[muglo] I Won The Windows Phone Challenge, But Lost “Just Because” | Skatter Tech
- From: Gerhard Kuhn <gerhardk@xxxxxxx>
- To: muglo <muglo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:34:34 -0400
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I Won The Windows Phone Challenge, But Lost “Just Because”
By Sahas KattaMarch 25, 2012 03:26 PM242 Comments
I headed down to the Santa Clara Microsoft Store this morning after hearing
about the Windows Phone challenge last night. For those not familiar, anyone
who completes a task faster than a Windows Phone on their own smart phone can
win a $1000 Special Edition Laptop assuming they meet some standard terms and
conditions. Those who “get smoked” by a Windows Phone, have the opportunity to
trade in their existing device for Windows Phone.
After signing a waiver agreeing to let Microsoft use a photo of me in their
advertising, I got in line for the challenge. I was using a Samsung Galaxy
Nexus which runs the latest Android operating system on the Verizon Wireless
network. As requested, I shut down my phone and powered it on in front of an
employee when it was my turn. (I’m assuming they don’t want anyone
pre-launching any apps in advance.)
The Microsoft Store employee I was up against then explained the selected
challenge. Her exact words were the following: “bring up the weather of two
different cities.” The one who could do that first would win. I felt like I
struck gold since I knew I already had two weather widgets on my home screen:
one for my current location (San Jose, CA) and another for Berkeley, CA.
After a three-second count down, I hit the power button on my phone and said
“DONE!” out loud. I had disabled the lock screen entirely, which is a rather
awesome out-of-the-box feature of Android that takes you straight to the home
screen with a single push of the power button. I didn’t even need to touch the
screen, since the two weather widgets were already there.
My opponent finished a split-second later. She had two live tiles on her home
screen displaying the weather of two different cities as well. Why does it take
longer on Windows Phone? She had to perform two actions. First, she hit the
power button to turn on the screen. Second, she had to swipe away the lock
screen. That’s pretty much as fast as it gets on that platform. Windows Phone
takes two interactions. Android takes just one.
I excitedly thought I won out of pure luck. However, I was quickly told that I
lost. I asked for a reason and was told Windows Phone won because “it displays
the weather right there.” That was rather unclear. I showed her my device which
also was showing off the same information with two side-by-side weather widgets
on the center home screen. After pressing for a better reason, I was told that
Windows Phone won “just because.”
After trying to push for a real answer since I clearly won the contest by their
rules, another Microsoft Store employee (possibly a manager) came by after
noticing me asking more questions. Thinking on his feet, he quickly gave a
ridiculous out-of-thin-air reason that I need to display the weather of
different cities in different states and that “my phone could not do that”.
I calmly and politely tried pointing out that I was absolutely never told about
having to show off two different states, but at this point I realized there was
no point in even attempting to argue since the Microsoft Store employees
clearly had no intention of even potentially discussing the possibility of
considering me the winner.
I was then asked to snap a photo in front of a sign that read along the lines
of “My Android was smoked by Windows Phone” before leaving the store.
I was quite excited to take the challenge, but left the Microsoft Store in
distaste. I sure hope the purpose of this marketing ploy is to attract new
customers by demonstrating the highlights of Windows Phone, not frustrating
them instead. If anyone from Microsoft would like to have a rematch, I would be
happy to smoke a Windows Phone with Android, again.
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Jason17 hours ago - Reply -
This is perhaps because you “altered” the default behaviour of the Android OS
by installing a 3rd party app to disable the lock screen. You should have
informed the Micosoft rep prior to the test to and agreed in advance about the
conditions of the test.
Essenseeeee17 hours ago - Reply -
The whole point of smart phones is to use apps! Developers Developers
Developers! — I wonder who said that!!!
Im goin’ to go take the challenge later today. Was’nt going to bother, but
after reading this is just stupid. My Nexus S can probably win too.
Neil Smith6 hours ago - Reply -
Yes but the whole point of this challenge is that you shouldn’t need apps for
simple basic tasks – most things like that are built into the OS of Windows
Phone 7, and that is what this challenge has always been about.
I agree that this person should have won the challenge, I have seen a bunch of
people that did win even in Microsoft’s own official ‘Smoked’ videos – they’ve
never said it was 100% perfect at beating every phone – so I don’t agree with
people calling Microsoft out on lying or cheating. This is just one instance at
one store.
GotSka814 hours ago - Reply -
I may be mistaken, but I don’t see that anywhere in the description of the
contest. Regardless, using apps is an important facet of any mobile device. If
a user buys a phone only to find there is very little aftermarket app support
I’m going to be sorely disappointed when my favorite app is released for iOS
and Android, but not my device. Just ask Blackberry or Symbian users…
This may be one instance at one store, but the store and the employees are
representatives of the company. If they do something (especially management),
then the company is doing it. Unless Microsoft does something to make it right,
they are endorsing their employee’s actions, as well.
mecrosis4 hours ago - Reply -
Dude OP didn’t use a 3rd party app. Disabling the lock screen is an out of the
box feature of his phone. Read the article again and this time pay attention.
Les3 hours ago - Reply -
These features aren’t exactly built in, they are pre-loaded apps. If you go to
the applications menu of a Windows phone all of these features are listed as
apps.
Pasha1 hour ago - Reply -
I just remember the way which Bill Gates was unhappy about copying his
programming codes, when he was young. I dont have problem with that. I really
was thinking the Windows phone is a good OS. But at this moment I just saw the
greedy and stupid face of Microsoft employees. I still waiting to hear that you
have received the prize, not just a re-match offer.
Rhonin16 hours ago - Reply -
Recommend you read the “rules” as established by MS.
The authors method was allowed under the terms of the agreement.
What is more disconcerting, is that this is not the first incident where MS
reps change rules on the fly.
