2 Years Ago: Engadget - Even though the iPhone doesn't support copy and paste or multitasking it's not a big deal. It's only their 2nd generation device. We rarely use those features anyway. And multi-tasking drains the battery. Sure Windows Mobile has those features but we don't find them all that important.
1 Year Ago: Engadget - Copy and paste was revolutionized by the iPhone. In the slickest implementation to date, copy and paste has proven to be a critical feature to enhancing your smartphone experience. While the iPhone still lacks multitasking we continue to maintain that it is an unnecessary feature. It just causes problems on Android and WinMo.
3 Months Ago: Engadget - Apple just introduced a new feature that will blow you away. Multitasking. It's amazing. Dare we say magical? A beautiful implementation that allows us to stream Pandora. It is simple to use and is a must have feature. While others multitask nobody does it as well as Apple.
Today Engadget - So tell us again how you won't have copy and paste or multitasking on WP7? Don't you need to at least offer these basic, core capabilities in order to be competitive? Won't users stay away from your devices since they lack these fundamental tools. Sure you have an amazing Zune integration, XBox Live, Office and Exchange support but will that really matter? All users really want is copy and paste and multitasking.
One of the reasons Apple is successful is because they stay away from features until they implement them well. Props to Microsoft (from their talk at least) to realizing this and not rushing everything into the first release of an OS. I am looking forward to see what a new Microsoft product can do for the first time in quite a while.
@bjsguess I kind of understand the benefits of a "controlled" multitasking like the iOS does but it seems so weird to me that copy and paste will not be present in a phone being developed by Microsoft...
I am not a programmer, but I would imagine that for them it would be a piece of cake to implement.
I really don't understand it, unless they have a hidden feature that will make it unnecessary at the end.
This the all exhaustive review for the 2nd version of the iPhone. Multi-tasking - not mentioned once. Copy and Paste - it gets one line just noting that it's missing (again). This is in a review that goes on for several pages.
The iPhone 3GS is here: http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/17/iphone-3g-s-review/. Now that copy and paste is implemented we get 2 full paragraphs gushing over how amazing it is. This is the quote from Joshua, "It's the kind of thing you'll miss once you go to another device without such broad and universal functionality." To loosely paraphrase - I didn't think it was important before. But now I find it essential. And it doesn't work nearly as well on other devices as the iPhone.
Look - the guys at Engadget do a great job. I just found it odd that the during the interview Joshua hammered MS for several minutes about not including this core functionality. Especially when that same standard wasn't applied to the earlier versions of the iPhone.
@Son Of a Gun you're a dipshit. and, now that we have that out of the way:
here's one thing i think MS still doesn't get when it comes to certain things about the OS. mainly copy and paste, and especially multitasking. When questioned about apples no go at MT support and how PPY (porn, pandora, and youtube) are the primary sources of bandwidth usage on AT&T, Joe basically says that apple was a great success w/out 3rd party multitasking, and that even though they wont have it out of the gate, they will be able to have a good experience w/out it, until its ready for prime time.
IDIOT. apple was a success w/out it, because their only big competitor (which they actually had an undeniable hardware/sales lead over) was android. Now MS, playing catchup...almost 2 years behind the android release, will be trying to compete w/ android and iphone for sales. On a brand new platform that is competitive with the iphone of 2009. Does this make sense to anyone? Why would most consumers want to give WP7 a chance when they know out of the box its behind other OSs in many regards? If you're banking that heavily on the zune, xbox live, and new interface...well, thats one hell of a gamble Joe.
Just bring over the required engineers from the Windows software division, and away from Windows8 devs to do some overtime work on WP7, because you NEED this to succeed out of the gate. And there really are some core functions that will be needed out of the gate for this. If these functions are put out as a OTA update a few weeks after launch, great. But dont think you can sit on this lacking functionality for months, or a year like apple did.
If I'm in the market for a smartphone and it's going to have a spec similar to 1GHZ with 512MBs of DDR RAM, 8/16/32 GBs of storage and is HD capable, then it better be able to multitask/copy and paste. Otherwise, it's no deal.
