Charlie Kindel Interview – Discussing Windows Phone 7 @ DevDays 2010
May 27, 2010 by Remo Knops
Filed under Windows Phone 7
A few weeks ago a great two-day Microsoft event for developers and software architects, DevDays 2010, took place in the World Forum, The Hague (Netherlands).
The central theme is “change the rules“ which symbolizes two must have characteristics of excellence for software developers and software architects: (1) creativity, and (2) out-of-of-the-box thinking;
Charlie Kindel, Partner Group Program Manager for the Windows Phone Application Platform & Developer Experience, is one of the “heavy weight” speakers on the DevDays. Despite his busy schedule and involvement in various interesting sessions, I was both fortunate and honored to have a 30 minute one-on-one semi-structured interview with him, discussing various aspects of Windows Phone 7 (development).
1. Dear Mr. Kindel would you mind to share which Windows Phones you have with you today on the DevDays 2010?
Charlie Kindel: Sure, the Windows Phone 7 series device I have here is the Asus prototype device (for Windows Phone 7 series), you have seen the team using at Mobile World Congress and MIX 2010. Furthermore I do have the Windows Phone 7 series LG device in my room, but due to some software issues I’m not able to show or demo here.
Remo Knops: You might remember the Engadget article “First Windows Phone 7 Series partner device unveiled” or the SlashGear article “LG, ASUS, and Samsung Windows Phone 7 Series Devices Get Photographed“, in which you can see pictures of the LG – and Samsung Windows Phone 7 devices. However the Asus Windows Phone 7 prototype device was perfect for a demo as part of this interview, which I will discuss later on.
On your MSDN blog you have written an excellent article “Different Means Better with the new Windows Phone Developer Experience” that explains the different approach that Microsoft has taken for Windows Phone 7. Based on this article I would like to ask you a few questions, extended with a few additional technical questions in the second part of the interview.
2. In the article “Different Means Better with the new Windows Phone Developer Experience” you describe one main of principles behind Windows Phone 7 (development) as “to build upon the shoulders of giants; where possible integrate instead of create”. Can you elaborate a little more about this principle ?
Charlie Kindel: Within Microsoft there are different technologies, you might want to call these assets, through out the company. Sometimes it can happen that in different parts of Microsoft people are performing research and inventions in the same area, and you can build on top of these technology assets instead of re-inventing the same idea again.
For Windows Phone 7 development it means that developers can build great applications and experiences with help of excellent development-platforms with a great set of developer tools, standards and much more:
Remo Knops: My apologies for not having a development background, but the situation you describe above sounds like there is a kind of innovation front which goes across business units or product groups.
Charlie Kindel: In simple words that is a description that covers the concept / reasoning of the “build upon the shoulders of giants” approach.
Remo Knops: I was really impressed with the demo of Joe Belfiore, Corporate Vice President, Windows Phone Program Management, in which he showed The Harvest, a very XNA game that brings Xbox console-like game play to Windows Phone 7. I think this is a true unique selling point that no other mobile operating system has.
3. The Windows Phone 7 announcement at Mobile World Congress was mainly focussed on telling the Windows Phone 7 user experience to the public. Users could see the impressive integration of the Microsoft Zune and Xbox Live experiences with Windows Phone 7. Furthermore Windows Mobile has traditionally a great user experience against Microsoft Exchange server. Can we expect more integration approaches of important Microsoft Technology assets in the (near) future ?
Charlie Kindel: The Microsoft keynote at Mobile World Congress was focused on the Windows Phone 7 user experience, while at the MIX 2010 Conference the Microsoft keynote and breakout sessions were aimed at filling in the technical details.
You could compare it with the design of a car in which you not build the car completely around a single component like the engine, but aim to develop a great driving experience and design of the car. The technology details come later after the design sketches of the car that provide look, feel and connect with your emotions !
Remo Knops: Great background information on the design approach, but any thoughts on future experiences that might add value to Windows Phone 7 ?
Charlie Kindel: Windows Phone has a great experience against Microsoft Exchange, which will continue in Windows Phone 7 as well. However in addition to the Microsoft Zune and Xbox Live experiences, you don’t need to forget the Microsoft Office hub/experience as well.
You might imagine that we always try to explore new business opportunities, for example in the direction of Windows Azure.
4. Windows Mobile has historically a very rich developer community, and developing partners like Resco, SBSH, SPB Software, Webis and Iliumsoft have been creating great applications for Windows Mobile. However a result of the great Windows Phone 7 user experience is a total backwards compatibility break with all current Windows Phone applications. What issues do you see in this area, and what will you do to help the oldest Windows Mobile developers and keep them committed to jump on the Windows Phone 7 train ?
Charlie Kindel: Let me start first with the example of the “drawer of broken dreams”. In the current situation of the Windows Mobile ecosystem there is a wide variety in hardware specifications and different devices, that makes it complicated for developers to build great applications that support all these devices.
