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Time:
14:06 EST/19:06 GMT | News Source:
E-Mail |
Posted By: Byron Hinson |
According to the latest browser marketshare report from Net Applications, the iPhone and iPod touch have attained a .1 percent share of browser usage, besting Microsoft’s Windows CE platform, which has a .06 percent share of the market. Microsoft has been selling Windows CE devices since 1996, and according to Gartner, has shipped more than three million of the devices. According to Computerworld, if the iPhone maintains this rate of growth, it could be the third largest computing platform “by the end of next year.” Separately, the iPhone holds a .09 percent share of browser usage, while the iPod touch represents .01 percent of the market.
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#1 By
16045 (208.250.9.25)
at
12/4/2007 3:26:26 PM
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the iPhone has an absolutely superior browsing experience to any mobile device i've ever seen. safari with the touch capabilities is a joy to use - even on that little (as compared to a laptop) screen. it is the best iPhone feature as far as i'm concerned.
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#2 By
23275 (71.12.191.230)
at
12/4/2007 4:36:41 PM
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I've been a Smartphone user since they came out.
I answer a lot of mail on my smartphone - always have.
I don't surf the web on it - never have.
I think the numbers are less important, because of how people use smartphones -v the iPhone.
The smartphonse is largely a business tool that integrates well with business messaging and communications systems - from use through deployment and management.
The iPhone is a consumer device - where corporate messaging is not supported and not important.
I, like most business users, do not have time to surf on a phone. When I use the web, for business, or personal reasons, it's on a much larger scale - workstation, or laptop - the later being used to read and type post like this when it is time to relax a bit. A phone, no matter how compelling, can't approach that experience - it would in fact, only frustrate me.
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#3 By
12071 (203.185.215.144)
at
12/4/2007 5:48:10 PM
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#2 "A phone, no matter how compelling, can't approach that experience - it would in fact, only frustrate me."
Blah blah blah... until Microsoft comes out with something "almost good enough" (tm) where you will claim it as being the second coming of the lord, the baby jebus.
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#4 By
23275 (71.12.191.230)
at
12/4/2007 6:17:08 PM
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#4, Nope - won't ever surf the web on my phone - not for pleasure, or relaxation in any case - screen is too small and larger devices are not yet powerful enough to pack around. UMPC's in the home for very casual reading are great, but that is a stretch - given how weak they remain. Phone is just too tiny and no amount of zooming and sizing helps me much. I like so much power that my machines have to shred the pages or I move on.
Phones are for comms - mail, voice, etc...
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#5 By
28801 (65.90.202.10)
at
12/4/2007 7:13:26 PM
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From what I've seen it looks like an awesome browsing experience given the size of the device. I remember my iPAQ 3630 - its browsing experience sucked! I think Apple hit a home run with this.
I have no need for a mobile phone since I have one through my company, but the iPOD touch does look intriguing for music, video and browsing.
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#6 By
82766 (202.154.80.85)
at
12/4/2007 7:30:43 PM
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I've used an iPhone for web browsing and its just not for me... the screen is still too small for web browsing - its the same problem with my HTC Kaiser. Which is why I also don't bother with web browsing on any 'small screen devices'.
I have a few issues with article:
1 - *Most* Windows CE devices do not browse the internet. Windows CE is only the core OS for "headless" devices such as car systems, medical devices, MP3 players etc. Obviously there are some Windows CE devices that do browse the web and their headers are reported as WinCE - not Windows Mobile which is the bulk of the product out there in this particular context.
2 - Windows Mobile OS sit on top of Windows CE, thus its actually Windows Mobile with Pocket IE, that browses the web. I won't bother with the changing the PIE header to report itself as IE6 or those WM users that run the various Opera mini/mobiles either, as that just segments the market even more.
3 - There are EASILY more than 3 million Windows Mobile licenses (let alone CE licenses) since 1996. The last figure I heard was around the 30 million mark.
If HTC themselves (excluding the rebadged product) are selling some 5 million devices PER YEAR, then there just has to be more than 3 million since 1996!! Remember, you've got HP, Asus, I-Mate, Vodafone, AT&T, O2, DoCoMo, T-Mobile, etc all selling Windows Mobile devices...