Dave Lane9 hours ago - Reply -
Given that they can’t seem to sell the phones, you’d think they’d be a little
less precious about giving them away. The obvious question: if you get one of
the phones, how easy is it to reflash it with a real OS, e.g. Cyanogen Mod?
jbernardo8 hours ago - Reply -
Unfortunately, that isn’t possible yet. If that was possible, many of those
that got a developer gift lumia would have already flashed theirs with a real
OS.
vlcrpt[0]r5 hours ago
As a dev, I was given a Lumia 800 and I think it’s a good OS. Original OS
wasn’t ready for release, but Mango is good.
Also, I fail to see how WP7 didn’t win that……
The livetiles would have shown the respective cities’ weathers before the
author would have seen them both…
cybik15 hours ago - Reply -
No alteration necessary: disabling the lock screen is cooked right into the OS.
Sahas Katta15 hours ago - Reply -
Correct. This is not a rooted or tweaked phone. I’m using a stock version of
Android.
As I said above: I was using an “out-of-the-box feature of Android that takes
you straight to the home screen with a single push of the power button”.
Just head to the settings panel and it’s right there!
Fahd12 hours ago - Reply -
You have a nice blog (http://sahaskatta.com/), for an Android user…
ಠ_ಠ12 hours ago
ಠ_ಠ
Sahas Katta12 hours ago
Haha. I love the Windows Phone user experience. It has an edge over Android in
many areas. However, there are many things it can’t do just yet that Android
excels with. I was an iOS user before heading to Android. I always keep moving
onto the next best thing, just like everyone else.
I’ve written few apps for Android, BlackBerry, and iOS. Fun stuff.
Alfred11 hours ago
Hahaha. Very funny!
Jeremy H12 hours ago - Reply -
It’s not even a new feature of Android. My Droid X still running 2.3 has the
feature in it as well.
TruXter4 hours ago
My Sanyo Zio is about 3 years old runs android 2.2.1 has this feature.
I don’t use it though, to many butt dials.
George Tinari14 hours ago - Reply -
Even if this was the case and he did alter the default behavior, which he
didn’t, the Microsoft employee didn’t even give that as a reason so it has no
validity.
Julian12 hours ago - Reply -
It’s not a third party app. Android allows you to disable the lock in your
security settings. It’s a feature of the phone. Unless you’re going to argue
that using features of your phone that are simply better constitutes cheating I
don’t really know what point you’re trying to make here…
Drew12 hours ago - Reply -
You obviously don’t know what you’re talking about. Disabling the lock screen
is a default feature on ICS (ice cream sandwich).
Dunc9712 hours ago - Reply -
Wasn’t part of the terms, Android won, Microsoft has never been good at
admitting failure
Steven10 hours ago - Reply -
I don’t give a damn how fast either party got to the weather, which one had the
*correct* weather.
Kanpeki9 hours ago - Reply -
ALL andoid apps are 3rd party.
Fri138 hours ago - Reply -
All are not but most. Example all Google services and apps are third party
(from Google) and does not belong to Android. So GMail, Talk, Maps, Google
Search, Play store, Latitude, Navigation (part of Maps), Places, Voice Dialer,
Play Music and Youtube are third party applications from Google.
But apps what belongs to Android are Keyboard, dialer, messaging, launcher,
email, camera, camcorder, videos, music, browser, Sound Recorder, Calculator,
Clock, Downloads, People, FM-radio/receiver, Calender, News and Weather and
Launcher.
And what Microsoft fans don’t get, is that with Android, you can replace any
Android functionality as they are apps.
- Launcher is the application what is responsible to draw your start screen and
application menu. It as well rules gestures, widgets, animations, icons and
many of the basic functions. You are free to swap it to any other you like and
if there ain’t what you like, you can even with few launchers create your own
with scripts and custom graphics. The limit is just your skills (or your wallet
if you pay someone to do it for you) and your imagination.
- Dialer what gives you the call dialer, call logs, favorites.
- Address book, gives exactly what it says. You can have separated address book
and dialer.
- Messages gives you wanted SMS/MMS functionality. Themes, fonts, type, look,
functionality, gestures….
- Keyboard, just switch any what you like to use and what fills to your needs.
Used you your phone with one hand, two hands, in potrait mode, landscape mode,
with full qwerty, T9 or compact style, with multi language prediction, with
hand drawing (chinese/japanese etc) letters, left handed, right handed… there
are dozens of features and needs what people want and have they can choose best
keyboard for them without compromise.
- Lock screen, you can choose what ever you want if you are not happy with
Android 5 offered default ways and simple functions like Clock, notifications
and technical carrier data. But you can customize the lock screen what ever you
want, again limitation is only your imagination.
There are just millions of different combinations what people can have. The
only limitation is usually their imagination and knowledge from them self as
they need to know what they need so they can customize Android phone just for
them if needed.
No one is forcing you to have same functionality or one specific way to do
things. Android gives freedom to the user to choose how to use the phone best
way as the user wants. And no one else can come and judge the Android based
that user phone as it is tailor-made for that specific user and it is not
suppose to work with anyone else.
Windows Phone fans do not even know what Android is or they have never even
found their own needs and habits.
Fri138 hours ago - Reply -
You do not need any third party app to disable lock screen.
Settings -> Security -> Screen lock and you can choose between:
1) None
2) Slide
3) Pattern
4) PIN
5) Password
And you should understand that 1) is what was used, simply NONE. So when you
press powerbutton, volume rocker or physical buttons (depending phone models)
your screen is turn on.
But even so, the situation would be a win for Android as you can place those
weather widgets to lock screen so you do not need to even unlock the phone with
any mentioned way (2-5) if you have lock screen enabled.
The Microsoft sales persons use modified metro screens and settings, with super
fast WLAN network in use and pre-defined dictionaries and they have been
trained to do everything as quickly as possible just for those specific tasks.
And now you say that Android users should not be allowed to customize their
phones for needs? That is just stupid!
Oh, sorry. I forgot that Windows Phone fans trusts these competitions that they
are fair and reasonable. :D
ela5 hours ago - Reply -
Absolutely not!
It was because he didn’t display the weather of different cities in different
states and that “his phone could not do that”.
Didn’t you read the post? (:
Brian5 hours ago - Reply -
Nothing was altered you ill-informed troll. Android has the option of turning
off the security lock screen in the settings. He didn’t need a 3rd party app
for that. Idiot.
