The Un-Tilting Factors

Posted by Rob at 16 January 2008, 8:18 AM and is filed under Operator Business,PDA-Phone Perspectives
  Despite one’s glazed-over eyes and zombie smile that seem to go along with the purchase of a new PDA-phone, the reality simply cannot be known until some weeks later.  Thankfully, the wireless operators acknowledge this, and allow a 30-day trial.  (the cynical view is that they know some of these phones are only half-baked)

Although I didn’t have 3G coverage at home (a place I often work, as well), I tried to rationalize keeping the Tilt. 
“It has WiFi-g, maybe that will fill the gap”, I thought. 
“I can even drop the data plan altogether”, I further reasoned, except that that would rendered Google maps useless when I needed it the most.  Besides, nothing beats "anywhere" high-speed internet access.

I was rather disappointed that the Tilt is even less one-handed friendly then my Samsung i-730, which ran Windows Mobile 5.    Another important issue was about the device’s readiness out of the box.  In several ways, I was looking at a downgrade, even from a device which was 2 ½ years old!

Here are some other realities which led me to reject this product, despite its allure.  That’s to say that prosumers and professionals who are making their own handset choices might very well take issue with —

...some realities about Windows Mobile 6:
  • One must upgrade at least to Outlook 2002 to be able to sync with your PC (this makes AT&T also a partner with Microsoft for pushing Office 2007.  Hope they get a commission out of it!)
  • Fewer button mapping is available, only 5 verses 12 for WM5 with the Samsung i-730. This makes the Tilt less one-handed friendly. (There are actually more buttons to work with on the Tilt, but most are not programmable)
  • Microsoft didn't bother fixing the forced reset when you swap the battery, as with WM5
  • The “note” and “speakerphone on” button is missing from the GUI seen during a phone call
  •                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
    ...and about some errors that were made with the hardware:
    • The power plug gets in the way if you use the keyboard
    • Hands-free is a non-standard connector, and uses the same connector as the power plug, so you can’t charge and use the hands-free at the same time
    • There is no included hands free, holster, or extra battery and the AT&T store didn’t have any stock of OEM products
    • The phone is too heavy to not have an OEM holster provided. What was I supposed to do with this thing until I could order a proper OEM holster (if one existed)?
    • The only stereo hands-free headset which they could provide me in the AT&T store was a generic unit, without a volume control.  This was another downgrade for me
    • You cannot power off the phone my pressing and holding the power button.  One must rather go to the wireless manager screen (which includes a clutter of redundant icons)

    • ...and with some application disappointments:
    • The camera takes about 3 seconds to take a photo after you press the button; and even longer to be ready to take another
    • GPS didn't work when I needed it; it isn't ready “out of the box”
    • Can no longer "recognize" handwriting in Notes (convert it to text)
    • The keypad is de-activated when accessing voicemail (problem when wanting to take a note while listening)
    • My reminders in the calendar never sounded off, despite audio setting being properly configured
    • No button could be mapped to the voice dialling application.  This is simply a blunder
    • Can no longer enter a voicemail passcode in the phone application, which was useful to make one-handed checking of messages possible while driving

  • The Tilt will no doubt excel for many users.  There is much upside, as previously discussed.  But it's obvious that AT&T should     :
    1.  Have this platform's hardware design and applications re-evaluated / redesigned
    2.  Include a CD with Outlook 2002 or later, to assure that customers can sync their phone
    3.  Better match the overall product proposition to the reality of the handsets features and placement in the marketplace
    4.  Offer an OS update to users ASAP
    5.  Accelerate their 3G rollout

    While no operator can do much about Microsoft’s mistakes with Windows Mobile 6, perhaps they can reduce their product line exposure to those Redmond guys who appear more and more to be asleep at the wheel. 
    Or at least oblige them to offer updates to an agreed schedule.

    Needless to say, the Tilt went back.  I just expect a better overall product design from a communicator I’m going to be using for a year or two.

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