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Google is planning to buy Motorola.
Do you think this is good or bad news for Samsung and the S2?
See:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14530543
I think it's great news. By bying Motorola with all it's patents, Google is able to countersue Microsoft, which wants a licence for every sold HTC and latest Samsung phones with Android. Google can then demand a licence for every sold Microsoft phone, or demand that Microsoft removes the licenceagreement for HTC, and stops the case against Samsung. So Google is in a better position, to defend it's licencees now, which they have promised.
So... bad news for Nokia and Microsoft, but great news for Android in generel.
Sent from my korean dual-core beast
But do you think that Samsung and HTC will become third class citizens with only Motorola having access to the latest leading edge software?
After all Google/Motorola will become competitors to Samsung!
No, i don't. And my reason is that Google live of commercials delivered through their products. By reducing the rest of their licencees, they risk to push them to the competitors, which in this case first and foremost is Windows Phone 7 - if that happens, they have no income. So Google should be interested in pushing as much licences as possible, and by betting only on Motorola would be a serious risk.
By placing it all on one horse, Google WILL loose money, as they don't sell as much advertisingspaces.
Furthermore Android will face a serious competition, when Nokia starts selling Windows phones. Nokia IS the worlds biggest phonepusher, but not yet on smartphones. Again a reason not to reduce the licencees, as they produce very capable phones, which even is posing a threat against Apple.
I really think that Google saw a problem coming up, as they did'nt get the Nortel patents. And even if they did, they could'nt use the patents to protect the licencees, as Microsoft were in on the same deal. So they had to do something to keep the money rolling in, by protecting Android and the licencees, and this was the way to do it...
Seems like to me Google wants to compete with Apple on the Hardware front... Altho I am not sure what this may mean for all the other android phone manufacturers becuase now they are also competing with Google directly rather than having a direct partnership per se...
Eddiedk said:
I think it's great news. By bying Motorola with all it's patents, Google is able to countersue Microsoft, which wants a licence for every sold HTC and latest Samsung phones with Android. Google can then demand a licence for every sold Microsoft phone, or demand that Microsoft removes the licenceagreement for HTC, and stops the case against Samsung. So Google is in a better position, to defend it's licencees now, which they have promised.
So... bad news for Nokia and Microsoft, but great news for Android in generel.
Sent from my korean dual-core beast
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This has nothing to do with the Microsoft patents and nothing Motorola has will effect the main MS claims. Its about protecting Android from Oracle and Apple. Oracle want money, LOTS, but the real danger is Apple who want bans. Apple are scum who buy patents to cause trouble, not gain IP for their own use.
Eddiedk said:
No, i don't. And my reason is that Google live of commercials delivered through their products. By reducing the rest of their licencees, they risk to push them to the competitors, which in this case first and foremost is Windows Phone 7 - if that happens, they have no income. So Google should be interested in pushing as much licences as possible, and by betting only on Motorola would be a serious risk.
By placing it all on one horse, Google WILL loose money, as they don't sell as much advertisingspaces.
Furthermore Android will face a serious competition, when Nokia starts selling Windows phones. Nokia IS the worlds biggest phonepusher, but not yet on smartphones. Again a reason not to reduce the licencees, as they produce very capable phones, which even is posing a threat against Apple.
I really think that Google saw a problem coming up, as they did'nt get the Nortel patents. And even if they did, they could'nt use the patents to protect the licencees, as Microsoft were in on the same deal. So they had to do something to keep the money rolling in, by protecting Android and the licencees, and this was the way to do it...
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Nokia was and had been number one in smartphones for many years until just one quarter ago. Its still officially second.
I don't think Google will be that stupid to buy Motorola and then suddenly stop releasing Android phones for other manufacturers such as Samsung and HTC..
After all, Android has such a big market share because different manufacturers are able to release the phones using the Android operating system.
Like suggested above, Google may be thinking of going head to head with Apple on both software and hardware front..
Also, it could be a way for Google to make sure no Motorola phones are released with other operating systems - which in turn gives Google more concrete operating market share and profit by selling Motorola hardware.
