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Nokia announces the Lumia 800, the 'first real Windows Phone'

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Re: Nokia announces the Lumia 800, the 'first real Windows Phone'

#51
post #5

Wow. Part of me wants this to suck, just so there are only iPhone and Android to worry about ever developing for, but this actually looks good enough to consider. I looked at WP through BizSpark a little, and it looks easier to develop for than iOS or Android, at least for corporate apps. It's possible RIM will lose out in the "corporate owned/managed" market to WP, especially if they can build in equivalent or bette…

In the UK (and I believe much of the rest of Europe), the monthly line rental is basically paying off a loan for the phone. You can get (just about) any phone for £0 up front if you're willing to pay enough every month.

E.g. if the phone costs £500 out of contract ("pay as you go"), it will probably be free on a 18-month contract that costs £40/month. If you chose a £20/month contract then you'd have to pay about £200 up front.

Re: Nokia announces the Lumia 800, the 'first real Windows Phone'

#52
post #5

Wow. Part of me wants this to suck, just so there are only iPhone and Android to worry about ever developing for, but this actually looks good enough to consider. I looked at WP through BizSpark a little, and it looks easier to develop for than iOS or Android, at least for corporate apps. It's possible RIM will lose out in the "corporate owned/managed" market to WP, especially if they can build in equivalent or bette…

I was just thinking the same thing. Wishing this to suck, but knowing that this actually is too good to pass.

I've developed in the past for Samsung's Bada OS, Palm's WebOS, a lot of apps for Android and right now I'm working with Windows mobile. I have to say it is rather easy to develop for, and i love how you can take for granted quite a few specs (similar to the iPhone).

Although i'm sure WP7 won't have the success Android and the iPhone have, it's definitely something worth looking at.

Re: Nokia announces the Lumia 800, the 'first real Windows Phone'

#53
post #47

Here's my dream scenario: Nokia offers the same hardware with two different OS selections and also has Qt working on both Meego and WP platforms. This would obviously be a win-win situation for both the developer and the user. But this would be beneficial for Nokia as well, because: 1) It'd provide Nokia with hard data based on sales and user feedback on which platform performs better in real-world scenarios. Current…

(disclaimer: Nokia employee)

On the one hand, maintaining two OS teams for the same hardware would be a waste of resources. On the other hand, I have heard stories of how Microsoft would often commit several teams to build a product to the same spec: the team that got something market-ready first was handsomely rewarded, and the teams that didn’t got reassigned to wash Bill Gates’s car. On the other other hand, Microsoft (alas) has more cash to burn on this kind of adventure than Nokia does.

Nokia’s pre-Elop strategy was to encourage app developers to use Qt, which could be compiled to run on either Symbian or Meego, and then the company could gracefully phase out Symbian in favor of Meego. I work on back-end stuff rather than on apps, so I don’t know how well this could have worked in practice, but I did observe that when my company phone was a (Maemo) N900, the Ovi Maps client for Maemo was several revisions behind the client for Symbian.

Re: Nokia announces the Lumia 800, the 'first real Windows Phone'

#54
post #53
post #47

Here's my dream scenario: Nokia offers the same hardware with two different OS selections and also has Qt working on both Meego and WP platforms. This would obviously be a win-win situation for both the developer and the user. But this would be beneficial for Nokia as well, because: 1) It'd provide Nokia with hard data based on sales and user feedback on which platform performs better in real-world scenarios. Current…

(disclaimer: Nokia employee) On the one hand, maintaining two OS teams for the same hardware would be a waste of resources. On the other hand, I have heard stories of how Microsoft would often commit several teams to build a product to the same spec: the team that got something market-ready first was handsomely rewarded, and the teams that didn’t got reassigned to wash Bill Gates’s car. On the other other hand, Micro…

I have heard stories of how Microsoft would often commit several teams to build a product to the same spec: the team that got something market-ready first was handsomely rewarded...

This is how large companies should run projects. Bureaucracies often suck because they have a captive audience -- because they have no competition. Development teams can suck for exactly the same reasons.