When I visited some developer he got a drawer full of old devices on which he tested the compatibility of his application. However sometimes feedback was sent to him about a device that he didn’t have. The bottom line is that additional complexity, time and efforts is added due to the wide variety of hardware. Therefore the developer called the drawer, the drawer of broken dreams !
Remo Knops: This is realistic scenario I recognize from the developers I know. However what do developers think about the compatibility break with current versions of Windows Mobile and how will you help them?
Charlie Kindel: You probably know that Microsoft has a great ecosystem of partners, developers included, who provided us with great feedback. Developers don’t mind that Microsoft is making the change, as long as it is made more easy to develop great and rich applications, and monetize these applications in an easy way.
Remo Knops: I think these are great goals, and developers are a significant part of the mobile ecosystem that create value for a mobile operating system. Windows Phone 7 Developer Tools can be downloaded together with Windows Phone 7 Developer Documentation to help developers jump start on Windows Phone 7.
In the context of this topic I would like to recommend two articles by Jason Dunn, MVP Mobile Devices, Zune MVP and Editor in Chief of WindowsPhoneThoughts:
These articles approach Windows Phone 7 development from the developer perspective, which I think is valuable in the context of this topic.
5. End-users can use different scenarios to synchronize information with current Windows Phones running on Windows Mobile 6.x . For example you can use the over-the-air scenario where you synchronize against Microsoft Exchange via the Exchange Active Sync protocol. However there are also still users who prefer the local desktop synchronization against Microsoft Outlook via Windows Mobile Device Center (Windows 7 / Windows Vista) or Active Sync (Windows XP). Can you elaborate a little on the local synchronization scenario in Windows Phone 7 ?
Charlie Kindel: The Zune Software will take over the role of Windows Mobile Device Center and ActiveSync for Windows Phone 7 devices in the local synchronization scenario with a Windows powered notebook or desktop.
Remo Knops: Just to summarize ActiveSync and Windows Mobile Device Center will still be available for synchronizing Windows Mobile 6.x devices, while the Zune software will take over this role of local synchronization in the Windows Phone 7 line of devices.
I’m fortunate to own a Zune HD and therefore I have the Zune software installed on my Lenovo X60 tablet. Therefore I can imagine a little what the local synchronization implementation will “look and feel” ! In this context I would also like to point your attention to the Kin Studio software, that also shows an amazing design and some really clever features. Hopefully we will see some of the Kin Studio goodness transferred to Windows Phone 7 as well. 
6. In some of the previous questions the Zune Experience on Windows Phone 7 devices is already mentioned. I’m fortunate to have a Zune HD 32GB (which is a great device), however over here in Europe I can’t enjoy come parts the full Zune experience here in Europe, like for example the Zune Pass. Will this situation change in the Windows Phone 7 time frame ?
Charlie Kindel: In the area’s where Microsoft will release the Windows Phone 7 you can expect full support and enjoy the complete Windows Phone 7 experience.
Remo Knops: With the dominant market position of the Apple’s iPod here in the Netherlands (and probably other Western European countries as well) it is a warm welcome to see alternative products and services like the Zune HD line of offerings become available in the market.
Todd Brix, Senior Director for Windows Phone Product Management at Microsoft MIX10 revealed to Long Zeng that Microsoft will be delivering a Windows Update-like service for all Windows Phone 7:
“The update service in WP7S is designed to give users improvements to the operating system quickly and reliably. It will be prioritized first on delivering performance, stability and performance improvements and when appropriate, both in terms of new software trends and hardware capabilities, the update service will also be pushing out new features and additional functionality.”
However it is not explained how the updates will be delivered, and I hope Charlie Kindel is willing to share some insights on this topic.
7. According to Long Zheng, Editor in Chief of the website istartedsomething, a Windows Update like experience will come to Windows Phone 7. Can you explain a little more about the upgrade story of Windows Phone 7 in terms of over the air solutions ?
Charlie Kindel: We (Microsoft) haven’t given any detailed specifics yet about the over-the-air update scenario, however I can tell you that there will be (some) over-the-air updates in Windows Phone 7.
Remo Knops: The current way of upgrading your Windows Phone is via a ROM upgrade, that might be a little difficult for the joe average person. You explained in one of the previous questions that Zune Software will take over the role of Windows Mobile Device Center and Active Sync. As a fortunate and happy Zune HD user I was able to experience the roll-out of several upgrades for the Zune HD, where I could experience a more user-friendly plug-and-play process of upgrading. Can we see these types of upgrades also in the Windows Phone 7 scenario ?
Charlie Kindel: Yes, and you might want to think about the different types of upgrades also in terms of file size, etc. Different updates might require different upgrade- and delivery-scenario’s !
Remo Knops: We have been talking about system-upgrades of Windows Phone 7, but what about the upgrade process of games and applications ? Is Microsoft going to leverage the over-the-air-upgrade process or is there a different approach.
