Microsoft should "give up Windows Phone, go Android"...

.... says Robert Scoble (don't shoot me, I'm just a messenger...)

Microsoft should "give up Windows Phone, go Android", says Robert Scoble - Neowin

Neowin's Brad Sams spoke with Scoble back in 2012 to get his perspective on Windows 8 and Microsoft's broader strategy, as a keen industry observer. This week though, Scoble sat down for an interview published today by GeekWire, and he had a pretty clear message for Microsoft when it comes to its Windows Phone strategy.
"That train has sailed," he said. "The real answer is: give up Windows Phone, go Android, and embrace and extend like you did with the internet. But they don't listen to me."
His impressions of the company aren't exactly favourable these days: "The problem with Microsoft is that it's so committee-driven and slow. It's not a startup any more. It's a big-ass company with a lot of people. And let's be honest - you work at a big company because it's comfortable." He added that he doesn't know "if Satya will change that. He's trying. He did a hackathon today, that seems cool."

Read the whole story...
 
Hi there

Afraid I don't agree -- They've already missed out on the Android boom so it's not worth playing catchup in that particular market and as a market matures sales inevitably fall back -- in a year or so people will be flooding the boards with "Are people finally giving up their mobiles - sales drop by 15%" -- just wait and see.

Samsung is starting to develop its own OS - and we need something else too -- I'd hate to rely 100% on "Googlopoly". The Windows phones are very good -- what they need though is some nicer handsets - say a nice Aluminium / steel one would be great and some sensible windows applications to run on the devices.

A brand new UNIQUE looking phone appealing to the top end would be a winnable strategy in this scenario instead of joining the Android race as an "Also Ran". Why on earth should I swap my nice Samsung S5 for an inferior looking alternate Android phone -- but a Smart looking Metal phone - yes I could be interested -- That's how Apple succeed in tight markets - offer something that LOOKS great and is distinguishable from the herd - and owners are PROUD to have it.

Neowin is another one of those sources where "Journalists" don't need to do much research -- that article was probably composed while the writer was visiting "The Bog" (Restroom) after a Lunchtime's pint or two of Beer. I doubt also if the writer has ever been at steering committes of these types of organisations where strategy is developed -- OK Ms made some mistakes but going Android IMO would just COMPOUND their difficulty with integrating Nokia into their fold.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Windows Phone is certainly a class apart for me though not as wide and sophisticated as Android...
 

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I remember dreading to hard reset my Droid X2. Contacts and Calendar were the only things backed up. It took a long time to download and install apps and configure screens to my liking. Here it's all backed up and ready to go! This happens across all devices! And some claim that MS is headed in the wrong direction devices and services? Not in my books. Wait until the general public and businesses understand all this!

That's taken from here: http://www.eightforums.com/tablet-touch/50948-windows-phone-8-1-update-questions.html#post409767

I'll also add that it really took three or four days of "putzing around" off and on with the Droid to get it back to the state it was in. I was finished in one hour with my Lumia. Same thing with my PC and any other devices I would own. Even upgrading to the "next OS". Simple and convenient. All Start Screens, settings, and configurations for that particular device backed up and ready to go for reset/restore or upgrade.

A platform of similar OSs to run across multiple devices for a familiar and similar experience. Any changes (no matter what it is) are synched on all devices via MS account. This is what totally sets MS's direction apart from others.

MS can afford to take Windows Phone into the future for this purpose. Like I stated > Wait until the general public and businesses understand all this.

Lastly, the hardware quality of Nokia products are just as good as iPhones. Go to any cellular/tech store and see for yourself.
 

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..................MS can afford to take Windows Phone into the future for this purpose. Like I stated > Wait until the general public and businesses understand all this.

Lastly, the hardware quality of Nokia products are just as good as iPhones. Go to any cellular/tech store and see for yourself.

Hi there.

My problem is that the HARDWARE looks HORRIBLE and plastic - The OS is great though -- I actually prefer the Windows phone OS to Android -- although the lack of apps is a bit of a disappointment..

I would buy a Windows phone tomorrow if it had the nice expensive sleek iPhone look. I'd happily pay a premium price for a sleek looking metal phone - say either burnished aluminium or "titanium" looking.

No way am I going to buy a phone that looks like my late Granma's dog wouldn't even want to chew it !!!.

Nokia had that problem in the first place - it's hardware was just so HIDEOUS looking compared with the rest.

I Like the Samsung S5 -- but I'd certainly swap it for a nice sleek really "sexy" looking piece of kit --looks DO matter now -- we've all passed the point where we are satisfied with a simple smart phone. Also there's a lot more dosh to be made on upmarket units as well.

Apple are the "Waitrose" of smartphones, while Nokia is the "Aldi/Lidl" equivalent. - For non UK - Waitrose is a "posh-ish" middle class supermarket chain with a lot of what some might call "Poncey Food" that appeals a lot to "yuppie" and other types in especially expensive parts of W and SW London, Aldi/Lidl are basic cheapo stuff appealing simply to shoppers on Price -- very basic, shops look almost like "they've fallen off the back of a truck" , limited ranges but obviously people do use them too.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Personally, I don't care for wp7, went back to my Android phone. I think it has a lot to do with what the user was weaned on and for many that was Android.
 

