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Microsoft gives up on Windows 10 Mobile

bbc.co.uk

261–270 of 724 posts

Re: Microsoft gives up on Windows 10 Mobile

#261

One cool move on Microsoft's part can be releasing Microsoft's version of Android. The main problem is Google Play Services. But since MS almost has parallel offerings for all Google Services they can create an "API" compatible version of Google Play services. This way users will be able to install all the current Android applications which are available on Play Store. This can convert Android into an Oligopoly inste…

> But since MS almost has parallel offerings for all Google Services they can create an "API" compatible version of Google Play service

Here's a bit of trivia: Microsoft filed an amicus brief[1] supporting Oracle's position that API's are copyrighted in Oracle v. Google.

Not long after this, coincidentally (or not) that Microsoft canceled project Astoria[2], which implemented Android APIs on Windows 10 Mobile. If they implement Google's API, and Google were to sue, it would be trivial to prove wilful infringement by citing the amicus brief (they knew it is wrong and they did it anyway).

1. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/20/oracle_and_world_vs_...

2. https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-officially-cancels-...

Re: Microsoft gives up on Windows 10 Mobile

#262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends on your device. I have had issues on some laptops, other laptops worked flawlessly. I know this is anecdote but a lot of people share this anecdote.

What was the last Linux laptop you installed a Windows on? (edit: removed unnecessary remark.) The last laptop I did a clean install of Windows (7) on was a HP netbook. Even though it was a Windows machine, and I used their Windows install disc, it was a miserable experience (because I didn't have the separate driver disc). Not only did not the WLAN work, neither did the Ethernet port: the only way to get online was…

I haven't installed Windows on any device since 2010-2011 I think. I have been only using Mac OS and Linux since that time and never looked back.

Only reason why I miss Windows is gaming but for entertainment purposes I am considering switching to console (I used to be a PC gaming maximalist but don't feel so strongly about it anymore) - probably PS4.

I do agree with what you are saying though. Installing Windows from scratch is a pain too (at least it was last time I tried it with Windows 7). But almost nobody installs Windows ever, majority of people buy laptops with preinstalled Windows (plus ton of malware as a bonus from the manufacturer).

Re: Microsoft gives up on Windows 10 Mobile

#264

I was working in Microsoft about 5 years ago and Satya's not lying when they say they tried everything to incentivise app developers. It was a big focus of the company at the time. For keystone apps they tried to partner with developers doing most of the work for them. For more niche apps they ran promotions for students and independent developers giving away free phones etc. But nothing was enough to get over the pr…

You know what would have been an incentive for me (and I guess thousand of other game devs) to support windows phone? Support for OpenGL ES.

Re: Microsoft gives up on Windows 10 Mobile

#265
post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Facebook fail (killed internally) Interesting. What was the Facebook mobile OS?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook_Home http://www.htc.com/us/smartphones/htc-first/

I remember Facebook home, but it was more an attempt to colonise Android (like Microsoft is trying now) than a Blackberry, Jolla, Tizen etc offering.

Re: Microsoft gives up on Windows 10 Mobile

#266
post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is my understanding that MS has given up on ARM. Sooner or later there will be x86 based phones, which partly solves the "app" problem. They just run a regular windows on the phone.

> Sooner or later there will be x86 based phones Sure, but right now Apple and their ARM designs are running away from everybody else. Plus Windows is terrible from a security and power consumption point of view. Can Microsoft fix that without breaking everything? I think MS is conceding the entire phone space. Full screen form factors (like laptops is and large tablets) are very important but for small devices I don…

> Plus Windows is terrible from a security and power consumption point of view. Can Microsoft fix that without breaking everything?

Nonsense

https://np.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/74xc2z/windows_an...

https://np.reddit.com/r/Surface/comments/6ifyxq/spotify_for_...

Re: Microsoft gives up on Windows 10 Mobile

#267
post #199

I see a lot of people going on about incentives. Actually the simple problem is that MSFT know how to effectively fuck up a product: 1. Schizophrenic product direction. 2. Entire platform change half way through. 3. Quality control issues galore. 4. Regional issues galore. 5. Reinventing wheels, badly. It's just crap. That's happening to windows 10 too. It's just not quite as far down the toilet.

I think part of the problem is that they actually try to push innovation (e.g. new UI paradigms with Metro), but then run into several vocal minorities, backtrack a bit and try to find a middle ground. From the outside, it then looks like a random zig-zag course, but it's much more an iterative minimization of "mean square pain" among their fairly large user base.

Communication could often be better though.

Re: Microsoft gives up on Windows 10 Mobile

#268
post #45

One cool move on Microsoft's part can be releasing Microsoft's version of Android. The main problem is Google Play Services. But since MS almost has parallel offerings for all Google Services they can create an "API" compatible version of Google Play services. This way users will be able to install all the current Android applications which are available on Play Store. This can convert Android into an Oligopoly inste…

Why would anyone bother with a copy of android when the original just works? it makes no sense. Microsoft strategy was just bad. It tried to copy the iPhone when it should have tried to copy its own strategy on PC, which is creating a OS and letting other companies build Windows Phones. The only person who got something out of the Nokia deal is Elop, which is curiously similar to how bad Macromedia/Adobe deal was. Wh…

> It tried to copy the iPhone when it should have tried to copy its own strategy on PC, which is creating a OS and letting other companies build Windows Phones.

We tried this. Manufacturers weren’t very interested because the users weren’t. Samsung and HTC and others made windows phones and they stopped investing because they didn’t sell well enough.

The Nokia purchase was a reaction to the reality that no one else was going to build Windows phones in the future.

Disclosure: Microsoft employee (not involved in phone or OS)

Re: Microsoft gives up on Windows 10 Mobile

#269
post #257

I was working in Microsoft about 5 years ago and Satya's not lying when they say they tried everything to incentivise app developers. It was a big focus of the company at the time. For keystone apps they tried to partner with developers doing most of the work for them. For more niche apps they ran promotions for students and independent developers giving away free phones etc. But nothing was enough to get over the pr…

The lack of apps was annoying at time, but what made me leave was probably Microsoft Edge. The rendering was clearly better than IE, but Edge would crash my phone, or become non responsive, or both so often (creators update on Lumia 640 LTE). If the browser doesn't work, and there are no apps, it doesn't make sense to have the phone.

I don't understand why Microsoft has keep IE/Edge around. It's just embarrassing. Event my technology illiterate friends and family rag on IE and everyone installs chrome these days. If they spend less time building IE and focused on other platforms they'd waste a lot less time for everyone including themselves.

Re: Microsoft gives up on Windows 10 Mobile

#270

I was working in Microsoft about 5 years ago and Satya's not lying when they say they tried everything to incentivise app developers. It was a big focus of the company at the time. For keystone apps they tried to partner with developers doing most of the work for them. For more niche apps they ran promotions for students and independent developers giving away free phones etc. But nothing was enough to get over the pr…

> Most Windows phone owners I know (myself included) loved the design (hardware and software), the customisability, etc. but the lack of apps ultimately made us move to another ecosystem. From my experience, that wasn't the case. I didn't own a Windows Phone but one of my friends did. According to him, what forced him to move was an overload of animations which became very irritating. I can recall a comment that sugg…

Back in 2011, I bought an HTC HD7 from a friend who switched back to Android. I was very impressed by how fast Windows Phone 7 was especially the ultra-smooth scrolling. But, like you said, the animations were enough to drive you nuts. Way too much, I don't know what to call it, "swoopy" maybe. It was enough to make you dizzy. I ended up trading the phone for a Galaxy S and that was the end of Windows Phone for me.
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