In comparison to the potential impact of bad software in a large company, the cost of 1 or 2 extra development teams is chump change. I remember being in line at the airport to pick up a rental car, thinking, "The software this rental car company uses is clearly very bad. They won't be in business for much longer." I noticed a few years ago, that they were bought. Actually, I just looked it up and they were delisted in 2002.

Re: Nokia announces the Lumia 800, the 'first real Windows Phone'

#56
post #53
post #47

Here's my dream scenario: Nokia offers the same hardware with two different OS selections and also has Qt working on both Meego and WP platforms. This would obviously be a win-win situation for both the developer and the user. But this would be beneficial for Nokia as well, because: 1) It'd provide Nokia with hard data based on sales and user feedback on which platform performs better in real-world scenarios. Current…

(disclaimer: Nokia employee) On the one hand, maintaining two OS teams for the same hardware would be a waste of resources. On the other hand, I have heard stories of how Microsoft would often commit several teams to build a product to the same spec: the team that got something market-ready first was handsomely rewarded, and the teams that didn’t got reassigned to wash Bill Gates’s car. On the other other hand, Micro…

> On the other hand, I have heard stories of how Microsoft would often commit several teams to build a product to the same spec: the team that got something market-ready first was handsomely rewarded, and the teams that didn’t got reassigned to wash Bill Gates’s car.

Apple did this for iPhone; two teams, the leader of one became a senior vice president, the leader of the other makes thermostats.

Re: Nokia announces the Lumia 800, the 'first real Windows Phone'

#57
post #18
post #5

Wow. Part of me wants this to suck, just so there are only iPhone and Android to worry about ever developing for, but this actually looks good enough to consider. I looked at WP through BizSpark a little, and it looks easier to develop for than iOS or Android, at least for corporate apps. It's possible RIM will lose out in the "corporate owned/managed" market to WP, especially if they can build in equivalent or bette…

I just finished my first Mango app and it was a overall nicer experience than Android. Overall on par with iOS for me, if a bit easier.

Balmer: Developers, Developers, Developers

It's what you can focus on for the long term when founders and early employees control enough of the company to ignore Wall Street's quarterly timeline.

Bootstrapping has long term payoffs.

Re: Nokia announces the Lumia 800, the 'first real Windows Phone'

#58
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suspect it's the other way around. MSFT bet the company on WP7, clearly has spent oodles of time and effort on it, but all of the launch devices were snoozefests - some were outright, lazy ripoffs of the OEMs' existing Android phones. There was nothing unique, compelling, or, well, anything about these phones. Most were even exceptionally crappy with the exception of the Samsung. It's clear that none of the OEMs we…

I might get downvoted for this sarcasm, but: That thing looks like a lazy ripoff of the Nokia N9. But oh well. They're both beautiful :-) Disclaimer: I used to work for Nokia.

[deleted]

Re: Nokia announces the Lumia 800, the 'first real Windows Phone'

#59
post #47

Here's my dream scenario: Nokia offers the same hardware with two different OS selections and also has Qt working on both Meego and WP platforms. This would obviously be a win-win situation for both the developer and the user. But this would be beneficial for Nokia as well, because: 1) It'd provide Nokia with hard data based on sales and user feedback on which platform performs better in real-world scenarios. Current…

>"Currently, the decision to drop Meego for WP platform is mostly based on "hopes and promises"."

There's a long track record of successful B2B partnerships between Microsoft and hardware providers, a standardized hardware spec, an integrated lognterm roadmap, and a deep bench of talent in Redmond to provide support.

On the other hand, Nokia woke up to find iOS eating their lunch and realized that OS development was no longer profitable enough to consider one of their core competencies - the paradigm shift had left them trailing.

Re: Nokia announces the Lumia 800, the 'first real Windows Phone'

#60
post #5

Wow. Part of me wants this to suck, just so there are only iPhone and Android to worry about ever developing for, but this actually looks good enough to consider. I looked at WP through BizSpark a little, and it looks easier to develop for than iOS or Android, at least for corporate apps. It's possible RIM will lose out in the "corporate owned/managed" market to WP, especially if they can build in equivalent or bette…

Competition is good for all platforms. Without it you have stagnation.
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