I think it is going to workout pretty well in the end.
oh, also, I don't think Nokia+Windows mobile is such a big threat.... for some weird reason, Nokia's customer service went dismal couple of years back and by the time I gave up using N97 end of last year, Nokia's customer service and support was basically non-existent. Also Symbian's support for basic 21st century functions - i.e supporting multiple languages etc still lags behind other operating systems... And let's face it.. Windows Mobile isn't that great either.
I read an article on Ipadforums that said Microsoft will release Microsoft Office for IPad in Feb. 2012. This is great news that they bringing this to mobile platform but how long do you think it'll be before they give Android some love also? This will kinda be a big deal as this could finally be the word processing capabilities that students and other people have been yearning for on Android. I would hope Microsoft would have the best version of word processing considering it's their format n programs that's most widely used in pc community. Do you think it could be implemented in full capacity or that it might have to be dumbed down some.
Just a f.y.I. In case you haven't heard this news. It's been rumored for a while but now I think it's official.
Is this a full Office suite or is it their answer to Google Docs? I think that is called MS Office 365 or something similar. I'd be curious to know. This is where software is headed in the future anyway so it would make sense if that is what it is.
edit:// I just looked at MS Office 365 and it will already work on our devices including the Prime. It is cloud hosted software though and is $6 a month.
For some reason knowing Microsoft, they will drag their feet for a couple years, and if it ever does drop for android i would imagine it to be a very very very water downed version. (It pretty much depends on Microsoft's relation ship with Google). Now i have no basis for this opinion, other than the last several versions of office for mac. Despite Microsoft having one of the best word processing suites for Windows they always seem to make the mac version seem cumbersome and not as good.
skeptikal said:
Is this a full Office suite or is it their answer to Google Docs? I think that is called MS Office 365 or something similar. I'd be curious to know. This is where software is headed in the future anyway so it would make sense if that is what it is.
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I just checked the article again and it doesn't specify if full suite or not. Plus article won't name sources. I think it's against rules to link an article from another forum, so I didn't. I'm curious also as to how much can be expected out of it. Apple has iworks to compensate for non existing Microsoft office before. Bit Android never really had anything like iworks. Only third party apps n such. Which some work great also but hardly any that let's you do everything or at least a suite of apps from same developer to compliment each other.
lmm112190 said:
For some reason knowing Microsoft, they will drag their feet for a couple years, and if it ever does drop for android i would imagine it to be a very very very water downed version. (It pretty much depends on Microsoft's relation ship with Google). Now i have no basis for this opinion, other than the last several versions of office for mac. Despite Microsoft having one of the best word processing suites for Windows they always seem to make the mac version seem cumbersome and not as good.
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Supposedly Microsoft just updated or is going to update the Mac version. I wouldn't think apple/Microsoft relationship could be better than one with Microsoft n google. Apple has been their arch nemesis for years. Apple has always cried Bill Gates stole their tech and made him the richest man in the world because of it..lol not bill fault they sold him the rights when he knew the true potential of it.
I use office pretty regularly and am actually considering paying 6 bucks a month for the cloud version. $72 bucks a year sounds sort of reasonable to me for an official MS Office product. Worth a trial at least.
For the Transformer series, an awesome word-processing application is essential. I find it hilarious that there is really no good one on Android yet.
Polaris is absolutely awful.
My money is on Google to finally update their Google Docs app to make it half-decent for tablets. But right now, it is a disgrace.
We also have LibreOffice announcing an Android version slated for 2012. Microsoft has slowly been releasing mobile versions of their software so I am sure there will be a Office 365 version out there eventually.
I have used a few Android Office Suites, and my favorite is QuickOffice Pro HD, specifically designed for tablets. Allows for opening, editing and authoring Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDFs. It also supports "save as" for Office 2010, 2007, and 2003.
It was Amazon Free App of the Day a month ago, and I love it. Best thing is that it hooks to many different cloud document storage sites, like GoogleDocs and Dropbox.
http://www.quickoffice.com/quickoffice_pro_hd_android/ for screen caps. It's as close as you can get to the real MS Office for a tablet, I think.
