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I bought a Lumia 950. FANTASTIC.
Source: Steve Ballmer thinks the future of Windows Phone is Android—and he may be right | PCWorldWindows 10 Mobile has barely launched, and Microsoft's former chief executive is already burying it—though in doing so, he may be pointing toward a better way forward for the company.
At the Microsoft shareholder conference this week, Bloomberg reporter Dina Bass was in the right place at the right time: She picked up former chief executive—and still shareholder—Steve Ballmer criticizing chief executive Satya Nadella and other Microsoft management. One of Microsoft’s faults, according to Ballmer? Ignoring Android apps.
There really isn’t much news here, just a fraction of a quote:Ballmer also criticized Nadella’s answer to an audience member questioning the lack of key apps, like one for Starbucks, on the company’s Windows Phone. Nadella responded by citing the company’s plan to appeal to Windows developers by allowing them to write universal applications that work on computers, phones and tablets, targeting a larger array of devices than just Microsoft’s handsets that have just a single-digit share of the mobile market.
“That won’t work,” Ballmer commented as Nadella spoke. Instead, the company needs to enable Windows Phones “to run Android apps,” he said.
Was Ballmer right? Possibly. But how does Microsoft convince Android developers to port apps to Windows? Increasingly, it seems like another Android phone might be one answer.
I bought a Lumia 950. FANTASTIC.
Microsoft makes great phones. It's the apps where they are weak. If the Windows phone could use android apps that would be the best of both worlds. Lumia needs an android converter.
So Android is the future of windows phone? big woop. I don't even have any need for a phone like that. I just carry a tracphone and only use it for emergencies. :)
I wouldn't mind using a Windows phone unfortunately Microsoft is more into selling out to advertisers and corporate interests instead of what Consumers want or find pleasing about the device they are using.
When Vista pissed off so many people they came out with Win 7 which was Art. Vista was just as beautiful but Win 7 honed it.
Some dumb A$$ Indian Engineer came up with dropping what was beautiful about Windows and killed it with 8 and now 10.
Android, Linux and Apple look stunning and can be themed to express the user yet Windows seems to go out of their way to crush your soul. So I expect the same from the Windows phone.
Another thing is look at Windows Apps.
Every single app has an advertisement running through it. Android I shut that stuff down with just a program.
Firefox, all my video and audio playing I refuse to use windows based apps and easily use DRM and Advertisement free apps to display them.
So what you have left with is an Operating System of which that should be Microsoft's only concern and leave apps up to 3rd parties.
Hi there
Unfortunately he's probably right.
The BEST product doesn't always survive -- plenty of historical examples - probably the most well known was Betamax vs VHS. Another one was IBM's OS/2 vs Windows (although Windows has - apart from Networking- morphed into a reasonable product).
I think also writing apps for a Windows phone might be a "Career limiting" experience compared with the potential number of customers for Android and also the iPhone.
It could survive as a niche product (with a lot of support from Ms) but it will need zillions of decent apps if people are going to be encouraged to switch.
Around 85% of phones are now android based - and if people have made app purchases you'll have to persuade them to throw those away and buy new ones that aren't readily available (if at all) -- and have you tried using a Windows phone with Online Banking yet -- a load of Banks don't recognize a Windows phone -- that's one place to start if you want to grow the market.
Cheers
jimbo
I own a Lumia 925, from before MS bought Nokia, and I love it. I drive for Uber on weekends, and also own a LG Escape 2 (an Android phone) - because the Uber driver app does not exist on Windows Phone. I am no fan of Android phones, the app selection is, obviously, better, but my Nokia phone just gives a better over-all experience for most purposes.
Edit: I have also used I-phones, for work, and if Windows Phone could find a way to safely and securely run either
Android or I-phone apps, that would be great!
Both I-phone and Android have better access to good apps than Windows phone does.
I've got a Nokia Lumia 520 running 8.1 and it's great - a good, value-for-money phone if ever there was.
BUT...
I have ONE APP which NEEDS java to run. And, of course, it won't. And no, there isn't an alternative.
Otherwise - 10/10.
Wenda.