Windows Phone is Officially Dead

[Phynaz]

Courtesy of Ars

 

[Thebobo]

I have one of the Nokia Lumia 635s windows phone that Amazon was selling cheap a couple of years ago as a backup. I use it as a MP3 player for my car.

 

[Oyeve]

Who's laughing now???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-U4Yr9UNBo

 

[Red Storm]

I don't remember it being alive...

Seriously though, it's unfortunate it didn't succeed. Increased competition is always best for us consumers, but it never felt like Microsoft was doing enough for their mobile platform to be taken seriously.

 

[Elixer]

That is really too bad.
I think we need more phone players, not less.

 

[Oyeve]

I never got into windows phones as I already had an android and an apple phone and learning a 3rd way was not appealing to me. Had they started earlier in smartphone life, like say when android was in its infancy, I would have chosen that.

 

[quikah]

I don't remember it being alive...

Seriously though, it's unfortunate it didn't succeed. Increased competition is always best for us consumers, but it never felt like Microsoft was doing enough for their mobile platform to be taken seriously.

That is not true, they did a crap ton of stuff, tons of advertising, paying people to write apps or writing apps themselves on behalf of companies, etc. They also did a lot of dumb stuff like no upgrade path from 7 to 8. It just never gained traction.

Unfortunate, the UI is lightyears better than iOS or android IMO.

 

[Red Storm]

That is not true, they did a crap ton of stuff, tons of advertising, paying people to write apps or writing apps themselves on behalf of companies, etc. They also did a lot of dumb stuff like no upgrade path from 7 to 8. It just never gained traction.

Unfortunate, the UI is lightyears better than iOS or android IMO.

They came late to the party, and were slow to roll out features. Maybe they should have focused on making great 1st party apps, cause I don't remember any good apps from when I tried Windows Phone way back when.

I disagree on the UI, I haven't found anything that beats Android when it comes to mobile UI.

 

[core2slow]

Lest we forget that they charge high-end prices for mid-range to low-end specs. They neither supported their OS (and core apps) or pay too much attention on the hardware front, both of which led to their downfall.

 

[Roland00Address]

Can we get Microsoft to make some deal with Google / Android where we can have windows phone / tablets that run Android Apps in containers for right now the whole Android ecosystem is a mess with updates and I would love a situation where we have a single OS that gets yearly updates and you can still run the OS on hardware that is literally 10 years old.

The security situation with Android is just a mess for nobody updates already existing hardware with Android. At least it made sense with both Windows Phone OS and the Apple iOS mobile operating system. And this is so ironic considering windows operating system security was a pure nightmare from the 90s, 00s, and early 10s... But right now we are having just a big of problem with everyone running Android 4.x derivatives except the users are no longer aware that they are being hacked, their security is being breached, and so on, while it was bloody obvious you had a virus in the 2000s when your desktop back then just stop working as it should.

But then again why do I need Microsoft to do this, hopefully if Google gets its ass together we will see the things I want to start appearing with chromebooks, and hopefully we will get a similar idea of a chromebook in the phone / tablet space.

 

[Commodus]

Can we get Microsoft to make some deal with Google / Android where we can have windows phone / tablets that run Android Apps in containers for right now the whole Android ecosystem is a mess with updates and I would love a situation where we have a single OS that gets yearly updates and you can still run the OS on hardware that is literally 10 years old.

The security situation with Android is just a mess for nobody updates already existing hardware with Android. At least it made sense with both Windows Phone OS and the Apple iOS mobile operating system. And this is so ironic considering windows operating system security was a pure nightmare from the 90s, 00s, and early 10s... But right now we are having just a big of problem with everyone running Android 4.x derivatives except the users are no longer aware that they are being hacked, their security is being breached, and so on, while it was bloody obvious you had a virus in the 2000s when your desktop back then just stop working as it should.

But then again why do I need Microsoft to do this, hopefully if Google gets its ass together we will see the things I want to start appearing with chromebooks, and hopefully we will get a similar idea of a chromebook in the phone / tablet space.

Google wouldn't even let Microsoft write a YouTube app for Windows Phone, let alone help it run Android apps on Windows phones to keep them relevant. Remember, Google believes Microsoft committed the ultimate cardinal sin by offering a competing search engine. If it can do anything to hurt Bing's chances, it will.

Besides, let's face it: Windows has so little mobile market share that this probably wouldn't change much. You'd need Microsoft to either make new hardware or rally new partners, which isn't likely to happen; certainly there's no money in letting remaining users run Android apps until their phones are obsolete in a year or two. This would've been helpful in, say, 2014, but not 2017.

 

[Crono]

RIP, WP.

I was a big fan since launch and had about a dozen models since then. I went completely Android shortly after Windows 10 Mobile since it became clear Microsoft wasn't going to keep putting resources into smartphones, despite the eternal Surface Phone rumors. Can't really blame them, as the network effect was too strong already with Apple and Google's OS' by the time Windows Phone became close to a mature operating system.

