Windows Mobile: How the iPhone Will Benefit WM Applications

I for one welcome the iPhone’s Application Design Overlords.

As I’ve commented on in past posts, and on these Windows Mobile Developer Wiki pages, I’m a little disheartened that Windows Mobile applications tend to look like Windows 95 applications squeezed into a 320 by 240 screen area. Hey, I know we are to blame – we provided all the controls that make it look like Windows 95. But Windows Mobile can do so much more...

However, as from about 6pm today, things will be different. Suddenly everyone and their dog will be writing applications for a certain device from Apple in the form of web applications, or just web pages with nice designs. These designs are going to be based on the premise that the user is stabbing the screen with a very blunt stylus, also known as a “finger”. (And don’t forget that the HTC Touch demonstrates that Windows Mobile devices are starting to appear with that capability too.)

I have absolutely no doubt that the lessons learned from these applications will quickly be translated into a host of mobile-orientated websites that are also available from Windows Mobile devices (we do Ajax too, mostly).

Pretty soon there will be resources and frameworks for designers available that will include nice button designs, and JavaScript animated controls, and with a little tweaking these will also work on Windows Mobile’s browser. Look at this Digg viewer for some potential.

 My hope is that now everyone will realize that a good application on a mobile device doesn’t have to look like Windows 95. It can look pretty, and be user-centric in a way that applications designed to be used on the bus/while you walk down the street/while you wait in line for a new gadget should be designed.

My blog, my views.