Bob4 hours ago - Reply -
“said “DONE!” out loud. I had disabled the lock screen entirely, which is a
rather awesome *OUT-OF-THE-BOX* feature of Android that takes you straight to
the home screen with a single push of the power button”
Out of the box feature means it’s default, not a third party app. Nor are the
weather icons.
JP4 hours ago - Reply -
Actually no.removing the lock screen is a default Android behaviour. On my
Nexus, it’s under Settings > Security > Lock screen > Select None.
thedieversion4 hours ago - Reply -
You don’t need an app to disable the lock screen on Android.
fdfadsf4 hours ago - Reply -
@jason: It’s not a 3rd party app you moron. Android 4 can be configured to have
no lock screen at all.
GaryC4 hours ago - Reply -
“This is perhaps because you “altered” the default behaviour of the Android OS
by installing a 3rd party app to disable the lock screen. You should have
informed the Micosoft rep prior to the test to and agreed in advance about the
conditions of the test.”
What a load of crap, did the MS rep tell them they had the challenge rigged by
having 2 live tiles pre-prepared ?? the MS employee always picks the test and
of course have the device prepared before hand.
Anyways looking at market share Windows Phone has #beensmokedbybada
RichardQ4 hours ago - Reply -
He didn’t “alter” the phone and there is no need for a 3rd party app to disable
the lock screen.
All Android phones I’ve used/seen give you the ability to turn on/off the lock
screen straight out of the box. It’s under “settings” then “location &
security”. No need to install a 3rd party app (if any exist?).
They also allow you to choose a password with letters/numbers or draw a pattern
on the screen if you chose to turn on the password feature. As well has setting
when the phone “goes to sleep” which enables the screen lock feature (if you
have enabled it). Mine goes from Never to :30 seconds all the way to 30 minutes
of phone/screen inactivity.
Most newer Androids also allow you to decide which apps are stored on the phone
and which are stored on your memory card, making the boot up process as fast as
possible, no need to root/3rd party apps.
Do other phones not offer this?
Having said that, I’ve heard good things about the Windows phones but can’t see
myself leaving Android right now. Having rooted my phone and dumped the Sprint
ware (NASCAR app and stuff) was enough to make the phone extremely fast. Grab a
custom rom to make the 4g work better/more consistent and I’m more then happy
with my 14 month old phone.
I went from Blackberry to Android and have never been happier. I might test out
the Windows phone when the new LTE phones from Sprint come out.
HarlanSanders3 hours ago - Reply -
You can do that in the settings without a third party app… RTFA the author
points that out.
Sammo3 hours ago - Reply -
That was never a stipulation and they didn’t seem to know that was done. This
was a ploy where they were never intending to ever give anyone the $1000 laptop.
John3 hours ago - Reply -
Or maybe MS is just an evil company. I really don’t like them.
derp2 hours ago - Reply -
No, it’s a feature in the main settings of ICS.
Regardless, it was running Android, and it won. Microsoft simply can’t admit it
because they claim that WP7 ALWAYS wins.
Joe2 hours ago - Reply -
It’s a baked in feature. Read the article again.
James1 hour ago - Reply -
Disabling the lock screen is a behavior that is built into the OS it isn’t a
third party app.
Pasha1 hour ago - Reply -
Oh, I’m really sorry to hear about this. I just remember the way which Bill
Gates was unhappy about copying his programming codes, when he was young. I
dont have problem with that. I really was thinking the Windows phone is a good
OS. But at this moment I just saw the greedy and stupid face of Microsoft
employees. I still waiting to hear that you have received the prize, not just a
re-match offer.
Joey16 hours ago - Reply -
Read the rules first, then go. They ARE NOT stupid so simple to give away
1000$. Read + windows phone is really fast so they will 95% #winning
Adam15 hours ago - Reply -
those who are smart will take the printed rules in their hand. so if they
change any rules, you can point that all out. i lost a contest to yesterday and
it was bit pathetic. I won because they mispoke the task. I did the task they
asked me to do which was upload a facebook cover photo. they instead just put
up a profile photo. they did the profile photo task faster than me. it took me
a bit longer to do cover photo. however when complete i found out from another
guy standing next to me (we went to go look at phones on display) that the
windows phone does not even have a way to set a cover photo. so I won at what
they asked to me to do, but they would not agree and said I lost.
record the contest too if you think you can win. i used droid bionic for anyone
wondering. not the best phone, but good enough for me for now.
xie12 hours ago - Reply -
In Facebook timline the photo of you that now shows on your profile is called a
“Cover photo” rather than a profile picture.
Andrew11 hours ago - Reply -
Nope, you’ve got it backwards. The photo of you is your profile picture, and
the picture at the top of your timeline is the cover photo.
eric16 hours ago - Reply -
First, let me say I am a proud WP7 user. However, MSFT is not wise to use the
weather challenge at all because they can game the system themselves by
pre-pinning Live Tiles. The other issue is that such a task is uncommon and not
that useful in my opinion. It’s definitely not the greatest strength of Live
Tiles. So, MSFT should own up to the loss and taste their own medicine
especially against an altered Android OS (similar to effects of pinning Live
Tiles in advance). Bottom line, it’s a pointless challenge, MSFT should suck it
up and Android should not encourage their users to bypass the lock screen (if
security is priority for Android…I hope)
Carlos S.15 hours ago - Reply -
they may have ran out of units or had quota of how many they can give out. this
was posted in afternoon, so i doubt all laptops were won already.
also i have android and i often turn of scren lock enitrely when going on long
bike ride, jogging, or sport stuff. very nice to quickly tap and see what is
going on. i use endomondo for tracking gps of runs. very nice to just tap and
see current pace, speed, distance and everything. no need to use unlock screen.
i use pin code on most apps with sensitive info any-ways. also if i loose phone
i have lookout which will lock phone remotely or do full wipe if i can no
relocate it. but usually i do have lock screen, but just saying there are
reasons it is nice to have it unlock quickly.
