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Nokia acquired by Microsoft

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Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#491

Post by pm90 »

rayiner wrote: post #475
Ygg2 wrote: post #311

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think grandparent meant that users win out because open source almost guarantees that software stack will survive any hardships that mother company might not survive, as well as extra competition from open source alternatives.

Who cares about that when it comes to phones, though?

I'm not sure what you're trying to get at. The users 'care' even if they don't realize it. Developers care because they can continue to target a platform that they are familiar with and which has been tested well.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#492

Post by pm90 »

likeclockwork wrote: post #473
gnaffle wrote: post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Actually, it's very similar to the laptop market. A lot of people prefer Windows or Linux on Lenovo laptops, because they have some features that Macs don't have. Likewise, if you compare the hardware (build quality etc) I think most people would agree that Apple still is has the best devices compared to Samsung, which still uses the same plastic frame even on high end phones.

I'm not sure that "plastic" is as bad as popular opinion thinks it is in the case of something the size of a phone. If we say "polymer" does it sound any better? I mean there's plastic.. and then there's plastic.

I agree. I don't see any good reason for this worship of metal. I have a phone with a colored polycarbonate body: so if it scratches, its still the same color. And it looks much better and feels better than the Iphone

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#493

Post by freehunter »

mahyarm wrote: post #487
freehunter wrote: post #479

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And god forbid you're a US citizen living and working overseas. You still have to fill out US tax forms for both state and federal tax. The federal government won't charge taxes on anything under ~$90,000, but the states sure will expect you to pay your share of their taxes, even though none of that money was earned or spent in the US.

Wouldn't you not be resident in any state in that case then? Or could pretend to just be in a non income tax state?

I hear a lot of ex-pats who move to a non-income-tax state (like Texas) just before they move overseas. If your US residence is still in a state with income tax, even though you don't live there you still get taxed on your overseas income because as a US citizen you still have residence in your state even if you don't live there. It doesn't matter if you're physically there or not.

The only other alternative is to renounce your US citizenship if you never plan on coming back.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#494

Post by gtirloni »

ajuc wrote: post #421
rayiner wrote: post #369

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The fact that a lot of people would have bought the phone doesn't mean it would result in profit. Lots of people by HTC phones, but that company is circling the drain. The problem is that an Android phone is a commodity. Its hard to differentiate yourself on the product side. That means you're in extreme price/specs competition. That drives profits towards zero, just as they are on other commodity platforms like the…

What would you choose: small profits, or no customers? That's the choice. Android was "IBM PC trick", and competititors trying to preserve high margins and differentiate their products will end like Amiga, Commodore or Atari.

Windows Phone is in second place in Latin America now. I wouldn't say "no customers" so quick.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#495

Post by gtirloni »

StandardFuture wrote: post #102
corresation wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no money in being an Android vendor except if you're Samsung and are totally vertically integrated. There are a lot of people who would have picked up the attractive, well built, well engineered Nokia devices if they had the platform of Android. The core problem with the "no money in Android" argument is that you can't choose not to compete with Android if you're in the smartphone game, which is pretty obvio…

> This new arrangement changes essentially nothing, but makes official what people long assumed Precisely! There is no "new" move here. This was just the next step in a series of moves that have already been in motion. I am curious as to how this will affect Microsoft's relationships with Samsung, HTC, and others. This does open the door to more hardware options for them which could integrate with their other devices…

I don't think Samsung and HTC (what others?) have a serious relationship with Microsoft. IMHO, they just made 1-2 phones to test the water and keep some expertise inhouse and handy in case they wanted to put more focus on it. I think not much will change.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#496

Post by gtirloni »

sjwright wrote: post #161
rayiner wrote: post #38

This is a great move. There is no money in being an Android vendor except if you're Samsung and are totally vertically integrated. With Windows Phone, Nokia and Microsoft at least have some hope of carving out a profitable stake in the market. Anecdotally, I'm very impressed with some of the new Lumias. I got a 620 to replace my stolen iPhone, and for $200 unlocked its phenomenal phone. The build quality makes a flag…

No, a great move would have been for Microsoft to purchase RIM/BlackBerry three or four years ago, and focus on the corporate sector. They could have had the best information security story in the industry. They could have had the ultimate Exchange email experience. Together, these companies would have had a serious chance at being the indisputable third platform. On their own, they came up with a dozen incompatible…

BYOD. There is no corporate market for smartphones anymore.

Most execs want iPhones or similar.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#497

Post by general_failure »

aaronbrethorst wrote: post #19

To everyone speculating about what this means for the possibility of Elop succeeding Ballmer: this means that Elop is succeeding Ballmer. End of story. edit: I would love to know why this is getting downvoted. edit2: fair enough. Two key facts: 1. Microsoft needs a new CEO. They have a limited pool to choose from. The following are seemingly reasonable candidates: - Mark Zuckerberg (never going to happen, he wouldn't…

Zuckerberg, Sheryl, Carly?? Seriously? I hope you are not on MS board of directors.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#498

Post by yulaow »

gtirloni wrote: post #494
ajuc wrote: post #421

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What would you choose: small profits, or no customers? That's the choice. Android was "IBM PC trick", and competititors trying to preserve high margins and differentiate their products will end like Amiga, Commodore or Atari.

Windows Phone is in second place in Latin America now. I wouldn't say "no customers" so quick.

Again, it is not important if is 30-40-50-whatever% in a single country, worldwide it is still about 3%

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#499

Post by rodolphoarruda »

ikt wrote: post #472
rodolphoarruda wrote: post #448

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> installing a custom ROM that lets you force apps to be stored to the card I almost tried that, but stopped when I read in the custom ROM page that in some cases it could brick the phone. Since my phone is a "branched" version of the standard Ace I decided not to take the risk.

yes, firmware upgrading has a chance it will brick the phone. That didn't stop me doing it 10 times, after the nerves of the 1st time go away it's easy. What do you mean "branched" version of Ace? nothing comes up on google :s

I mean a different sub-model (I guess...). Mine is a GT-s5830 instead of a s5830. All of the ROM updates I found made reference to the latter only so, again, I decided to not take any chances while it is my primary phone. By the time I buy a new phone, I'll sure update the old one and see how it goes.

Re: Nokia acquired by Microsoft

#500

Post by karinapa »

X-Istence wrote: post #482
taspeotis wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What do you expect it to mean? [In March 2011] Nokia announced the sale of Qt's commercial licensing and professional services to Digia [1] [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qt_(framework)

Nokia is still one of the primary developers behind Qt, or at least they were... has that changed?

It has changed. A Finnish company called Digia owns Qt completely and is the main developer. That's why Qt is now available even for Android and iPhone. The Nokia-MS deal does not affect Qt.
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