Sierra Wireless pledges undying affection, support for Windows 7 Device Stage

Yes, we know you haven't exactly been champing at the bit to make use of Windows 7's Device Stage, but that might just be because you haven't had an opportunity, as manufacturers have to proactively register their hardware to let you make use of the streamlined device management service. Thankfully for mobile broadband users, Sierra Wireless has just volunteered. Starting today, all Sierra Wireless AirCards will automatically integrate with Windows 7 to allow you one-touch access to connectivity, support and firmware updates -- with the tradeoff that it also provides carriers a branded spot on your computer that "can be remotely updated to support marketing campaigns." We're not terribly worried about Verizon and kin selling us new phones, to be sure, but we're always a wee bit cautious of providing another back door into our road warrior lives.

[AlexSanchez Posted Mar 24th 2010 2:04AM]

Am I the only one that still can't get over the Sprint Evo?!

SUPERSONIC!!!

[AlexSanchez Posted Mar 24th 2010 2:05AM]

@AlexSanchez http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcbM3dsvjnE

Bad Religion - Supersonic

[aschettler Posted Mar 24th 2010 2:49AM]

I'd love to see more devices make use of Device Stage. Of course I'd also like to see more Windows technologies being taken advantage of, like the sensor platform, but that might not happen. *wistful sigh*

[Dafrety Posted Mar 24th 2010 3:36AM]

@aschettler
Have you seen this?
http://www.geosenseforwindows.com/

[r3loaded Posted Mar 24th 2010 4:36AM]

@aschettler There seems to be a depressingly familiar pattern with Device Stage- Microsoft adds a great new feature to Windows, their "partners" just ignore it. Same with the sensor platform and with SideShow.

The worst part is that device manufacturers continue to bundle their drivers with separate, craptastically-coded utilities instead of integrating with something that's already there. Power and wi-fi management ones tick me off the most since they're so completely redundant.

[Dafrety Posted Mar 24th 2010 3:35AM]

I don't think that carriers would be able to put anything more than an image ad or links to websites in Device Stage. The only two things I have that show up with additional information are my Microsoft mouse and my Bother printer. Oddly my Dell laptop doesn't have any information there, even though it shipped with 7.

[anachostic Posted Mar 24th 2010 9:00AM]

@Dafrety My Sansa Clip has a link on the Device Stage to update firmware. That's pretty nice. It'd be nicer if it would recognize whether a firmware update was needed.

[madk19 Posted Mar 24th 2010 10:12AM]

I have to say that the Device Stage is actually a really cool Windows 7 feature. I was blown away when I plugged in my little Sansa Clip and it popped up with firmware updates, user manuals, sync options and more.

[FraggleRock Posted Mar 24th 2010 10:50AM]

"champing at the bit"? What ever happened to chomping?

[UnixSystemsEngineer Posted Mar 24th 2010 11:39AM]

@FraggleRock
Maybe they got rid of the guy who posts grammatically incorrect articles.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bit_(horse)

[collegekid13 Posted Mar 25th 2010 8:40AM]

The latest gen of Xerox Printers support the Device Stage. It amazed me when it showed up at work but then it got annoying really fast!