Microsoft cuts out paste

Windows Phone 7 Series won't be able to cut and paste, as Microsoft continues to create something with all the limitations of the iPhone and little of the charm.

Microsoft has confirmed comments made at MIX10 that Windows Phone 7 Series devices won't be able to cut and paste between applications - apparently users don't want it and even if they did the in-built key-phrase-detection technology would make it redundant.

Everyone is desperate to ape Apple's success, but no one's learning from its mistakes. Google still doesn’t have uncontested ownership of the Nexus One or Android brands, while Microsoft is setting up a single marketplace to be stuffed with Silverlight applications - 'cos no one needs or wants to develop native code*.

So Microsoft has decided that as Windows Phone 7 Series can automatically detect phone numbers and email addresses - highlighting them for interaction - then there's no reason to be able to cut and paste between applications. Apple's Newton could do that, but it didn't stop the device supporting cut and paste too, and we'll skip over the fact that Apple still claims a patent on the idea.

Cut and paste does present a UI challenge to the finger-driven interface, but no more than changing the font size or underlining text, which is rather the point. Microsoft doesn't want people changing font sizes or cutting and pasting documents together. Windows Phone 7 Series devices are for making phone calls, playing music and listening to entertaining farting noises - just like the iPhone.

So, continuing to ape Apple, we expect to see Microsoft swiftly backtracking in a year or so. It's just a shame we'll have to carry a pencil and paper until then. ®

* Except a few chosen partners, natch.