Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

Yes, I still have my Psion 5 in a box somewhere. Came across mine while packing up for the move. I hadn't used it for ten years, stuck some batteries in it, and it still worked. I seem to remember some talk of a linux port to it some years back? I wrote a currency converter for my psion, and set the CLI to respond to some UNIX commands (I'd done the same with MS.DOS, and set up NT to run a Posix compliant shell).

Mish.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

Good point guys but i feel that working on windows platform is much easier than working on Symbian.. Moreover with 150 million more devices, the scope of symbain platform isn't dead yet... There's still a long way to go... I don't think it should be that difficult for developers to work on windows platform, it just needs a little bit of investment of time,,,
watch Nokia Developers Weigh in on the Planned Nokia/Microsoft Partnership

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfWFvCJJaNs

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

I'd easily be prepared to buy a device like n900 but with form-factor of psion 5.
It's larger, but still fits in a pocket, and the keyboard and screen are actually comfortable to work on.

It could have wristbands to put it around your arm ;)

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

MS has been trying 14 years and the results are disappointing.

If Nokia really would like to differentiate, WP is not an answer.
Meego would be the answer and + Dalvik VM would be a way to get fans and more developers right from the start.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

Me too - The device was 6.5" by 3.5", but something with a 7" screen and functional keyboard would be my dream machine. Something between the Psion 5 & the early Sony Viao from 11/10 years ago, (9" x 6"). The netbook was a bit disappointing in that respect (a tad too big for a pocket or handbag).

Mish.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

Nokia is a powerful partner. SnorkelTel was never going to conquer the world, especially back when Nokia was basically a god.

None of the examples there ever had the power or the right time. Not that I'm saying they should not server as a cautionary tale but I strongly believe all those put together have nowhere near the momentum Nokia has left in it now, let alone what it can do if it really takes off.

There are advantages to this, like having an OS optimized for a device before launch. If Nokia-MS will ever last enough to put up a device of biblical proportions (Nokia can and, with the right support it can do it again), they will reach escape velocity.

Who knows. But it's a long way away.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

When Nokia gets its first WP-phones out in 2012, it will no longer have the momentum it may have now. And if WP-platform survives, Nokia does not differentiate in GUI in any way from those other manufacturers which would re-start to make WP-devices.
It is a win-win situation for Microsoft, but loose-loose for Nokia.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

That's kind of true. OTOH, Nokia has a year to come up with some neat stuff, including porting some of the stuff they have now (they already announced maps). Plus, knowing Nokia, it will not be ready by launch time and they'll keep patching.

Maybe they'll have all that neat stuff from Nokia labs that they gave us to smell and never released, like rollercoaster tycoon or what it is, cool games, stuff like that.

No, I don't believe it either.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

I think its time we ALL get over it. Nokia passed Symbian/Maemo/MeeGo (well, partially - but ultimately that's the situation) and we should too - even though there would be some death twitching from Symbian and MeeGo's side in the near future...

Anyone who does not want to get aboard the Android train (and be under the constant supervising eye of comrade Google), or the iOS train (if you want to shoot yourself in the head - there's an app for that) - then just patiently wait for the next open-source mobile operating system venture that will inevitably happen in the near future, as cell-phones are quickly becoming mini-pc's so the possibilities will be endless...

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

People will continue to express shock, horror and dismay because it's Microsoft. For a bunch of FOSS fans, that's like making a deal with the Devil's more evil brother.

I've switched to a wait and see stance.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

True only for part of people. Others like me just wonder about this deal that is quite bad and risky for Nokia.

I think it might be a normal thing if Nokia would offer WP7 phones as alternative to their proprietary ones like Samsung offeres Bada + WP7 + Android.

The real interesting thing is Nokia completely gives up own infrastructure (ecosystem) and seems to have no alternatives in case WP7 fails.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

We don't know that. Nokia/MS only share information on a need to know basis. So far they say continue with Qt and start with MS tools.

Nokia will very soon need something that can compete with Samsungs Bada. The only conceivable thing right now is a Qt based platform on Nokias proprietary OS (S40) or some other RTOS like the newest versions of multicore and multitasking RTOS like Nucleus or Enea OSE. WP seems to be a total overkill for this.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

Bada sold 1.3 million units last year. 2% of the global cellphone market.

For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S sold like 5 million in total alone. Not sure if I would call Bada a competitor quite yet.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

Interesting thread on the subject, from march last year:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=647239

Basically, what they're saying is that WP7 is a Microsoft copy of iphone OS.
So, since Microsoft doesn't know how to improve winCE, they make it worse, and call it "easier" or "more user-friendly"?
With aggressive marketing, the best Nokia can ever hope for, is to become second to the iphone. Which seems unlikely considering Android will still exist.

Does any of that sound like a winning recipe?
To me it sounds more like a scam looking for a sucker, and in this case it'll be Nokia, who in the end takes all the HW costs.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

Nonsense. They sold 1.3 million the third quarter last year (read your link :) ). Last year they sold more than 5 million devices, and that was from approx June. They will (hope to) sell 15 mill in the first half of 2011, and looks to be going OK by now.
http://techrice.com/2011/02/23/bada-...a-for-samsung/

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

I don't mind admitting that I stated it wrong; however in that very same quarter, more Android phones were sold by Samsung - that was my real point. Less than 5k development houses have moved to Bada.

