Written by brian_houghton on Friday, February 19, 2010

Windows Phone 7 Series NOT Backwards Compatible With Windows Mobile


Windows Phone 7 Series

Earlier this week, after the initial bombshell that was Windows Phone 7 Series, many current Windows Mobile users gained false hope that the new operating system would be at least somewhat backwards compatible.  This was mostly due to the rapid spreading of an article published on Tweakers.net, that shortly after had a slight update posted.  The update mentioned that apps would not necessarily be able to easily be recompiled for the new platform.  This is likely going to equate to an initially lower base of programs available for the platform.  What I’m curious about is why Microsoft did not take any heed from a lesson that Palm learned when rolling out WebOS.  Palm OS was largely a success due to the plethora of third party applications available for it.  It’s true that WebOS is technically superior to the Palm OS, sure.  But Palm did nothing to reward those third party developers that made their OS such a success.  Instead, they were set out to dry.  The result, many, many applications that were for the Palm OS will never be for WebOS.  Sad, but reality.

Fast forward back from that history lesson and we find Microsoft, borrowing from others.  They jump on the full fledged finger oriented UI of iPhone OS lore.  They also steal a page from the Palm / WebOS playbook… include no support for Windows Mobile apps.

Shortsighted or necessary?  Only time will tell.  What are your thoughts on this?  Hit the comments below and let us know.

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9 Comments

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Clinton Fitch
Feb 19, 2010

Completely necessary. To make as massive a shift that WP7S is going to be for MSFT, they had to stop the madness of trying to support everything already out there.

They are making it easier on developers. It will be interesting to see things go at MIX next month but this had to happen in order to go forward.


brian_houghton
Feb 19, 2010

Hi Clinton,

Thanks for your thoughts on this. I’m still on the fence… although I would have liked, just for my own selfish wants and desires, to see a compatibility layer ala WINE implemented.

I’m hoping that MIX is the revelation that so many need/want.

Thanks again,
Brian


dgoldring
Feb 19, 2010

I think you are right, Clinton. This is a calculated risk, but I think it makes sense for several reasons. First, they needed a clean break from the past. Second, I really feel like this is focusing on a different audience than the previous generations of Windows Mobile. Finally, this is such a vastly different interface from anything we have seen before that it would be impossible to translate properly while staying within the parameters.

I only hope that MS does not make the mistake Palm made with WebOS. They need to get the SDK into developer’s hands as quickly as they can, so that the 7 Series devices will launch with a considerable number of quality apps (not just sound boards or fart machines) ready to go.


Rohit
Feb 20, 2010

Windows Phone 7 for sure is going to be a hit because “It is a meaningful phone OS and almost most of the things that I or you could wish from the Smartphone we carry today.”

Read more at
http://www.rohitprabhakar.com/2010/02/16/windows-phone-7-the-first-impression/


Clinton Fitch
Feb 20, 2010

The biggest thing MSFT will do different than Palm with WebOS – They will be on multiple devices with multiple vendors and multiple carriers. I have said almost since Day One (and I KNOW we have discussed this at some point Doug I just can’t remember when) that being on one carrier and on one device at launch was going to kill WebOS and it just about has. Now that they are on two carriers (still no GSM though) and two devices, it will help but it may be too late.

MSFT won’t have this problem and in fact may have the opposite problem of trying to control the floodgates, especially with operators.


Biggnaa20
Feb 22, 2010

I was a long time WinMo user who went to the Palm Pre with hopes that Palm would reinvigorate the brand with WebOS.

I thought that the newer SDK would allow for greater innovation and ultimately better application for the new operating system.

Instead developers never came to the party and WebOS users are left holding a deflated bag. I think that lack of backwards compatibility (or at least an easy way to port the other apps over) will cause Windows Phone 7 to lose inertia. Ultimately, lost developers will just go (or stay) with the better performing platforms.

Nb


Barnaby Wilde
Feb 24, 2010

Dead end for WM6, and 2+ years of work down the drain.

Thanks, M$.


Brett
Feb 24, 2010

It’s obvious that Microsoft needed to start from scratch if they couldn’t build on their current Windows CE core. I think it will be good in the long run, especially since, unlike Palm, they are not dropping WinMo 6.x support. This will give debs time to ease into the new platform.


Bryan
Mar 11, 2010

For me this opens the playing field to other OS’s if all my apps will no longer work. I’m dual booting to give android a try and it’s not bad.

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