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Hi there
Any Windows phone would have to be Wp8 and up -- I agree there though on that one. I don't like WP7 either.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Hi there
Any Windows phone would have to be Wp8 and up -- I agree there though on that one. I don't like WP7 either.

Cheers
jimbo

Hey Jimbo, I think it was WP7, have to dig it out and check for sure. Was there that big if a change between 7 and 8? I honestly haven't followed the development that closely.
 

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@ Jumbo

Yeah, well, looks are subjective. I doubt that we'll see any phone with rounded corners, for Apple put the kibosh on that with Apple vs Samsung (latest on the lawsuit below). Others are probably afraid of a similar lawsuit, such as the word "Metro". What has become of this world?! "Can't do that! We own rounded corners!" :D Yes, it looks as though Samsung infringed on software patents, but rounded corners?! Childish IMO.

So far as metal cases > Sure I would prefer brushed metal over plastic, but then again, one can purchase a brushed metal protective case. Also, MS just purchased the Nokia line, so let's give them some time on that.

The Great Smartphone War

For three years, Apple and Samsung have clashed on a scale almost unprecedented in business history, their legal war costing more than a billion dollars and spanning four continents. Beginning with the super-secret project that created the iPhone and the late Steve Jobs’s fury when Samsung—an Apple supplier!—brought out a shockingly similar device, Kurt Eichenwald explores the Korean company’s record of patent infringement, among other ruthless business tactics, and explains why Apple might win the battles but still lose the war.

Read more here:

The Great Smartphone War: Apple vs. Samsung | Vanity Fair

"Costing more than a billion dollars"?! We the consumers pay for all this child's play absorbed in the price of products. I wouldn't purchase either one of their products just for the matter of principle.
 

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Hi there
Any Windows phone would have to be Wp8 and up -- I agree there though on that one. I don't like WP7 either.

Cheers
jimbo

Hey Jimbo, I think it was WP7, have to dig it out and check for sure. Was there that big if a change between 7 and 8? I honestly haven't followed the development that closely.

I can't speak of WP7, for I never had one, but the difference between WP8 and WP8.1 is like night and day. Many more added features.

You may want to read through some of Brink's tutorials to get a glimpse. Keep in mind that he adds to them frequently.

Windows 8 Tutorials[1]=Windows%20Phone%208
 

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Hi there
Any Windows phone would have to be Wp8 and up -- I agree there though on that one. I don't like WP7 either.

Cheers
jimbo

Hey Jimbo, I think it was WP7, have to dig it out and check for sure. Was there that big if a change between 7 and 8? I honestly haven't followed the development that closely.

I can't speak of WP7, for I never had one, but the difference between WP8 and WP8.1 is like night and day. Many more added features.

You may want to read through some of Brink's tutorials to get a glimpse. Keep in mind that he adds to them frequently.

Windows 8 Tutorials[1]=Windows%20Phone%208


Ok, it's a Lumia 520 with wp8, upgrading to 8.1 right now. Will give it another test drive. :)
 

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Strongly disagree with the article -- MS should either stick with their phone approach or get out of the market altogether.

If they were to join the Android market, what would distinguish their phone from the Samsungs, the LGs, the Motorolas? I they were to run an unlocked Android OS, and NOT cripple it, they would still have to deal with the likes of Verizon and AT&T (in the US) who are infamous for blocking OS functions on the phones they support.

I already have a "crippled" Android phone (the Samsung GS5); I see no point in trading this in for another, simply because that one is associated with MS.

As to having their own spin on an OS, latest stuff I read about Samsung's Tizen phones is that they are not (surprise!) doing well. No reason to suspect that MS taking that approach would do any better.

I think what MS wants as a long-term strategy is to become the new Blackberry -- the ubiquitous cell phone that practically every manager carried with them (at least, when I was working it seemed every Manager had a BB). But, I think that market opportunity has long gone -- and Android and iOS will continue to dominate the cell phone market for a long time.
 

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Hey Jimbo, I think it was WP7, have to dig it out and check for sure. Was there that big if a change between 7 and 8? I honestly haven't followed the development that closely.

I can't speak of WP7, for I never had one, but the difference between WP8 and WP8.1 is like night and day. Many more added features.

You may want to read through some of Brink's tutorials to get a glimpse. Keep in mind that he adds to them frequently.

Windows 8 Tutorials[1]=Windows%20Phone%208


Ok, it's a Lumia 520 with wp8, upgrading to 8.1 right now. Will give it another test drive. :)

Cool. :thumb:

Please let us know how it goes.
 

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I can't speak of WP7, for I never had one, but the difference between WP8 and WP8.1 is like night and day. Many more added features.

You may want to read through some of Brink's tutorials to get a glimpse. Keep in mind that he adds to them frequently.

Windows 8 Tutorials[1]=Windows%20Phone%208


Ok, it's a Lumia 520 with wp8, upgrading to 8.1 right now. Will give it another test drive. :)

Cool. :thumb:

Please let us know how it goes.

Taking awhile, must be a major change. Looking forward to see if much better than what came stock.
 

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I had an Iphone 3g for a few months then went Android then last December I bought the Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows 8 phone. The OS is so much better than Android. I do admit as of now Android has more features in their OS and WP8 lacks on apps but I could not stand the laggyness of Android.

I can't ever see Microsoft doing Android.

Jim
 

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