No cut/copy/paste for Windows Phone 7
Apple fanboys: here's your chance to beat up on the Microsofties.
Tech blog Engadget confirmed that Windows Phone 7 Series -- Microsoft's entry into the smartphone market due this holiday season -- will not feature clipboard operations. Meaning: no cut, copy and paste.
iPhone users moaned for a long time that their phones didn't have that feature, until OS 3.0 last year. Bringing cut/copy/paste to the iPhone was seen as one of the top imperatives among the gadget's fans.
I remember when Apple finally announced the feature at an event last year, people in the audience cheered wildly. Nerds are awesome that way.
Mind you, the lack of cut/copy/paste in the iPhone didn't inhibit it from being a runaway smash hit amongst consumers, who've complained but mostly managed to live without several "missing" features of the iPhone (i.e. no Flash video support, no mini-SD card slot, no removable battery, limited multitasking, etc.)
So, it's odd -- or maybe it's not? -- that Microsoft is flirting with incurring the wrath of geeks everywhere by not enabling clipboard operations in Windows Phone 7 -- especially since its old Windows Mobile platform has that capability, as Engadget notes. (And a site called Trusted Reviews details other features that Windows Phone 7 will lack.)
What's up wit' dat, Microsoft?
What's do you think's going on here?
This is an archived version of the technology blog. For updated coverage, see the current baltTech location: baltimoresun.com/balttech
Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/17/iphone-finally-gets-copy-and-paste/
The iphone didn't get it until 3.0 of there OS (around 3/2009). I am amazed at how a device like the iphone could dominate all other phones and phone OSes in two or three years without cut and paste..
But you guys decide to hack on Microsoft for not having it on an OS that's still in development and phones won't ship until holidays 2010..
Posted by: Don Burnett | March 17, 2010 9:47 AM
Good point, Don. I have a WM6.5 phone now and have the feature available to me. I even had a WM6.1 phone previously that had it.
I'm pretty sure this will be a feature they'll include once we get closer to the release date. Why would they want to take a step backwards?
Posted by: se_coupe | March 17, 2010 4:20 PM
Apple fanboys, Gus. Your stories are evidence you are one. First story on the Windows Phone 7 negative. Many posts on apple patents.
Cut and paste is not essential. Have you even seen the phone - it's great that they threw out Windows mobile and rebooted.
Posted by: SXS | March 18, 2010 5:50 AM
You know, SXS makes a good point. Gus, you do seem quite biased.
I like your blog a lot, and read it daily, but you often turn Apple and the iPhone into "God's gift." Not cool. There are plenty of other devices out there that are as good, if not better, than the iPhone. Just saying...
Point taken, guys. There was a period a couple months ago where I was closely following the iPad hype because it was fun and intriguing for me to dig around patents. I'd like to do more with other phones -- I'm currently playing with a Palm Pre Plus and Pixi on Verizon's network. And I did a review and comparison (plus a video) of Verizon Droid to the iPhone, which I actually thought was pretty favorable to the Droid. I haven't touched Windows Mobile (teeny-tiny market share), Windows Phone 7 still hasn't debuted for consumers, and I haven't had a chance to play much with most Blackberry models (except the Storm, which confounds me.) Anyhow, I try not to go too Apple crazy, unlike other tech blogs. If you notice my last 10 posts, only 1.5 of them is directly or indirectly about Apple or the iPhone. Thanks for the constructive criticism, though. I'll definitely keep it in my thoughts and blog post selection. - GS
Posted by: se_coupe | March 18, 2010 9:43 AM
Gus, thanks for the calm reply. I really don't think Palm has a future in mobile phones. Perhaps they can sell their OS to somebody like HTC and make it but I really don't see them surviving. Have you seen the stories on their inventories?
Posted by: SXS | March 21, 2010 8:52 AM