If we had it boil it down, the singular image burned in our brains of
Windows Phone 7 Series so far is that of a large, nondescript slate -- the so-called "dogfood" device being passed around internally for the platform's development -- and although Microsoft isn't talking specs at this point, it's widely believed that this phone roughly represents the
Chassis 1 spec that Redmond is passing around to hardware partners. Is this the only way you'll be able to get your WinPho 7 served to you, though? We might yet be months away from an official answer, but a pair of Microsoft developer evangelists on an Australian podcast are saying that Chassis 1 (full touchscreen, gigahertz processor, and dedicated graphics acceleration) will be the sole option at launch, with Chassis 2 and 3 following on after that. 2 is said to be "more like a Palm
Treo" with a dedicated QWERTY keyboard, while 3 remains a mystery, though there's some speculation on the podcast that it could be a candybar -- a form factor that's becoming something of a lost art these days, particularly among smartphones. The speakers note that there's a lot of value in offering some form factor variety -- not everyone wants a keyboardless slate, after all -- so the real question might be how quickly after initial launch we'll see some of these other chassis filter down to retail.
posted February 23rd 2010 3:32PM
One in the chassis, two in the pipe...can't wait!
How awesome is Windows Phone 7?
@SpydaKat : You forgot to write "Series"????
@SpydaKat
I hope they fix some of the text that doesn't fit on the screen. such ass what's new or february. Looks like cr@p...
but i still want one
@bguy1986
Well, I hope people stop combining letters and numbers with no spaces in their usernames. That looks like crap...
Looks like we all have our opinions about design decisions.
I am really not concerned with the chassis spec idea. There's only a few phone types out there at all and fewer that fit well to smartphones. The touch only (HD2, iPhone, Omnia), the slide-out keyboard (Touch Pro 2, Droid, Pre), and the fixed keyboard (Blackberry, Palm Treo) are IMO really the most viable smartphone options out there and if that's what WP7 is limited to that's not a bad thing.
@Nathan V
As a developer, not having to develop for 15 different resolutions is a huge bonus. I'm fully behind the Chassis idea. It's one of the reasons that iPhone development is so easy. Only one resolution to develop for.
@Nathan V And serioulsy, how much form factors we need, anyway?
To work as smartphone, 3 formats would cover 95% of the possibilities, keeping the gimmick formats away.
I still want to know if we can see a phone with dedicated phone buttons outside the (3) required buttons. Having to navigate in menus to do the most basic and necessary function of a phone is bad mojo.
I whish this was coming out in a week! My HD2 desperately needs a different OS. WinMo 6.5 is real shitty!
i would love to see somethin innovative to the extent of like the butterfly keyboard. somethin that is crazy but works well
Chassis 3: Natal touch free phone
Chassis 3 is Windows Phone 7 Series Natal.
@andysexton
That makes sense, as I heard that Chassis 4 will be Windows Phone 7 Series Natal 360 Ultimate Edition
@andysexton
This is all madness, clearly the new Microsoft phone in more akin to the Zune experience than the Windows experience - I wish they had gone with Zune Phone 1.
The word SERIES is driving me bonkers, if there was no Windows Phone Series 1-6 - why start at 7? Because Windows Mobile was at 6? Why make the number continuous if you are changing everything else?
@Decoy I think it would have been a good idea to just call it windows phone and drop the "7" and "series" but I would imagine they jumped at the opportunity to go from winmo 6 to winphone 7, and kept the "7" in order to capitalize on the general positive perception of windows 7.
Just speculation really :-)
Hope Chassis 3 is a slide out qwerty keyboard
@Meng Bomin yea its called good design lol.
These sound like three distinctly different phones. Is that what Microsoft calls phones now days, Chassis?
Will we be able to simply update the HD2 to WM7? I was about to place my order last week, but the promise of WM7 has shelved that idea...
So what's to differentiate between chassis types from different manufacturers? Just the dimensions of the case?
@DTJ The chassis just dictate a minimum spec and screen resolution. Manufactures can add more features (bigger battery, full slide out keyboard, better display as long as it is the same resolution). I would expect at launch to at least see models that feature no keyboard and a fully slide out.
ugly ugly ugly ugly ugly
This is just another nail in the coffin...
First the unusable Interface now limitations on outsides. Still charge for license... it will fail.
Wait wait, wha-?
The Chassis represents the internal hardware, not the aesthetics of the devices. Why would Microsoft do something like that?
