Microsoft's Joe Belfiore, the company's Corporate Vice President of its Operating Systems Group, posted a new update on the company's plans for Windows Phone in an unusual place; his Chinese Weibo account. The message assured Chinese fans that Microsoft has "a single event" it has planned which will reveal news about Office for Windows Phone before the start of the Chinese New Year, which begins on Feb. 19.
Belfiore admitted that he has received comments and letters from Windows Phone fans that have expressed frustration when they see Microsoft launch applications like Office for iOS and Android platforms "without accompanying news around what will happen on Windows Phone." Belfiore wrote:
"I want to assure you that our Office team has not forgotten Windows Phone - we're just aligning all of our news and announcements to a single event. You'll hear much more about what we have planned before Chinese New Year."
It's possible Belfiore is referring to Microsoft's Windows 10 press event, which will be held in Redmond, Washington on January 21.
Source: Joe Belfiore (Webio); Via: WindowsBlogItalia
Reader comments
Joe Belfiore: More news on Office for Windows Phone is coming before Feb. 19
Too late
Too little, too late.
Why are you fruits even here if its "too late"?
Run along back to your Samsungs & iPhones.
You know, people are allowed to be dissatisfied with the platform.
I spent a long time with Windows Phone. Even back in 2011 I was dissatisfied with the state of Office, which, by the way, was actually inferior to the Windows Mobile 6.5 version.
I was told to wait, every time.
"Mango will fix it"
"8.0 will fix it"
"GDR1 will fix it"
"GDR2 will fix it"
"GDR3 will fix it"
"8.1 will fix it"
And they never did! And to add insult to the injury, freaking iPhone users get a fully-featured Office experience today, all while I can't even insert a bullet list in my Word documents!
Four years with barely any updates to the app! How can you not see that people are just fucking tired of these empty promises, and just want to get something that will not be great when "the next update comes", but will be great today.
This is one of the main reasons I switched back to the iPhone, because I was so sick of this. Plus, the iPhone has all the Microsoft services on the iPhone, and some work better on the iPhone. Oh, and a TON of more apps. Not all are major apps. I get that WP is closing the app gap, but I use select apps that aren't on WP. The only wp I would get to be secondary to my iPhone would be a 1020 successor.
it's 2015 and this won't ship until late 2015. Android and iOS already dominate the landscape. Let's say RIM decided to take the desktop market by storm by creating a new OS today and trying to be the thrid choice over windows and OSX. Too late right? hell yeah. That battle was fought long ago and lost.
That is windows phone 10. Too late. Windows phone 10 as it will ship on 2015 should have shipped in 2005, not now. It should have shipped a decade ago two years AHEAD of apple. That is why it is two late. And Joe B is the pricinpal offender here. He was late in 2011, late in 2012, late in 2013-2014. Finally it is now just too late.
Apparently not even late 2015.
@iamakii:
Too little?!
I have to disagree with that assumption; at least for now.
If they finally deliver a somewhat capable version of Office to the mobile version of Windows (phones, tablets), it won't be too little. (But that is a question that cannot be judged before they do.)
Too late?! Probably.
I've seen apple and google polish their mobile office products faster than MSFT, and MSFT is the bigger software company, alleged an expert in productivity. So yeah, too little.
Too little, too late, too many times.
No.
Depends.
Is Office an app or part of the OS?
If they can update it soon, okay. If this is part of the OS update coming almost a year from now, they can bugger off.
I think it's an app not part of OS and requires Windows 10.
What he means is that, they've done nothing and now they give themselves a month to develop and throw a bone to the customer.
Expect an unfinished bug product.
I second that. Windows Phone users always get leftovers.
That's a foolish assumption.
I've been using WP since WP7 launched. Before copy and pasting, before multitasking.
That is years of dedication, and patience.
If there is no "real" flagship phone this year, I'm jumping ship.
930 is just a quick and dirty rehash of the Lumia Icon that was available for purchase as early as Winter 2013, and it's not even availble in Canada.