@bjsguess Probably since using it on the iPhone day in day out its something he's deemed a must have feature. Also this is a blog not a news paper so expect to see some opinions in whatever gets posted (opinions that may change over time).
copy and paste isnt that big an issue. shut the hell up already. its not NEEDED at launch. most sane people will be ok waiting a few months for this functionality. You cant claim that an entire platform is crap because of one little thing. and it has enough multitasking so the battery doesnt die, im fine with 1st party multitasking. i dont care if the iphone lets you switch between your fart apps
@month WHY ON EARTH does engadget let this incompetent imbecile interview Joe Belfiore from Microsoft?? The sea of wrongness that Joshua swims in the staggering to me (and evidently to a lot of other savvy commenters).
I understand where you're coming from but at the same time these are different times. When Apple was lacking this stuff, they were so far ahead of the competition that it was worth the sacrifice.
Although windows mobile 7 looks cool and has a lot of interest, it doesn't blow away the competition. At most its on par with a different way of doing things.
The point is people buying a product today are looking for the best product they can buy today. Even though those things were lacking on the iphone, 2 years ago, the iphone was still the best phone to get, so the absence of those features weren't a big deal. If I am buying a phone in fall, I'm going to want the best phone at that time. As Josh said the competition is now fierce and with Windows Mobile missing some key things, I am not going to be ranking them to high on my best phone list.
They only have one chance to make a good first impression. I really think they should get more people in and work overtime to get these features in place. Change the launch to winter rather than fall but make sure every review doesn't say "but it doesn't do multitasking or copy and paste like Android and iOS"
I totally get that. Times have changed. Technology has changed. No question about it.
My point though is quite simple. Copy and paste was implemented on Windows Mobile, Symbian, and Android before it was on the iPhone. There was no outcry from the Engadget editors about this omission. In fact, those that complained about this missing technology were labeled as haters of all things Apple. The editors did note that it was missing, but downplayed the importance of such a technology. Then, once Apple implemented it, the technology became a must have feature. Any device without it was immediately behind in the times (as we saw in this interview).
If it was JUST copy and paste and multitasking it wouldn't be a big deal. Unfortunately, these are just 2 of many different examples you could point out where Apple got a pass.
He was highlighting the fact that when apple omits features with or without any intentions to enable them at a later date. They get a free pass. And kudos for doing so down the road.
Any other company, there are a few articles released earlier today, case and point.
@FreeRange1 Your comment shows your lack of knowledge and inclination to be a simple minded hater. Keep talking and we will see just how small minded you really are.
@bjsguess say what you want about them taking their time with copy and paste, but they sure as hell did it better than the android implementation. I'm a nexus one user btw
Yes I see your point but this is 2-3 years later and the iPhone is kinda setting the standard right now so it's a bit odd to not have that feature in a phone that hasn't even been released (whew). I mean they can do whatever they want so why not include copy&paste. Heck copy Apple's "magical" copy&paste function but include it man. just do it. simple.
The whole line-up consists of the $60 Amps in-ears and $100 Tracks on-ear headphones, which both also come in slightly souped-up and pricier HD variations at $100 and $130, respectively.
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@Son Of a Gun LoL, Had 2. Now I'll read the post. ;^)
@Son Of a Gun You're a douche.
@Son Of a Gun
Facepalm at your Facepalm. Grab a jacket, I heard it's chilly in oblivion.
@Son Of a Gun
That looks more like Kif from "Futurama" than Picard anyway.
@Son Of a Gun
Thats why Face should've bought palm.
@Son Of a Gun
Today on People who look like things... http://starsmedia.ign.com/stars/image/article/838/838918/broom-man_003_1196470949.jpg
My god, it's The Nerd Sly!
@month - I did not realize STEVE PERRY of the 80's SUPER GROUP JOURNEY was corporate VP of Windows Phone!!!!!!!!???????
@POZ
We all need the clowns to make us laugh.
@POZ He looks more like a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles nemesis.
I could definitely see him being a badass evil mastermind's kung-fu ninja lieutenant with an overconfident attitude.
@Son Of a Gun Why does this guy look like rocky balbola aka sylvester stalone? Lol
@POZ
Dude looks like a fusion between John Stamos and Bob Sagat... I don't even...
(x_x)
@Son Of a Gun LOOK MICROSOFT, You get XBOX 3D Multilayer full 3D games running on WP7 and ill buy it. DEAL????
if not ill go android.
@Plazmic Flame
He reminds me Tom Cruise somehow :p
@POZ Nah looks like a younger Sylvester Stallone.
