Live data from Hacker News

Microsoft to release Android-powered Nokia X2 handset

bbc.com

81–90 of 154 posts

Re: Microsoft to release Android-powered Nokia X2 handset

#81
post #43
post #17

"It will cost 99 euro ($135; £80) when released in July." Is that the price with a 2-year contract or is this going to be a great value phone? Will I be able to wipe this phone and install stock Android? Skype, Outlook, Bing, and all that other MS crap is unwanted. I'm actually a MS supporter and understand the need for them to create all of those services but I personally don't/won't use them. Also, why are UK citiz…

>>Also, why are UK citizens against adopting the euro? Do you not watch the news?

Nope, too much stuff I don't care about. I'd rather ignore topics that don't relate to me and let all the facts and opinions come out, then do research and come to my own conclusion if I'm ever interesting in the specific subject.

If it's really important then I'll stumble upon it online or hear friends talking about it.

I'd rather see online news posts and people stating their opinion, then people arguing with them and providing sources as to why they're wrong or right.

Re: Microsoft to release Android-powered Nokia X2 handset

#82
post #74
post #15

Microsoft releases a phone running Android, Microsoft releases hardware running Linux, pigs are flying and hell is freezing over etc etc. The real news is that this is not just an Android phone, it's a really good Android phone. It has a front facing camera, a decent SoC, enough RAM, what appears to be an IPS display (according to some sources), likely very decent build quality, and a price that is likely to dip belo…

The interesting news are the implications of Microsoft distributing the Linux (and the Android) kernel under the terms of the GPLv2. What happens to their patent portfolio they allege Linux infringes on?

Unfortunatey they created a subsidiary called Microsoft Mobile that sells the phones. The subsidiary does not own the patents, so no patents gets licensed. Qualcomm uses the same loophole.

Re: Microsoft to release Android-powered Nokia X2 handset

#83
post #6

Nokia. The fact that Nokia belongs to Microsoft is immaterial here. It's a Nokia phone.

If that's what it takes for you to buy it, I'm sure the Microsoft sales team is willing to go with it. It's your fantasy. They are your anything. Just sign here...

This doesn't fly without MS at this point. Even if all the work was done prior to the buyout, that this comes to market when the Surface Mini keeps getting held back means there's MS all over it. Just look at the UI and say, "There's no strategy."

We can debate if it's a good strategy, but someone has obviously put time into considering placement and design of this product.

Re: Microsoft to release Android-powered Nokia X2 handset

#84
post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The interesting news are the implications of Microsoft distributing the Linux (and the Android) kernel under the terms of the GPLv2. What happens to their patent portfolio they allege Linux infringes on?

They have been distributing server based Linux through Azure for far longer. Creating a Linux VM is a matter of a few clicks and they have hundreds of ready to go VM images. https://www.simple-talk.com/iwritefor/articlefiles/1610-VM-p... http://vmdepot.msopentech.com/List/Index On the flip side of what you said, now that they're an Android OEM they may have the legal standing to complain to regulatory agencies about…

They use the same loophole as with phones. Microsoft distributes Linux VMs through its subsidiary Microsoft Open Technologies, which was created just for this purpose. It does not own the patents so MS doesn't have to license them.

Re: Microsoft to release Android-powered Nokia X2 handset

#85
post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That makes sense. It was a real question I had, I have no opinion of the matter. I guess the UK sees itself as having a more stable economy that other European Union countries, so it would benefit from having a separate currency (but the other countries would be hurt by not having a very strong country adopt the euro).

Not more stable, but historically out of phase. i.e. when Germany has done well the UK has had a down phase and vice versa. The killer flaw in the Eurozone is not appreciating how useful different currencies are for dampening the effect of such differences. Greece is the classic example, where for them the Euro was too strong making them globally uncompetitive, leading to a nasty downward spiral, whereas Germany bene…

Basically, "don't put all of your eggs in one basket".

I was thinking purely about efficiency at first but forgot how complex real-world economics really is.

Re: Microsoft to release Android-powered Nokia X2 handset

#87
post #79

To me, this looks like Microsoft opening a new front against Google and one which has the potential to change the landscape - note that I said 'potential', I'm not claiming unequivocally the strategy will be successful and Google will be sent to the dustbin of history. What I am claiming is that Microsoft: + May have the killer smartphone app - carrier independent voice calls (aka "Skype"). + Clearly has a more thoug…

> + May have the killer smartphone app - carrier independent voice calls (aka "Skype"). So does every Android and iOS device, unless Microsoft wants to remove it from the android matket and the app store. > + Clearly has a more thoughtfully designed user interface in the form of Metro versus Android's WIMP on a phone mashups. That's debatable. I prefer Android to Windows Phone. Sometimes, even over the iPhone. And th…

You've already told me many many times that you don't like Microsoft. And if I didn't know, I could just look at your user profile where it is stated explicitly.

There's about zero content in your response.

Just scattershot contradiction using the pick apart technique in hopes of trolling an inflamed response.

Re: Microsoft to release Android-powered Nokia X2 handset

#88

I don't have an issue with Microsoft releasing an android phone. My issue is that this phone has 1gb ram and front facing camera for the price of Lumia 520. I'll need to fork out at least twice that amount to get the equivalent hardware spec in windows phone.

I don't get what's so new. The entire Motorola line has front facing camera, doesn't it? Yep, the one phone of the line that fits this price has only 512MB of RAM, for 1GB you'll have to pay a bit more... But the pricing on the article is not official yet. Those things always increase a bit on release, and I doubt other companies will keep their pricing static until there.

Just because Samsung has bad market segmentation. it does not mean everybody else does.

Re: Microsoft to release Android-powered Nokia X2 handset

#89

It seems like Microsoft and Amazon are not getting the real benefit of this platform by excluding the Google Play store from their versions of the Android experience. I guess it's understandable why they're doing that, it's just bad for users. Are there some kind of licensing terms that prevent them from shipping forks like this with the Google Play store as one of two app stores available? Would they have to make th…

The real battleground is services. Amazon, Google, Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft want everyone to buy their phone because it delivers their services and their ecosystem. Doesn't matter what the operating system happens to be.

Re: Microsoft to release Android-powered Nokia X2 handset

#90
post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They have been distributing server based Linux through Azure for far longer. Creating a Linux VM is a matter of a few clicks and they have hundreds of ready to go VM images. https://www.simple-talk.com/iwritefor/articlefiles/1610-VM-p... http://vmdepot.msopentech.com/List/Index On the flip side of what you said, now that they're an Android OEM they may have the legal standing to complain to regulatory agencies about…

They use the same loophole as with phones. Microsoft distributes Linux VMs through its subsidiary Microsoft Open Technologies, which was created just for this purpose. It does not own the patents so MS doesn't have to license them.

Would this hold up in court, or would a judge conclude it was simply a scam to avoid their legal responsibilities?
Post reply on HN