Comment

Good points all Brent. Unfortunately for HTC, they just can’t compete with Sammy. The income gap is just to enormous (always has been). In this scenario Microsoft, who has more than the resources to compete, would handle the heavy lifting in terms of advertising as it would be part of their Surface brand.

Also, I feel a large part of the decision behind releasing a Surface Phone (if MS decides to) is to increase that mindshare (and it couldn’t hurt the market-share either)

I think it’s a win-win.

about 22 hours ago on Surface Phone: How Microsoft Can Push WP and Rescue HTC

Comment

Kinda, sorta, almost. Microsoft worked closely with HTC when they were designing the 8X. The key phrase is “they were designing”. MS added some credibility to HTC’s offerings with the “official” line, but that’s worlds away from saying “here’s our spec, now go build it.”

about 23 hours ago on Surface Phone: How Microsoft Can Push WP and Rescue HTC

Comment

Microsoft doesn’t “make” any hardware. They contract it out to an ODM. In the instances of Surface & Xbox it’s Foxconn. HTC could fit that role better in the smartphone space.

Agree with all your other points about why HTC hasn’t succeeded in WP, but the “what ifs” here are: What if it helps? What if it re-focuses HTC in a way that helps the platform (like the Nexus 4 did for LG or the Galaxy Nexus for Samsung)?

You can be mad at HTC all you want for having “a couple of fingers dangled in Windows Phone”. I’m a bit disappointed n them too.

But I’m more interested in seeing the platform grow. I’m interested in every OEM releasing a Nokia caliber device.

If using HTC as an ODM (if MS decides to release a Surface Phone) helps with any of that, then it’s a worthwhile idea.

about 23 hours ago on Surface Phone: How Microsoft Can Push WP and Rescue HTC 2 replies

Comment

I feel it would be good for Microsoft to release a Surface Phone for a few reasons…

Microsoft’s business model in phones (as well as PCs) is a multiple OEM model. By releasing a halo device they could drive more consumers to the platform which would encourage other OEMs to take WP more seriously (I’m looking at you Samsung!).

It could serve as an example of what MS feels showcases Windows Phone best (like they did with the Surface tablets) and a blueprint for what they expect from OEMs (like Google does with the Nexus brand).

Let’s face it, while signs are pointing to growth for the platform, MS could use all the attention they can get.

Nokia does indeed make stellar hardware, and I would have a hard time choosing between a Surface Phone and a Nokia. That’s a problem I would like to have though. As of now IMHO there is no other choice and than is not good for the platform.

Just my 2% of a dollar.

1 day ago on Windows Phone Takes Third, but There's More to the Story

Comment

I love the idea. It’s as close to this as you’re going to get in your living room.

FPS Simulator

Now if only some game publisher would be smart enough to package a rifle/gun controller that works in conjunction with Kinect…

2 days ago on IllumiRoom Concept -Like/Dislike?

Comment

10:00AM PDT (1:00 EDT)

2 days ago on IllumiRoom Concept -Like/Dislike?

Comment

Second tier is coming. AIO wireless already has the 620, Cricket is heavily rumored to carry the same phones Sprint will be offering. And as wixostrix mentioned above U.S. Cellular will be carring the 521.

It may not be at breakneck pace, but WP looks to be coming to MNVOs in force this year.

2 days ago on Windows Phone Takes Third, but There's More to the Story

Comment

Well, if Nokia is projected to sell 27% more then the 5.6 million Lumias they sold in Q1, that puts Nokia phones at about 7.1 Million phones in Q2. That leaves Samsung, HTC, Huawei, etc. to divvy up just under 3 million devices between them. It’s a very possible scenario.

2 days ago on Windows Phone Takes Third, but There's More to the Story

Comment

That’s where having flagships (or at least offerings when it comes to Sprint) on every U.S. carrier should really make a difference. Verizon went from 0.2% to 5.6% last quarter with the HTC 8X as their high-end device. The Lumia 928 should help expand that closer to 7%-8% in the upcoming quarter (hopefully). The 925 in T-Mobile shouldn’t hurt either.

Again, I’ve heard from more than one Verizon employee that corporate really wants Windows Phone to succeed because it’s more profitable for them (than iPhone) and a viable third player will give them more leverage with Apple and Samsung.

Time will tell, but I am very interested to see where WP is after Q4.

2 days ago on Windows Phone Takes Third, but There's More to the Story

Comment

I was just telling my father-in-law yesterday that the best thing about the internet is that everyone has a voice. he worst thing? Everyone has a voice! I used a similar term when describing to him how hard it was to rise above the noise floor.

Great minds?

2 days ago on The Verge forums are kinda like Lord of The Flies?

Comment

Actually, I feel this is one of the reasons MS should release a Surface phone in the near future. With Nokia on the upswing and in complete dominance of the WP market, Surface phone would be less of a threat to them now then it would have been when WP8 was initially released.

2 days ago on Windows Phone Takes Third, but There's More to the Story 1 reply

Comment

Well, we will see. I agree with a lot of what you said in this comment with the exception of “No one likes the interface of WP or W8”. I know plenty that do. Funny thing is, though I completely with you observation that females are enamored with Apple. A lot of the comments I get about how great WP looks come from the female designers I work with.