So the article's figure of "3 million since 1996" is completely and utterly wrong.
4 - Microsoft does not sell any Windows CE or Windows Mobile devices. They license the product to the various handset/device manufacturers and they sell the product! Have you seen a Microsoft branded mobile phone? So the article's fact's are quite wrong there as well.
5 - I would easily agree that because most iPhone user are your general public, they will be browsing the web :)
My 2 cents...
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#7 By
31608 (190.79.144.14)
at
12/4/2007 8:25:00 PM
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Browse the web in a phone is a PAIIIIIIN...
-Small screen.
-Relative expensive.
-No full flash support.
I only use it for emergencies, email and soooometimes Live messenger
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#8 By
3 (193.113.235.170)
at
12/5/2007 2:15:57 AM
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have to admit I use the iPhone for browsing a lot just like I am now for writing this. The screen isn't too small for me as zooming in is so easy and I find it great for checking up on things while out and about. It is easily the best mobile browser by a mile and although the lack of flash is a shame it doesn't matter to me as no sites I use make use of it!
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#9 By
3 (193.113.235.170)
at
12/5/2007 2:22:07 AM
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#6 I agree about the strange 3 million figure as it is high but not as high as you state, what I have to question though is you saying certain windows mobile devices don't have pocket ie as every one I have ever used has had it and the reason I never used it was not because it was on a business phone it was because it was dire as a browser for any sites I wanted to view. Agree though that more public phones are going to get higher browser usage but I know loads of business users who would like to browse the web on their phones.
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#10 By
88850 (221.128.181.101)
at
12/5/2007 3:32:51 AM
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People use Windows Mobile for other things too besides browsing. The iPhone ONLY supports web apps at present, so whatever users are using the iPhone, they are ALL surfing. In fact, when the SDK launches, slowly the web % will decrease.
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#11 By
13030 (198.22.121.110)
at
12/5/2007 9:47:31 AM
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#1: the iPhone has an absolutely superior browsing experience to any mobile device i've ever seen.
I would have to agree based on my limited iPhone experience. I've had a dozen or so Palm and Windows CE-based devices over the past 8 years. The iPhone somehow has managed to achieve what none of these other devices could especially with web browsing.
My brother, who is a Microsoft-centric person, has used Windows Mobile devices for years and is now in the process of transitioning over to the iPhone. I got a chance to check out his iPhone a few weeks ago and I must say this is one magnificently crafted and extremely usable device. The screen is luxurious. My iPaq's days are numbered...
#2: when it is time to relax a bit
I don't believe it!
I do agree with several folks that surfing on a constrained display is frustrating. Apple seems to have come the closest to making it tolerable. However, when I need to get work done, a full-size quality keyboard and screen are what matters.
#6, So true. No one, except developers, seem to realize the difference between Windows CE and Windows Mobile. The media just makes it worse, but Microsoft only has itself to thank with its ridiculous product naming and multiple name changes over a product's lifetime.
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#12 By
1896 (68.153.171.248)
at
12/6/2007 6:51:36 AM
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I agree with the majority of the comments here: I do not browse using a cell phone; I would do in some peculiar situations like, for example, checking the locations of the closest branch of my bank or other things like this but not much more.
As for the debate between MS Smartphones and Apple I can only say that, while I have used MS phones since they came out the Apple UI is light years ahead of the competition; note that I have a HTC Touch Dual so I have some kind of touch screen action too but again nothing comparable.
Said that my next phone will most probably be a Nokia or similar because Apple is not even an option with the well known issues of batteries, lack of integration with Exchange, locked phones etc. and MS sold its soul to the Carriers and this does not fit my needs.
I never bought a "Carrier locked" phone so I am not willing to be at their mercy for upgrades etc. etc.
MS should wake up, realize that this "Carriers racket" is one if not THE main reason we are so behind the rest of the World in this sector and that this lock is going to crumble sooner than later.
I would love to see MS ahead instead of playing catch up although, unfortunately, I have not much hopes.
This post was edited by Fritzly on Thursday, December 06, 2007 at 06:55.
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