@Son Of a Gun
2 Years Ago:
Engadget - Even though the iPhone doesn't support copy and paste or multitasking it's not a big deal. It's only their 2nd generation device. We rarely use those features anyway. And multi-tasking drains the battery. Sure Windows Mobile has those features but we don't find them all that important.
1 Year Ago:
Engadget - Copy and paste was revolutionized by the iPhone. In the slickest implementation to date, copy and paste has proven to be a critical feature to enhancing your smartphone experience. While the iPhone still lacks multitasking we continue to maintain that it is an unnecessary feature. It just causes problems on Android and WinMo.
3 Months Ago:
Engadget - Apple just introduced a new feature that will blow you away. Multitasking. It's amazing. Dare we say magical? A beautiful implementation that allows us to stream Pandora. It is simple to use and is a must have feature. While others multitask nobody does it as well as Apple.
Today
Engadget - So tell us again how you won't have copy and paste or multitasking on WP7? Don't you need to at least offer these basic, core capabilities in order to be competitive? Won't users stay away from your devices since they lack these fundamental tools. Sure you have an amazing Zune integration, XBox Live, Office and Exchange support but will that really matter? All users really want is copy and paste and multitasking.
@TareG
people are so good at commenting at engadget
@bjsguess Provide links for verification. I don't remember reading those that way so I want to be sure.
@Son Of a Gun
RockyPhone: YO! Adrian! Make some apps!
RamboPhone. They drew first blood.
@Son Of a Gun
creepy. I thought its a wax picture of Slyvester
@bjsguess
One of the reasons Apple is successful is because they stay away from features until they implement them well. Props to Microsoft (from their talk at least) to realizing this and not rushing everything into the first release of an OS. I am looking forward to see what a new Microsoft product can do for the first time in quite a while.
@bjsguess
I kind of understand the benefits of a "controlled" multitasking like the iOS does but it seems so weird to me that copy and paste will not be present in a phone being developed by Microsoft...
I am not a programmer, but I would imagine that for them it would be a piece of cake to implement.
I really don't understand it, unless they have a hidden feature that will make it unnecessary at the end.
@POZ
Hey, don't stop believin'!
looks like Sylvester Stallone had a kid with Ed Norton...
@mannyengadget
Unless Apple patented their method I'm sure people would be happy with a complete rip off of that. Hint hint Microsoft.
@Son Of a Gun YO ADRIAN!
@thenewperson
These aren't quotes - they are my observations of reading Engadget every day for the past 3 years. But here's a great example:
The iPhone 3G review: http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/11/iphone-3g-review/.
This the all exhaustive review for the 2nd version of the iPhone. Multi-tasking - not mentioned once. Copy and Paste - it gets one line just noting that it's missing (again). This is in a review that goes on for several pages.
The iPhone 3GS is here: http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/17/iphone-3g-s-review/. Now that copy and paste is implemented we get 2 full paragraphs gushing over how amazing it is. This is the quote from Joshua, "It's the kind of thing you'll miss once you go to another device without such broad and universal functionality." To loosely paraphrase - I didn't think it was important before. But now I find it essential. And it doesn't work nearly as well on other devices as the iPhone.
Look - the guys at Engadget do a great job. I just found it odd that the during the interview Joshua hammered MS for several minutes about not including this core functionality. Especially when that same standard wasn't applied to the earlier versions of the iPhone.
@Plazmic Flame
*DEAD*
@Plazmic Flame
LOL!!!
@Son Of a Gun
you're a dipshit. and, now that we have that out of the way:
here's one thing i think MS still doesn't get when it comes to certain things about the OS. mainly copy and paste, and especially multitasking. When questioned about apples no go at MT support and how PPY (porn, pandora, and youtube) are the primary sources of bandwidth usage on AT&T, Joe basically says that apple was a great success w/out 3rd party multitasking, and that even though they wont have it out of the gate, they will be able to have a good experience w/out it, until its ready for prime time.
IDIOT. apple was a success w/out it, because their only big competitor (which they actually had an undeniable hardware/sales lead over) was android. Now MS, playing catchup...almost 2 years behind the android release, will be trying to compete w/ android and iphone for sales. On a brand new platform that is competitive with the iphone of 2009. Does this make sense to anyone? Why would most consumers want to give WP7 a chance when they know out of the box its behind other OSs in many regards? If you're banking that heavily on the zune, xbox live, and new interface...well, thats one hell of a gamble Joe.