Yeah those features that we wont have till 2015 December right? Ok.
Frustration doesn't even begin to describe the truth...
*If* that. I suspect that Windows 10 for mobile and touch Office for Windows 10, is going to be a 2016 thing, which means, irrelevancy in mobile.
I fear that as well
What a news on 1st day of the new year. Office for windows phone along with email apps needs big improvement!
Windows phone 10. Maybe
Yeah, and Office for WP is going to be way better than on iDroid... WP will run W10, and that's way more capable of running more robust software than iDroid...
.................
Your 1520 will be the most capable phablet...
By the time our 1520 will get W10 with office improvements iDroid will have a better office experience.
No... This universal version of Office for Windows is something that iDroid isn't capable of... This just isn't some smartphone app.. Do you remember the demo at Build last year? This is full on office.
Sorry, but the way Microsoft is doing things now I wouldn't doubt they put Andoid and IOS part of universal Apps. Lost faith on Microsoft.
Sorry, but that's just nonsense and FUD. They literally can't make iOS and Android part of a Universal app, so your theory is dumb.
They can do it, these apps run on servers and the cloud so they can basically do whatever they want with Microsoft corp. Apps, all the msn apps running on IOS- Android sync to the cloud just like any other universal app. Cortana works the same way and she's going to other platforms.
Syncing info to the cloud has nothing to do with actual functionality built into an application.
With W10, I foresee a much more in depth Office for Windows mobile devices.
For years WP has had more/better Office than Android or iPhone. It was only this past year when that changed. And that's because MS is waiting for W10 to build solid Office universal apps.
People really need to grow up and get over this short lapse in features.
Microsoft is waiting for W10 mobile to finally give us an updated version of office, we are using the same crappy office since 2010 and now they make a good app for the competition and forgot to make 1 for their own platform. When they release the updated office for WP I'd give 6 months till IOS/Android have all the features and a bit more and we have to wait another 5 years for an update. I understand their business they want all those billions of people using MICROSOFT services and that's fine but why not do it all at the same time instead of ignoring the couple of million under their Wing.
You're right... We're looking at the first true pocket PC with WP10, and it is going to literally be the most capable smartphone platform around... MS can make or phones run legacy apps if they want... Nothing else will compare... The enterprise is going to eat this up, and WP will finally see larger market share numbers..
Of course, that's the assumption. But assumptions are not always accurate.
And, sometimes they are... I know it's better to place a bet on what MS says they will do, VS based on pure assumption... So, this isn't just a blind assumption as you're suggesting...
This is why I said that were all just going to have to sit back, and see what they have to offer...
.........
Nevertheless, based on what has been said, and shown, by MS,, WP10 is going to be much more capable.. That's pretty safe to assume..
Cesar... First of all, ignore that guy.. He's a jerk. You don't have to listen to him call your ideas dumb... That's how he responds to everyone...
..........
And, second..... This version of office isn't solely a cloud based version of Office. We've already seen it in action at Build 2014, and it's a native app in the sense that it's not tied to the OS, but will require separate updates to it, not just updates to the sever, so we can stop speculating on that... W10/WP10 will have much more robust versions than iDroid because the later OS's just are capable of running this new practically PC based software.... Remember, WP10 is literally the pocket PC, and it's inherently not just some smartphone OS..... I guess Android, based off Linux, might be able to run a more capable version than iOS, but as far a we know MS isn't developing a full mobile version for Android, and they plan to just stick with the regular smartphone apps for iDroid....
............
Long story short..... Mobile smartphone apps for iDroid, and full versions of mobile office for W10... Do you see the road MS is taking it's smartphone program?..... Remember what Joe said last year at Build? "WP will surpass Android in functionality, and capability".... He was talking about W10.
And you believe eveythinh Jo says?? Boy, you are naive...
