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Facebook smartphone with HTC launching soon

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Re: Facebook smartphone with HTC launching soon

#51

Post by notatoad »

ok_craig wrote: post #36

I thought Open Handset Alliance partners couldn't sell devices running a true Android fork without losing Google as a partner? How will that come into play here?

They can't sell devices that use an android-derived OS that isn't android compatible. As long as the phone could still run arbitrary APKs without modification, they're still within the terms of the OHA, and HTC can continue to sell official android devices. You can skin it up so it is unrecognizable, and you can lock it down so it only runs your App Store, you just can't change the fundamentals.

The trouble aliyun/acer ran into a while back was because aliyun actually changed the API, so that it couldn't run android apps. I can't imagine why Ali would have done that, and I can't imagine any reason why Facebook would purposefully cut themselves off from the android ecosystem. I'm sure HTC won't be running afoul of the OHA with this.

Re: Facebook smartphone with HTC launching soon

#52

Post by nickconfer »

I find it flawed logic to think that just because a user loves Facebook they'll love a Facebook phone. Or likewise, because they do not like Facebook, they'll hate a Facebook phone.

The Android phone is not successful because it contained Google search and Google maps. These features existed on other smart phones before Android. Liking products or services made by a company helps introduce consumers faster to a new product line, but it is not a guarantee for success or failure.

Re: Facebook smartphone with HTC launching soon

#53

Post by libayrian »

Mahn wrote: post #33
niggler wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"don't count on that happening any time soon :)" If Facebook offered 20B for Twitter, would Dorsey et al sell?

Forget it, if there was a time when Facebook could have bought Twitter that might have been 4-5 years ago, but that ship sailed for good.

twitter is the more valuable company long term imo

Re: Facebook smartphone with HTC launching soon

#56

Post by dannyr »

andyv88 wrote: post #55
dannyr wrote: post #54

"Come see our new home on Android" to me seems like Facebook is releasing a home screen replacement than an actual phone. There are a bunch of apps like these such as Nova and Go Launcher.

Maybe a combination of both?

I just don't see a forked Android mainly because Facebook doesn't have the app ecosystem yet that could replace the default Google apps. These apps will not be available for a forked Android OS.

I think this is the reason why there isn't an Amazon phone yet. For example with Maps, Amazon is still building its Map service.

======

(edit) I guess they could release an Android phone with the Facebook Home Replacement installed by default.

Re: Facebook smartphone with HTC launching soon

#57

Post by nivla »

AnthonyMouse wrote: post #44
ok_craig wrote: post #36

I thought Open Handset Alliance partners couldn't sell devices running a true Android fork without losing Google as a partner? How will that come into play here?

Facebook has been known to partner with Microsoft. It's possible that the phone will be full of Bing. On the other hand, Microsoft is trying to promote their own phone OS, and this phone is clearly DOA if it doesn't run Android apps, but I can't see Microsoft liking the idea of promoting the Android ecosystem. It's kind of funny actually. You could see how it could make sense for Microsoft and Facebook to work togeth…

>Facebook has been known to partner with Microsoft.

Not very likely, given the fact that Windows Phone has yet to receive an official Facebook app. However, design wise the windows 8 tile architecture would be the perfectly suited for Facebook and Instagram. Its all about how you pull it off, but given how buggy and incomplete my Facebook app on Nexus 7 is, I hardly have any faith in FB.

On the side note, they should have partnered with Nokia instead of HTC.

Re: Facebook smartphone with HTC launching soon

#58

Post by nivla »

gailees wrote: post #2

Woah! I've been waiting on this for years now. Will be interesting to see how Google reacts...

>Will be interesting to see how Google reacts...

I hope they don't come up with the dumb idea to create a Google+ phone. People tend make irrational decisions when confronted with uncertainty.

Re: Facebook smartphone with HTC launching soon

#59

Post by bsimpson »

MatthewPhillips wrote: post #28
hospadam wrote: post #9

Personal disclosure - I'm not interested in a Facebook phone in the slightest (mostly for privacy concerns). I think this is an interesting concept. Let's assume it is in fact a total fork of Android, in essence, a "Facebook Phone". I really think (as big as Facebook is) they will have a hard time with this. I'm not sure there is space for another type of device - even if it is a massive consumer brand. I get the sen…

We know that people don't like social login buttons because they believe using them will cause stuff to be posted on their behalf. I can imagine the same fear with buying a Facebook phone. "Jill just chatted with Tom, they discussed their sex life."

Jill's boyfriend is going to be so pissed.
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