5 ms·

Elop himself leaks Nokia's first Windows Phone

49 points by dirtyaura 15y ago

krmmalik 15y ago
Seems like a very typical MS style publicity stunt, where they know full well someone was going to leak it out, but they dont want to be seen as publicly announcing it. I mean its filmed in very high quality for goodness sake and there's no shake on the camera, so a dedicated tripod-mounted camera? I think so.
- ikilledkojack 15y ago
  At the same time, it could also be someone with access to the footage which maybe was intended to remain for company use only who leaked it illegitimately.
- JonnieCache 15y ago
  The panning indicates that the camera was indeed likely mounted. Also it seamlessly cuts between two angles.
- kooshball 15y ago
  the video was shot by Nokia, not some random reporter.
- yuhong 15y ago
  Of course, I don't mean doing it like this, but I was thinking about allowing engineers to discuss projects in public non-confidentially without making official promises or announcements may be a good idea when appropriate for a while now.
shawnbaden 15y ago
Nokia should go all in on Windows Phone.
- phsr 15y ago
  I thought that was what they were doing...
  - iaskwhy 15y ago
    Well, me too but Stephen talk (which by the way was great) seems to imply Meego isn't going anywhere, he talks about both teams has inspiring and inspired.
    - crs 15y ago
      Well since he just bet the company on WP7 you can't expect him to say anything else. If MeeGo is going somewhere then that undermines his MS deal. That said, It appears that there are two factions in Nokia. One pushing MeeGo and one pushing WP7. And like I said in an earlier comment, this "leak" reeks of damage control btw pro WP7 camp.
      - iaskwhy 15y ago
        It sure does. I'm just not sure about these factions, I mean Nokia has the resources to have two teams on two different operating systems without there being some sort of fight between them.
- SwellJoe 15y ago
  They pretty much are. At least they're killing off their own smart phone OS. But, you've given no reason why you think they should do so, and the market has, so far, said that Windows Phone is unexciting. I'm gonna believe the market over a random guy on the Internet, unless you've got a pretty good reason to think two losers will combine to make a winner.
  - MatthewPhillips 15y ago
    I'm not sure the market has said this so much as it's said "I'm scared to buy anything but Android and iPhone". I have no doubt Microsoft will be able to strong-arm their way into this market the same way they were able to do in search.
MatthewPhillips 15y ago
That is an attractive device, but so is the N9. Too bad the unlocked versions will be $850+.
- rbanffy 15y ago
  It's a high end phone, after all. Nokia should aim lower. Cheaper Androids are there already
  - MatthewPhillips 15y ago
    In what way is it high end? I know that Nokias usually have excellent cameras, but other than that, what?
    - deleted 15y ago
      [deleted]
    - rbanffy 15y ago
      Big touchscreen, multi-tasking smartphone with Nokia quality? Doesn't look like they have many fancier models.
      - MatthewPhillips 15y ago
        Sure, but a high end phone isn't over $800 (isn't that what you were responding to?). iPhone 4 unlocked is $750 on Amazon, Androids are usually in the $600-$700 range for their high end devices. But Nokias are always in the high 800s and into the 900s.
        rbanffy 15y ago
        That's a problem Nokia never solved. Even their fairly mundane phones are more expensive (although better built) than most of their competition.
        jarek 15y ago
guelo 15y ago
Feels like an intentional leak, probably wanted to deflect some heat from people saying they should have stuck with the N9.
- CurrentB 15y ago
  Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen something that felt more intentional. No way they handle company secrets by giving a 2 second request to put away cameras before showing off the thing.
- crs 15y ago
  I thought the same thing. It would be a huge slap in the face if the N9 turns out to be very popular. This leak feels like "damage control". Which seems silly, there is no reason you can't release phones with WP7 and MeeGo. The release of the N9 and demo videos really brings Elop and Co's statements about the emperor having no clothes with regards to MeeGo into question. Looking back that appears to be negative marketing to justify the ms partnership.
  - sp332 15y ago
    No one said MeeGo was a bad OS. Nokia just didn't have the money to follow through. They ran out of runway.
markokocic 15y ago
I just don't believe it "leaked". Probably pro MS fraction inside Nokia let it go in order to diminish N9 success. It looks to me like some people there don't want non Windows phone to succeed.
chrisjsmith 15y ago
Looks horrid. The mockups they did initially were much nicer looking phones: http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/02/11x0211nokiaconcept.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/02/11x021...
OmarIsmail 15y ago
I'm extremely excited for Nokia + Windows Phone. Recently upgraded from an iPhone 3GS to a 4 and it just didn't feel like an upgrade. I'll admit that I haven't had the chance to try out a Windows Phone 7 device personally, but I've watched A LOT of videos. The interface smoothness and holistic integration of various services and information makes a hell of a lot more sense than silo'd individual apps. The only downside about Windows Phone now is the lack of tethering. I find it a very important feature, so I'm really hoping that gets included in Mango or soon after.
- Synaesthesia 15y ago
  I'm also excited about the Nokia WP7 - I wish they had it out already - better be soon! Regarding iPhones - really? Well I went from a 3GS to a 4, the screen is a world of difference in terms of contrast ratio, battery life is better, reception is better, multitasking works better and the camera too.
  - OmarIsmail 15y ago
    Objectively and quantitatively I obviously agree with you. However - surprisingly even to me - I didn't find it had a qualitative impact on my experience of the device. I actually still have my 3GS and still use it back and forth, and I don't experience any kind of "ugh, have to go back to this old thing". And I've also had the same experience with the iPad to iPad 2 - I've been able to switch back and forth friction free. It's really down to how you use the device, and I discovered that my use cases don't highlight the improvements. Note that I found a major difference between the 3G and 3GS and felt that was a huge upgrade.
- daeken 15y ago
  I've been on WP7 now for a couple months (HTC HD7 on T-Mobile) and overall I'm very happy with it. However, it has its issues. First and foremost is the lack of background services. I'm an avid Rdio (http://rdio.com/ http://rdio.com/) user, and while the app works well, it can't play in the background. Want to listen to it and check a text message? Sorry, no dice. I'm assuming this is coming with multitasking in Mango, but we'll see. While the browser works damn well (really, why can't IE on the desktop not suck, if they can pull this off?), there are a few things that irritate me. There are two big ones: wide comments on HN (e.g. in a code block) completely break the zooming of the page, so you have to scroll back and forth to read any comment; if you're on, say, a HN thread, then go check an email and come back by clicking the IE tile rather than hitting the back button, hitting the back button then brings you back to the home screen, with no way of actually going to the previous page (history seems to only exist in the back button functionality). And since my only test hardware has been the HD7, I should point out that it likes to reboot. A lot. I think this is related to the poor microSD slot, which allows the card to slip out and cause things to not be accessible and causes crashes -- unfortunately, it's behind a warranty-voiding-seal panel, and if it comes out for good, you're SOL. This happened to my first HD7 about a week after I got it, but thankfully hasn't happened to that extent yet. Outside of these things, I really haven't looked back since switching from Android. The interface is beautiful and intuitive, the apps are damn fast, and overall I'm very happy with it.
Raphael 15y ago
Dual boot WP7 and MeeGo!
deleted 15y ago
[deleted]

