What's behind Microsoft's fall from dominance?

[nicholas]

I don't like the nexus hardware, no sdcard slot and worse cameras than my 2 year old phone. But each android version they push out is basically hard coded for their phones, which is why it's so hard for manufacturers to port them to last years hardware. Google change the os enough each time that you can't just use the old drivers etc.
 
The other manufacturers don't help as they use binary blobs for drivers that they don't update, plus they can also make changes to the os to get their drivers working. It's a major problem for someone trying to clean up the mess.
 
So with Android you get a choice you can either:
 
1. be forced to buy a nexus, which might be supported for three years (they have stopped supporting the first two already).
 
2. live with being stuck on the version of android the phone comes with.
 
3. upgrade to a cyanogenmod build for your phone that has been ported by a school kid and has drivers that crash or don't work.
 
 
I don't have the money to buy apple stuff & I don't have the money to buy a new phone when my old phone could actually run the latest software if google could get their act together.
 
Android has really left a bad taste in my mouth, something I've never experienced with Microsoft. Microsoft force the operators to accept updates (I think apple do too).
 
Androids Linux origins really show through and it's not something that works commercially.

Good luck updating your Windows Phone 7 device to WP8.

[nicholas]

My Galaxy S2 is currently running Android 4.3 quite nicely. It came with 2.3 IIRC and has upgraded to 4.0, 4.1, 4.2 in between with no issues.

My mate's Lumia came with Windows Phone 7 and will never be upgraded to WP8.

My next phone will hopefully be a Jolla device as I'm not tied to Android in a technical nor emotional way.

It's just a tool to get work done with. All this brand loyalty stuff is beyond me.

[nicholas]

Microsoft aren't going anywhere soon they will just become a different beast than they currently are due to changing markets.

However, it is a fact that they are currently irrelevant in the mobile sector, which is the fastest growing market currently.

Maybe they will come to dominate the mobile sector but I can't see it happening myself.

[nicholas]

I compiled it myself.

That's the best feature. I can do whatever the hell I want with it. Some people don't want that, some people do. Who cares really, use what you want, everyone is different and everyone has different requirements.

I have absolutely zero need for any product MS currently have on offer, maybe in future I will, who knows? What a great thing the free market is!

[nicholas]

Your personal experience is truly harrowing account and has now firmly caused me to go out and buy a Lumia tomorrow despite it not offering me a single thing I need.

[nicholas]

Hang on... Where are we? :lol:

Last time I checked I was a heretic who preferred the alternatives to the brand name.

My contract is up for renewal and it doesn't look like I'll be able to get a Jolla device so I might be tempted to get an iPhone 5 as long as I can jail break it.

[nicholas]

I like how your argument boils down to "nobody dislikes Windows 8 except for all the people who dislike Windows 8, and they're all either haters or sheep so they don't count." Very sensible.

Yay we finally find common ground John.

[nicholas]

Oh dear.

http://slashdot.org/story/191479

[nicholas]

I've never really understood how Linux gets away with free DVD playback

They don't come with DVD playback, the user has to install a codec or standalone player like VLC to enable it. Same as Win8.

[nicholas]

ubuntu might not bundle it, but there is dvd player software out there that is illegal in the usa and some other countries but completely legal in some others. There are fully licenced proprietary linux dvd players available for those who live in the usa.

ftfy.

http://www.cyberlink.com/eng/press_room/view_1849.html
http://www.fluendo.com/shop/product/fluendo-dvd-player/

I should also mention that the exact same DVD players that are available for Linux are available for users of Windows in those countries outside the USA. (VLC, MPlayer, FFMPEG, libdvdcss etc)

http://www.videolan.org/legal.html

[nicholas]

Ubuntu downloaded and installed the DVD playing codec when you ticked the box to install third party codecs during the installation wizard.

As you are in the USA you broke the law you naughty boy.

[nicholas]

@smerf

Use LibreOffice instead of OpenOffice, it's much better.

http://www.libreoffice.org

[nicholas]

ftfy.

http://www.cyberlink.com/eng/press_room/view_1849.html
http://www.fluendo.com/shop/product/fluendo-dvd-player/

I should also mention that the exact same DVD players that are available for Linux are available for users of Windows in those countries outside the USA. (VLC, MPlayer, FFMPEG, libdvdcss etc)

http://www.videolan.org/legal.html

I'll take your silence as agreement psxphill.

[nicholas]

You can take my silence as having a life outside here.

Sure.

More like you talked a load of bollox as usual, don't let silly little things like facts get in the way though.

[nicholas]

ou don't believe I have been out all day and have just returned? You have serious mental health issues.

I believe that you are an arrogant prick who is unable to respond to his lies being corrected by facts without restoring to ad-hominem attacks to deflect from his own obvious failings.

Please don't speak to me again.