Greg12 hours ago - Reply -
Did you read the article? The OS wasn’t altered to disable the lock screen, it
is a built-in, out-of-the-box feature.
HarlanSanders3 hours ago - Reply -
I have 2 widgets on my second screen that have weather in two places. Philly
and Billings, MT.
Austin15 hours ago - Reply -
Microsoft and Intel are both lazy monopolies who have always won by dirty
methods and cheating. Disgusting companies.
MLN9 hours ago - Reply -
You can add Apple to that list also.
B7 hours ago - Reply -
Yeah, because Apple got to where they are by cheating and stealing the iPod,
iPhone and iPad. Unlike Google, who were entirely original in everything they
do. Pull your head out.
C7 hours ago - Reply -
Yes, actually they copied existing tablet and smart phone designs.
lilly6 hours ago
LG Prada :)
Bob4 hours ago - Reply -
You do know that Apple didn’t “invent” the mouse right? Xerox did, and Apple
bought it.
http://www.cultofmac.com/95614/how-steve-jobs-invented-the-computer-mouse-by-stealing-it-from-xerox/
GotSka814 hours ago
Furthermore, they didn’t really buy it, they stole it. They allowed Xerox to
invest in the company, and part of the terms was that Xerox had to show Jobs
and crew some of their newest tech. Xerox resisted, but eventually agreed, and
so Jobs and his posse stole their ideas and made them their own. To Apple’s
credit (can’t believe I’m saying that), they did execute the idea in a far
better way, but they still stole it…along with the idea for a GUI, windows, etc.
From the horse’s mouth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW0DUg63lqU
Anim8me24 hours ago
Way to misinterpret history. How old are you?
Apple licensed tech from Xerox. They did not STEAL it. Have you ever seen what
was produced at PARC? Have you ever seen the phones that were available before
the iPhone? Have you ever seen a Prada? Have you actually looked at the dates
of release vs. announcement for the Prada vs. the iPhone?
J1 hour ago - Reply -
Actually, yes. Apple didn’t invent a lot of their initial designs for their OS,
nor did they invent the mouse.
Chad15 hours ago - Reply -
I would of tackled her down and started punching her face in and not stopping
until security pulled me off
N. Degen15 hours ago - Reply -
If you won a fist-to-fist brawl with her, there’s no point. apparently she’ll
say “i won” anyways.
kidding — but i realllly hope you were joking…. calm down and just don’t buy
Microsoft.
Hobies15 hours ago - Reply -
It is only possible to like a windows computer if you have never tried an Apple.
Hary14 hours ago - Reply -
@Hobies, This post is not about windows computer, but about Windows Phone,
which is arguably quite good and if given to a Windows hater who has never seen
or heard about the WP OS, saying that this is a new OS made by some other
company, that windows hater will praise the Windows phone. 9 out of 10 times, I
can guarantee.
⬡14 hours ago - Reply -
Tried it, annoyed the crap out of me. Couldn’t manage a simple task as printing
a file from a USB stick. Apparently Apple are too good to support the FAT32
standard used by nearly every portable device out there.
⬡14 hours ago
Oh yes, and the power button was hidden on the back of the machine too, and
flush with the casing so I couldn’t even feel it. That’s user-friendly design
right there.
Jimmy11 hours ago
Not sure if serious or troll. Mac’s can read and write to FAT32 drives. I
believe OSX uses a UNIX kernel and FAT filesystem is a UNIX legacy format. NTFS
is the windows filesystem. In fact by default, ipods, iphones etc are all using
FAT32. And FAT32 is actually a poor filesystem for a desktop because files must
be less than 4gb
Jason10 hours ago - Reply -
Actually, I’m typing this from a Macbook Pro running the Windows 8 consumer
preview. I also own an iPad. I used to own an iPhone. I swapped my iPhone for
WP7 (Samsung Focus) last year because–guess what!–Windows Phone provides a
vastly (and I mean VASTLY) superior user experience.
More, I use Windows 7 90% of the time on my Macbook Pro, though lately I’ve
been spending a bit more time in Windows 8. Once that OS matures, I’ll use it
full time because, like with WP7, the user experience just plain blows Mac OSX
out of the water.
Only Mac fanboys think that owning Apple’s mediocre products constitutes
superiority. News: it doesn’t. In point of fact, one of the first things I had
to do when I got my MBP was upgrade the cheap garbage Hitachi 5400 RPM hard
drive Apple puts in them with a decent Seagate Momentus XT hybrid SSD/HDD
drive. Apple hardware is, I hate to break it to you, just your same old PC
hardware in a snazzy shell. End of story.
Foo8 hours ago
You’re an idiot and a liar. Every single component on a Mac isn’t absolute top
notch of course, but every time I’ve specced out a machine of similar
capabilities it was nearly as expensive as the mac and didn’t have all the
features that made the mac nice (e.g. laptop mouse).
Robyn2 hours ago
Agreed. I did a comparison when I was looking at buying a new computer between
Dell and Mac, and then how much it would cost to buy all the parts and build it
myself. Using the same parts on Dell and Mac, the Dell desktop was much
cheaper. I then found all the components on newegg, and found I could build
essentially the same desktop with an even better case, for approximately half
the price of ordering prebuilt from Dell. In summary, Mac was way more
expensive for the same hardware.
Foo, this guy is NOT an idiot or a liar. The proof is in the numbers.
Sean54 minutes ago
@Foo: Is Jason an idiot and a liar, or does his experience just not mirror your
own? There is quite a distinction there. The truth is, many people have had the
same, or similar, experience to Jason, and the fact that you take his
criticisms personally (which, unless you are a part owner of Apple, seems
completely bizarre) does not alter that fact in any way.
Ry10 hours ago - Reply -
OSX is about as out of date as OS9 was in late 1999. Windows 7 came out and I
haven’t looked back. Apple waits too long between OS versions and while their
competitors come up with better ways to do things Apple will generally rest on
the laurels. I’ll most likely be back when the release the followup to OSX but
until then I’ll stick with the OS that lets me get the most work done in the
shortest amount of time.
