Menneisyys

Originally Posted by johnmcd348

I mean, how many times can Age of Empires appear without an new product or version.

Unfortunately, there are relatively few *big* new hits in the Gaming segment (Enslave, Arvale 2, some new 4Pockets games, SkyForce Reloaded etc. that come to mind, as far as the outstanding titles created this year are concerned). This is why relatively old titles are still "oldies but goldies" are listed.

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MS MVP- Mobile Devices.

Hal Goldstein

I fogot to reply to the comment about GPS. This year we did away with direct judging of GPS Voice Guidance category (Co-Pilot, Tom-tom, Teletype, etc). Rather a number of judges will be giving in depth evaluation of them in our upcoming Buyers Guide.

We feel the end result will be more useful. However, in all honesty, the reason why we did this was because of the resource drain on our staff (mostly me). For the last several years, I coordinated the judging -- which required contacting all GPS vendors and all judges and making sure everything was shipped on time and everything conducted fairly. I know that doesn't sound like a big deal, but trust me -- it is. It is incredibly time consuming. This year, one of our judges stepped up to coordinate the evaluation. Now I know I'm not crazy. He is totally burned out.

So, unless we can come up with a way, or some kind of sponsorship to pay for someone to coordinate and make sure all products are fairly treated, we may not do GPS Voice Guidance again, even though I realize it is very important. For the exact same reason, this year, for the first time, we didn't do awards for Developer Software.

Note that the other products in awards are much more easily accessible with downloads and with our Web Infrastructure that we have built over the last six years.

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Hal Goldstein
Exec Editor/Publisher
Pocket PC magazine

dst

I agree with the innovation comment. Why don't you have a category for the "Most Innovative Software". There was once a thread on this board with the subject for strangest things you have done with your PDA. I found it inspiring. The categories listed are all about "what is the best program to do the same old thing": take notes, read handwriting, listen to music, track appointments. Boring! I agree that there is very little innovation in the PPC market. Perhaps...just maybe... if you had an award for innovation some developers might be willing to push the envelope a little more.

Hal Goldstein

We almost introduced a best new product category this year, but for resource and other reasons we chose not to. It is high on our list for next year.

The thing is, if you are posting on this forum, the chances are you are quite a bit more knowledgeable and experienced than the vast majority of Windows Mobile users, many of whom subscribe to our pub. What is "boring" to you is valuable knowledge to the casual user.

In order to do a better job supporting users like you, we have started our blogs http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/, with Menneisyys (Werner Ruotsalainen ) taking the lead. However, since I have to pay salaries for our internal staff and pay the printing bills, I always have to look at how we spend our time from a business lens as well as service to the Windows Mobile community lens. That's why we don't always do the things we would like to do, or "should" do, such as GPS judging, Developer Software, and best new products.

__________________
Hal Goldstein
Exec Editor/Publisher
Pocket PC magazine

johnmcd348

Originally Posted by Hal Goldstein

The thing is, if you are posting on this forum, the chances are you are quite a bit more knowledgeable and experienced than the vast majority of Windows Mobile users, many of whom subscribe to our pub. What is "boring" to you is valuable knowledge to the casual user.

Your efforts are greatly appreciated and noted from my perspective. I'm a fairly regular newstand purchaser and look forward to the following months issues. I am somewhere in between the novice user and the techie. I usually say, I know alot more than many and alot less than others. The quintessential fat kid with glasses that everyone else comes to with computer problems. At age 36.
I've only been using a Pocket device for about 3 years now. Starting with an HP 2214, then a 2415, now an x51v. I use it mainly for medical reference(I'm a surgical Nurse in the OR and PACU/Critical care setting), keeping the wife's appointments and mine together (she uses my old 2415) and for video games like Age of Empire and Warfare Incorporated. Other than that, I use it to keep photos of my family like the electronic equivalent of yesterdays wallet photos.
I read the articles in your magazine to see what others are doing with the PDA and looking for ideas and tips to make my life and usefulness even more enjoyable.

Good Job.

donbmcd

There were LOTS of inovations and some new games, SUDOKU games are a good example, 10 of them were judged this year. Some other areas showed equal growth.

Some areas like Power Point type programs are dominated by one player.

If you want to look for inovation look to the judges comments and what they found new, Hal publishes them seperatly, and they are well worth the read.

The fact is ANY one looking for a new progam is well served by starting with any of the three finalists in any area. When I think of the money I wasted on programs that did not do what they promised I realize I could buy a now PPC.

I've owned PPC's since before there were PPC, starting with a Sharp Zaurus and Palm III years ago.

The fact is Hal does more for PPC owners, espescially new owners, then many here may realize.

Don :approve:

Originally Posted by johnmcd348

Your efforts are greatly appreciated and noted from my perspective. I'm a fairly regular newstand purchaser and look forward to the following months issues. I am somewhere in between the novice user and the techie. I usually say, I know alot more than many and alot less than others. The quintessential fat kid with glasses that everyone else comes to with computer problems. At age 36. I've only been using a Pocket device for about 3 years now. Starting with an HP 2214, then a 2415, now an x51v. I use it mainly for medical reference(I'm a surgical Nurse in the OR and PACU/Critical care setting), keeping the wife's appointments and mine together (she uses my old 2415) and for video games like Age of Empire and Warfare Incorporated. Other than that, I use it to keep photos of my family like the electronic equivalent of yesterdays wallet photos. I read the articles in your magazine to see what others are doing with the PDA and looking for ideas and tips to make my life and usefulness even more enjoyable. Good Job.

Hal Goldstein

I appreciate both comments.

John, market research: out of curiousity, why not just subscribe?

__________________
Hal Goldstein
Exec Editor/Publisher
Pocket PC magazine

donbmcd

John,

You can get your copy sent electronically if you want, VERY slick by the way.

Don