The phone version (non-HD version) is not that great, IMO. The tablet specific one is pretty darned good.
xTRICKYxx said:
For the Transformer series, an awesome word-processing application is essential. I find it hilarious that there is really no good one on Android yet.
Polaris is absolutely awful.
My money is on Google to finally update their Google Docs app to make it half-decent for tablets. But right now, it is a disgrace.
We also have LibreOffice announcing an Android version slated for 2012. Microsoft has slowly been releasing mobile versions of their software so I am sure there will be a Office 365 version out there eventually.
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I'd not say there is no good one. I quite like QuickOffice.
I agree that there is no good office suite for Android as of yet. I prefer QuickOffice mostly because of the cloud integration, but all other features are roughly the same as other apps (I actually like the look of Polaris best, but no dropbox integration makes it worthless to me). I would be thrilled to see a full office suite from Microsoft or anyone else (hoping LibreOffice comes through!). But really, all we need is for Microsoft to open MS Live office to mobile browsers - that would be enough for me, though I would rather have an app like QuickOffice with full cloud integration and full formatting features and spell check(!). It seems silly to me that nothing like that exists. Hell, when I type posts on this forum, I get more formatting options than most, if not all, office apps and it has spell check!
Yeah, quick office HD pro is a good one. I have it on my iPad along with Office2 HD, Docs to Go premium, and Iworks Pages. Also PDF expert n PDF reader. Got several different ones just in case one does something the other doesn't do.
So for Android, as I'm hearing, quick office HD is the way to go. At least until Microsoft releases office. I mainly use these apps to make/edit my resumes in such. Some apps act funny with formatting n such. Reading and filling out pdf'sworks well with PDF expert n PDF reader.
Does Android have those others I mentioned, minus Pages? I think I've seen docs2go. I have quick office on my Atrix4g. Will definitely get the HD version for Prime once I pick it up.
When I consider the numerous areas where Google is in direct competition with MS,l I would be very suprprised if MS offered any products which even remotely benefited the Android platform. Of course, once Windows 8 is released for portable devices, the odds of an Android version of Office, will probably approach zip.
All I know is that the SINGLE biggest thing preventing tablets from being able to serve as an effective replacement for ultra slim laptops is the lack of word processing abilities. If tablets were able to do that, they would be able to do pretty much everything I use my laptop for. Word processing is absolutely KEY for any sort of computer device that is supposed to have practical benefit for your life. As a student, it is essentially the only thing I do on my laptop that is entirely practicality-focused rather than media focused that tablets can't do.
While I'm probably going to be getting the TF Prime, the only thing holding me back is if I really need it. If it was capable of word processing, that question would be absolutely erased from my mind. Anyone in the tablet industry needs to jump on making that happen.
I highly doubt Microsoft will release anything worthwhile on Android.
Personally, I'm holding out for LibreOffice, though I also have a faint hope that Google might actually develop their Gdocs app into a full office suite app, something with the same capabilities of the desktop version at least.
If none of those happen... well, here's hoping for dual-booting Android/Windows 8.
LibreOffice for Android is in the works as I read somewhere. I much prefer LibreOffice to MsOffice. I also don't like much what Android has to offer, because no app saves odt files, which I prefer. Still - fully functional web Google Docs would be enough for me.
Came across this today, looks very interesting for us, does this mean a fully running version of windows could be run on our primes very soon? (would love to dual boot with windows and android)
Thoughts? sorry if its been brought up before
source - http://m.intomobile.com/2012/03/08/microsoft-challenges-onlive-over-its-windows-7onipad-software/
"OnLive is facing some heat from Microsoft today. The company, which provides an application that allows users of Apple’s iPad and Google Android tablets to run a hosted Windows 7 environment on their tablets, is reportedly utilizing Microsoft’s software without the proper licenses in place.
In a blog post on Microsoft’s Volume Licensing blog, Corporate VP of Licensing Joe Matz outlined terms companies must abide by when they provide Windows virtualization, or virtual machines that run the Windows and Office environment. Mr. Matz’s post stated that Microsoft is actively working with OnLive to bring the company in compliance with Microsoft’s Licensing terms, and likely reassured its partners that the investigation into OnLive is being treated as an issue that Microsoft is taking seriously.