The current API in WP8.1 is much worse than whats available for iOS/Android, thats why you don't see manay capable Apps in the AppStore... Also the reason the Universal Apps developemt has not skyrocketed because there are many things missing or not as capable compared to silverlight which is not even being developed yet... I am sure we will hear the same execuse that WP10 is a brand new platform, give it time to mature, more APIs/features will be added... Just wait...
If history is any proof, Wait is all we gonna get on WP... I doubt it will ever surpass features and capabilities of iOS & Android
No, I'm not dumb enough to think that anything is set in stone, or promised to happen, as you rudely suggested... Im just relaying what MS has said, and what has been show, and saying that this is what we have to look forward to... Whether it happens, or not, is out of my control... It has nothing to do with being naive.. Watch how you word things, and approach people.
Why are you replying to people like to that? You're an idiot. You can disagree without being a complete asshole..
Actually, universal apps that also run on iOS and Android may be closer to reality than you think. Microsoft is going a long way to support .NET on those platforms.
Lets not get too far ahead of ourselves. That's a whole new set of speculations that we don't yet need to deal with... Lol..
...........
We know that MS is planning Universal apps for W10, and that's enough to tell us that the next version of Office for WP will be greatly improved on.. That's it, and that's all we can expect... There's no use in worrying about what iDroid has... All we can do at this point is hope that WP's version is what we're asking for...
Ok, but please explain how that would work?
.......
You mentioned the cloud, but how would MS control all 3rd party developers making their apps cloud based? That's an even harder task then just asking the to develop regular apps for W10...
...........
I just don't understand what you mean by making iDroid apps Universal... I think you don't understand the concept, or maybe the meaning, of Universal apps.... Universal apps ONLY can run on W8.1- and W10...
@rodneyej:
Don't have the source for the quote at the moment, but Microsoft stated they don't see a reason to deliver less powerful versions of Office to competitors' platforms.
Meanwhile they are clearly comfortable with delivering an inferior Office app to customers who paid for Office (among other things).
Giving (adequately) powerful apps to your competitors' customers FOR FREE, while neglecting your own customers is clearly a slap in the face for your loyal fans.
I know, but we've already seen that the mobile version of Office is a full version of Office made to run on all W10 devices... It's just going to be a better experience than what MS can offer on iDroid, because iDroid just isn't capable of running the full mobile version of Office... WP10 is practically a PC now.. Nevertheless, we'll just have to wait and see what MS has in store... But, what they've already shown at Build 2014 is light years ahead of those pathetic little iDroid apps, and what WP currently has... You should be hopeful about Office for WP10.....
..........
We should be more worried about Marketing of WP10, and Lumia devices, more than anything.. Lol.
Hmm. I know Windows 10 is about the universal app model.
But I somehow missed the point where they promised it would be as capable on mobile as on the desktop. I mean, the same code doesn't automatically mean all the same functionality (if you take the new Lumia camera for example: All devices run the same code, but with different features available).
I hope you're right though.
By the way: In the meantime I for one would've been fully contempt with a WP Office app that's as capable as the iOS version.
Well, the smartphone version obviously isn't going to be the PC version, although it's capable... But, if it's not going to be more feature rich than what we already have then what would be the point?.... Forget what iDroid has.. The point is that with WP10 office will be greatly improved.... A lot of you guys are panicking, and questioning what's going to happen, but just sit back and wait to see what's going to be unveiled.. Or go back and watch the Build 2014 event because that would explains a lot about what's coming.....
Only if they allow Bluetooth keyboards on WP finally.
I just said that a few days ago.. My 1520 would love that... Pocket PC
Eager for some phone announcement first. Keep seeing so many low or medium spec rumours, but nothing I would swap my 920 for.
Don't see me given up the 920 either. Just romped all over the ip6+ last night. Using the Proshot app, the 920 picture came out better than the ip6+...so my phone was used for the group shot. An unexpected win, but proof that the 920 is still relevant in comparison to today's latest and greatest. That just amazes me.
