WPC 2012 day two
Have I just witnessed the birth of the iPhone killer? And the innovation keeps on coming
Now before I came to Canada I didn't expect anything to challenge my love of my iPhone, but after watching a demo of the new Windows Phone 8 - I have to admit I could well switch allegiance.
Unveiled at the end of a number of product and strategy announcements in which to be honest I was starting to lose the will to live, in walks the new head of Windows phone marketing Thom Gruhler who basically issued a war cry to Apple with the launch of its shiny new Windows 8 phone.
The phone allows you to completely personalise it using Microsoft's 'live tile' interface and also control the size of the tiles, so if, for example, you prefer Facebook to be the biggest tile on your screen, it can be, similarly email can dominate if you prefer.
With over 100,000 apps in the Microsoft Marketplace available there is certainly no shortage of apps to choose from and it is up to you where those apps appear on your screen.o
Gruhler hit the nail on the head when he said smartphone users are basically unaware of the Windows phone - I certainly was until I saw the demo.
Another bonus for partners is that customers do not have to publish their apps through the Microsoft Marketplace, so they can keep them private if they prefer - something that will appeal to firms concerned about security. But the phone comes with enterprise grade security anyway which will placate any companies concerned about sensitive information.
The interaction with any Windows 8-based tablet/device is also great - allowing for the sharing of contacts or information with the click of a few buttons and touching the devices together (yes I know you can do that with iPhones etc), and the wallet application is a really interesting one and something i could definitely make use of.
I have to say my Apple fixation could well be changed the next time I need to upgrade my phone, and if I were Apple - I would be worried. This phone is definitely going to give them a run for their money.
However on the defensive side for Apple - the iTunes and iStore are still leading the field - so it will be interesting to see what Microsoft comes up with to lure people away from that.
In other announcements today Microsoft talked a little more about Windows Server 2012 and its aims to deliver the 'ultimate cloud operating system' and also about its application platform. It is also planning to roll out 'national plans' for its public sector partners in every geography - but details were a little thin on the ground at the time of going to press. I'm sure more will follow about what this means for the UK.
The Bing search engine is also getting a facelift to make it more personal - and it will now link to Facebook friends in a new 'sidebar' if it feels they can help you in your search quest, as well as suggesting other people and sites to try for information.
The keynotes ended with some pretty cool demos on how the Kinect is evolving from just a fun gaming device to being business ready, and one of the demos printed Jon Roskill, corporate vice president of the worldwide partner group, in full 3D.
One thing that has been notably absent though is the Surface - I know Microsoft has been keeping it a secret, but when the device launched, I was expecting there to at least be a couple of demo models on display. But aside from a cursory mention yesterday by Steve Ballmer, there has been absolutely no mention of the tablet at all.
Despite that, coming out of the keynote today - I really felt that Microsoft was back in the innovation game and it is obvious that a lot has been going on behind the scenes.
I really think its competition, which has perhaps been getting a little complacent as of late, (mentioning no names) should sit up and take note.
Just saying.