Anim8me23 hours ago
Huh?
Apple’s dev cycle is 12/18 months for a new release. MS has up until the
announcement that Win8 will mark a change to the same cycle, been much longer.
Sean1 hour ago - Reply -
I bought a MacBook in 2008, used it everyday until it died in 2010, and went
back to Windows (7) immediately. I haven’t looked back even once.
The moral of this story: You are wrong.
Daniel14 hours ago - Reply -
I’m a wp7 user and fan. I also like this contest they have, because of how fair
Ben Rudolph (the original smokedybwindowsphone guy) played it.
From your description though, i DO think you should have won that contest. and
personally, i think that it’s the employee and the manager’s fault for not
accepting your win. What’s important to note is that the blame should really be
on those two people’s shoulders, and not completely on Microsoft’s name.
Why don’t you go talk privately (via email or twitter DM) to @benthepcguy and
straighten things out?
nick12 hours ago - Reply -
great post Daniel but people rather blame than get a solution and this is
specially when people go there with the intention to beat Microsoft and at the
same time hate on them. If this writer would have taken his article and wrote
to ben the pc guy he would have at least received a Thank You, have a Windows
Phone. But it’s typical of Android fanbois to go hating on Windows phone these
days. Microsoft makes awesome product, heck i don’t know of any other company
that makes such awesome products but they still get hated. Tell me which
innovation Apple created? none! they just refined the OS which is great of them
and they deserve the credit. Also the retina display is pretty neat but other
than that things like touch were already being developed of if anyone could
remember most phones where going towards the touch style way before the iphone
came out. Android has hardly any innovation since it’s a straight copy of
windows mobile and the iphone.
Mike11 hours ago - Reply -
“Tell me which innovation Apple created?”
Apple invented the PC. The first personal computer ever was a Macintosh. Look
it up.
OH SNAP11 hours ago - Reply -
http://i796.photobucket.com/albums/yy250/bestisunkind/Necessary%20Gifs/ohsnapjonstewart.gif
Fred11 hours ago - Reply -
And it was all downhill from there, innovatively. Their marketing, however, has
been a massive success.
Thraxamer11 hours ago - Reply -
There are those who would dispute that assertion.
http://www.blinkenlights.com/pc.shtml
px1 hour ago
Notice how there are no macintosh computers on that list.
Aaron10 hours ago - Reply -
Um, define computer. I mean we could talk about ancient methods of tracking
stars and retaining the information it back to about 600BC or difference
engines made in the early 1700s or even mid 1800s. That stated I don’t think
from your statement that is what you mean. If you want to look at a “Personal
Computer”, the ‘Simon” by Edmond Berkley
(source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_(computer) and
http://history-computer.com/ModernComputer/Personal/Simon.html) came first in
1950, but if you mean more fully like a computer we know and love today, look
at the Altair 8800 (source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altair_8800 and
http://oldcomputers.net/altair.html) that came out in 1975. The Apple Computer/
Apple 1, the first apple computer, came out in 1976
(source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_I and
http://oldcomputers.net/applei.html). Though I agree this is one invention that
they made that wasn’t a modification of what existed. For example if you look
at the GUI, they “borrowed” that from a non-released model made by Xerox that
used a mouse (same interface that was stolen by Microsoft for Windows as well)
because the old Apple II’s didn’t have a GUI, just a command line interface.
The MP3 player (by companies like Archos and Diamond among others) was out well
before iPod’s existed, they just made a better interface. Other smart phones
existed prior to the iPhone (such as Palm, Windows and Blackberry) and apps
existed on phones prior to them being on the iPhone, it just wasn’t as nearly
organized though (no app store to this extent). That stated the App Store was
new to phones when they made it, however they used the model made by many Linux
distros (like Gentoo) but for a phone, so it wasn’t FULLY unique. Also, tablets
existed before the iPad, heck they had to buy the rights to the name iPad (and
recently violated parts of that agreement as noted here
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/29/business/ipad-china-lawsuit-explainer/index.html).
Not trying to say you’re wrong, just saying the waters are grey and Apple has
made a small fortune by taking a good idea and making it better and more
streamlined. To try to discount what they do would be ridiculous. Just remember
don’t tell people to look things up when you incorrectly state things as well.
AET9 hours ago - Reply -
Actually, Xerox PARC is credited with the development of the modern personal
computer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PARC_(company)
Foo8 hours ago
No, PARC created the desktop. It was Apple who created the first personal
computer.
Fri137 hours ago - Reply -
Apple did not invent the PC as IBM did at 1981 with their IBM 5150 model what
was “IBM PC” and registered trademark (PC) to them. Before PC there were
personal computers and first one was “Simon” from 1949 what was mentioned to be
a “personal computer” (PC was never used before IBM registered it 1981 for
Project Chess what was 12 person and one month project to make a personal
computer for IBM to compete against Apple on personal computer markets and
result from that project was PC). Xerox did invent the graphical desktop user
interface 1973 with Xerox Alto computer and windowing environment 1979 with
Xerox Star computer.
But Douglas Engelbart presented 1968 a mouse.
But 1963 Ivan Sutherland presented the Sketchpad what was first SVG graphical
system with unlimited space and 3D modeling.
You can find out those from youtube by using keywords:
1) Ivan Sutherland : Sketchpad Demo
2) Douglas Engelbart : The Mother of All Demos
3) Xerox Star User Interface (1982)
4) The Xerox Alto Computer
And search from internet with keywords “IBM Project Chess” and go library to
find out computer magazines and news papers from those years and you can find
the truth that IBM invented the PC (personal computer with open architecture)
and it ruled the personal computer markets with it and today all PC’s are
descended from IBM PC and evolved away from it from most parts (PCI, PCI-E,
SATA, etc… only a x86 architecture is same) while Apple Mac has always been own
line of personal computer a side of PC line of personal computers but when
Apple switched from PPC to x86 they toke one step closer to PC but still are at
least as much different than todays “PC’s” are from PC = very very much.