Charlie Kindel: Game and application updates will be delivered via the Windows Marketplace for Mobile experience.
Remo Knops: In the context of upgrades for applications and gaming, there doesn’t seem to change much (at first sight). Windows Marketplace for Mobile let’s you automatically upgrade installed applications on you Windows Phone with a single click. In addition upgrading applications on the Zune HD is simple and user friendly as well and can be done via the Marketplace in the Zune Software on your Windows powered notebook.
However this will be a really interesting and exciting area of the new Windows Phone 7 mobile OS, that I will be following in the upcoming future.
8. The current prototypes we have seen are all full touch enabled devices, like the HTC HD2. Some business people will prefer a hardware QWERTY keyboard. Can we expect more of these devices in the future ?
Charlie Kindel: Windows Phone 7 hardware specifications have been officially detailed at the first Microsoft MIX10 Windows Phone 7 session, and you might remember the two supported screen resolutions: WVGA 480x 800 and HVGA 320×480 ! The HVGA resolution could be more suitable for the type of devices you are describing, however in the end it is a choice of our hardware-partners.
Remo Knops: I have seen Steve Ballmer explain the Microsoft-ecosystem approach in relation to Windows 7 (remark not Windows Phone 7), so I really do hope that hardware partners will bring some great innovations to the public and push new boundaries in smartphone hardware design !
9. Demo-time: A “private” Windows Phone 7 demo with Charlie Kindel, awesome !!
The last part of the interview is a private Windows Phone 7 demo of Charlie Kindel, like you normally see only during the Microsoft keynotes and sessions. This is really awesome and gave me a real close Windows Phone 7 experience, in which I could see and feel from first hand:
Multiple Exchange account support, so you can connect your Windows Phone 7 to both you work- and private Exchange e-mail account;- Multiple calendar support in Outlook Mobile, so you can view your Exchange calendar and for example your Windows Live calendar. Each of the calendars is marked with different colors;
- E-mail triage is very easy, despite the Windows Phone 7 team is still investigating the best experience. You might have seen this also in one of the Joe Belfiore demo’s !;
- A great People experience with the option to link Windows Phone 7 contacts with your Facebook contacts, a little like we can see on current HTC devices;
- I have a Zune HD 32GB so I’m familiar with the Zune capabilities of Windows Phone 7, which turns every Windows Phone into a Zune as well. Remark the fact that the Zune software will take over the roll of Windows Mobile Device Center or Active Sync;
- A Zune widget to control the Zune media player when you hit the volume buttons in another application;
- The games hub is simply brilliant, also for developers and visibility of great applications in the marketplace;
- Finally the Office hub on Windows Phone 7 looks very clean and is very responsive. I expect similar features as Microsoft Office Mobile 2010 of which I reviewed the beta some time ago.
In this demo of Windows Phone 7 I really liked the productivity features since I spent quite some time in Outlook Mobile with e-mail and calendar. Great to see the multiple Exchange support and multiple Calendar support.
Final thoughts and conclusions
I would like to start with a great many thanks to Charlie Kindel for making some free time in his busy schedule during the DevDays 2010 in The Hague. It was very exciting and I learned more about the Windows Phone 7 development despite I don’t have a formal background in programming or computer science.
I was a little worried about the compatibility break of Windows Phone 7 with the current ecosystem given the rich developer community that has really grown the Mobile Mobile in the past.
However if you see and feel the great user experience of Windows Phone 7, the connection of great Microsoft technology assets like Microsoft Exchange, Zune, Xbox (live) and Microsoft Office you will see the added value get excited about this different approach.
The great drive and commitment of someone like Charlie Kindel, who is building the Windows Phone 7 ecosystem on the developer side, combined with the “private” demo of Charlie Kindel himself, which was an honor and an awesome personal experience, you just know that Microsoft is heading in the right direction.
For all Dutch readers I would like to recommend the article of Arnoud Wokke, Editor in Chief of Tweakers.net who interviewed Charlie Kindel as well and addresses for example the topic of multitasking on Windows Phone 7.
Finally I would like to compliment Microsoft Netherlands with a great event, with excellent organization and great speakers for all the developers on Microsoft platforms in the Netherlands.
About Microsoft Devdays 2010
DevDays 2010 is the largest Microsoft event in the Netherlands for software development and software architecture. Thousands of professionals yearly visit DevDays in order to get fully up-to speed about recent developments in their professional fields in two (Dev)days.
With lots of interesting keynotes, sessions and high quality speakers from all over the world this is definitely an event you need to attend if you are interested in developing on Microsoft platforms.
MSc Student Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Mechanical Engineer passionate about Business Models, Open Innovation, Windows Phones and other Microsoft Products
Great article. Sums it up nice. Now we need a release date of the first Windows Phone 7. Maybe they can announce it before AT&T can sell the upcoming new IPhone.