Microsoft opens Pocket PC to new designs in major overhaul

[Brad Isaac]

Is standardisation everything? According to this article Microsoft realized their standards for the Pocket PC hardware were a bit too tight and has thus decided to let up a bit. Chris Hill, product development manager for Pocket PC with Microsoft said the company had possibly made PPC too much of a walled garden in previous editions, stifling innovation, and hopes to rectify that situation with the new release.
I can see an advantage on both sides. As a developer, having too many different PPC standards basically limits and delays the release of new software. The reason is every platform has it's own sets of bugs that need to be eliminated. Sometimes, to release one program, you'd have to rewrite it (or major portions of it) several times. Being limited to only 24 hours a day, this almost guarantees the big software companies will crush the smaller ones.
However, why severely limit innovation? If a company figures out a neat use for an additional button, keyboard or unique oval screen, why not open the doors for that type of development?
What do you think? Is this a good move for Microsoft? Post your opinion.

[Gary Garland]

it would be great to have new, innovative designs and additional features. it would suck eggs if i get a program and it says, "wha wha wha - will only work on the gateway veil 2000" or some other nonsense - i hope we don't fall into the trap where there have to be separate versions for different processors/units - remember the ol', "do i have a mips or sh3 or arm processor?"

[Brad Isaac]

Originally Posted by Gary Garland

remember the ol', "do i have a mips or sh3 or arm processor?"

I deal with that question every day of my life - sigh...