Apple invented Macintosh, what was truly a awesome personal computer, as PC
came with command line user interface (PC-DOS from Microsoft and sold separated
as MS-DOS with PC-clones) at that time and presented amazing features like
graphical user interface and mouse for avarage consumer. Even that Apple
brought inventions what Xerox, IBM, and many other were invented or developed,
Apple invention was to bring them customers (even that price tag was high when
compared to PC).
But Apple have had own inventions. Like touch screen fax and phone from 1983.
Or first “personal digital assistant” aka PDA called “Newton” from 1987. And it
is first commercial tablet, with amazing features even todays standards.
(Todays smart phones are combination of mobile phone and PDA so Apple invented
the most important part of the smart phone).
Apple as well invented the graphical trash can to graphical user interface. As
well they did bring the global menubar.
Apple has done lots of small inventions but Apple has never invented personal
computer or the PC.
The greatest thing what Apple has ever done, is that they bring high quality
hardware and software to consumers with cheap prices and they design all what
they sell to be as good as possible they can.
amy2 hours ago
It should be noted that Douglas Engelbart was a completely amazing inventor and
visionary. The man invented the mouse, the whole idea of a GUI, networking –
and not just networking, but the idea of video/audio conferencing via IP. Also,
the poor man never made any money (beyond his salary) for his innovations. You
should all send him a thank you card.
‘He never received any royalties for his mouse invention. During an interview,
he says “SRI patented the mouse, but they really had no idea of its value. Some
years later it was learned that they had licensed it to Apple for something
like $40,000.”‘
Anon11 hours ago - Reply -
The portable music device?
Nona11 hours ago - Reply -
?? you mean portable players before ipod where not portable players?? why ??
Corey11 hours ago
Yeah, this guy and the one who posted the Mac as the first PC are either just
trolling or feeling the need to defend Apple by claiming things they never did.
Apple hasn’t actually created a product type, ever. Lots of companies don’t, so
it isn’t a bad thing. Not sure why they feel threatened by that. I hate Apple
immensely, but one thing they do well is take existing products and make them
more desirable. It is actually WHY I hate them mainly, but that is besides the
point.
Thraxamer11 hours ago - Reply -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_PMP300
Taylor11 hours ago - Reply -
History isn’t necessarily defined by original inventions but rather by
perfection of those inventions. James Watt did not invent the steam engine, but
built the best steam engine at the time. Henry Ford did not invent the internal
combustion engine, or the automobile, or the assembly line. Fame has eluded
countless explorers, inventors and theorists, not because they were second upon
the scene of something revolutionary, but because the chips didn’t fall their
way. You cannot dismiss Apple simply because they weren’t original, certainly
they were innovative. Perhaps you can dismiss Apple because it is over-hyped,
and over-priced.
mike10 hours ago - Reply -
Wow, blinded by fanaticism much? The guy was bashing android users, not apple
users. Only to a fanatic does “they just refined the OS which is great of them
and they deserve the credit. Also the retina display is pretty neat…” mean
dismissal.
Julie2 hours ago - Reply -
“…He would have at least received a Thank You, have a Windows Phone.”
Why would you want a phone you just beat in a competition?
Dopi4 hours ago - Reply -
So do you think those employees do what they think is correct or they do what
they are told to? Do you know by any chance someone who won the contest?
geekbabe48 minutes ago - Reply -
I totally agree with you about Ben Rudolph, he kept the smoked by Windows phone
challenges fair & he kept them fun. Checking his twitter stream I see that he’s
already offered to make this right.
Seriously14 hours ago - Reply -
Cool story bro….it is so cool that Google made ICS EVEN LESS secure than before
so you can win prizes now. I hope Microsoft awards you the prize in retrospect
so you can show how that everyone should disable their lock screen…the social
hackers of the world will rejoice.
Sahas Katta13 hours ago - Reply -
Wait — are you telling me it is a bad idea to leave my home and car unlocked?
What’s next, are you going to tell me “12345″ a bad password too?
P.S. Just kidding, but in all seriousness, please don’t hack me.
Obviously4 hours ago - Reply -
You have no idea what damage can be done from someone simply glancing at the
info exposed on your phone with no screen in front of it…I’m not even going to
try and bother to explain.
Andrew1 hour ago - Reply -
Yeah, right now they can tell that it’s 11:26 AM and I have one missed call. Oh
no!
Michael1 hour ago - Reply -
This is why I keep my screen disabled at all times, and you should too!
Bara Kathawa13 hours ago - Reply -
Swiping your finger in a single direction is considered security these days?
Fri137 hours ago - Reply -
Of course! You didn’t know that Windows Phone users manage only to swipe up but
not side? ;)
Chris11 hours ago - Reply -
Uhh… the “lock screen” doesn’t open up the phone for hacking… it prevents the
touch screen from allowing input while in the “locked” state – preventing
things like butt dialing, and deleting apps on accident.
Also, anyone who says “cool story bro” is usually fairly techtarded, so I guess
no one should be surprised that you have no idea what you are talking about.
Fri137 hours ago - Reply -
Actually lock screen idea is to lock the screen from accidental touch AND from
others to accessing your phone.
People should understand that there is lock or no lock. And lock has multiple
levels and technics to offer phone locking functionality. Like just touch
screen lock (open with swipe or hardware switch) or system lock (encrypted data
isn’t decrypted until valid pattern, PIN or password is given).
I noticed long time ago that because I do not have any important data on my
phone and I don’t borrow it to anyone else and I keep it with me almost all the
time, I can keep screen lock disabled so I can just press any button on phone
and I get it open right away. But then when I start storing important data,
then I will enable at least pattern lock (what you can not brake by watching
display reflection as no one inputs the pattern and then leave the phone on
table. As you start using your phone, you swipe away the pattern right away. So
unless you are person who just wants to open pattern locked phone and leave it
on table, then you are in problems with PIN codes as well (even they can be
4-14 letters long) as those can bee seen as well or any gesture done for
picture lock (touch nose, connect heads and swipe arm as example).
Jack10 hours ago - Reply -
LOL.. dude, you’re a complete douche. You make no sense.. yet have all this
attitude.