I can't say that those numbers are impressive to me. And hoping to sell 15 million doesn't mean they will. I swear I've heard the same numbers for WP7.

We'll see...

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

Perhaps not, but Samsung is in no hurry with Bada, and Samsung is only gradually widening the distribution. Bada is their new "dumbphone"-OS. It will gradually take over for older devices like their dumbphone touch screen phones which sell much more than their Android devices.

IMO Bada is the next generation smartphones OS. A platform with a C++ API running on a modern multitasking, multicore RTOS as the application OS. It also has full Java support, and from 2.0, also html5 and NFC, full multitasking etc. Fully scalable, from the cheapest HW to the most fancy, lightening fast and due to the RTOS - unbelievable battery capacity. My 1 GHz Wave 8500 last a week with moderate use and standby time of almost a month. Utilizing the CPU at full speed (gaming) it will of course last as long (or short) as any other smartphone.

It is this path Nokia wanted to go, and hoped to go with Symbian/Qt. Maemo/MeeGo never had a place in that path. What will happen with WP remains to be seen, it looks very high(ish) end to me, certainly nothing like Bada.

I am sure Nokia/WP will be cool phones, but how they are going to compete with Bada is a mystery to me.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

Last company that wasn't in a hurry with a product was Nokia with Maemo/MeeGo.

Not a good tactic.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

That is completely different. There are NO MeeGo phones, there are NO commercially available and usable MeeGo, just a lot of hot air.

Bada is working, it is growing at a rate like nothing else, only Android is comparable, and Bada is only marketed mainly in Europe yet. Going to China this year, and the US probably not before next year.

Samsung cannot go faster with Bada, they don't have the logistics and the production in place for anything but a gradual introduction. Phones are introduced at the same rate as older dumbphones are phased out. Second, Bada is completely new, and will not become fully operational before 2,0 coming this summer (fully operational meaning full multitasking, html5 and NFC).

The more I think about this, The more I am sure that Nokia really need something similar, everybody does in fact. Bada is keeping a low profile, but it is gaining momentum similar to Android, in fact much faster than Android did. Bada is an infinitely better concept, much better performance than Android, smoother, faster, 5-10x better battery life, better API (C++).

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

Just fyi...

I'm not sure if Aava's Intel MeeGo phone is counted as commercially available, yet, but I'm pretty sure MeeGo tablets are commercially available now.

CarryPad, a MeeGo-based tablets are sold in Germany now. Many OEM manufacturers in China have already announced Meego-based tablets and automotive In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) last quarter. The biggest brand among them is Red Flag, a major moblin tablets manufacturer in China.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

I have had MeeGo on my netbook for almost a year. It works, but so do most Linux distributions. But I cannot go to the store and get a MeeGo preinstalled netbook.

Meego will probably be just fine on x86 tablets, but again, so will any Linux. Manufacturers still have to make themselves a nice UI.

For a long time MeeGo sounded like a nice thing, but it doesn't seem to get anywhere. The world is racing along, while MeeGo is firmly parked in comparison.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

You'd like to take a look at Linpus: http://liliputing.com/2011/02/previe...n-tablets.html (or directly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vClr8OwANaU , if you're impatient, you could skip to 4:40).

In China, MeeGo tablets seem to be quite taking the heat away from APad (a low cost android tablet design manufacture in China for OEM production) which is very popular last year.

Meego's popularity is not mainly due to Nokia, but its being a true open-platform. Most popular localized applications are well-developed for MeeGo; e.g., QQ client, the most popular IM in China, is available before MeeGo tablet's first launch.

Our company is developing and OEM contracting APad products, and we do find MeeGo has more potential as it's actually easier to find embedded Linux developers than Android developers in China.

Actually I agree with you in many ways. I do think it's a shame if US and Finland was going to abandon MeeGo. However, someone's trash might be someone else treasure, and the rest of the world does already find MeeGo a treasure. China in particular is picking it up very well, so far.

More on MS/Nokia deal
 

Just in case this hasn't been posted somewhere here already:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...n-in-deal.html

No surprises...

Re: More on MS/Nokia deal
 

You should have posted this on the 1000+ commented thread already about this whole nokia microsoft thing, and that goes for anyone else posting new threads to do with it. Please respect the rules and do not create another thread unless necessary as it spams the forum.

Re: More on MS/Nokia deal
 

You're right...dunno what I was thinking. Is there a way to delete this thread?

Re: More on MS/Nokia deal
 

Don't worry about it, if it criticizes Nokia, it has a better chance of getting merged or deleted anyway. :)

Re: More on MS/Nokia deal
 

So... how's the weather in your part of the world?

Re: More on MS/Nokia deal
 

http://side-7.us/images/cow_flying.jpg
Pretty rough, IMO.

Re: More on MS/Nokia deal
 

You will need better windshield wipers...

