Microsoft also effectively killed a beloved OEM phone brand as a tax write-off in the process of Windows Phone shenanigans, and famously paid developers to publ

Microsoft also effectively killed a beloved OEM phone brand as a tax write-off in the process of Windows Phone shenanigans, and famously paid developers to publish shovelware to their app store, which synonomized their platform with low quality apps. Neither were very bright strategies. Ballmer also decided to sit at the starting line for a few years and only decided to enter the race right around the time iOS and Android were taking their victory lap. Being free at the end is the easiest way to also be equated with dead. Remember the final death throes of the Palm Pre and PalmOS? They were basically giving those away right before the brand completely died.