Interesting Links for 31-08-2012

[andrewducker]

• What Killed the Linux Desktop
  (tags: linux software operatingsystems )
• Apple Rejects App That Tracks U.S. Drone Strikes. Huzzah for censorship!
  (tags: apple censorship usa military )
• Antarctic may host hundreds of billions of tons of methane.
  (tags: antarctic methane globalwarming )
• Why Johnny can’t stream: How video copyright went

Comments

[a_pawson]

I don't agree that most people don't want a Windows phone. I suspect most people (myself included) don't care what OS a phone runs. We want a phone that is easy to use and does everything we want it to. Many people I know just accept and use whatever upgrade the network offers them.

I think I am going to have an issue with the phones being tied to the Windows App store, but there are a whole swathe of iPhone users out there which suggests many people are not that bothered by that.

[steer]

Many people I know just accept and use whatever upgrade the network offers them.

Most networks offer a choice of phones to upgrade to. If it's a free upgrade on an expensive enough contract to be offered a Lumia it's going to be a wide choice.

I wonder what the phone shop's "can you recommend something" policy is? If it's a genuinely ignorant user who doesn't ask a friend then how do they pick a phone? Assuming they're not just going "what looks pretty" how do they then choose?

It would be pretty bad to recommend the windows phone (since it doesn't look like it will fly and hence, the smart money IMHO is on the windows app store remaining under populated -- though actually I'm impressed it has as much content as it does).

[a_pawson]

I suspect that a mobile phone shop's recommendation will be governed by which phone makes the most money for the shop (and commission for the sales-rep).

Assuming that Windows mobile isn't terrible, then getting the networks to offer Windows phones to retailers cheaper than an android equivalent is I suspect going to be the key for Nokia/Microsoft. They are late-comers to the market so they are going to have to sell cheap to try and build market share.

[andrewducker]

Getting off the ground is going to require spending money on commission, yeah.

But the basic problem is that people are either going "Give me an awesome ecosystem, with a locked down phone that does things in a clean smooth way." (in which case they have an iPhone), "Give me a phone that lets me do things my way." (in which case they have an Android), or "Give me a phone that has all the apps." (either of them). There's no case where a Windows Phone beats both of the others.

[steer]

I wonder if there is some guideline they have to work to? After all, it is probably a fairly significant market share. If they're all saying "Buy the schnozzberry 500" because that gets them the most commission, Apple, Sony etc are going to have something to say about that.

How cheap do you want?
http://wmpoweruser.com/nokia-lumia-900-only-0-97-at-walmart/

[philmophlegm]

"I suspect most people (myself included) don't care what OS a phone runs."

Sorry - I've only just noticed this part of your comment having just posted something similar myself.

People might be bothered by being tied to a different app store if they have a lot of paid-for apps on their current store.

[andrewducker]

Most of the apps I run are free - and I'd happily give Windows Phone a go if it wasn't locked to a single app store.