iPhone. iDontGetIt

The iPhone. Ok, I finally got to play with one – thanks Mickey. It is pretty cool, but still. Windows Mobile can do everything plus more than the iPhone can, so why aren’t the fanboi’s wetting themselves over Windows Mobile devices? Why aren’t companies like SmugMug, 37Signals, Digg, etc making specific versions just for Windows Mobile? Windows Mobile has been out for many many years. It can do portrait, and landscape. It can do video, music, and maps. It can do SMS, email, web, photos, GPS (via Bluetooth) and more. Why isn’t anyone doing anything about that? What is so great about the iPhone? Because really, you have to use iTunes? iTunes blows. It really does. I swear it has to be the most poorly developed application out there for Windows, with Quicktime a close second (Ballman back me up here) 

It is funny when all of sudden, all these people are discovering you can actually do things on your mobile phone, where Windows Mobile users have know this for years. The biggest difference is that I can develop an application in an afternoon using the .NET compact framework for my Windows Mobile, that actually INSTALLS on the device, and has access to EVERYTHING (file system, registry, innards of the OS – and if I go the C++ route, even more so!). On the iPhone I can make a web app – whoo hoo! Big deal, there are tons of web pages that I can access on my Windows Mobile device. And with sites like T9Space.com, I can get them to render, somewhat well.

One other HUGE dealbreaker here is this: I can hook my Windows Mobile device up to my laptop, and boom – I have a modem. Can you do that with the iPhone?

I listened to the naysayers before it came out. The flip-floppers.  What were they thinking? 2 year contract? at&t – the worst of the worst. But they say “its an iPod” – wait a minute, iPods sucks too…why? because you have to (unless you are uber geek) sync them with iTunes!!! Oh wait – its multitouch!! – ok, that is about the only thing it has going for it. That isn’t something so groundbreaking that I am going to switch from my T-Mobile Dash smartphone for.

I just wish companies/developers would realize that there is a huge market out there for Windows Mobile – why don’t you develop specific apps just for that? Why why why! I ask you??!?! The iPhone is $300 a sale more into Apple’s bank account, for no real reason. It is locked down. It is like a TV that will only play CSPAN. Come on guys, open up to Windows Mobile. I usually tell people – ask me what I CAN’T do on my Windows Mobile device. I haven’t found a good answer to that yet.

Why would all these tech enthusiasts, total geeks, etc, totally be in love with a device which is just crippled, and not open? It is just limited in so many ways, I just don’t get it.

iAmStillNotConvinced.