Getting tired of people using the cameras capabilities as the reason why WP is better than other phones. WP is behind other brands in so many ways. Still havent caught up or past the competition yet! It's been long enough and WE need to stop making excuses for MS and stop accepting the table scraps they keep throwing at us. Now we are putting all our hopes on Windows 10 which wont be out for almost a year and in the US this means a new flagship wont be released until November. Stop the the excuses and hold their feet to the fire.
Great camera? Windows Phone has nothing to do with it. Lumia has. It is Nokia that made phones with great cameras, not Microsoft, so Windows Phone isn't really related to good camera phones. And well, I agree with the fact that it has been 4 years, and Windows Phone itself is still almost totally behind Android, and iOS. Never have had faith in Microsoft to lose.
I agree that it will be a long wait for a flagship. But there must be something coming to go against the s6. Or perhaps MS are hoping Samsung, HTC and LG will release their flagships jointly on Android and Windows. Fingers crossed.
The hardest thing to fathom will be whether to wait until November for the Windows 10 flagship, or jump on with the summer release.
@btgusto Behind in what exactly? Bar a slightly better Office experience.
I have 3 Windows Phones, 1 iPad Air 2, 1 Samsung Galaxy Note 3, 1 Surface Pro 3 and 2 x Surface 2 right here under this very roof.
I can compare iOS to Android to Windows Phone right now. How is Windows Phone behind?
Even the app gap is tiny these days. The only slight advantage I can see on the iPad is the number of games (but Windows Store has some excellent games now)
All this overly emotional reaction and raging against MS is a nonsense. Windows Phone has come a long way in a few years. Remember when we all wanted a notification centrer? (we got one) folder (check) The phone is totally comprable to an iPhone, and much better IMHO than Android (Certainly Samsung's Android which is horrible!)
MS aren't making excuses, they have been building toward a place where one OS runs on all devices. Thats Windows 10. Universal apps were a small step toward that. I know, as I've made one of my Apps Universal and it runs on Windows and Windows Phone. I had to change out a library underneath which took time for me to learn, and thats where MS are slowed, as 3rd party tools and libraries move to the newer subset API for Universal apps.
Windows 10 levels that playing field totally. If they deliver, the app gap will close drmatically. If they deliver a great Office experience as well then Windows will continue to be a great place to be. I still prefer it over the other choices available.
"modesty creates success" true story with WP :)
Whilst reading this article, I was reminded of events a few years ago when MS invested $150 million in Apple. MS released a version of MS Office for Mac that had features not available in the Windows version. Then, when the next Windows version was released it had all those Mac-only features and some others not in the Mac version. For a while it was a game of leapfrog.
I wonder if that's what's happening now with MS apps being more feature rich on other platforms?
Just a thought.
Office on Mac is atrocious - compared to Windows version. Same for OneNote. Its one reason I bought a SP3 to replace my Macbook Pro.
Ikr, horrible on Macs and really looks like shit... But it's really embarrassing that it's THAT much better on IOS than WP... I mean, WP doesn't even have "undo"!!!
Well people have to complain and talk crap... Windows Phone still have a decent office app, but when they separate it from the OS it will of course be better, especially if true Universal apps will be part of Windows Ecosystem and then they can have one app for tablet and phone users with no effort.
@_Emi_:
In what kind of reality-neglecting bubble do you live?!
Windows Phone DOESN'T have a decent Office app!
I'm not particularly demanding. I agree that a phone/small tablet based Office app has inherent limitations.
But you clearly cannot call an Office app DECENT, that can't do duck with text besides enlarging it.
I wouldn't exactly call 17 years ago 'few' but you make a good point.
I wouldn't exactly call 17 years ago 'few'
You reach an age where 'yesterday' seems like a lifetime ago, and a 'lifetime ago' seems like yesterday.
I've hit that age.
^^^this.
Love it! Make my 1520 the Ultimate device!
Exactly!... MS knows what the Note 4 is capable of, and this version of office will address that..
Hope more, disappointed more. Just saying.
This isn't love life.
@rodneyej:
I have my doubts about that.
