Microsoft and Nokia are preparing a massive push for Windows Phone in America this year. According to Paul Thurrott, Microsoft is prepared to give $10 to $15 to retail workers for each handset sold. This is definitely one way to get Windows Phone 7 devices into the hands of more people, but I’m not sure Windows Phone 7 is any more compelling to people, even with Mango.
I like Windows Phone 7, but often I find myself thinking that the look and feel of the OS is lacking. While iOS and OS X have been pushing faux-realism and Android has been pursuing Tron-like futurism, Metro looks like 21st century MS-DOS. That may appeal to some, but there are times when the look is just confusing or too simplistic to me (like in text messaging or the browser). I think a little more flare would go a lot way in making the OS look and feel complete, instead of looking like it was rushed out before making the whole OS look beautiful. I think Metro is a great idea, but it’s current implementation still feels incomplete.
[...] I’ve said elsewhere, Windows Phone 7 feels like 21st MS-DOS. Microsoft says that the inspiration for Metro UI is [...]