks, sports, or news, and these should be options too without having to go online.
Every device should automatically come with built-in GPS, which to my mind is just as important as a media player.
Why don’t most manufacturers ship their devices with a cradle these days? Come on, my baby needs a cradle.
All machines should have an OK button or a functional equivalent to take you backward through previous open applications.
Another pet peeve is against manufacturers that do not use mini-USB connectors for charging and syncing. That way you don’t have to take a whole snake pit full of cables to accommodate different devices. Make mini-USB the standard.
Maybe I’m stuck in the good old days of muscle cars and dual slotted PDAs, but why can’t we have dual slotted machines? I know expansion cards are holding more data these days, but they are also getting smaller footprints so that two mini-SD cards shouldn’t be such a bit deal. It would also give an extra port for peripherals without having to remove your expansion card full of programs and data.
All WM devices should have the ability to act as a modem via Bluetooth for laptops.
Conclusion
With a lot of research, effort, and expense, you can really make a Windows Mobile device a pretty zippy pocket pal that you’re proud to present because it will do your bidding as if it were your personal concierge. But, that is a lot to ask from the average user. Instead, why not follow the iPhone example and try to offer the coolest possible device with all the gadgets included? Of course, the problem with the iPhone is that there’s not much you can add, and we don’t want to be in that position either. Given a choice, I would prefer an open system that can be amended as the user sees fit.
I suppose we shouldn’t look to the supplier of the operating system to include this wish list of add-ons, it should be up to the hardware manufacturer to assemble all the bells and whistles. In this arena, the difference between Apple and Microsoft is that one Apple not only supplies the operating system but also manufactures the hardware product or at least controls it and markets it. Maybe Microsoft needs to get into the hardware business too.
Anyway, now you have my take on building the perfect WM device, and it was a fun exercise.
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