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Is it just me or does anyone else think this is Microsoft's first step to create it's own Android fork eventually? I have been thinking what's really keeping t

Is it just me or does anyone else think this is Microsoft's first step to create it's own Android fork eventually? I have been thinking what's really keeping the "new" Microsoft outside the smartphone game? Google creating a desktop OS market share is not really on the horizon. But if Microsoft takes the right steps it might venture out to smartphones again, and gain market share this time. The HN crowd may not be the best audience for unified experience that Apple seems to be heading toward but there is sure demand for it in the mainstream.

poisonborz 5y ago
They wouldn't have Play Services, which gives all the power of the ecosystem. Just having a good desktop back country doesn't help anything in the mobile space, as Windows Phone showed. It also won't go without experienced hardware partners, and Samsung is already in Google's pocket, the other top dogs being Chinese, who don't look for fitting in the western markets anymore.
- jacob019 5y ago
  Not exactly. Play services/GCM is the push notification system on Android. Even on my completely degoogled phone I have to use microG to support push notifications from google's servers because every app developer has hardcoded their app to use GCM. It doesn't have to be that way. An alternate push notification service with a client alternative could be made available. Developers and users could start using it. Ideally there would be a standardized protocol, and a system setting so that the user can set their preferred push notification provider. Apps would use the system provided endpoint for push notifications and we would get a little control back. I sure wish I could self host push notifications.
  - commoner 5y ago
    Amazon Appstore (used for Microsoft's Android integration in Windows 11) uses Amazon Device Messgaing (ADM) instead of Google's Firebase Cloud Messgaing (FCM) for push notifications. A FCM receiver is built into Google Play Services to enable push notifications for Play Protect certified Android devices, but ADM is a viable alternative for Amazon and Microsoft as long as developers tailor and submit apps to the Amazon Appstore. https://developer.amazon.com/docs/adm/overview.html https://developer.amazon.com/docs/adm/overview.html Gotify and OpenPush are open source push notification solutions, both in the beginning stages of development: - Gotify: https://gotify.net/ https://gotify.net/ - OpenPush: https://bubu1.eu/openpush/ https://bubu1.eu/openpush/
    - easrng 5y ago
      See also https://unifiedpush.org/ https://unifiedpush.org/ which has a Gotify connector
- mhermher 5y ago
  I always wondered if a WINE for Play Services was possible.
  - nvllsvm 5y ago
    Alredy exists to a degree as microG. https://microg.org/ https://microg.org/
ndesaulniers 5y ago
> Google creating a desktop OS market share is not really on the horizon. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/02/the-worlds-second-most-popular-desktop-operating-system-isnt-macos-anymore/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/02/the-worlds-second-mo... >> For ages now, every annual report on desktop operating system market share has had the same top two contenders: Microsoft's Windows in a commanding lead at number one and Apple's macOS in distant second place. But in 2020, Chrome OS became the second-most popular OS, and Apple fell to third. https://www.zdnet.com/article/chromebook-units-surge-275-in-q1-says-canalys/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/chromebook-units-surge-275-in-... >> Chromebook units surge 275% in Q1 Oh, ok.
- brainless 5y ago
  You are right but I somehow do not see Chromebook as a desktop OS. Maybe I am wrong, but this is exactly what I mean by the convergence that is happening. MS, I feel, wants a lighter OS for masses. Chromebook is surely dominating this space.
- pjmlp 5y ago
  Mostly due to kids getting computers for home school as the situation we are all in. The best chromebooks have a 64GB SSD for the price of a full Windows laptop.

poisonborz 5y ago

They wouldn't have Play Services, which gives all the power of the ecosystem. Just having a good desktop back country doesn't help anything in the mobile space, as Windows Phone showed. It also won't go without experienced hardware partners, and Samsung is already in Google's pocket, the other top dogs being Chinese, who don't look for fitting in the western markets anymore.

jacob019 5y ago
Not exactly. Play services/GCM is the push notification system on Android. Even on my completely degoogled phone I have to use microG to support push notifications from google's servers because every app developer has hardcoded their app to use GCM. It doesn't have to be that way. An alternate push notification service with a client alternative could be made available. Developers and users could start using it. Ideally there would be a standardized protocol, and a system setting so that the user can set their preferred push notification provider. Apps would use the system provided endpoint for push notifications and we would get a little control back. I sure wish I could self host push notifications.
- commoner 5y ago
  Amazon Appstore (used for Microsoft's Android integration in Windows 11) uses Amazon Device Messgaing (ADM) instead of Google's Firebase Cloud Messgaing (FCM) for push notifications. A FCM receiver is built into Google Play Services to enable push notifications for Play Protect certified Android devices, but ADM is a viable alternative for Amazon and Microsoft as long as developers tailor and submit apps to the Amazon Appstore. https://developer.amazon.com/docs/adm/overview.html https://developer.amazon.com/docs/adm/overview.html Gotify and OpenPush are open source push notification solutions, both in the beginning stages of development: - Gotify: https://gotify.net/ https://gotify.net/ - OpenPush: https://bubu1.eu/openpush/ https://bubu1.eu/openpush/
  - easrng 5y ago
    See also https://unifiedpush.org/ https://unifiedpush.org/ which has a Gotify connector
mhermher 5y ago
I always wondered if a WINE for Play Services was possible.
- nvllsvm 5y ago
  Alredy exists to a degree as microG. https://microg.org/ https://microg.org/

ndesaulniers 5y ago

> Google creating a desktop OS market share is not really on the horizon. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/02/the-worlds-second-most-popular-desktop-operating-system-isnt-macos-anymore/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/02/the-worlds-second-mo... >> For ages now, every annual report on desktop operating system market share has had the same top two contenders: Microsoft's Windows in a commanding lead at number one and Apple's macOS in distant second place. But in 2020, Chrome OS became the second-most popular OS, and Apple fell to third. https://www.zdnet.com/article/chromebook-units-surge-275-in-q1-says-canalys/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/chromebook-units-surge-275-in-... >> Chromebook units surge 275% in Q1 Oh, ok.

brainless 5y ago
You are right but I somehow do not see Chromebook as a desktop OS. Maybe I am wrong, but this is exactly what I mean by the convergence that is happening. MS, I feel, wants a lighter OS for masses. Chromebook is surely dominating this space.
pjmlp 5y ago
Mostly due to kids getting computers for home school as the situation we are all in. The best chromebooks have a 64GB SSD for the price of a full Windows laptop.