Today, Microsoft unveiled the new version of Windows Mobile called “Windows Phone 7 Series.” The interface draws from the Zune platform (which by the way was never commercially successful against the iPod) and marks a strong departure from Windows Mobile, which they are now calling “Windows Phone Classic.” One of the most interesting parts about the interface design is that the Hub view would translate very well into a tablet form factor. Microsoft reiterated several times that the phone is not a PC, so they have definitely learned from Apple that a phone can still be compelling even if it is not a “PocketPC.”

The most intriguing part of the announcement is that despite having dozens of hardware partners, Microsoft appears to have shifted its focus to tighter control and more integration across device manufacturers. This means a unified UI experience called Metro will apparently appear on every device. Metro uses cloud-based updating tiles for status updates on services like Facebook, and these tiles are customizable so while hardware makers will be unable to make wholesale changes to the interface they will be allowed some level of customization. In addition, high-end technical specifications are required on the hardware such as a capacitive touchscreen display, camera, a fast processor, and lots of RAM — even more notable is the maximum of five physical buttons — historically Windows Mobile devices have been covered in buttons and this is something Microsoft wants to avoid. The iPhone debuted with just two physical buttons and a volume up/down button, Microsoft takes another page from Apple here too.

Historically, Windows Mobile phones have run a very slimmed down version of Internet Explorer for browsing websites on the go. When the iPhone introduced Safari Mobile browser it raised the bar not only for web design but consumers’ expectations of mobile web browsers. There were many replacement browsers for Windows Mobile including Opera, SkyFire, and even Mozilla was working on a mobile version of Firefox that was never completed. Windows Phone 7 Series promises a full-featured web browser with pinch to zoom, just like Apple’s mobile Safari web browser.

Overall, Windows Phone 7 Series brings nearly the level of innovation that we saw with Palm’s webOS on the Palm Pre and a more unified user interface than Google’s Android, while striking a lot of the same chords of simplicity normally found in Apple’s products.

To purchase an iPad it’s going to set you back at least $499, plus $9.95 for each of the software applications (word processor, spreadsheet, presentation software). Compare that to Office Professional 2007 which weighs in at $499.95, but obviously has more features and, oh, is productivity optimized; but, hey, when have spreadsheets ever been this much fun?

When these come out in a couple months you can expect to see a lot of authors writing iBooks and updating their blog posts in Starbucks on their iPads with the optional keyboard attachment. Apple is bringing the coolness factor to office productivity apps in a way we’ve never seen before — and who wouldn’t want to be caught in public updating their website or making last-minute changes to a presentation on a slab of science fiction?

Time magazine has already released a prototype interface for the new digital Sports Illustrated magazine. The digital issue runs on Adobe’s Air platform, but they plan to support Apple’s tablet natively as well.

Amazon’s Kindle uses e-ink technology, which means that the black-and-white screen accomplishes low power consumption with an ability to stay in an on or off state without using power. The only time power is consumed is when the page is turned where the pixels need to be turned to an opposite on/off state.

Apples iPad computer is likely to use the same operating system as the iPhone or a hybrid between Mac OS X and the iPhone operating system, all of which have the same core UNIX code base. Perhaps the most innovative feature of that the iPhone brought was not its phone capabilities or its iPod capabilities, but in fact it’s mobile Safari web browser. Apple’s tablet computer with has the potential to also redefine how we interact with the web, especially when consuming content that is web-based.

Tablets aren’t anything new, Microsoft has been doing tablet computing for many years. All of Microsoft’s tablets were pen-based interfaces. Draw on the screen, it recognizes the writing and converts it to text. Apple also had a tablet-based computer, called the Newton, but this was prior to Steve Jobs returning to Apple. While the Newton was well before its time, Newton was a real drain to the company’s finances, and when Steve Jobs took back the helm it was one of the first projects that he canned. Trouble is, it never worked so well. The tablets have been bulky, heavy, not as versatile as a laptop and harder to use because most lack a physical keyboard. Smart phones suffered a similar pen-based fate prior to the release of the iPhone. Palm and Microsoft supported stylus driven phones, while they were touchscreens, they didn’t have the capacitive touch sensing screens the iPhone uses for multi-touch input. Palm countered with its new touch sensing Palm Pre, and Microsoft announced its now delayed Windows Mobile 7 For its Windows Phone platform which promises to add Multi-Touch support. Apple’s iPhone touch sensing capability has spawned numerous copycat devices, even entire operating systems, notably Google’s Android platform and Palm’s Web OS.

“My advice for anyone who is starting out with ecommerce is to be sure that the front of your site represents your brand. Your home page is your face to the public online. The minute someone enters your site, they want to be impressed or ‘wowed’ by the presentation.”

Wise words. Not just true for e-commerce, but any good website should engage the audience immediately. This goes back to the habit for highly effective websites, make a good impression. Keeping the audience interested is the second step — it’s why we can’t just make pretty websites — they have to be functional and useful as well. Turning page views into paying customers is all about conversion — getting the customer to react on more than an emotional level. We want them to buy something, pick up the phone, or take some other type of action. In other words, presentation should grab attention, and content should keep attention. Combined they should inspire action.

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The friendly staff at Kyle Community Library is extremely helpful, efficient, and eager to assist patrons in finding materials. The computer lab features up-to-date equipment including a large decently spec’d Dell lab, color and black-and-white laser printers, copier, and fax services.

If you’re south of Austin metro or headed towards San Marcos it’s less than a mile from Interstate 35 and definitely worth a stop.

Take time today to contact us and we’ll guide you to a more successful web tomorrow.

Take time today to contact us and we’ll guide you to a more successful web tomorrow.