• Business Insider, Wednesday, October 6, 2010 11:56 AM

Daring Fireball blogger John Gruber has "extremely high user-interface standards and a strong preference toward Apple products," according to Business Insider. That's what makes Gruber's comments -- via podcast -- about Microsoft's forthcoming Windows Phone 7 all the more remarkable. After playing with a Windows prototype phone for 5 minutes at a cocktail party last week, Gruber's first impressions were "very, very favorable." Indeed, "It was really nice," said a "really impressed" Gruber.

Specifically, the software-based keyboard is "fantastic," and, as Business Insider notes, "This was a big problem with the Google/HTC Nexus One when Gruber tested that earlier this year." Meanwhile, the "browser seems good," said Gruber. And while Gruber doesn't claim to know how Windows Phone 7 will fare on the open market, he calls it a "real, credible competitor" in the space. Indeed, "In terms of polish and quality, it's absolutely very, very impressive."

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