I want the awesome features Samsung introduced with their Premium suite (for example drawing a rectangle free-handedly and the app straightening the shaky lines automatically) anywhere in Office (be it Word, OneNote, whatever).
But Microsoft clearly has left this route since the Courier-concept.
No, WP10 is getting the full version of Mobile Office❗ Everyone knows this, and MS has already shown it at Build 2014... This is light years ahead of anything iDroid has, or any stupid little smartphone office apps...
............
Adobe can make a full mobile version of PhotoShop for W10, and it will run on your "1530".... I don't think some of you guys understand MS's plans for W10/WP10... This is a whole other level of smartphone technology that iDroid just won't be able to initially compete with.... IOW, Apple would have to put Mac OS on the next iPhone to compete...
Before Feb. 19 = Feb. 18 11:59 PM :P
With 2018 implementation. Sure, might as well announce we no longer need fossil fuels..... Soon ™
Microsoft is focusing more on iOS & Android platforms... It's quite frustrating for windows phone users like us...they didn't provide any exceptional and advanced features for windows phone.
Yeah... Hopefully that will change..
For me it's better. I was really disappointed to see that every feature of WP8.1 was leaked and we had no surprises. It's better to get see the same thing they did with SmartBand =]
A pleasant, or unpleasant surprise? :p
My sister's contract just finished up about 2 weeks ago. She traded her Lumia 920 in for an iPhone 6 last Tuesday.
Frustration during the initial set up aside (having to put in her Apple ID and password a total of 4 times so far), now that it's set up, I find myself slightly envious. OneDrive, OneNote and other Microsoft apps are FAR nicer (like to a ridiculous degree) on iPhone; screenshots just don't convey the difference. The apps are even nicer than the Android versions. It's very clear that Microsoft is putting their most effort into iOS, which would make sense if they didn't have their own software platform.
But they do, so it's like shooting themselves in the foot and wondering why it hurts.
Excellent.. But need to be fast.. Windows phone is the best phone and will be the world's best phone as soon as they complete all the app gap.. Don't make too late..u may loose many fans
Yessss! Finally!
So what about touch office apps for their own original platform?
Ah hell no, we can't get a leg up on the competition.
Lol no joke.
Always too late on their own OS, and too earlier on their competitor OS,
Thought the only reason why it had to be delayed was bundling it with windows 10?, if it dare comes out before w10 that will be a complete show of how bad the app problem is that even Microsoft doesn't give a damn!, how comes gameloft launches its games on all platforms at the same time?
What the hell are you talking about?
Seriously...
He means to say, a game company like Gameloft can release and update its games on WP at the same time as the Droid/iOS counterparts, but the phone OS maker Microsoft itself can't update their apps as fast as the ones on the said platforms e.g. Office, Skype, OneNote etc. I do understand the reason for this, hopefully we have something great with Win10
Go home kid you are drunk!
don't get too excited
Like any sensible company, they will release newest products to the largest customer base first. I don't like it, but its economics.
.. I think of it as they are our guinea pigs first!!
But why not take it one step further and release it for all platforms at the same time? Better economics.
I hear this often but I disagree. Microsoft has the financial resources to address updates on all three ecosystems. For the short term, the capital investments in Windows Phone and apps for the other ecosystems are not a "return on capital" play. They are done for strategic purposes to better position Microsoft to get a return on capital later. They have the cash to update apps on all three ecosystems at the same time. If they can pay Satya $84M, they can update Windows Phone apps with the iOS and Apple apps.
I am an avid supporter of Windows Phone and have been since the beginning. I am also a Micrsosoft shareholder. So I am a believer. However, that does not mean I have to be willing to accept anything that Microsoft does. I am starting to get a little frustrated with the App gap.
Of course has the resources to release updates for Office at the same time on different platforms. There are major reasons they don't. The same reasons motor vehicle, or aircraft manufacturers release miltiple models together.
Although Office is Office, the coding is different on each platform. Overlapping launches of products allows for easier bug or fault reporting.