49 points by dirtyaura 15y ago

Seems like a very typical MS style publicity stunt, where they know full well someone was going to leak it out, but they dont want to be seen as publicly announcing it. I mean its filmed in very high quality for goodness sake and there's no shake on the camera, so a dedicated tripod-mounted camera? I think so.

ikilledkojack 15y ago
At the same time, it could also be someone with access to the footage which maybe was intended to remain for company use only who leaked it illegitimately.
JonnieCache 15y ago
The panning indicates that the camera was indeed likely mounted. Also it seamlessly cuts between two angles.
kooshball 15y ago
the video was shot by Nokia, not some random reporter.
yuhong 15y ago
Of course, I don't mean doing it like this, but I was thinking about allowing engineers to discuss projects in public non-confidentially without making official promises or announcements may be a good idea when appropriate for a while now.

shawnbaden 15y ago

Nokia should go all in on Windows Phone.

phsr 15y ago
I thought that was what they were doing...
- iaskwhy 15y ago
  Well, me too but Stephen talk (which by the way was great) seems to imply Meego isn't going anywhere, he talks about both teams has inspiring and inspired.
  - crs 15y ago
    Well since he just bet the company on WP7 you can't expect him to say anything else. If MeeGo is going somewhere then that undermines his MS deal. That said, It appears that there are two factions in Nokia. One pushing MeeGo and one pushing WP7. And like I said in an earlier comment, this "leak" reeks of damage control btw pro WP7 camp.
    - iaskwhy 15y ago
      It sure does. I'm just not sure about these factions, I mean Nokia has the resources to have two teams on two different operating systems without there being some sort of fight between them.
SwellJoe 15y ago
They pretty much are. At least they're killing off their own smart phone OS. But, you've given no reason why you think they should do so, and the market has, so far, said that Windows Phone is unexciting. I'm gonna believe the market over a random guy on the Internet, unless you've got a pretty good reason to think two losers will combine to make a winner.
- MatthewPhillips 15y ago
  I'm not sure the market has said this so much as it's said "I'm scared to buy anything but Android and iPhone". I have no doubt Microsoft will be able to strong-arm their way into this market the same way they were able to do in search.

