Microsoft: Phablets are Windows RT's future

The possible convergence between Windows RT and the Windows Phone OS may be closer than many thought, based on new hints from Microsoft's Financial Analyst Meeting.

The question arises again and again: Why is Microsoft continuing to back Windows on ARM, especially with the latest advances by Intel with Bay Trail and Haswell?

It seems like the answer revolves around phablets -- at least based on a clue from Microsoft Executive Vice President Terry Myerson, the head of Microsoft's newly converged operating system division.

At Microsoft's Financial Analyst Meeting (FAM) on September 19, Myerson answered a question about the future of Windows RT, Microsoft's version of Windows for ARM. After noting that ARM devices, especially phonese, have incredible battery life, Myerson noted that lines are blurring.

His exact quote: "Windows RT was our first ARM tablet. And as phones extend into tablets, expect us to see many more ARM tablets, Windows ARM tablets in the future."

This is the blurring of the lines that some of us Microsoft watchers have been anticipating
.

Read more at: Microsoft: Phablets are Windows RT's future | ZDNet
 
It's a good idea to merge the tablet and phone OSs, they are getting very close in size. They will need to get the apps compatible.
Windows Phone & Tablet, Windows PT.
 

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It's a good idea to merge the tablet and phone OSs, they are getting very close in size. They will need to get the apps compatible.
Windows Phone & Tablet, Windows PT.

Phablets are about the most REDICULOUS devices I've ever seen --they look totally STUPID when used as a phone and the screen real estate isn't that much better than as Samsung S4 phone which IMO is just about the largest sensible screen size that's convenient for a PHONE and useful enough to use for casual internet browsing and the odd video watching (such as sports etc).

Ms fails to realize that a lot of electronic gizmos these days are only successful because they are perceived as "Cool". - Blackberry failed because the devices smacked too much of "Wage Slavery" - if you had one of these devices you were likely to be a "Corporate Clone" beholden to anybody who could call upon your services at any time day or night --definitely a very "Uncool" idea - and phablets --well I don't know where you are but if we see people using those in central Reykjavik --well the whole street would die laughing -- also a MEGA uncool device,.

So Ms --Phablet idea --mega fail --why not just let RT die -- modern processors can easily run Windows even in a tiny phone - you don't need RT any more - just a "V'lited" version of W8.1. I'm sure people here can remember vLite -- good program for creating minimal Windows systems. !!

I can just view the scene now and having a huge laugh as I see some poor soul on Kings Cross underground station in London at 17.00 on a Friday night at the peak of London's rush hour trying to make a phone call with one of those ridiculous phablets.

MS - You've backed the wrong horse on this one.

Haswell or Snapdragon or any number of the myriad processors out there can (or could) run Windows 8.1 - so why not have a SINGLE sensible windows system instead of RT which like "Piltdown Man" will be going NOWHERE.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Be interesting to see what the market is for a full scale os on a small device. Ubuntu has been pushing that idea for a long while ( Ubuntu and Android -running together or separately is better implemented than MS frankenmerging ). Some of us will like the idea, but hard to tell if it will catch on with the general population. Plenty of folk using just Ios or Android. They don't seem to want or need anything else.
 

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I just saw and checked out a Samsung Droid phablet at my granddaughter's birthday party just yesterday. My son-in-law's sister bought it a few weeks ago. These kids are all their mid twenties and they all commented that they wanted to get one, so it may be the next fad. They all have Facebook accounts. None of them know much about technology other than using computers and other devices quite regularly.

I asked her why she got such a big device. "It's like I'm getting two things in one for the price of one." I asked how much she paid for it. "$150". Well, I knew immediately that was the downstroke for a 2 year contract with some provider that subsidizes devices. I asked how much it was for full price. "I don't know". With that I concluded she really did care as long as she could get the device for the downstroke and monthly payments.

This is typical thinking among the most Americans. Sad, really. Most don't know that they can buy a device out right and then go to a provider to buy the service. You won't find it on the front page of any American cellular provider's website for sure. Of course these devices are locked for use for that provider only. Most Americans don't realize that either.

Anywho, I got the feeling that these maybe start selling like hotcakes. Amongst the younger American generations anyway.
 

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Hi there
In most of the EU (and EEA) countries (apart from the UK) it's illegal to supply a phone that's locked to any particular network supplier - there's no problem with signing up to contracts but the phone mustn't be locked. (That's not the same as "rooted" or "Jail broken" - an unlocked phone will just accept a SIMCARD from any provider).

If the user breaks the contract then "normal civil procedures" such as debt recovery etc will take place -- but this tends not to happen too much. I'm not sure why the US and the UK still supply LOCKED phones - since every man and his dog can get these "unlocked" for a trivial price anyway -- you don't have to terminate your contract with your provider either.

The Phablets still look absolutely STUPID. Youngsters here aren't buying them -- they still want the incredibly expensive iPhones. !!! I believe the latest models cost around 1000 USD !!! for a non network tied or locked PHONE for GAWD's SAKE -- more money than sense I suppose. Well judging by pictures of loads of people standing in line for these things - who can talk of "economic problems" if 15 - 17 year old kids can splash out 1,000 USD or more on a PHONE !!!. Maybe APPLE still has a trick or two up its sleeve.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Lol! Most younger here want an iPhone but they are very expensive. Most have something with Android on them.

Perhaps in their thinking the next alternative fad would be to get a phablet, which are quite big. Then shove that into an iFace and say "Waddaya think of me now?!!" Lol!
 
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phablets combined with the new 'phone/watch' that lets you pair with a phone and send/receive calls/texts from your wrist is going to be the new fad.

So you can leave your phablet in your pocket and bring it out when you want to web browse or play games etc and still make calls without looking ridiculous (well you WILL be talking to a watch...but......).
 

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Can't see me owning a Phablet, can see a 8" tablet with full phone capabilities used with a bluetooth (or?) ear piece or watch (you also won't see me talking to my watch), then you don't need a $700-1000 phone. One less device to carry around, tablet would be big enough to be useful for content viewing and games, etc.

One possible option out of many...
 

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Hi there.

I think unless you work for the US secret service people tend also to look with pity on people walking around with Phone ear pieces as it implies you are either a Taxi Driver / Chauffeur , a Night Club Bouncer or beholden to SOMEBODY else -- a Corporate wage slave or whatever. It also makes people think you aren't in control of your OWN life too so this type of device is getting incredibly "Uncool" and realistically these people should actually "Get a Life".

As for speaking into a WATCH -- well I've seen some dumb things in my time but unless say you are visually handicapped and have an audible watch which can speak the time then this has to be one of the most absurd pieces of technology ever -- I like technology but some of the newer devices are just PLAIN STUPID.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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In most of the EU (and EEA) countries (apart from the UK) it's illegal to supply a phone that's locked to any particular network supplier

Phones are still locked in France...
 

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^ France too, eh? That's where Liberty was born!

They just passed a law here in Illinois on cell phone use while driving. We must be hands-free after the 1st of the year.

I like the idea of the watch bluetoothed to device for that. It would be right there on your wrist to see and touch for function. Hard to loose too. It would fulfill the prophesy of the wristwatch phone we saw Dick Tracy use.

I think the best way is a car that has the sound system to Bluetooth to. Now people that talk to themselves won't look so silly. :D
 

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Looking forward to the Nokia 1520. It's going to be great once RT and WP8 merge. There's a reason RT is still in play and i'm looking forward to when this happens.
 

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