Until a year ago I worked for VAG Group, who own Volkswagen, Seat, Skoda, etc. We would release a new Seat model, take feedback from customers, service centres. then implement improvements on the Volkswagen model based on the same chassis/mechanics. And the process continued throughout VAG's model range.
I suspect very strongly that happens with software. As a devloper for the last 12 months, I have 3 commercial apps for clients on iOS, Android and now WP. I do exactly the same 'overlapping updates'. Makes financial sense. And allows quicker development of future versions.
Having money to throw at a problem (which MS has), does not make sense. They still have margins and shareholders to keep happy.
You make excellent points. I don't believe they need to just throw money at it. They have the resources and the talent in place to update all three ecosystems simultaneously. And they can do it in an optimized fashion. Time is not on their side in the mobile space.
It can't always be that everything is "In the coming months", "In the coming weeks" or "Soon". They need to start making an impact on the WP side now. I know they came to the party late, however, that was their choice. It was their choice either conciously or by default due to complacency. Either way, they need to get after it quickly. I believe they are trying hard but I won't wait another two years. If the full experience does not materialize with Windows 10, I will be much more willing to test other ecosystems out.
Good news? Keep them coming....
Oh dear...
I think they are talking about universal executable for Windows 10: One huge touch office, runs in the cloud, in your phone, same executable runs on your Microsoft Surface 4 (probably announced at the same occasion as Windows 10!), also works on .. well, anything except Microsoft Band ;)
Plot twist: There will be a minimized, very very simplified version of Office for Microsoft Band, which is only 1MB. :p
i want microsoft outlook to replace awful email app we currenlty have....
ur mad.
say that to yourself
ur Samit.
It's not "awful", it's simple and elegant, just like the WP OS as a whole...
ya it is simple but it is awful featurewise.....can't attach anything other than image,,,,,have to go to pdf and share file if i want to send throuh email which is not convenient at all.....and also that means i have to create new conversation every time instead of replying to current conversation.....if it became more like outlook or even similar to mail app in windows 8.1 it would be great
If by simple you mean not able to attached files while inside the app other than photos, not being able to edit forwarded emails, then yes it is simple.
Yea... Simple and outdated
+830
Mesamit - I have to agree with you. Not being able to attach Excel files, etc. is a big inconvenience.
It isn't possible to switch aliases when sending emails. It isn't possible add bold/italic or any other formatting. It isn't possible to email full resolution pictures....
It is elegant - but we need more features! The email app has stagnated for too long.
An update to email app is long due. Due to the limitations, I am forced to use metromail.
I wonder how can MS ignore such an important thing for such a long time. At least they could have made it like mail app on Windows 8.1.
PRAISE THE LORD!!! I'm fed up of Office on WP
Ha Joe Belfiore sir you always say we are listening to customers and our priority is Windows phone and all but at the end other ecosystems get new features first whereas we are left.I do agree Windows phone team is at their work pushing out GDR updates, but I think this pace is not enough and do something about the feature parity so that we would be at sync with other platforms. This is what I think!
So, announcing Windows 10 on mobile devices is planned somewhere in autumn this year. Does that mean we'll get it much earlier via developer preview program?
Seems like a viable plan...
im waiting for its dev preview announcement.
I still can't create a new Sway document on my windows phone
Might be.#windows 10!
These people working for windows or Google/apple?
Pls faster to the denim update globally
So it's 2015 and my 930 still doesn't have denim....
(sorry for being of topic)
Office on Windows phone needs a lot of improvement. Excel is good but Word is really poorly made. Moreover no open office apps on Windows store
You know the biggest way Microsoft could make progress in making people turn towards WP is making Office paid on iOS and Android because they are advertising that it has free Office as a feature which is the same in any OS so its like advertising that hey! I have touchscreen as if other phones do not have the same.
