I would appeal to the niche. I know that's counterintuitive to how we feel about selling phones. Typically we expect software to be designed for the masses. If the masses want features A then you gotta implement it. If you masses want the 15 most popular apps then you gotta reach out to those developers and make it happen. There's nothing wrong with that approach. However, it feels like that's the only thing Microsoft wants to accomplish with Windows 10; to close the feature parity with iOS8 and close the app gap using Islandwood and Astoria.
Again, all that is fine. But if I was Gabe, I would build a small team(s) to bring some niche back to Windows 10 mobile. For starters I would tell Joe Belfiore to step aside and let a new team handle entertainment apps. I know he's had a long history with Zune and other software but Joe's heyday is over. I would focus on making the music/movies app the best in the business. You want a built-in equalizer? You want to change album art from your phone? You want user reviews? You got it. I would drown people in options.
I would expand the gaming capabilities. Microsoft is on the right path with Windows 10 game streaming but I'd take it to the next level. I would build an app that lets users stream games from their phone to another device. Not just to an Xbox One, but to someone's Windows 10 laptop, desktop, tablet or even a TV with Microsoft's Wireless Display adapter. I'd increase control options so gamers could use a keyboard+mouse, controller, or turn the phone into a full screen controller.
I'd reach out to smartwatch manufacturers and either persuade them to build an app for Windows Phone or get permission to build an app. Now, I don't think smartwatches are the future but there's a niche for them. And perceptually it doesn't look good to be underrepresented in that category.
I'd expand the capabilities of #TileArt. That app, while useful, hasn't been updated in a long time. I'd introduce app linking to add more usefulness to custom tiles. I would also allow users to make oddball tile sizes. If someone wants a thin horizontal tile that spans the entire screen, let him. And along those lines, I'd get rid of the forced grid nature of the start screen. Just let people put tiles anywhere they want. It shouldn't matter if I want a single row of tiles in the middle of the screen, just let me do it.
I'd add a "select all" option to all lists. Okay, that's not really niche but damn is it overdue.
I'd bring back DreamScene from Vista. It would probably kill your battery but DreamScene was awesome!
09-12-2015 12:03 PM