MatthewPhillips 15y ago

That is an attractive device, but so is the N9. Too bad the unlocked versions will be $850+.

rbanffy 15y ago
It's a high end phone, after all. Nokia should aim lower. Cheaper Androids are there already
- MatthewPhillips 15y ago
  In what way is it high end? I know that Nokias usually have excellent cameras, but other than that, what?
  - deleted 15y ago
    [deleted]
  - rbanffy 15y ago
    Big touchscreen, multi-tasking smartphone with Nokia quality? Doesn't look like they have many fancier models.
    - MatthewPhillips 15y ago
      Sure, but a high end phone isn't over $800 (isn't that what you were responding to?). iPhone 4 unlocked is $750 on Amazon, Androids are usually in the $600-$700 range for their high end devices. But Nokias are always in the high 800s and into the 900s.
      - rbanffy 15y ago
        That's a problem Nokia never solved. Even their fairly mundane phones are more expensive (although better built) than most of their competition.
      - jarek 15y ago

guelo 15y ago

Feels like an intentional leak, probably wanted to deflect some heat from people saying they should have stuck with the N9.

CurrentB 15y ago
Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen something that felt more intentional. No way they handle company secrets by giving a 2 second request to put away cameras before showing off the thing.
crs 15y ago
I thought the same thing. It would be a huge slap in the face if the N9 turns out to be very popular. This leak feels like "damage control". Which seems silly, there is no reason you can't release phones with WP7 and MeeGo. The release of the N9 and demo videos really brings Elop and Co's statements about the emperor having no clothes with regards to MeeGo into question. Looking back that appears to be negative marketing to justify the ms partnership.
- sp332 15y ago
  No one said MeeGo was a bad OS. Nokia just didn't have the money to follow through. They ran out of runway.

markokocic 15y ago

I just don't believe it "leaked". Probably pro MS fraction inside Nokia let it go in order to diminish N9 success. It looks to me like some people there don't want non Windows phone to succeed.

chrisjsmith 15y ago

Looks horrid. The mockups they did initially were much nicer looking phones: http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/02/11x0211nokiaconcept.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/02/11x021...

OmarIsmail 15y ago

I'm extremely excited for Nokia + Windows Phone. Recently upgraded from an iPhone 3GS to a 4 and it just didn't feel like an upgrade. I'll admit that I haven't had the chance to try out a Windows Phone 7 device personally, but I've watched A LOT of videos. The interface smoothness and holistic integration of various services and information makes a hell of a lot more sense than silo'd individual apps. The only downside about Windows Phone now is the lack of tethering. I find it a very important feature, so I'm really hoping that gets included in Mango or soon after.

Synaesthesia 15y ago
I'm also excited about the Nokia WP7 - I wish they had it out already - better be soon! Regarding iPhones - really? Well I went from a 3GS to a 4, the screen is a world of difference in terms of contrast ratio, battery life is better, reception is better, multitasking works better and the camera too.
- OmarIsmail 15y ago
  Objectively and quantitatively I obviously agree with you. However - surprisingly even to me - I didn't find it had a qualitative impact on my experience of the device. I actually still have my 3GS and still use it back and forth, and I don't experience any kind of "ugh, have to go back to this old thing". And I've also had the same experience with the iPad to iPad 2 - I've been able to switch back and forth friction free. It's really down to how you use the device, and I discovered that my use cases don't highlight the improvements. Note that I found a major difference between the 3G and 3GS and felt that was a huge upgrade.
daeken 15y ago
I've been on WP7 now for a couple months (HTC HD7 on T-Mobile) and overall I'm very happy with it. However, it has its issues. First and foremost is the lack of background services. I'm an avid Rdio (http://rdio.com/ http://rdio.com/) user, and while the app works well, it can't play in the background. Want to listen to it and check a text message? Sorry, no dice. I'm assuming this is coming with multitasking in Mango, but we'll see. While the browser works damn well (really, why can't IE on the desktop not suck, if they can pull this off?), there are a few things that irritate me. There are two big ones: wide comments on HN (e.g. in a code block) completely break the zooming of the page, so you have to scroll back and forth to read any comment; if you're on, say, a HN thread, then go check an email and come back by clicking the IE tile rather than hitting the back button, hitting the back button then brings you back to the home screen, with no way of actually going to the previous page (history seems to only exist in the back button functionality). And since my only test hardware has been the HD7, I should point out that it likes to reboot. A lot. I think this is related to the poor microSD slot, which allows the card to slip out and cause things to not be accessible and causes crashes -- unfortunately, it's behind a warranty-voiding-seal panel, and if it comes out for good, you're SOL. This happened to my first HD7 about a week after I got it, but thankfully hasn't happened to that extent yet. Outside of these things, I really haven't looked back since switching from Android. The interface is beautiful and intuitive, the apps are damn fast, and overall I'm very happy with it.

Raphael 15y ago

Dual boot WP7 and MeeGo!

deleted 15y ago

[deleted]