Microsoft makes announcements but is not able to meet those promises. Currently they were not able to meet even the Windows Phone Denim release dates to the devices declared for Q4 of 2014. My 1520 still awaits Denim. When you ask for dates now they say phone will get and indication when update is available. So first they must learn to meet dates which they have planned or just learn good planning!! Hope JB is listening!!
Mobile data switch was planned for Emerald at first.
I think they did better by wainting a little and including it in Denim.
Someone will be disappointed 'soon'!
I just want to be able to copy multiple cells so I can paste them into an email. Why is that not even an option.
I like that MS supports other platforms. But, they should also make sure Windows products are the latest and greatest implementations first.
Like the rest of Windows Phone, a little too late. Still waiting on so much now, it just seems I am always waiting for something, if it's a App, a update (thanks Verizon) even updates for small apps, always a wait...
Funny iOS and Android I am sure already have the update...
Office 365, yea, I am sure it's for people who use it, I dont and would prefer not to pay a yearly fee to use office.
Ok, I get why we all want the best features on our own platform - but seriously other than very basic editing office content creation on any phone platform is terrible - I don't get all the fuss...
Back to android it seems... #sosad
Has anybody criticized JoeB for lateness into the game?
Steve Jobs was known for "and one more thing"
Joe B is known for "and one more thing we're saving up for a future day"
You guys, I own the 1520. All I want most from JoeB is windows RT features on phones like multitasking and dual windows. Basically whatever the wRt and Gnote can do.
Hopefully this will include new information on the Outlook/email app for Windows Phone. They just bought out a company so, hears hoping they have good news on that front too.
Mwah ha ha ha!!! See ya goofy people who get impatient? Development was underway for Windows Phone. Faith and hope are what this world needs.......re-reads comment.......meh, laugh at me lol. It's the truth.
what this world needs is a VP of windows phone/mobile that can ship on time. Not Joe Belfiore who cannot.
WOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I'm trying to be excited about this, but... I'm getting sick and tired of waiting for our OWN company to produce apps for their OWN devices, long after their competitors have already gotten them. I'll reserve my excitement for the launch day of this new office...
Keep talking Joe. promises, promises, promises.
@btgusto:
I don't know what the hate for Joe B. is for...
From all the publicly known figures at Microsoft (I simply don't know ALL Microsoft employees), he is the one I certainly trust the most to fight for our (the users') interests.
He is just in the ungrateful position to deliver bad news to the user base. But as far as I understand these bad news originate from decisions that are not Joe's to make (but Nadella's or even Myerson's).
@everyone: Please stop the hate against Joe B. He, as a person, is clearly way cooler than Microsoft, so it would be very sad to see him leave (especially with the massive brain drain Microsoft suffered in 2014 in mind).
This is great news, but you can't seemingly abandon your initial users. We needed this update six months ago at the latest. I'm still excited, but kinda thinking whatever it is will be great and never talked about for a year or two again. Trying not being pessimistic as I'm a very loyal WP user because iv think it's the best.
Do not get rid of Developer Preview, MS.
Better late than never
is it? if you burn a customer today, they will NEVER be your customer again. Maybe the time is right to just ditch WP, push an android ROM to all lumias and write the last apology to all and hope in 5 years nobody will remember WP and what you did to your fans.
lol
Amazed at the amount of cynics and haters on a Windows fan site.
because some of us are tired of all the rhetoric that Joe keeps talking about. He makes promises which dont come to fruition. For example, he stated the windows wallet was going to be "the best mobile experience on any platform" and this was years ago when he introduced WP8. Look it up. Fast forward a few years later and apple pay is light years ahead of windows wallet. Especially when apple pay was just a baby in the minds of apple devs at the time of Joe statement. This is just one example and Im sure others on here can give you even more. MS kind of figured it out with faster updates especially with the DP program but a company with its vast resources should not be in the position its in when it comes to the phone market. I'm starting to think Joe is not the right person to lead the Phone development team. I am just going to do what I've done for the past few year- Hope that the next update is the one that changes for windows phone...again
You rant about how tired you are, but can only list one example... and its a weak one. Wallet requires 3rd party integration, it didn't catch on (why would it with 3% market share). Microsoft can't force banks, cards, retailers, etc. to develop for Wallet any more than they can for anyone to develop apps. You could use Softcard though.