And what's so unusable about the interface? I mean, you only have to rea-, ah there's your problem
Windows Mobile lost about 50% of its market share over the last 12 month. Where are they going to stand when windowsphone7series hits the streets in November?
Android is moving F.A.S.T. iPhone update is in the pipeline for June/July...
MSFT is close to dead in the mobile computing space... (iam not referring to netbooks, just the rapidly growing smartphone space...it is growing at extreme speed. Without MSFT a board.)
Well we will see what the time brings, but these limitations wont make it easier.... Not at all!
According to your name, you like Apple and breasts. Which, due to recent events, isn't that good of a combination anymore.
p.s, What's so limited about minimum specs and a couple of formfactors a manufacturer should build? Look at Apple, they're limiting everything you do. They also have 1 sort of device which is comparable to Microsoft's strategy.
Microsoft has 3 different chassis(ses?) 3rd or 2nd party manufacturers can choose from:
1.Slate
2.Treo-like device or a Pre-like device ( I prefer the latter)
3.Unknown
Then those devices have minimum specs one can choose from. Minimum screen size, minimum RAM, etc. Meaning that most of the phones will have the same specs. Easy for Microsoft and the manufacturer, the manufacturer can focus on the hardware, meaning that different WP7S will have great looks, or by small differences like a slide-out keyboard for chassis 1 devices, OLED screens, internal storage, etc. And Microsoft can easily push updates to WP7S phones since the internals are the same.
@24hourpartypal
Ugh, have some typos in there. Sorry about that
@iRACK Why would you down Rank a reasonable argument like this one.
Marketshare of MSFT WiMobile down 50% -> FAKT
Market moving FAST -> FAKT
Windows mobile7 not there until November -> FAKT
Competition is growing over the top -> FAKT
iPhone 4th gen in the pipeline -> FAKT
Down ranked ? Well, I would not have expected otherwise from endgaget user base being so 100% MSFT brown nosing...
probably beause you can't spell fact.... "FAKT"
@24hourpartypal because*, oh the irony
You're kidding yourself if you think Palm is going to make a phone with Windows Phone 7. Or Android. It's webOS or bust for them now.
What's confusing is that the guy said large touchscreen and no keyboard for Chassis 1, then "slideout keyboard" "like the Palm Treo" for Chassis 2. Treo doesn't have a sliding anything, perhaps he meant Pre? Why couldn't I get a large keyboard with a touchscreen? Like Tilt2/Droid?
Who says a Pre like device wouldn't work on a 3.5" screen?
I'm really looking forwar
to these phones whe
they come out in Decemb
Well, I for one, am a fan of the nondescript slate w/no physical keyboard. The minimalist design blends form and function quite nicely, IMO. I am really impressed with Microsoft right now, especially when just a couple of weeks ago, I was praying for a 1 ghz android slate to hit AT&T.
Well, I for one, don't like people that use "I for one"....
Microsoft is taking a very interesting approach with WP7. It's taking a bit from the iPhone concept really. If there are a specific selection of form factors and spec requirements, it allows things to be more focused, centralized, and unified. That's one of the strengths of the iPhone. It's one platform. It's one hardware provider. It's one style of phone.
The thing here though is that there will at least be some variety in the hardware, the form factors, and in the spec sheet. This gives it a strength over the iPhone platform. Honestly, I think this is a really, really great strategy. I'm seriously considering getting a WP7 device when it comes out, though I'd really like a landscape QWERTY slider model. Chassis 4 maybe? Lol.
where did i say microsoft made phone lol you guys reading too much between the line lol!!!! all these feelings over a company you most likely don't even work for or own lol. i can see all of you are pc guys so i'll let you be you'll don't know any better
@sketchkid23
Over here in education land we know about capital letters. I know it's elitist.
I NEED A SLIDE OUT QWERTY !!!!
I really want the 3rd chassis to have a clam shell gamepad like setup with a keyboard. Since it has xbox live integration, it would make too much sense. Calling your friends then being able to play through XBL with voice chat....awesome.
As much as I want a winmo7 now it won't be available anytime soon. Meanwhile, I'm just sitting here looking at my dead Nexus One in it's first day. Google hates me, maybe MS like me better.
oh fucking hell yes. you gotta have a damn QWERTY version and i'm glad someone is finally realizing it.
Will it have a physical volume up/down button? Or will it do it via software ala the ZuneHD?
id settle for the render model =p