DISQUS

I wonder. Microsoft isn't paying nearly enough attention to the WM infrastructure. The smaller ISVs are quietly closing down. Most of the others are looking hard at other options. Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine has shut down, to be reborn as iPhone Life. If Microsoft implements their own app store, which they've announced, Handango, MobiHand and PocketGear will go away - if they haven't already. Enterprise is great, but the buying decisions are ultimately made by individuals. In my experience, IT departments choose hardware - especially mobile - based on what management wants to use. If Microsoft loses the consumers, they'll lose the enterprise.

I wonder if the volume control will work on a 1st gen iPod Touch. The page says: "The remote and mic are supported only by iPod nano (4th generation), iPod classic (120GB), and iPod touch (2nd generation). Audio is supported by all iPod models." which doesn't answer what - to me - is an important question. If I could use a hardware volume control on my iPod Touch, I'd be able to use it as an mp3 player when I walk. As it is, I still use my "other" player.

This is a great idea - I really want it. Too bad for me that there's no way to use that on my iPod Touch.

That sound you hear is hundreds of mobile developers' heads exploding.

Great analysis, and great articles. Thanks for pointing them out.

This is very sad - not just for Hal and his staff, but for the whole Windows Mobile market. This magazine was one of its big supports, and many people will miss it.

Looking back through my archives, the August issue had 26 advertisers. A random issue from 2004 had 52 and one from 2000 had 37. Microsoft advertised in some of these, not all of them, and the more recent issues had almost no hardware manufacturers, distributors or big companies advertising. The WM software companies did what we could to support the magazine, but, clearly, we're not enough to be able to keep it running.

Meanwhile, my latest issue of MacWorld had 81 advertisers, including big companies like CDW, MacMall, Western Digital and other very recognizable names. Apple's showing TV commercials specifically about the iPhone App Store and adding over 250 new apps each week.

Of course Hal's going to try an iPhone publication - who wouldn't, in those circumstances? If Microsoft cares about the future of Windows Mobile, at least as a consumer platform, they need to do something major - and soon - to support it.

Exactly. Not only is the App Store simple for consumers, it's obvious to them. Most Windows Mobile and Blackberry users don't even know they can add software to their phones. iPhone users do.