The post addresses the trends in the data. I’m not arguing the merits or limitation of the OS, but the fact is that WP has grown well, especially in Q1 despite the things you listed…with major support of only 1 major carrier (in the U.S. at least).

It accounted for ~5% of AT&T sales (not great, but good), it jumped from .2% to ~5% on Verizon despite a decidedly mid-to-low-end feel to the offerings. It was nonexistent on the other two major carriers and still accounted for 1 out of every twenty phones sold in the US.

It’s a looooooooong way away from the huge numbers of Android, but the trend is there.

4 days ago on Windows Phone Takes Third, but There's More to the Story

Comment

Yeah. The Kantar report was focused on Europe but had Australia, China & Japan in the charts. I forgot to remove it. Totally my bad.

4 days ago on Windows Phone Takes Third, but There's More to the Story

Comment

I think MS should design the Surface Phone and contract HTC as the OEM. I’m actually working on a post about that now. Look for: Surface Phone, How Microsoft Can Promote Windows Phone and Save HTC. Coming soon to The Verge.

4 days ago on Windows Phone Takes Third, but There's More to the Story 1 reply

Comment

All those things are definitely needed on the platform, but this post is about the trends present in the current data. From the numbers WP is poised to grow without those things.

I was trying to present this without going in to the specifics of the platform.

4 days ago on Windows Phone Takes Third, but There's More to the Story

Comment

Thanks Sharp, I’m glad you like it.. Maybe I’ll take you up on submitting it to Seeking Alpha.

I will definitely change the tone if I do. Something more like: Despite Google’s Dominance, Microsoft Poised to Make Gains in Mobile. I’d probably work it from the MSFT angle and then go through Nokia’s contribution to the platform and the carrier trends.

TL;DR is just for us ADD afflicted Vergers!

Thanks again!

4 days ago on Windows Phone Takes Third, but There's More to the Story 2 replies

Comment

Well Jon, I for one hope you keep posting here. Recently I have learned more about the next-gen Intel Processors from your posts than from all the tech sites I frequent combined.

Thanks!

5 days ago on The Verge forums are kinda like Lord of The Flies? 1 reply

Comment

I have the Conch!

5 days ago on The Verge forums are kinda like Lord of The Flies? 1 recommend

Comment

Awesome! 75% of Microsoft employees think things will not get worse.

Trollers.Gonna.Troll

5 days ago on Survey says 25% of Microsoft employees think things will get worse 2 replies 8 recommends

Comment

Yes, but it will be by mid-summer most likely. T-Mobile with the 925 and 521, VZW now carries the 928, 822, 8X and ATIV Odyssey, AT&T is Obvious and Sprint has announced they will sell two WPs sometime this summer. I know Sprint’s support will be a joke, but they will be there.

5 days ago on Windows Phone Takes Third, but There's More to the Story 1 reply

Comment

Agreed. L920 will get 8.1. But just as importantly, Nokia will strongly support it as well. A perfect example is the “Amber” update coming this summer that brings a lot of the 925s camera enhancements to the Lumia range of phones.

Bottom line: If you can’t wait for a new phone, you can’t go wrong with the 920. If you can hold out until the holiday season, you may want to see what they announce this summer.

6 days ago on AT&T ... what do I do?

Comment

Well, I commend your open-mindedness in trying something different until your contract is up.

Here’s hoping that you enjoy your WP experience and Nokia will have that 41MP Pureview unicorn we keep hearing about to bring you over from “the dark side” by then!

Any questions about whatever device you pick up will be gladly answered here, so don’t forget to post.

6 days ago on Would like to try Windows Phone. Can you help? 1 reply

Comment

Then you could go for a 521 on T-Mobile. I just picked one up for my son and my wife likes it much better than her Arrive on Sprint.

What happens in a few months that you won’t be needing a phone after that? I ask because If you plan on using it after those few months you may want to look at something like this on EBay.

Lumia 820 Buy it now for $219.99 That would get you the 1Gb of RAM needed to run everything WP8 has to offer for only $40 more than the $180 AIO wants for the 620.

6 days ago on Would like to try Windows Phone. Can you help? 1 reply

Comment

Well, my Sprint contract runs out on the 10th of June and I can tell you that I am running, not walking to the AT&T store to move my 4 lines over there for some 920 goodness. IMHO the 920 design is still more beautiful & iconic than either of the new variants.

Though I may have them save one discounted device for later by activating a Lumia 521 I already own in lieu of a new phone in case the 41MP Lumia is announced for this holiday season.

(the 521 is for my 7 year-old…he doesn’t need 4g)

6 days ago on AT&T ... what do I do? 1 reply

Comment

What’sApp is fixing that problem in the next release. It’s in Beta now.

6 days ago on Would like to try Windows Phone. Can you help?

Comment

A new version of WhatsApp (2.6.69) is in circulation that doesn’t use the music API. Should be out soon.

6 days ago on Would like to try Windows Phone. Can you help?

Comment

I got one for my son from Home Shopping Network. $149 no contract in US. It is supposed to show up at Wal-Mart soon if it’s not already there for about $129.00.

EDIT. Just checked. The 521 shows up on Walmart.com, shows as out of stock.

6 days ago on Would like to try Windows Phone. Can you help? 1 reply