zlacker

Re-posting this at top level, curious what others think.

Since Windows has started this iteration of their move to ARM, I wondered if Microsoft would be the first to do this properly, by building an adaptable/mobile Desktop/UX to Windows 12 (or 13), pumping up the Microsoft Store, and then relaunching the Windows (Surface, I guess) Phone with full fat Windows on it.

In a way it's the same strategy that Nintendo used to re-gain a strong position in gaming (including the lucrative Home Console market where they'd fallen to a distant last place) - drafting their dominance in Handheld into Home Console by merging the two.

>>pcchri+(OP)
I think it would end up exactly like the last time they tried that with the mobile-oriented Windows 8. Nothing has changed since then that would make an attempt any easier. Windows has far too much legacy cruft and everything's spread across a dozen different GUI toolkits and design languages. They still haven't even managed to completely eliminate Control Panel after 13 years of trying.

>>ejj28+u2
I think the bigger issue will be sabotage from Google just like last time. Who would use a phone without google maps or YouTube?

>>pcchri+(OP)
> I wondered if Microsoft would...do this properly

No.

>>adithy+H2
It's worse even than the "vital apps" ecosystem - who would leave their preferred "walled garden" when so many dials have been set to make that the maximum frustration?

>>pcchri+(OP)
Microsoft has built Android app support into Windows, and phobe hardware is a lot more powerful than it used to be.

If they really try to make a convergent Windows phone, I think they could make it if they manage to integrate Android apps into the Windows mobile UI. However, we are talking about Microsoft, so I doubt they'd actually manage to do it.

>>pcchri+(OP)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Continuum

>>pcchri+(OP)
Why do people want Microsoft to dominate?

This is baffling to read

>>WhereI+gw
At this point I want a choice other than Apple and Google/Samsung (Samsung phones with google software is the most common combination in that eco system. The more choices people have the more all of the above have to play nice.