The issue was brought to light via a Gartner analysis dating back to February 29th, which called out the services potential licensing risks. For a small monthly fee per user, OnLive gave users access to a virtual Windows desktop running Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer 9. Per the virtualization licensing policy, providing access in this way requires end users (Onlive’s customers) to have valid license keys for these products.
As a result of the Gartner report (or, more likely, pressure from other partners/licensees), Microsoft decided to go public with news of the investigation into OnLive, and to find a way to bring OnLive into compliance. Over coming weeks, we expect OnLive will announce a licensing deal with Microsoft that will allow users of its service to continue using the OnLive Desktop service, though the move could raise prices above the current $4.99 per user fee schedule.
Here’s hoping OnLive and Micrsoft are able to come to terms fairly quickly, as the OnLive Desktop service is a potentially powerful tool for iPad and Android tablet users."
OnLive Desktop is already available. It's in the Marke... er, on Play.
Now, we'll see if OnLive was playing monkey business with Windows and Office licensing. If so, the service could disappear pretty quickly.
All I see is a price rise
It's a pretty decent service. It nicely addresses the nagging problem that all Android Office-like apps are totally lame, and mostly unusable (I've purchased and tested them all).
Anything much more than $4.99 per month would be a deal-killer for me, though, since all you get is a subset of Office plus a browser. Not enough to be shelling out, say, even low three figures per year.
Look for Microsoft to once again screw up a good and innovative idea. OnLive doesn't threaten to significantly cannibalize Office sales, because it's a limited solution to a limited problem, not an alternative to actually owning Office on your Windows or Mac machine. Consequently, if MS could shake just a dollar per user per month out of OnLive it would be, for all intents and purposes, free money for them. But no. They'll get piggish and force the service's price up to a level which is unsupportable, thus driving OnLive out of business.
DrDawg said:
Look for Microsoft to once again screw up a good and innovative idea. OnLive doesn't threaten to significantly cannibalize Office sales, because it's a limited solution to a limited problem, not an alternative to actually owning Office on your Windows or Mac machine. Consequently, if MS could shake just a dollar per user per month out of OnLive it would be, for all intents and purposes, free money for them. But no. They'll get piggish and force the service's price up to a level which is unsupportable, thus driving OnLive out of business.
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I think Microsoft has every right to be upset about this. Nobody has a right to use Office without paying for it, whether or not any given user would otherwise purchase the product. And if Microsoft doesn't defend their licensing, it opens them up for numerous problems.
Seriously, why should OnLive be able to make a business out of essentially stealing other companies' products? If they can't figure out a way to do it profitably and legally, then that's their problem, not Microsoft's.
so i just downloaded it to see what its like and found that its the touch version of windows. it got me thinking is there anyway to make a desktop version of windows the touch version so when we connect with splashtop it works like its meant to be on a tablet?
jellydroid13 said:
so i just downloaded it to see what its like and found that its the touch version of windows. it got me thinking is there anyway to make a desktop version of windows the touch version so when we connect with splashtop it works like its meant to be on a tablet?
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I believe there is a Tablet Interface button or control panel somewhere in Windows 7. I just can't recall where I saw it, but it was in the past week on my system at home.
wynand32 said:
OnLive Desktop is already available. It's in the Marke... er, on Play.
Now, we'll see if OnLive was playing monkey business with Windows and Office licensing. If so, the service could disappear pretty quickly.
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Not in Germany, no, it is not.
"This is a skill-based Contest. The object of this Contest is for You to come into the Microsoft Store and try to beat the Microsoft Windows Phone in a series of five (5) "Smoked by Windows Phone" challenge scenarios selected by Microsoft at its sole discretion including: (1) Pocket-to-Picture-to-Post, (2) Real-Time Information with Live Tiles, (3) Using the People Hub to Stay in Touch with the People You Care About Most, (4) Updating Your Status Across Multiple Social Networks, and (5) Local Scout ("Challenge"). For purposes of this Contest, each entrant who participates in the Challenge with their own personal smartphone will be called an "entry." All eligible entries received will be judged using the criteria described below to determine the winners of the prizes described below."