So the single, simple swipe on the microsoft phone is security? From what, a 1
year old? and based on what is ICS unsecure?
“cool story bro”.. lol. man, you’re trying so hard that it’s just sad..
Kam7 hours ago - Reply -
Lol, even my 1 year old niece can unlock my brothers iPhone with a single swipe
so it’s not even that secure!
px1 hour ago - Reply -
Right, except that ICS is the first phone OS that supports full disk crypto
based on screen lock.
CS13 hours ago - Reply -
I also think you won this challenge. Full disclosure; I own a Windows Phone and
I think they are great and fast. I think they have like a 88% + success rate of
getting tasks done quickly. But as far as the rules you heard, you should have
won.
However, I think that if you were allowed to disable the lock screen, MCSFT
should be able to say that next time both phones need to start at soft reset:)
It takes forever for Android/Iphones to boot up compared to WP7.
Sahas Katta13 hours ago - Reply -
That’s because Android speeds after some constant use since it caches the most
recently used apps. Things are slower after a reboot sine the OS has to open
every app from the scratch. I don’t think the Windows Phone I was up against
was even was rebooted right before the challenge.
Because4 hours ago - Reply -
It doesn’t need to be. rebooted or not it will still be running at the same
speed.
Fri136 hours ago - Reply -
I wouldn’t say so, as my Android phone does reboot in 5 seconds, even after
soft reset. You need to override the default functionality by disabling caching
so then the reboot takes about 20 seconds.
The competition is fair as long as you use any means possible to get your phone
tailored for your needs. If someone wants to compete “How fast you can do X
with your phone”, then it is allowed to tailor phone to do that quickly. As
every user has different needs. Example for me, I don’t even have facebook or
twitter accounts. But I do have google+ account and I don’t need to do anything
to get photo uploaded to google+ in privat settings and I can later (or same
time as photo is uploading) add comment. So with single photo click and typing
comment I have the photo uploaded. But real life situation is for most people
that they want to take photo and then focus back to situation what is
happening. No one starts sending photo to facebook just to beat 5 second
barrier to get photo to online.
Example situation, your son/daughter is blowing birthday cake candles and you
take photo from it. After you have taken the photo, you will never stare your
phone and start typing “My son/daughter blowing X birthday cake candles” for
facebook upload.
No, you will take the photo and then you will focus to your son/daughter and
other members what is happening. Otherwise you miss the situation if you start
using your phone. It doesn’t matter are you done in 5 seconds as you have
already missed those moments.
The wise parent does that after taking photo, she/he focus to situation and
then later when there is time, uploads photos to facebook (even hours later).
Andrew1 hour ago - Reply -
You could put all kinds of stipulations on it. How about the fact that 90% of
WP7 users don’t have TWO weather tiles on their home screen? The whole point is
that it’s rigged in MS’s favor, and it backfired on them this time. They
thought it was already sufficiently rigged, but someone beat them in their own
game.
Also, I’d take that challenge of a soft reset. My Android phone starts up very
quickly.
Eion Scyne13 hours ago - Reply -
OK. I am a WP7 user and a MS fan but no. This is just stupid. Here are the
rules peeps, read through and prosper. If you loose per these, then great. If
you loose for something NOT clarified here, that’s a breach of contract between
the obligor and the “entry.”
http://content.microsoftstore.com/store/smokedbywindowsphone/rules
Per these rules, If you do not have a rooted phone and your apps are all
publicly available on your phone’s native app marketplace and you go faster
they have no claim. It’s in the rules black and white and if you have the cash
and want to go at them for the principle, you could lawyer up. However, if
anything is homebrewed or hacked dont bother unless you want to “loose” and
recycle your phone as “…The decisions of the judges are final and binding.”
Dictionary13 hours ago - Reply -
It’s lose, not loose.
Get a dictionary, head back to 2nd grade English, collect $200.
Eion Scyne13 hours ago - Reply -
Oh, I am sory. Thank you for finding my mistake.
Decorum11 hours ago - Reply -
You suck, Dictionary.
Kam7 hours ago - Reply -
Do you know the meaning of the word “douche”, cos you should look that up in a
dictionary!
George Henry12 hours ago - Reply -
Uh, the “judges” being capitalists who are running a marketing scam?
Jonathan Phagan11 hours ago - Reply -
So you have a problem with capitalism? Why is that kind sir? It’s the only
system that works.
Kam7 hours ago - Reply -
You must be american. Those communists in China don’t seem to be doing too
badly these days walking round with wads of your ca$h.
Chaque5 hours ago
Oh yeah… they can’t leave the country, is not that bad ¬¬
TIL3 hours ago
TIL China’s economy runs on a communist philosophy. China embraced a
capitalistic banking system late 20th century, which is when they started
flourishing economically. Books are your friend.
Charlie3 hours ago
Because I really want to be working at Foxconn for 50 hours per week and making
$400 per month, all the while, living there in dorms at the factory. Just so
Americans can buy the products I’m making…
Yeah, that’s the high life for sure!
U R DUM13 hours ago - Reply -
It says in the article that comes stock on Android. Lern 2 reed.
nick12 hours ago - Reply -
but you sir need to learn to write before you call on someone else about their
reading skills.
Katie12 hours ago - Reply -
*But you, Sir, need to learn to write before you call on someone else about
their reading skills.
Conor11 hours ago - Reply -
If we wanna nitpick, and clearly we do, it should have been “call out” and not
“call on” but that’s neither here nor there.
Jane12 hours ago - Reply -
But you, sir, need to learn sarcasm/satire before you call on someone else
about their writing skills.
Manzoor Elahi12 hours ago - Reply -
This is stupid.
Case 1: If you did not disable the lock screen, then you would have to go
through the same number of steps. And Windows Phone has Live Tiles which would
kill your chance of winning. Even I have two tiles showing weather of two
cities. It would ultimately come down to who can slide faster and I honestly
think most android devices slide unlocking is more complicated than WP.