 

[Roland00Address]

Google wouldn't even let Microsoft write a YouTube app for Windows Phone, let alone help it run Android apps on Windows phones to keep them relevant. Remember, Google believes Microsoft committed the ultimate cardinal sin by offering a competing search engine. If it can do anything to hurt Bing's chances, it will.

All things are possible with the exchange of money, profit sharing agreements, etc. Especially since both Microsoft and Google have different CEOs today compared to the period you were talking about 4 years ago. Everything is different than it was 4 years ago.

But like I said really this is not about Microsoft and I just wish we have Android something more like Chromebooks where we get actual software updates and Google is far more in control of the OS instead of everyone forking the AOSP and the device has custom drivers and so on.

 

[Red Storm]

All things are possible with the exchange of money, profit sharing agreements, etc. Especially since both Microsoft and Google have different CEOs today compared to the period you were talking about 4 years ago. Everything is different than it was 4 years ago.

But like I said really this is not about Microsoft and I just wish we have Android something more like Chromebooks where we get actual software updates and Google is far more in control of the OS instead of everyone forking the AOSP and the device has custom drivers and so on.

You already have that, it's called the Pixel. That is Google's Android on Google's phone. What you're talking about are the manufacturer's who make their own phones and use the Android OS. In the iOS world Apple is your only option, in Android you can go Google, Samsung, Huawei, LG, etc.

 

[notposting]

Yep, finally threw in the towel today, have an iPhone being delivered tomorrow.

Have been running my Icon on WP8.0 since 2014, the previous Lumia 928 is in retirement as a bedside alarm, a spare unlocked Lumia 520, a couple of HTC Trophy's running WP7.5.
Too many of the apps don't work anymore, the browser doesn't function/won't even load some sites, etc. They boned WP7.x users with the transition to 8 (and that transition introduced nothing new), then started the Andoiding of it with 8.1, then sat with thumbs up their asses until pounding the stake in with the mess of WM10. Have messed around with the newer versions and they just steadily lose any differentiation, outside of not running any apps. Of course, they've had a history with things like Skydrive/Live Mesh, WHS, WMC, etc. Bleh.

Day to day camera/media player is still the Pureview 808 on Symbian though

 

[Roland00Address]

You already have that, it's called the Pixel. That is Google's Android on Google's phone. What you're talking about are the manufacturer's who make their own phones and use the Android OS. In the iOS world Apple is your only option, in Android you can go Google, Samsung, Huawei, LG, etc.

I am not talking about my individual wants and needs, but instead I am talking about the wants and needs for the community. If the Google Pixel 2 sells 10 million devices it will be a wonderful success since the Pixel 1 probably sold only 1 million units in the first 8 months.

But even with 10 million units sold I am saying Android is a failure in some things such as security for how many phones are sold around the world at prices for $50 to $1000 and thus talking about $650 misses the point. We need also the cheap phones to get security updates, and even if we get security updates for free for 2 to 3 years that is not good enough for people now keep phones much longer than that.

 

[MarkizSchnitzel]

I disagree on the UI, I haven't found anything that beats Android when it comes to mobile UI.

While this is subjective, WP homescreen is 10000x better/more usable than android or ios. LiveTiles and awesome information density are simply unbeatable. And it worked 100% reliably, unlike in Android icon badges, which are (still) simply a mess).

Aesthetics I absolutely love, but most people do not.

On the other hand, android notification center is getting better and better, so there's there's that.

 

[Red Storm]

While this is subjective, WP homescreen is 10000x better/more usable than android or ios. LiveTiles and awesome information density are simply unbeatable. And it worked 100% reliably, unlike in Android icon badges, which are (still) simply a mess).

Aesthetics I absolutely love, but most people do not.

On the other hand, android notification center is getting better and better, so there's there's that.

You could replicate those tiles in Android, but I chose not to because I prefer a more minimalist setup with an empty homescreen where a lot of things can be accessed with simple gestures. Which is why I think Android does it best, because you can make it work/look like iOS, Windows Mobile, and many, many more ways.

 

[MarkizSchnitzel]

You could replicate those tiles in Android, but I chose not to because I prefer a more minimalist setup with an empty homescreen where a lot of things can be accessed with simple gestures. Which is why I think Android does it best, because you can make it work/look like iOS, Windows Mobile, and many, many more ways.

Android app badges, showing notifications, are anything but reliable. And they don't work for all apps, etc etc.

It's not just the look.

Even still, there are no launchers that replicate even just the look in a satisfactory way.

 

[Red Storm]

Android app badges, showing notifications, are anything but reliable. And they don't work for all apps, etc etc.

It's not just the look.

Even still, there are no launchers that replicate even just the look in a satisfactory way.

I've never found myself needing app badges in Android, the notification center has always been sufficient. The Windows Mobile homescreen was essentially just a bunch of widgets. That is not at all ideal to me. A notification center that can be accessed from anywhere is the better system in my eyes. I only tried Windows Mobile a very long time ago, so I don't know if it eventually got a notification center or not.