Look at the facts. Look at the whole picture. Be realistic.
i am being realistic. It wasnt a rant. I could list more examples but why write a laundry list here. It was clearly stated that MS apps were going to be "better here first" and that hasnt always been the case. I'm just saying dont make public statements and dont follow through. 3% is US only right? Larger in other countries.
you have the VP basically ask for forgiveness. do you know the kind of pressure this guys is under to do this? This means it isn't just this site but I think MSFT is hearing it from all over the place as their first party mobile strategy has basically been a disaster since Satya took over.
Maybe we'll see a Developer Preview release in early '15 so that we can at least see how things are progressing. Let's not forget that Verizon will hold any Windows 10 updates until spring '16, earliest.
I've got to remember to take 1/21 off from work.
If I received a dollar for every promise and deadline Microsoft did not meet I'd be rich. For now I'm using my 1520 and I'll see where we stand with WP when my 1520 dies. People around me are abounding WP for android or ios. If ms doesn't step up its apps and os improvements we are fighting a losing battle. They can't afford to take it easy and hope for endless WP fan loyalty. Most users don't have our WP fan patience.
lol there it is...'In the coming Months'. Our favourite WP tagline :/
I prefer the ability to separate my emails or link on windows phone. I hate them all in one inbox like iPhone.
@rodneyej:
I have my doubts about that.
I want the awesome features Samsung introduced with their Premium suite (for example drawing a rectangle free-handedly and the app straightening the shaky lines automatically) anywhere in Office (be it Word, OneNote, whatever).
But Microsoft clearly has left this route since the day of Courier.
That really is a killer feature I have been waiting for.......................... Really?
It honestly makes sense to wait for Windows 10, but what doesn't make sense is why didn't they just say it officially what their plans are? I don't see how keeping it a secret will put them at a disadvantage. It's almost like WP7 to WP8 all over again. Just be upfront and tell us how it is, they're waiting for Windows 10, that's why we haven't shown off high end phones because we want it to flagship Windows 10, that's why we haven't updated Office for mobile because we want it to be on that phone, etc. If Windows 10 is going to be like WP7-WP8 fiasco again, I think I might just jump ship to Apple; Microsoft just makes it so frustrating to own their ecosystem.
It's exactly like the WP7 to WP8 fiasco.
yes, and given how much it hurt the platform in terms of both marketshare and developer support, still hurting, this will go well I'm sure :)
looking forward to additional features in Office for WP. it lacks a lot... a huge LOT.
SOON.™
Will thanks Microsoft for making some attention to your OS, we thought you forgot about it. I don't know if that's insulting to WP users after Microsoft pushed a much better version of there apps to other platforms, or ironic that apple and android users enjoy Microsoft products in a profound way while WP users still in shock of what just happened. Finely thanks Microsoft but no thanks I'm moving to Android after two years of waiting, and yes I don't think windows 10 will bring that much to the os, its still gonna lag behind android and IOS
they didn't forget about it. they just didn't care :)
wait, MSFT Joe B asking for yet more time to deliver his strategy that will finally save windows phone? remind me how many times this guy has been late and said the same? Oh yeah every year since WP came out.
He's a failure as a manager, leader, and VP. This guy needs to be flushed down MSFT corporate tree if windows phone is to have a chance. Under his watch this platform has gone nowhere and we're still thinking he's saving it all for this big thing? That is how he operates to justify his lateness. He did it for mango, he did it for apollo, and now he's at it again.
Off with his head (not literally).
I'm also saying too late. From Lumia 800 -> 720 -> 1520 -> 930 i waited for bug fixes and better apps but i got fed up with waiting. Now I have iPhone 6 and all those MS apps, spotify etc. are working finally fine.
Joe is a good guy