Category: Windows 10 for Phone

If there is one completely broken and painful process with Windows Phone 8.1 today it is the upgrade process, particularly those locked to carriers.  This is a sore subject for many Windows Phone users because it takes seemingly forever to get updates.  The latest Lumia Denim update is classic example.  AT&T took 10 weeks after it was released finally offered it on the Lumia 1520 while the Lumia 635 still hasn’t seen the update.  Verizon never released Lumia Cyan for the Lumia Icon (Lumia 93) and instead did a rollup with Denim just a few weeks ago.  Countless posts have been made on Windows centric sites on the subject and to say it is broken is, well, an understatement.  Microsoft has recognized this and is apparently trying to fix it in Windows 10 for Phone.  Under a project by the name of Project Milkyway, the company is outlining an update process that will take from 4-6 weeks from the time an update is announced to the time it hits your phone.  Interestingly, OEMs and carriers are still part of the process which has been a lot of the challenge.  I outlined a way I think Microsoft could bypass them entirely but appreciate it too has challenges.  While no specifics were given on how Microsoft would encourage them to speed things up, the Project Milkyway outline they presented today at WinHEC in China seems to be trying to change the current status quo with Windows 10 for Phone.

When it comes to Windows 10 for Phone, we are going to see a whole lot of improvements around USB support in the release coming this summer.  At the WinHEC event in China, the company outlined how they are going to be changing the way USB works on the platform and they are all positives.  First and perhaps most importantly is the support for USB Type-C, the new standard in USB connectors.  Apple as you may know recently announced a new MacBook that only has a USB Type-C connector for everything: Power, Display, etc.  Some didn’t take kindly to it but now that Microsoft has pushed support for it into Windows 10, it’s another indicator that this is the connection type of choice in the future.  The benefits are clear as Type-C has far more power and potential functionality than the current connection, Type-A for those that are curious.

So a funny thing happened this afternoon.  As I took a break from my Saturday goings on I snapped a screenshot of my Ninja Cat wallpaper on my Windows Phone and Tweeted it.  Why?  I kinda like it and with all the Ninja Cat fun stuff going around, I thought I’d throw my .02 cents into it.

Confident this is a proper #WindowsPhone wallpaper #NinjaCat @GabeAul agree? pic.twitter.com/Lrg77HKTIP

— Clinton Fitch (@ClintonFitch) March 14, 2015

What I DID NOT expect was the massive amounts of retweets and emails asking me for it.  So now that I’ve finished drinking my green beer for Saint Patty’s Day, I’ve posted them up on the Wallpaper page.  There are two versions – the blue one which I showed on my Lock screen in my Tweet and a white version.

Please note, I did not create these images.  I honestly don’t know who the author is but props to them for making them as they are great fun.  Actually, I do know now! Microsoft MVP Michael Gillett created them.  Thanks Michael – great stuff here!  You can see Michael’s original images and his other wallpapers on his site

Don’t forget to order your Ninja Cat shirt from the team over at Windows Central.

I will preface this post with a disclaimer to start in an effort to ward off the flaming emails.  The purpose of this post is not to suggest that Microsoft should get rid of their current ecosystem of partners.  It is too fast and far to important to the company and the success of their solutions.  All you have to do is look at the all new Dell XPS 13 laptop and read the raving reviews it is getting to understand just how important OEMs are in the mix for Microsoft.

But equally, you can look at the Microsoft built and branded devices and see where the company could and should be more actively involved in hardware manufacturing.  I’m not talking about mice and keyboards (although they do a pretty good job at that too) but rather things like the Microsoft Lumia lineup and the Surface Pro 3.  Arguably the best Windows experience for their form factor are on these devices because Microsoft has intimately been involved in the hardware design of them to get the most out of the Operating System.  Even with the Microsoft Band, a device that is near impossible to get because they can’t keep them in stock, produces a great experience for users.  And while user experience is important, there is also the matter of controlling their own destiny when it comes to updates and improvements along with security.  All of these are why I think Microsoft should look long and hard at the PC and Laptop market for their own branded devices.

This week at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona we have already seen some interesting developments for Windows and Windows Phone.  First, we saw the announcement of the new Lumia 640 and Lumia 640XL, two mid-range devices that Microsoft will be launching globally, including here in the United States.  On the same day we saw Microsoft discuss in great detail Universal apps and the architecture underneath those apps for all things running Windows 10.  That latter point has garnered a lot of attention as it should.  Microsoft is general and Windows Phone in particular has been a fragmented mess that the company has essentially rebooted three times now.  They have to get it right with Windows 10 for Phones and universal apps will be a key part of that success.  I’ve said as much in the past and continue to believe that is the case.  I’ve encouraged developers to keep the faith as universal apps will make their lives and the lives of consumers easier in a Windows 10 world.

But universal apps in themselves will not save Windows Phone.  If anyone reading this believe that is the case, I’m sorry, but you are misguided.  They will play a big role, but they cannot be the only thing that changes if the platform on mobile is to survive.  It will take a level of marketing that Microsoft has never done with Windows Phone, a commitment – with consequences – from carriers, and partnerships that may seem unholy but are necessary.  The problems with Windows Phone go much deeper than Universal apps and lack of developers.  It’s a fundamental perception problem.

This week or next it is expect that we will see the next Windows 10 Preview build for PCs and Tablets drop to Windows Insiders.  While the release date is not exactly known, there are indications of what can be expected in the build.  While no major changes are coming to the Preview, you can expect to see the new Project Spartan web browser experience come to it in this release.

For those of you who haven’t heard, Project Spartan is a new universal app browser that is coming to all platforms in Windows 10.  That new browser, which was demonstrated yesterday at MWC in Barcelona, is significantly faster than the current Internet Explorer and brings other improvements like Cortana integration.  Everything I’ve seen and from those on the inside at Microsoft are saying it is impressive.  Personally, I cannot wait to see it.

The even better thing about Project Spartan is that it is a true Universal App based on the methodology and framework Microsoft laid out yesterday.  That means that we will see this new browser experience not only on PCs and Tablets, we will see it on Windows 10 for Phones.  That will also be in the next Preview build for Phones but don’t expect the next build for phones next week.  All indications are we have a mid-to-late March to wait for that release.