Just bring over the required engineers from the Windows software division, and away from Windows8 devs to do some overtime work on WP7, because you NEED this to succeed out of the gate. And there really are some core functions that will be needed out of the gate for this. If these functions are put out as a OTA update a few weeks after launch, great. But dont think you can sit on this lacking functionality for months, or a year like apple did.
@bjsguess Great post, I agree 100%
If I'm in the market for a smartphone and it's going to have a spec similar to 1GHZ with 512MBs of DDR RAM, 8/16/32 GBs of storage and is HD capable, then it better be able to multitask/copy and paste. Otherwise, it's no deal.
@bjsguess
Holy shit! This is one hell of a comment. RIGHT ON MAN! Engadget, you've been officially called out.
@bjsguess
Probably since using it on the iPhone day in day out its something he's deemed a must have feature. Also this is a blog not a news paper so expect to see some opinions in whatever gets posted (opinions that may change over time).
@simbadogg
copy and paste isnt that big an issue. shut the hell up already. its not NEEDED at launch. most sane people will be ok waiting a few months for this functionality. You cant claim that an entire platform is crap because of one little thing. and it has enough multitasking so the battery doesnt die, im fine with 1st party multitasking. i dont care if the iphone lets you switch between your fart apps
@month
WHY ON EARTH does engadget let this incompetent imbecile interview Joe Belfiore from Microsoft?? The sea of wrongness that Joshua swims in the staggering to me (and evidently to a lot of other savvy commenters).
@bjsguess
I understand where you're coming from but at the same time these are different times. When Apple was lacking this stuff, they were so far ahead of the competition that it was worth the sacrifice.
Although windows mobile 7 looks cool and has a lot of interest, it doesn't blow away the competition. At most its on par with a different way of doing things.
The point is people buying a product today are looking for the best product they can buy today. Even though those things were lacking on the iphone, 2 years ago, the iphone was still the best phone to get, so the absence of those features weren't a big deal. If I am buying a phone in fall, I'm going to want the best phone at that time. As Josh said the competition is now fierce and with Windows Mobile missing some key things, I am not going to be ranking them to high on my best phone list.
They only have one chance to make a good first impression. I really think they should get more people in and work overtime to get these features in place. Change the launch to winter rather than fall but make sure every review doesn't say "but it doesn't do multitasking or copy and paste like Android and iOS"
@Altivec
I totally get that. Times have changed. Technology has changed. No question about it.
My point though is quite simple. Copy and paste was implemented on Windows Mobile, Symbian, and Android before it was on the iPhone. There was no outcry from the Engadget editors about this omission. In fact, those that complained about this missing technology were labeled as haters of all things Apple. The editors did note that it was missing, but downplayed the importance of such a technology. Then, once Apple implemented it, the technology became a must have feature. Any device without it was immediately behind in the times (as we saw in this interview).
If it was JUST copy and paste and multitasking it wouldn't be a big deal. Unfortunately, these are just 2 of many different examples you could point out where Apple got a pass.
@month
So basically what he is saying is "we'll be 3 years behind apple. MSUCKS - who really cares about win mobile, or the zune for that matter.
@shaynes
He was highlighting the fact that when apple omits features with or without any intentions to enable them at a later date. They get a free pass. And kudos for doing so down the road.
Any other company, there are a few articles released earlier today, case and point.
@FreeRange1 Your comment shows your lack of knowledge and inclination to be a simple minded hater. Keep talking and we will see just how small minded you really are.
@bjsguess Best post, ever.
@bjsguess say what you want about them taking their time with copy and paste, but they sure as hell did it better than the android implementation. I'm a nexus one user btw
@TheSeventhSon
Well, Josh is sorta the editor in chief lmao
@mannyengadget
It took a full year and a "revolution" to Apple...
And it was "amazing"...
These people scare me.
@bjsguess
Yes I see your point but this is 2-3 years later and the iPhone is kinda setting the standard right now so it's a bit odd to not have that feature in a phone that hasn't even been released (whew). I mean they can do whatever they want so why not include copy&paste. Heck copy Apple's "magical" copy&paste function but include it man. just do it. simple.
@POZ Don't stop believing
@bjsguess
As a long time reader of Engadget, I'll vouch for every word you said. Well done, sir!
@smakus That's my name -_-
@tobsmonster2
Ha!