Some IT industry observers and commentators have been too quick to dismiss Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system. Of course, most of them did it the circuitous way. Starting off with faint praises for WP7’s nice layout, they then delivered the killing blows that focused mostly on missing features and capabilities, such as copy-and-paste.

What I find funny is that these guys and gals are comparing WP7, which is basically a 1.0 release with third- or fourth-generation mobile platforms. Of course, no matter how you hack it, WP7 would fall short of their expectations (especially when they already had made up their minds long time ago).

That is why we take much pleasure in TV journalist (and proud iPhone and Mac user) TJ Manotoc’s take on a WP7-enabled smartphone, the HTC 7 Trophy.

Mirrorless Cameras

Panasonic, Japan’s largest electronics company, recently announced its Lumix DMC-GF2 DSL Micro compact mirrorless cameras. Equipped with built-in flash, the GF2 is compatible with Micro Four Thirds lenses, as well as with Panasonic’s 3D interchangeable lens – the Lumix G 12.5mm/F12. This means GF2 users can take three-dimensional pictures.

Despite all these advanced-sounding features and capabilities, the GF2 is easy to operate. Consumers of any expertise level will find the camera’s user interface intuitive and easy to use courtesy of its 3-inch touchscreen LCD.

Marketing the WP7

Back to Microsoft’s marketing strategy for the WP7; it seems that the software company’s advertising agency is positioning WP7 phones as mobile phones that will end bad mobile-phone manners in the United States. Surveys have been consistent in showing that respondents rank bad manners of mobile phone users as one of their “top 10 unlikes.”

WP7 phones, Microsoft says, are designed to let users do their “phone things” faster, then back to doing or attending to more important things, such as talking with other people, attending meetings, and preparing dinner.

Consumer or Business?

At first glance, WP7 phones are designed purely for the consumer market. A closer look, however, would reveal the Microsoft mobile operating system’s business tendencies.

It is no wonder then that an increasing number of businesses are evaluating Steve Ballmer’s mobile phones as potential communication rigs for their employees.

PC vendor Dell, for example, has ditched the BlackBerry in favor of WP7 smartphones it is making. Dell executives cited cost saving as the company’s reason for opting to give its executives and employees their own Dell Venue Pro WP7 smartphones.

WP7 smartphones offer business users a number of advantages, such as integrated business applications and, of course, the mobile OS’ genetic affinity to the Windows platform.

That’s all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.