21–30 of 73 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Kind of wonder now why they don't cross platform IE?
They did, once upon a time; IE was available for Mac OS (pre-X, IIRC) and Unix back in the 90's. Bringing back cross-platform IE is probably a lost cause nowadays, but a cross-platform Spartan is possible.
The most annoying thing about that is the "quiet hours" feature is somehow dependent on Cortana, so the phone doesn't do that either.
(Other than that, very nice phone and OS, just hobbled)
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Kind of wonder now why they don't cross platform IE?
They did, once upon a time; IE was available for Mac OS (pre-X, IIRC) and Unix back in the 90's. Bringing back cross-platform IE is probably a lost cause nowadays, but a cross-platform Spartan is possible.
There's a subtle irony in that while Cortana can probably be more deeply integrated with Android than iOS, the same can't be said for Google Now on Windows Phone...
Yup. Android is still far more open than Windows Phone/mobile from that point of view, which is why it's possible for Microsoft to do many of these things with Android. Last I checked you couldn't even have another browser other than IE on Windows Phone, and I assume that won't change with Windows 10 mobile. Also you can make Android apps work on Windows or another OS relatively easy but the reverse isn't true (not c…
Opera is available for Windows phone now.
https://www.windowsphone.com/en-ca/store/app/opera-mini-beta...
One of the biggest advantages of Cortana was its ability to interface with third party application pretty much at launch (something Siri and Google Now still don't do much of). Going cross platform is awesome though I'm not sure if it'll be quite as useful. Realistically Microsoft could strike a deal and make an Android phone use Cortana by default (which might be really good) which would be quite interesting (especi…
Is there no way for the user of a Android phone to set Cortana as default? That seems strange given Google's and other folks' claims that Android is open.
If this is the case then it looks Android is more closed than a Windows PC where it would be trivial for a developer to create such a service without the platform owner's permission. How is Android more open than Windows again?
One of the biggest advantages of Cortana was its ability to interface with third party application pretty much at launch (something Siri and Google Now still don't do much of). Going cross platform is awesome though I'm not sure if it'll be quite as useful. Realistically Microsoft could strike a deal and make an Android phone use Cortana by default (which might be really good) which would be quite interesting (especi…
>Realistically Microsoft could strike a deal and make an Android phone use Cortana by default (which might be really good) which would be quite interesting (especially if it could integrate with third party apps on Android, too). Is there no way for the user of a Android phone to set Cortana as default? That seems strange given Google's and other folks' claims that Android is open. If this is the case then it looks A…
But while manufacturers such as Samsung can and have agreed to preload Microsoft apps on Android devices, I don't think Google would allow manufacturers to change the search provider. Though that still doesn't prevent them from preinstalling Cortana, or replacing the homescreen with a Cortana launcher.
Partnering with a custom ROM such as CyanogenMod is certainly an option, too.
How about they actually get around to releasing it on Windows Phone? I bought a Lumia 735 three weeks ago partly based on advertising on the MS NZ site that said Cortana was available. It's not, and now they've removed that page. The most annoying thing about that is the "quiet hours" feature is somehow dependent on Cortana, so the phone doesn't do that either. (Other than that, very nice phone and OS, just hobbled)
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yup. Android is still far more open than Windows Phone/mobile from that point of view, which is why it's possible for Microsoft to do many of these things with Android. Last I checked you couldn't even have another browser other than IE on Windows Phone, and I assume that won't change with Windows 10 mobile. Also you can make Android apps work on Windows or another OS relatively easy but the reverse isn't true (not c…
> Last I checked you couldn't even have another browser other than IE on Windows Phone, and I assume that won't change with Windows 10 mobile. Opera is available for Windows phone now. https://www.windowsphone.com/en-ca/store/app/opera-mini-beta...
It's similar to mobile Chrome's "Data Saver" feature, or Turbo mode in the full Opera Mobile browser. Great for saving data, if you're on a limited connection.
Would be nice if you could set it as the default browser on iOS or WP, too.
There's a subtle irony in that while Cortana can probably be more deeply integrated with Android than iOS, the same can't be said for Google Now on Windows Phone...
Yup. Android is still far more open than Windows Phone/mobile from that point of view, which is why it's possible for Microsoft to do many of these things with Android. Last I checked you couldn't even have another browser other than IE on Windows Phone, and I assume that won't change with Windows 10 mobile. Also you can make Android apps work on Windows or another OS relatively easy but the reverse isn't true (not c…
You mean like how Chrome is bundled with Flash and Java updates on Windows, yet alternate browsers cannot even be made for Chromebooks?
>is only going to force Google to become more closed to stop Microsoft from doing that.
Being "Open" is about principles, no matter the outcome. If you close off something because people are using it, then it was never open in the first place.
It's like saying I offer you $100 on the condition that you won't take it. What would be your reaction if MS restricted Secure Boot on Windows to stop Linux because people are dual booting or switching to it? Or what if they block Chrome on Windows to boost IE/Edge? Would you say they are being forced to do that because Chrome is getting marketshare, like you said Google was forced to close Hangouts and Android?