I’m Just A Feature

How an idea becomes a feature

Xbox Live's Major Nelson — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 01:34:34 GMT

Last week, we asked for your suggestions on how to improve the Xbox 360 dashboard. As a result, I was

re: I’m Just A Feature

Henry — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 02:36:20 GMT

Great article!

re: I’m Just A Feature

Scott Yost — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 02:44:12 GMT

A related question is "Why isn't this (new feature | fixed bug) that I just mentioned in the next version of Windows Mobile?"

If you lay out the timeline that Mike describes above, you can see that there's a long lag time (months and months) between when we finish development on a revision of the software and when it gets through OEMs and operators to the customer.

So sometimes the answer is "Because the next version of Windows Mobile had already been finished at the time you asked".

And other times the answer is "We've already (fixed|added) it in the version that we're working on, but can't yet discuss because it's not publically announced."

re: I’m Just A Feature

DastardlyMutley — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 03:00:01 GMT

Fantastic article Mike, now if only there was *some* way of forcing users to read and *understand* the many issues forced upon software developers, the world would be a happier and more understanding place :)

re: I’m Just A Feature

Joe Markert — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 03:30:50 GMT

As someone who deals with software project management and web development on a daily basis I'm archiving this one to pull out next time a client insists we should break the product freeze in favor of feature creep ;)

Thank you!

Joe-
Chief Gaming Officer
www.gamehelper.com

re: I’m Just A Feature

derk — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 03:34:57 GMT

this article should be shipped with every piece of software microsoft or any company makes. great explanation. i understood this whole article but i understand programming and testing, but i think even those who do not should still get it. its just basic logic people overlook most of the time.

re: I’m Just A Feature

Christian — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 03:35:36 GMT

Great Article!,

re: I’m Just A Feature

Xbox Live's Xyjar — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 03:40:56 GMT

Awesome article. Let me know when you have the song and cartoon to go along with it finalized.

re: I’m Just A Feature

Leo Nelson — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 04:20:22 GMT

Very, very well written article.

re: I’m Just A Feature

Vladislav Bogomolny — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 20:00:16 GMT

The article was very intresting to understand the policy of Windows Mobile OS development. You have achieved outstanding quality of Windows Mobile software so far. But the trade off is 10000 of mad users due to very poor features.

re: I’m Just A Feature

mac — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 22:11:09 GMT

Awaiting an obvious "why not just open source Windows Mobile, it's that easy and you'll make thousands of geeks happy" type of comment.

re: I’m Just A Feature

iwantabrowser — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 22:39:17 GMT

I want a web browser for the xbox 360. Its an entertainment platform so complete it as the complete entertainment platform with a browser.

re: I’m Just A Feature

robert watson (atmalls) — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 23:25:38 GMT

I would like Achievements and Icons for old XBOX games.... So like if a person plays Halo 2 or Links 2004 or a Backward Compatibility Game it will show on on your XBOX.COM.. also I would like to keep www.xsnsports.com open...

re: I’m Just A Feature

Decoye Gheist — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 00:52:43 GMT

Hello,

as i have read the artikel i was very into what i really want for that update and what other people really could use.
It was pretty hard to find out what i wanted, but now i definatly know what it is.
What we need i a "achievement planner", that let us set some kind of mark behind achievements that we want to gather in the next days to keep us on the track.
Also this planner should be integrated into the Forums.
So that everyone can see what the person that interests me really is up to.
Also the Live marketplace should be better integrated into the Games, like if i want to download something for any Game, that i dont have to leave the Game and have to head back to the dashboard for the payment, so that i can really do it inside the Game.

re: I’m Just A Feature

Samuel — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 01:00:49 GMT

Hello, it can be fun to have MSN integreted in the xbox dashbord. Also it can be fun to be able to listen a video with the xbox guide bouton.

re: I’m Just A Feature

Lukas — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 01:54:29 GMT

I public bug tracker would be nice though. Then you would atleast know that a given issue is just waiting to get released to OEM's.

re: I’m Just A Feature

Funtime — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 06:50:27 GMT

How about that multiplication program :-)

re: I’m Just A Feature

Jeremy UK — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 14:45:33 GMT

In the section that displays Messages, Friends, and Players, it would be great if there was a fourth subsection showing the status of your Windows Live Messenger contacts. Or, just as a standalone option on the main dash.

I know that this would take a lot of work, but that one thing would probably be the best dash update conceivable!

Xbox 360 & SharePoint 2007 Weblog » Blog Archive » I’m Just a Feature

Xbox 360 & SharePoint 2007 Weblog » Blog Archive » I’m Just a Feature — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 14:55:56 GMT

PingBack from http://blog.funknstyle.com/?p=544

re: I’m Just A Feature

xandersdad — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:50:02 GMT

A good read. I always knew that things like this were complicated, but to have it spelled out is helpful.

Now I'm just wondering why people are posting suggestions for the 360 UI here

re: I’m Just A Feature

MikeCal — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:27:44 GMT

I'm glad you folks found this useful.