Case 2: As you HAVE disabled your lock screen, you still have NO chance of
winning. WHY? Look at this picture!
http://dailymobile.se/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Widgets1.jpg
If you do want to flaunt more apps in Android eco-system, please do so, but
please do not underestimate WP devs.
Sahas Katta12 hours ago - Reply -
1) I actually like Windows Phone. A lot. Checkout my personal portfolio —
http://sahaskatta.com
2) Yup, that’s the point. This specific contest wasn’t probably the best idea.
I managed to win by their own rules. For instance, I just heard from a friend
that HP webOS (Palm) devices display weather on the lock screen without any
third-party customization.
Rikoshi11 hours ago - Reply -
androids also display weather on the lock screen via a plethora of apps.
Additionally, you can have 2 weather widgets on your homescreen with each set
to a different city.
all that aside, it’s a silly contest. I’m sure WP7′s are cool but the fact that
you can’t use a rooted phone, or a phone using non-market apps, to compete with
their own is testament to the particular feature inferiorities built in to the
WP design. My rooted Galaxy S uses an SD card reformatted to Ext4, which cut my
boot time to less than half of the original speed, and load times in general
are improved. Microsoft’s philosophy is “thou shalt not improve feature set of
your phone beyond our approval,” while Android’s philosophy is “have fun”
Jose4 hours ago - Reply -
I cannot check your portfolio with an iPad. It says to slide but it doesn’t do
a thing.
denz2 hours ago - Reply -
wow! your verypopular now
James12 hours ago - Reply -
Are you suggesting that there’s no such thing as a widget in Android?
Dee12 hours ago - Reply -
What exactly is this supposed to show? That you can put widgets on your
lockscreen?
You do know that you can do that pretty easily in Android right?
Eion Scyne12 hours ago - Reply -
I am very certain that he was not saying that WP has a weak Dev base at all. I
mean that homebrew homescreen app is amazing. This is not an article saying
that he does not like Windows phone (just look at his personal website @
http://sahaskatta.com/ ), it is one saying that if you have a promotion and the
rules don’t account for every little permutation that could happen show that
you are the better man and honor your rules and terms.
I love my Windows Phone but I know it’s not perfect. No phone is. There are
just things that Android can do that It cant, but I would never trade my phone
for anything. I still enjoy beating my friends on social networks though.
Eion Scyne12 hours ago - Reply -
Wow, that was delayed… looks like we all know I was not posting from my windows
phone! (I feel lame now… back to lurking)
anamika10 hours ago - Reply -
Wow so many WP fanboys. When did MS get fanboys or are they MS employees?
Fri136 hours ago - Reply -
“Case 2: As you HAVE disabled your lock screen, you still have NO chance of
winning. WHY? Look at this picture!”
Erhh…. you can add any widget to lock screen if you want. Weathers, news, RSS,
torrent… and of course all notifications are there as well.
All what Android user needs to do is to press a button and see all needed data
at glance. And without lock screen, you still get to see them on your screen.
It isn’t about what Microsoft say but it is what user needs and demands and
Android wins in that situation right away because you can not tailor your
Windows Phone for YOUR NEEDS.
Anim8me23 hours ago - Reply -
How are you displaying tiles on your lock screen?
Muhammad Balagamwala12 hours ago - Reply -
Microsoft just made me lose all the respect that I had for them!
nick12 hours ago - Reply -
I don’t think you had any respect to begin with…
markiz12 hours ago - Reply -
Spot on.
George Henry12 hours ago - Reply -
Small. Claims. Court.
Ryan12 hours ago - Reply -
The only thing that pisses me off more than the the employee and manager is
that you actually stood in front of the sign. You should have walked out.
Dylan Taylor12 hours ago - Reply -
I’d take them to small claims court. You would basically win by default.
Bill Gates12 hours ago - Reply -
Get a life or at least stop wasting your current one.
Eric G12 hours ago - Reply -
The problem is, even if you win, you lose, because you get some more
Windows-running crap.
dg12 hours ago - Reply -
Microsoft phone challenge:
– 1st prize: a Microsoft phone
– 2nd prize: two Microsoft phones
Eion Scyne12 hours ago - Reply -
From the Rules: “…Entrants that lost the Challenge can get a free Windows Phone
by recycling their losing smartphone.”
TheBlueGhost10 hours ago - Reply -
I should’ve brought my £50 Xperia then.
ryan12 hours ago - Reply -
Should have let them have their picture — with you giving the middle finger.
“Just Because.”
UnnDunn12 hours ago - Reply -
The “Smoked By Windows Phone” campaign is a really good stroke of PR… but only
because of its informal nature.
Now that they’ve introduced significant prizes to it, they have to make it a
formal, rigid thing, with rules and regulations up the wazoo to ensure they
don’t give away a bunch of prizes to people gaming the system. Which is a
shame, because all it will do is piss people off.
Wade11 hours ago - Reply -
Lame. That’s a legit smoking of a Windows Phone.
Using live-tile for this challenge is interesting considering the first party
Weather app just got a live tile. (I don’t know what took so long.) Was that
the app they used? (If you haven’t seen it, it shows only temperature, metro
style condition icon, and city name, on a solid color tile, and the tile
doesn’t flip at all.)
Seth11 hours ago - Reply -
What is the point of a marketing exercise if you’re just going to piss off your
potential customers?
Does Microsoft think that its so far behind in association with the idea
smartphones that even this publicity is good for them?
If that’s so they haven’t given up on being evil since Gates stopped running
the company.
Jared11 hours ago - Reply -
I hope you get your laptop man.. To help your cause, I submitted your story to
a couple tech blogs and directly to Microsoft itself so hopefully this helps!
John Guelph11 hours ago - Reply -
I think you deserve to get the $1000 prize. If they don’t want to pay up they
shouldn’t have such competitions.
joe10 hours ago - Reply -
why didn’t you call the police and then take them to small claims? and stood
outside telling everyone “I won but they wouldn’t give me the laptop” and
otherwise causing them enough problems that a $1000 laptop was worth it?
They bullied you and you accepted it. **** that nonsense, I would have made a
giant scene. I hate bullies, whether they are wearing corporate logos or not.
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