Re: More on MS/Nokia deal
 

See... this is what happens when you ally yourself with Microsoft.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

Interesting article about how much Nokia are receiving initially from M$

http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...n-in-deal.html

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

They would've paid more - much, MUCH more. A billion is to M$ what a burger and fries is to most of us. Pocket money. And if it turns out Nokia needs more - even billions more - to make WP7 relevant in the marketplace, Uncle Ballmer will break out the checkbook. M$ will do whatever it takes! They know they cannot afford to be a loser in the mobile arena!

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

I wonder how many billions MS has already invested to make Windows CE to work, but failed already for 14 years.

But eventually all computers will be mobile phones. You just plug in bigger screen, mouse, keyboard and USBvX-hub when at home. So Microsoft is fighting for its life also in the longer term.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

[QUOTE=zimon;963504
But eventually all computers will be mobile phones. .[/QUOTE]

I think Motrola Atrix is already virtually what you describe?

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

Actually, most of the newer phones and tablets out there meet that description. You can already get an iPhone 4 with video out and BT keyboard. Even better with the iPad devices where you have a keyboard dock and an HDMI out. My Samsung Galaxy Tab has an available keyboard dock with HDMI out, too. All I would have to do it pick up the Tab to continue doing what I'm already doing and walk out the door without even flinching or a second thought. Pop it right back onto a cradle or keyboard dock at work and, just as easily, I've got my own little computer ready to go on a nice big screen there too.

Truly, I think Windows is becoming increasingly less relevant with every month. Hell, a LARGE majority of people (from what I remember of recent stats) are STILL running Windows XP on any desktop/laptops they own. There's nothing compelling about Windows anymore with these new devices (cell phones, tablets, game consoles, hell--even just the bare TV by itself in a lot of cases now, etc.) lately popping up and doing everything nearly as well if not better than a Windows 7 PC. The Windows brand isn't the hot commodity it used to be, and even in its BEST era it never did well on mobile.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

You're right, and that's why M$ knows they MUST make WP7 go. Mobile and cloud services are clearly the future.They will do anything, pay any price, for mobile marketshare. The billion they promised Nokia is nothing to M$ and I'm sure Ballmer is still chuckling over how friggin' cheap he got Nokia.

BUT...anyone who thinks the Windows monopoly for personal laptops/desktops will be broken in less than 10 years is dreaming. For business use make that 20 years or you're delusional. There are and will continue to be only certain tasks business users can do with a non-Windows OS device. Most business use will require - require, mind you, no choice - Windows for a very long time to come. Jeez, I can' t even get my office off XP or M$ Office yet.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

http://netmarketshare.com/os-market-share.aspx?qprid=9

A seer you ain't. Let's all hop to Linux, because - oh, wait, it's less relevant each month. In fact, save for iOS and a few unnamed stragglers, they all lost a few pounds, just a few, to let the iOS in.

Must be a wording problem. Anyway, Crashdamage is right. DOS took decades to die off (BTW, the official time of death is 2000, but it lived on in various incarnations to date), and every now and then people jump ship to the next OS. Not as soon as they are released, because no matter how much you try, there's always SOME program that stops working. Each major release is work.

Vista was a joke and nobody will contradict this statement, Microsoft included. XP was the last good OS before 7, no wonder everyone sticks to it, especially since it runs fine on the latest 6-cores, with whatever RAM you can buy and all the drivers ever written. It's fine.

Here's a stat to ponder:

Windows XP (41.15%)
Windows 7 (26.35%)
Windows Vista (14.57%)
Mac OS X (7.07%)
iOS (iPhone) (2.20%)
Linux (1.65%)

7 has been around for 14 months (stats Feb 2011). Yes, the large majority, by (almost) any definition, runs XP. And given the fact that 1.5 years ago it was the only thing you could buy, there are a lot of systems out there that are too young to upgrade. Even so, it overtook Vista like it was going backwards (it is).

And this trend includes the period where everyone needed drivers, apps and compatibility checks, and doesn't include the EOL from MS (April 8, 2014).

Take pictures.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

Linux is fragmented to death.

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

Linux will always be relevant, as it can't truly be left behind. Old versions do, but open source operating systems and the kernels they run on are far more fluid.

What we're seeing, more importantly, is a change in the dynamic and usage habits of non-corporate users of computers. Desktops, as a whole, will become less relevant as mobile devices take over a large chunk of the total usage time.

More nonsense from ericsson. Classic :D

Re: Nokia - Microsoft partnership (merged threads)
 

True.
Distributions, like Debian and Ubuntu don't take it serious enough.

But the consequences can be catastrophic like that Nokia couldn't get Meego ready because its Meego people postponed develop rpm-support to UX and to Ovi and now even N950 won't be allowed to use word "Meego" because it is not Meego-compliant.

Eventually if Nokia goes to bankrupt, Linux fragmentation (and Debian) are one of the reasons.

Debian's stubbornness not to switch to LSB-standard rpm-package management, which is technically better (transactions) and practically more secure (embedded GPG), is embarrassing.