When a Failed Phone OS Upgrade is Good News
Not that we knew what would happen: Microsoft said that its first Windows Phone 7 (WP7) Upgrade worked on 90% of WP7 devices, which means about 10% failed. In this case, that is actually good news for all WP7 users.
It wasn't really a big update - more like an update for the update process and, in some way, a test run for major updates. A few days back, we mentioned that Microsoft could be using this minor update to make sure that its WP7 update process works. If it does not, it's unlikely that this update causes major damage. As it turns out there have been some issues, which Microsoft says are fixable.
The company said 90% of users installed the update successfully, while 10% saw error messages. Half of those updates failed because of a bad Internet connection or insufficient storage space on their PC (the update needs the Zune desktop software to update a phone.) It was noted that Microsoft pulled the update for Samsung devices entirely to apply fixes. Microsoft only a "small number" of devices are affected.
Compared to its rivals, Microsoft deals with a relatively small installed base of WP7 devices, but a few million devices would mean that potentially hundreds of thousands of devices were negatively affected in this update. If this had been a major OS upgrade, Microsoft could have had a logistic nightmare on its hands by now. However, a brief Q&A post fixes most issues in this case.
In more concerning news, security firm Lookout says that the Zeus botnet may be taking steps to infect mobile devices and Windows Mobile and Symbian phone could be the first on the task list, at least in Europe. Apparently, only ING Bank customers in Poland are affected, but it is a warning that botnets will be making their way to mobile devices sooner or later.
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one needs Zune to upgrade one's phone... just like one needs iTunes to upgrade iphone.
Recipe for failures right there. The more intermediary steps you add to a process, the more chances the process will fail at some point. It's elementary. Imagine your PC requiring another server in your house and another program running on that server in order to apply any updates. Nightmare.
No mention of the wonderful Sprint Samsung Epic 4G Froyo update fail though, haha.
What is the difference between using Zune to update your Windows Phone vs Windows Update to updater your Windows Computer? Or Software Update to update your Mac?
The problem has pretty much been narrowed down to Samsung devices which shows how Samsung may make some great looking hardware, but from the scene with both of their WP7 devices as well as the Android Galaxy platform shows that they have a lot to learn about how to make good Software. It is not Microsoft's fault and it is smart they caught the bugs early like this story states.
Windows is so new of course theres going to be bugs just like andriod, ios, at least windows is forthcoming with a 10% problem whereas other companies don't admit to problems until its so obvious they have to come out with a press release. A certain company that has to maintain such a superior image, quite possibly the greatest marketing company ever that have all the same components as all the other companies but charge literally 3-4 times the price.
Haha you just read my mind ;-)
So... out of all the WP7 phone users, only 1 of them had problems, gotcha. Must suck to be that 10% guy!
Though really, calling it a "Good" thing seems a little misguided. There is no comparison to upgrade failure rates on other platforms. Seems kind of hard to put into any perspective.
Again, celebrating that you have a low problem rate on a platform with a very tiny market share is like celebrating you went up one step on the stairs.
No mention of the wonderful Sprint Samsung Epic 4G Froyo update fail though, haha.
Yeah, Samsung issue again, but in this case MS is getting the blame!
It's too bad because there are some Samsung phones I like, and I especially like their AMOLED displays. But they've had more than their fair share of lemons too.
one needs Zune to upgrade one's phone... just like one needs iTunes to upgrade iphone. Recipe for failures right there. The more intermediary steps you add to a process, the more chances the process will fail at some point. It's elementary. Imagine your PC requiring another server in your house and another program running on that server in order to apply any updates. Nightmare.
Hard to think of a more efficient way to install a major upgrade to a cell phone. Sure as hell would not want to do it over the cell network, at least for now.
Well, it hasn't nagged me about the update yet but I just got my Venue Pro and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND both WP7 and the Dell phone.
Glad this ain't you?
Windows Phone tanks.
Turns into a brick.
All photos and documents are lost.
Take it back to carrier. Get told it'll take 6-8 weeks for a replacement.
Pull hair out. Welcome to Microsoft's Windows Phone world.
one needs Zune to upgrade one's phone... just like one needs iTunes to upgrade iphone. Recipe for failures right there. The more intermediary steps you add to a process, the more chances the process will fail at some point. It's elementary. Imagine your PC requiring another server in your house and another program running on that server in order to apply any updates. Nightmare.
Requiring another server in your house and another program running? It almost sounds like you are describing server-size patch management, used successfully, daily. Microsoft WSUS? Symantec Altiris? Just a couple.
Yes, this is an end-user solution for end-user instances of WP7. That is not to say that server-side patch management is a bad thing, as your post suggests. No elementary at all. Not a nightmare.
So, 1 in 10 a bricked, for a reason that any respectable code would've accounted for before attempting the update? Wow, what a half-baked amateur attempt at an OS. I'll stick with Android, but thanks....
WP& user is a unpaid beta tester.