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Microsoft doesn't need to be pushing their own Android distribution to be successful here. They're building a very compelling set of software that runs atop And

by jrs95 8y ago

Microsoft doesn't need to be pushing their own Android distribution to be successful here. They're building a very compelling set of software that runs atop Android on any device, and this can be done while complying with Google's requirements for having Play services. I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft's existing relationship with Samsung evolves into something where you can buy a Samsung device through Microsoft that comes preloaded with Microsoft Launcher, SwiftKey, Cortana, Edge, Office, etc while still including Google Play. They could also pursue this with other manufacturers or even with their own devices if they absolutely had to. Microsoft wants to get Android devices integrated with their services, but they don't need to be the app store in order to do that. That strategy is doomed to fail as Amazon already proved with Fire Phone.

qwerty456127 8y ago
> Edge Why would anybody but legacy-encumbered enterprises actually use a web browser by Microsoft nowadays? > but they don't need to be the app store But wouldn't it be good if there were more than one fairly-big and well-advertised app store? In fact the situation when there is just one seems worrying, e.g. Apple is already misusing their monopoly on iOS devices actively.
- Marsymars 8y ago
  > Why would anybody but legacy-encumbered enterprises actually use a web browser by Microsoft nowadays? I expect people have various reasons. Personally, my installs of FF/Chrome/Vivaldi are locked down in various ways to not accepts cookies/scripts, so I use Edge for sites that break in my other browsers that I don't need to access often enough to bother whitelisting. Same way I use Safari on macOS.
  - qwerty456127 8y ago
    You don't have to disable cookies, there is Vanilla Cookie Manager to delete cookies set by any but whitelisted sites as you close them. You can also use incognito mode (which starts with no extensions enabled by default) - I use it when I have to view a site that gets broken by my ad-blocking and privacy-enforcing extensions set-up. And there actually are so many Chrome-based sites you can always install one more if the number you already have is not enough and you don't like Chrome's built-in user switching. MS browsers have a long history of being not just outdated from the compatibility point of view but also vulnerable to malware so I personally wouldn't trust them. I would actually love to learn there is a real (using a different engine) alternative browser but I feel skeptic about Microsoft building one.
- jrs95 8y ago
  There are alternative app stores on Android (Amazon and Samsung) but they suck and nobody uses them. It's a waste of time for Microsoft to pursue that IMO, and even if they did it, it wouldn't be a viable replacement for the Play Store. As for Edge, the mobile browser doesn't use Microsoft engine. Edge on Android is based on Blink but has Windows desktop integrations. Personally I use Edge on my laptop because it's much lighter on battery life and I rarely encounter compatibility issues with sites.

by jrs95 8y ago

qwerty456127 8y ago

> Edge Why would anybody but legacy-encumbered enterprises actually use a web browser by Microsoft nowadays? > but they don't need to be the app store But wouldn't it be good if there were more than one fairly-big and well-advertised app store? In fact the situation when there is just one seems worrying, e.g. Apple is already misusing their monopoly on iOS devices actively.

Marsymars 8y ago
> Why would anybody but legacy-encumbered enterprises actually use a web browser by Microsoft nowadays? I expect people have various reasons. Personally, my installs of FF/Chrome/Vivaldi are locked down in various ways to not accepts cookies/scripts, so I use Edge for sites that break in my other browsers that I don't need to access often enough to bother whitelisting. Same way I use Safari on macOS.
- qwerty456127 8y ago
  You don't have to disable cookies, there is Vanilla Cookie Manager to delete cookies set by any but whitelisted sites as you close them. You can also use incognito mode (which starts with no extensions enabled by default) - I use it when I have to view a site that gets broken by my ad-blocking and privacy-enforcing extensions set-up. And there actually are so many Chrome-based sites you can always install one more if the number you already have is not enough and you don't like Chrome's built-in user switching. MS browsers have a long history of being not just outdated from the compatibility point of view but also vulnerable to malware so I personally wouldn't trust them. I would actually love to learn there is a real (using a different engine) alternative browser but I feel skeptic about Microsoft building one.
jrs95 8y ago
There are alternative app stores on Android (Amazon and Samsung) but they suck and nobody uses them. It's a waste of time for Microsoft to pursue that IMO, and even if they did it, it wouldn't be a viable replacement for the Play Store. As for Edge, the mobile browser doesn't use Microsoft engine. Edge on Android is based on Blink but has Windows desktop integrations. Personally I use Edge on my laptop because it's much lighter on battery life and I rarely encounter compatibility issues with sites.