For the people suggesting Xbox 360 features, this blog is for Windows Mobile (Smartphone and PocketPCs), not Xbox. Major Nelson linked over to here because the general design process is similar for Xbox and Windows Mobile. (It's probably similar for all major software development houses.) It's unlikely that many Xbox people are reading these comments though. You're better off making your suggestions on a Xbox-focused blog like Major Nelson's.

Mike

re: I’m Just A Feature

Simon R. — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 21:22:23 GMT

excellent article. As a long term user of mobile devices I promise I will never complain again about missing features/unwanted features again. All is now clear... thank you and keep up the hard work

re: I’m Just A Feature

Simon R. — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 21:22:59 GMT

excellent article. As a long term user of mobile devices I promise I will never complain again about missing features/unwanted features again. All is now clear... thank you and keep up the hard work

re: I’m Just A Feature

inteller — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 23:05:41 GMT

So how do we get the veto power out of the MO hands? Sure, they control their network, but contrary to their popular belief they don't control the device at a feature level. I'm of the belief that if the feature doesnt do anything harmful to the MO network, it should be allowed in. I think there becomes a time where users will drop a MO if they DON'T offer a Windows Mobile device. Due to the popularity of Blackberry I dont think too many MOs wield as much power over RIM.

re: I’m Just A Feature

Kevin — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 04:13:07 GMT

That's one way to manage it. The other way is to be brave and do things the way you think it should be done and let the users decide if they follow you. The problem with becoming all responsible too early is that you get users used to bad design. Then, bad design becomes "ok" design that you can't change because you're too afraid to.

Great post on developing software

KC on Exchange and Outlook — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 06:34:30 GMT

On the windows mobile team's blog.
I hope that whoever is quoted in this eweek article saying that public...

How Windows Mobile 5 gets developed at The Boschmans Account

How Windows Mobile 5 gets developed at The Boschmans Account — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 13:36:30 GMT

PingBack from http://www.boschmans.net/2006/09/14/how-windows-mobile-5-gets-developed/

Old bugs may become features

Chris — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:17:45 GMT

I agree 100% with what you wrote.
Not counting the old bugs that may become "features" for some users. In a previous life at yet another software company, we had to implement a compatibility mode preserving some of the most infamous bugs because customers migrating from old version to new one were not expecting bad results to become correct, they preferred their bad results to stay so !

Standing Mobile » I Am Really Just A Feature

Standing Mobile » I Am Really Just A Feature — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 18:45:34 GMT

PingBack from http://www.standingmobile.com/i-am-really-just-a-feature/

re: I’m Just A Feature

schoolhouse rocks — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 17:47:32 GMT

I'm a feature to be
Yes, a feature to be
and I'm hoping they will implement me

There's a lot of LIVE gamers
who have notice something lacking
I want to get the backing,
so that we can finally appease them

But there is limits to our abilities
atleast I hope and pray there aren't
'cause those million geeks may go too far...

Phew ... I can come up for air now.

James O'Neill's blog — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 16:57:59 GMT

I have finally got my outlook unread messages down to zero. There are 1229 Messages in my deleted Items...

The Mobile Minute 150

Nino.Mobile — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 05:37:44 GMT

Software / Hardware Engadget gives us a few of HTC’s Q4 lineup . Here’s a link to their European press

The Emperor Has No Close

Windows Mobile Team Blog — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 01:41:25 GMT

I’ve done blog entries on compaction threads, memory consumption, difficulties in doing upgrades, voice

How an idea becomes a feature at My Halo News.com

How an idea becomes a feature at My Halo News.com — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 22:24:33 GMT

PingBack from http://myhalonews.com/news/how-an-idea-becomes-a-feature/

Chil’s Point of View…. » Blog Archive » I am just a feature

Chil’s Point of View…. » Blog Archive » I am just a feature — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 22:13:15 GMT

PingBack from http://www.mubweb.com/blog/?p=61

Undocumented and Deprecated : APIs you don't want on your friends list

The Windows Mobile RSS (Reed and Steve Stuff) Feed — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 22:28:41 GMT

There are two kinds of APIs you don’t want to make friends with in this world – undocumented and deprecated

Undocumented and Deprecated : APIs you don't want on your friends list

Noticias externas — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 22:35:26 GMT

There are two kinds of APIs you don’t want to make friends with in this world – undocumented and deprecated

MSDN Blog Postings » Undocumented and Deprecated : APIs you don't want on your friends list

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:38:32 GMT

PingBack from http://msdnrss.thecoderblogs.com/2007/08/23/undocumented-and-deprecated-apis-you-dont-want-on-your-friends-list/

re: I’m Just A Feature

Alastair — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:33:54 GMT

<<The only reason I could get away with such a pain free development cycle is that my target audience was extremely small.>>

Oh come on! What do you expect - he's only 8!

re: I’m Just A Feature

MikeCal — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:47:56 GMT

(-:

Mike