Microsoft is hosting smartphone challenge in their US stores. When your existing smartphone beat their Windows Phone in above category, you get a $1000 laptop as price. If you lose, you can still trade-in your existing smartphone for one of their new Windows Phone, contract free.
Ok here is my dilemma, I can either use my beat up refurbished Blackberry for the contest and go for the loser "price" (trade for a new Windows phone). OR... I can use my Galaxy Note against their WP for the grand prize, $1000 laptop.
Although my Note is plenty fast against WP in general but my experience tells me that Microsoft must design these challenge in a specific way that favors WP os...
What do you guys think?
Not to mention that their phone will be pre-configured to kick your ass in every single challenge, like pre-cached data...
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I was wondering if there was anyway of someone porting bbm to s2 as my wife likes bbm but doesn't want a blackberry cos there crap.
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There will no BBM for Android ever. This has been discussed numerous time in xda.
Use WhatsApp. It's free forever even though they say it's a "trial". Actually it's a trial that never expires and extending itself when it's nearly expired.
While many industry watchers have suggested that Research in Motion give up its BlackBerry OS and adopt Android instead, RIM CEO Thorsten Heins (above) divulged exactly why the company avoided that route in a recent interview with the Telegraph.
And while RIM’s future seems especially bleak, after delaying its BlackBerry 10 release until 2013, Heins is still holding out hope that BlackBerry Messenger will be an enticing feature for its future devices.
“We took the conscious decision not to go Android,” Heins said. “If you look at other suppliers’ ability to differentiate, there’s very little wiggle room. We looked at it seriously – but if you understand what the promise of BlackBerry is to its user base it’s all about getting stuff done. Games, media, we have to be good at it but we have to support those guys who are ahead of the game. Very little time to consume and enjoy content – if you stay true to that purpose you have to build on that basis. And if we want to serve that segment we can’t do it on a me-too approach.”
Heins is basically reiterating his earlier position on Android, though now it sounds like RIM was closer to adopting Google’s OS than previously thought. I can’t blame the guy for avoiding the Android pile-on though. Looking at HTC’s disappointing earnings report today, it’s clear that there’s really only room for one Android manufacturer at the top — and RIM won’t be unseating Samsung anytime soon.
Personally, I still think RIM has a better shot at repositioning itself as the premiere Windows 8 enterprise partner. Sure, Nokia is struggling with its Windows Phone partnership, but that doesn’t mean similar deals will fail (especially if RIM focuses on a single lucrative market). And it’s certainly better than waiting for BlackBerry 10 to debut next year.
On the topic of BlackBerry Messenger, Heins reiterated that he doesn’t want to bring the service to other platforms. “That’s what attracts people to BlackBerry,” he said. “This is our BlackBerry experience we can deliver – there’s no other system out there where you can read, write, check if you’ve read my message. We want to make it as differentiated as possible.”
Apparently, Mr. Heins hasn’t heard of iMessage, Kik Messenger, or the multitude of other modern messaging services that boast more features than BlackBerry Messenger.
In the same interview, the CEO noted that RIM may have to seek outside help when building BlackBerry 10 devices to keep up with the iPhone and Android. Though I can’t imagine who’d be crazy enough to pay for the privilege to build a BlackBerry 10 phone.
KcLKcL said:
There will no BBM for Android ever. This has been discussed numerous time in xda.
Use WhatsApp. It's free forever even though they say it's a "trial". Actually it's a trial that never expires and extending itself when it's nearly expired.
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Yup, WhatsApp is like the WinRAR of Android.
It trumps BBM anyway - which i doubt will ever be on Android as it trumps RIMs only monopoly on Android.
mufcmsy2012 said:
I was wondering if there was anyway of someone porting bbm to s2 as my wife likes bbm but doesn't want a blackberry cos there crap.
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I use gTalk and whatsapp, and I have about 500 contacts on both
Swyped from my Samsung Galaxy SII