Mobile Video in 2011
Windows Phone 7
Well hello, Microsoft. After several false starts and delays, Microsoft released Windows Phone 7 in 2010 to much fanfare. A total departure from previous versions was due in part to not offering backward compatibility. The critics have agreed, and the fresh new feel of the operating system has given users, developers, and device makers something to cheer about. Unlike Android, Windows Phone 7 is a locked-down OS, so manufacturers can’t add lots of bloatware or user interface “upgrades.” If you pick up your friend’s Windows Phone 7, it will operate exactly like yours.
I can honestly say that I like the design and user interface. It feels very unlike Microsoft and flows smoothly. Video on the devices is basically the same type of hardware as is used on most of the Android phones. HTC, LG, Samsung, and Dell are all currently offering units with Windows Phone 7. They even have a marketplace that offers apps from Netflix and YouTube.
Although they are a little bit late to the party, Windows Phone 7 will be a comeback kid in 2011. Developers are cranking out Apps, and device manufacturers have jumped on board. One device that gets a thumbs up is the HTC HD7 phone. With a large 4.3'' screen, fold-out kickstand, and 720p HD recording, this mobile is ready to compete.
There are a few downsides to the Windows Phone 7. It still uses the Zune software to sync the device with the computer, so Mac users will have to download a custom piece of software to sync their phone’s videos and data. Can they attract as many app developers as Apple and Android? Even with lots of questions ahead of them, Microsoft is turning heads with something fresh and different in the mobile space.
Apple Computers
In its first year with real competition for the mobile space, Apple continues to show its device and OS dominance. Three things have kept it the leader this year: the iPad, the iPhone 4, and the App Store.
Apple released the iPad in April 2010 and sold 3 million devices in 80 days. Hailed as the first truly successful tablet, it became the benchmark for all other devices. A 9.7'' 1024x768 touchscreen is great for watching movies, and its sleek form makes it easy to carry around. There are some drawbacks to the device. The first thing my 7-year-old daughter said when she picked it up was, “Where is the camera?” There isn’t one, so technically it didn’t even pass my criteria for this article, but its omission from this list would have filled my inbox with angry messages from Apple fanboys. This oversight is rumored to be fixed in the iPad 2, which geek pundits are speculating will be released in the first or second quarter of 2011. The second drawback is that there is no Adobe Flash Player support. This argument has been bouncing back and forth in reference to the iPhone for years and has not appeared to hurt sales in the slightest for either device. While I doubt we will see Flash supported on an Apple device anytime soon, it is becoming less of an issue as more services support and embrace HTML5.
The iPhone 4 is the best mobile device that is balanced for creating and consuming video. With its 3.5'' 960x640 display, watching video on-the-go is easy and enjoyable. The front and rear cameras are designed to work with one of its killer apps, FaceTime. While mobile video chat has been around for a while, Apple has once again taken something that is just OK and made it amazing. While it only works when it’s connected to Wi-Fi for now, the ability to live video chat using your existing mobile and contact list works really well.
Creating videos on the iPhone 4 is a snap. The iMovie app is the best mobile video editor I have ever used. And while it could use a few more features such as some basic audio editing tools, I still have yet to find anything like it in the mobile space. Yes, this device also lacks Flash support, and the locked-down mentality of Apple can protect, but also limit, creativity.
The final win for Apple this year is the App Store. The ability to offer users almost anything they would want on their phones continues to amaze me. “There’s an App for that” has become more than just an advertising tag line (now trademarked!) and is now ingrained in our vocabulary. From the big boys such as Netflix, YouTube, and Hulu all the way down to fart machine apps, there is something for everyone. Everyone else has copied this system now, but they all just seem too little too late. If you want to have the best apps, you need to have an Apple device.