 

[MarkizSchnitzel]

I've never found myself needing app badges in Android, the notification center has always been sufficient. The Windows Mobile homescreen was essentially just a bunch of widgets. That is not at all ideal to me. A notification center that can be accessed from anywhere is the better system in my eyes. I only tried Windows Mobile a very long time ago, so I don't know if it eventually got a notification center or not.

It did get notification center. Not as good as android obviously, but close enough at the time. Actually, even better in some ways, like deeplinking, actionable notifications and sith. The problem were always the apps, or lack of apps, to take use of it

Nevertheless, it's hard to explain, but live tiles were really great. Because when done properly, it worked as if you had widgets, but they all looked nice and tidy, and not like POS as they do, mostly, in Android.

 

[quikah]

Biggest thing I miss is the awesome driving mode. I could actually listen to the radio or CD player and get txt notifications/navigation instructions over Bluetooth. cannot do it with android unless I am listening to my phone. (there is an app called AudioBT that sort of works, but kind of buggy and you need root otherwise it is has a 1s delay, blech)

 

[Zaap]

Honestly had to check if this was a necro thread. This has felt the case to me for ages.

It sucks though. IMO, Microsoft should be where Google is now, had they better understood the mobile market. Instead, I think they had delusions that people use Windows and love it in the same way people use MacOS (not just that the hardware is cheaper, infinitely more available, and more varied) so they thought they could live a locked down, walled garden hoop dream all the big companies dream of.

Had they even understood the original appeal of their own desktop products and made a mobile platform as open and alternative to Apple's closed system as Android became, they could have beat everyone.

I personally found their approach to mobile off-putting, heavy-handed, and far too limited- which is not what a device I keep with me nearly 24/7 should be. Doesn't seem I was too different from a lot of other people, based on results.

A shame. I'm sure there were things they did well, even better than others- but as a whole, MS's overall approach was weaksauce.

 

[Red Storm]

Honestly had to check if this was a necro thread. This has felt the case to me for ages.

It sucks though. IMO, Microsoft should be where Google is now, had they better understood the mobile market. Instead, I think they had delusions that people use Windows and love it in the same way people use MacOS (not just that the hardware is cheaper, infinitely more available, and more varied) so they thought they could live a locked down, walled garden hoop dream all the big companies dream of.

Had they even understood the original appeal of their own desktop products and made a mobile platform as open and alternative to Apple's closed system as Android became, they could have beat everyone.

I personally found their approach to mobile off-putting, heavy-handed, and far too limited- which is not what a device I keep with me nearly 24/7 should be. Doesn't seem I was too different from a lot of other people, based on results.

A shame. I'm sure there were things they did well, even better than others- but as a whole, MS's overall approach was weaksauce.

I agree, I think Microsoft went in thinking people love Windows or something, which I don't think is the case. The majority of people who use it do so because they have to for work, school, games, etc.

At our house we have Android, iOS, ChromeOS, and MacOS devices. I do have a Windows VM on my Mac that is only there so I can play Age of Empires II HD. That's the one and only thing I need Windows for.

 

[Commodus]

Honestly had to check if this was a necro thread. This has felt the case to me for ages.

It sucks though. IMO, Microsoft should be where Google is now, had they better understood the mobile market. Instead, I think they had delusions that people use Windows and love it in the same way people use MacOS (not just that the hardware is cheaper, infinitely more available, and more varied) so they thought they could live a locked down, walled garden hoop dream all the big companies dream of.

Had they even understood the original appeal of their own desktop products and made a mobile platform as open and alternative to Apple's closed system as Android became, they could have beat everyone.

I personally found their approach to mobile off-putting, heavy-handed, and far too limited- which is not what a device I keep with me nearly 24/7 should be. Doesn't seem I was too different from a lot of other people, based on results.

A shame. I'm sure there were things they did well, even better than others- but as a whole, MS's overall approach was weaksauce.

I'd spin it a bit differently: it's that if you're going to follow Apple's business model, you have to actually follow its business model, and do it well. Windows Phone struggled in part because Microsoft wanted to have its cake and eat it too: it wanted the advantages of a closed ecosystem (high performance, timely updates, tight integration between devices) but it wanted to offer Windows-like variety by letting other manufacturers build their own devices and offer a bit of custom software. So you ended up with devices that didn't particularly please either camp. Windows phones weren't really open, but that multi-vendor strategy also meant that Microsoft could never really deliver a great self-contained experience. It had to accept a "lowest common denominator" spec list that limited what was possible.

You're definitely right about Microsoft's mindset toward Windows, though. One of Ballmer's big problems as CEO was that he was genuinely convinced everyone loved Windows as much as he did, and the selling point for Windows phones and Surface devices under his tenure frequently boiled down to "because it's Windows." No, Steve, most people use Windows only because it's what comes with the $300 Best Buy clearance special, or because it's what they need to play a new game; Windows by itself is only a selling point to a small group of people. And that seemed to excuse the company's unwillingness to play to its own strengths.