Microsoft is very likely going to make a second attempt at mobile hardware, but this time with a different strategic approach - one that allows everyone who bet on Windows 11/ARM to be able to run whatever the like without the headaches so common for Android/iOS.
Putting effort into Windows on ARM development made some sense when Windows had mobile phones. Without Windows Mobile, ARM devices don't have enough penetration in the platform to make a difference.
I suspect Microsoft is going to be feeling the impact of abandoning mobile on their other projects and goals for many years to come.
The way Microsoft has handled the mobile market for the past 15 years, it seems likely that they'll go through at least two or three more mobile operating systems before the market can decide whether x86 belongs in handheld devices.
> Windows mobile OS trying to compete with iOS and Android - which they seem to have given up on.
Microsoft's strategy is to be cross-platform, which is why it has dozens of apps on iOS and Android, and supports Linux on Azure.
Microsoft's Windows strategy is to be cross-platform, with Windows 10 for "internet of things", phones, tablets, games consoles, all types of PC and servers.
Windows phones didn't sell well enough and the hardware lagged what was needed for Windows 10 (eg Hello and Continuum). However, there's still an ARM/smartphone version of Windows 10, so that door's not closed yet. There are always rumors about a business-oriented Surface phone
Also, Windows 10 was and is free for smartphones, so there's still room for Asian manufacturers to have a go. Even if they don't ship many units, it provides a fall-back if Google gets too aggressive on Android.
Meh. I still think that is a mistake. Windows Mobile lost because it was late to market, and was not designed well the first two times.
Windows Mobile 10 was good, so was ability to develop for desktop, mobile and Xbox with one codebase. IMO Microsoft shut it down when it actually was becoming awesome.
Maybe Windows 10 ARM64 will still come back to phones though.
He addresses that point in the article. Microsoft already have the equivalent of iPhone OS X, it's Windows CE for embedded devices and which is also the underpinnings of Windows Mobile for PDAs and Smartphones.
It doesn't run standard Windows apps but neither would an ARM version of Windows 7.
It's hard to see any manufacturer seriously revisiting the Windows story on mobile platforms. It has died a couple of times already, and for a casual observer it looks like Microsoft is more committed to Android+iOS story now too.
I really would love to see a Microsoft mobile device. My issue was lack of available devices on my carrier, and when I did find them they hardly were competitive with the available Android alternatives. I hope Microsoft does return to the Mobile OS market, but I hope they pull all the right moves off to get real traction going. I still remember having a code to be a Windows developer for free as a student but never had the time to build any apps so I never took advantage of my developer code.
I do hope Microsoft returns back at it someday. I hope they bring out "Super Phones" on every major carrier that truly compete. Also hope they don't bring some of the pain points of Windows 10 (forced updates, forced telemetry and what not). Google and Apple need a serious competitor. Ubuntu bailed and I wish they had not. It seems like a very specialized OS needs to be built and it needs to hit market on all major carriers with new things to offer that are worthwhile. Privacy would be a strong selling point if anyone else attempts it. I want a privacy focused and open source mobile alternative, feels like I'll wait a long time for it though. Microsoft has the resources to provide such an alternative though... Would be definitely different if they went that route.
The key word is "developing", as in, they don't have it yet. Microsoft has constantly been stuck behind developments that are waiting to be done. They obviously held out on Windows Mobile because they were gonna switch it to x86, until Intel abandoned their plans to support that, kicking the legs out from under that project. Now it's emulating x86 on ARM, a work in progress.
The problem is, they've strung along their mobile platform for years while trying to do all this, and left everyone on it without a paddle. With no devices and no point where they can conclusively say they're ready to try again, it makes sense for them to "kill it". And then launch as a new thing as some indeterminate point in the future where they actually have a product together.
As long as the Windows desktop (and particularly, Windows 10 S) development continues to push UWP, adding mobile support again later won't be particularly difficult.
Microsoft is definitely targeting Android - its just that they don't think they need to 1) fork or 2) provide hardware that runs Android to be successful.
I think it is pretty clear that Android is Microsoft's plan B in the mobile market. I know they have kind of said that already although not in so many words. I wouldn't be shocked to see a Microsoft Android phone at some point if Windows 10 Mobile fails to improve adoption of the platform (it will fail). Something similar to what Samsung do with a totally custom interface on top of an Android core. Not sure how things would go in regards to Google core services. I guess Microsoft could reimplement their own services framework that hooks things up to their services. I am not an Android dev though so perhaps one it chip in that could clear things up regarding this?
Isn't Microsoft still in a good position to bring a full features desktop OS to smartphones once their ARM port is complete? I for one am not big into Windows, but if MS continues their current path of integration on continuity I could see it getting to a certain point of "critical mass" where people can have one digital environment for work, leisure times mobilr and stationary and do everything anywhere. Both iOS and Android seem ill suited for that.
What else can Microsoft do? Without this, there's really no mobile strategy except to support users and developers on Android and iOS (which isn't a terrible strategy).
Yes, but the big difference this time around is that it's the same Windows as on the desktop with the ability to run desktop software. You get mobile plus desktop on the one device which is something Microsoft's better positioned to deliver on than either Google or Apple. And because of that Microsoft will finally start succeeding on mobile.
By not allowing legacy apps on ARM microsoft would not have any leverage in the tablet space. If I have a choice between iOS and Windows ARM where the former had a ton of apps and latter doesn't have many, then why would ?I choose windows? It's the same Windows Phone story again. No matter how superior it is to the iPhone, it will lose out for the lack of apps.
Microsoft knows this. I won't be surprised if they have more nd more support for legacy API and applications on ARM over time.
Interesting but risky point. What if the new Windows Mobile flops due to critical problems much like the other Windows Mobiles?
Android at least is already gathering momentum, despite all its issues. It's nice that Microsoft cares, but you won't get rich selling to the 3 people who decided to buy a Microsoft phone.
You say "They care about how polished the outside looks, how thin it is, and how smooth and fast the user interface is."
People also care about how easy it is to do whatever they're trying to do. And this combination, smooth, fast, and easy, is really hard to achieve. I'm not entirely convinced Microsoft is still up to it, though I'll be glad to be surprised.
My guess is that Microsoft's bet is less in AR in its own right, and more that the "phone" - a form factor that has changed once or twice a decade for the past 3 decades or so - is due for a form factor change. And they'd like to be ahead of the curve for once, rather than always catching up.
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