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14 Feb 2011 10:53

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Tech: Why is everyone skeptical of Nokia’s Microsoft deal, anyway?

  • reason The company’s newest CEO, Stephen Elop, was an executive at Microsoft before becoming Nokia’s figurehead – and he just spearheaded the Microsoft deal.
  • evidence The new president of U.S.-focused Nokia, Inc. is Chris Weber, who spent 16 years at Microsoft. Gaining competitive advantage by trojan horse much? source
  • » Here comes the denial: While many are suspicious of Elop’s motives, he personally denies that’s what took place. “The obvious answer is no,” Elop said. “We made sure that the entire management team was involved in the process, and of course the board of directors of Nokia are the only ones that can make this significant of a decision about Nokia. They made that final decision on Thursday night.” For some reason, we’re guessing he had that response ready.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Feb 2011 11:50

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Tech: Three reasons why Microsoft’s Nokia deal really sucks for Nokia

  • one Their long-popular Symbian OS was created mostly as a reaction to Microsoft’s plans to enter the mobile market over a decade ago. This move tastes like crow.
  • two The profit margins on Nokia phones right now are roughly 30 percent. With a Windows-licensed phone, it’s much closer to 5-10 percent – a huge drop in revenues.
  • three This is the worst one by far – 20,000 Finnish Nokia employees will likely lose their jobs due to redundancy – a HUGE chunk of people by any stretch. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Feb 2011 21:59

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Tech: Nokia, Microsoft forced to fight for smartphone scraps together

  • This photo, showing Microsoft and Nokia’s CEOs, basically explains the entire story on its own. Nokia’s Stephen Elop: Down with whatever random OS we were trying to make that won’t succeed on the market because we waited too long! Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer: Up with our in-just-before-the-wire Windows Phone 7! By the way, how sad is it that Nokia, which basically wrote the script on the modern cell phone, now has to hop in bed with Microsoft to even keep up? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

12 Jan 2011 10:35

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Tech: Microsoft suddenly complains about Apple “App Store” trademark

  • then Back in 2008, Apple trademarked the words “App Store” to advertise its silo of third-party programmed application goodness. The U.S. Patent Office opened up the name for opposition in 2009, and Apple later used it for it Mac App Store.
  • now Microsoft, trying to gain a foothold with Windows Phone 7, decided to protest use of the name, saying that it was too generic. Note that the U.S. Patent Office has allowed others to protest this trademark for more than a year. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Nov 2010 21:37

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Tech: Windows Phone 7’s launch: Some positives, some negatives

  • good Microsoft drew over 200 people to a San Francisco AT&T store for its Windows Phone 7 launch today. It’s like an Apple launch, right?
  • bad Nearly all of them were there to nab tickets for a Maroon 5 concert to celebrate the phone’s launch. Barely anyone bought it. source
  • » On the plus side: Not everywhere was like San Francisco, apparently. The phone was reportedly sold out at stores in other major cities, including Atlanta, and around the world, the phone is faring much better than in the iPhone-heavy Bay Area. The lesson here: Are Maroon 5 fans really interested in buying a Windows phone?
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Oct 2010 11:34

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Biz, Culture: Old Spice guy Isaiah Mustafa trying another brand on for size

  • Say it ain’t so, Old Spice guy! Isaiah Mustafa has taken his ad mascot on the road –and down under – to Australia, where he’s helping launch Windows Phone 7, based on the ad above. But, but, bu… Old Spice needs you, man! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Oct 2010 10:21

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Tech: Hmm: Microsoft exec says Windows Phone 7 will support OSX

  • ANNOUNCEMENT: I’m glad to confirm that Mac users would be able to use Zune on their Macs to sync with #WP7
  • A (quickly-deleted) tweet from Microsoft’s UK head of Windows Phone maketing, Oded Ran • Suggesting that the company would actually release a version of the Zune’s software onto OSX so that they wouldn’t be cutting out their hotly-anticipated Windows Phone 7 from a quickly-growing part of the PC market. Perhaps that’s why the Zune hasn’t taken off. Despite being on the market for four whole years, they’ve only managed a paltry 2 percent of the market. Just for comparison’s sake, the iPod has 70 percent. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

11 Oct 2010 10:41

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Tech: Here it is: Three really quick Windows Phone 7 facts

  • 30 number of countries getting Windows Phone 7 at the phone’s launch
  • nine number of Windows Phone 7 models coming out next month
  • 2011 when MS expects the phones to have copy and paste source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

12 Sep 2010 10:09

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Tech: Microsoft dances on the iPhone’s grave a little too early

  • Well, that’s, uh … something. Microsoft’s so excited about launching Windows Phone 7 that they took to the streets in a Thriller dance and held a mock funeral for the iPhone, which we’re pretty sure is in no danger of being nicked by MS. WTF, guys? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Jul 2010 11:20

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Tech: Microsoft resorts to paying developers to make mobile apps

  • Translation: We’re desperate to play with Google and Apple. In a pretty implicit admission that they’re playing catch-up, the company plans to pay developers to help give Windows Phone 7 an early push. Why this strategy? Well, some developers may not be willing to program for an untested platform if they’re not convinced people are going to use it. It’s a good idea for Microsoft, but they can only get away with it because they’re Microsoft. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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