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My ex-neighbour is 'high' up in Nokia and I can remember having a conversation about how the Lumia would make a fantastic Android phone. I think he mentioned in

by awjr 13y ago

My ex-neighbour is 'high' up in Nokia and I can remember having a conversation about how the Lumia would make a fantastic Android phone. I think he mentioned in passing that there was a team that briefly looked into making an Nokia Android phone, but this was killed off before the Microsoft buyout. It's one of those phones I would buy immediately if they did an Android version. It's a very very nice piece of kit (in particular the camera) but if it doesn't run the apps you use on a daily basis, you are not going to touch it with a barge pole. Unfortunately this will never happen. Microsoft would, in effect, be admitting their mobile platform is a dead end.

sp332 13y ago
There's been a lot of talk recently about a Nokia Android phone. Apparently it's called "Project Normandy". https://www.theverge.com/2013/12/10/5197746/nokia-android-phone-normandy https://www.theverge.com/2013/12/10/5197746/nokia-android-ph...
- mtgx 13y ago
  But is it really an Android phone if it doesn't come with Play Store apps? Also, I think what people mean by wanting a Lumia with Android, is not a low-end phone with Android, but a more high-end one.
  - rthomas6 13y ago
    If it can run Android, I'll put Play Store apps on it, regardless of whether or not they come with the ROM. Granted, rooting a phone and putting a new ROM on it isn't exactly user friendly or easy for most people.
bhauer 13y ago
This sentiment that Nokia should make or should have made Android phones is common. I won't disagree with the article that Lumia sales are disappointing and that Nokia would have faced much harder decisions today were they not part of Microsoft. But I find it surprising how often I hear fans of Android bemoan the dearth of Nokia Android phones. It implies that there is some hole in the Android market that would be filled by Nokia. That is remarkable—I'd go so far to say implausible—considering the wide spectrum of manufacturers already providing Android hardware. A quick glance at Verizon's current offerings shows seven manufacturers offering Android phones via Verizon, many with multiple options. Meanwhile, for fans of Windows Phone—few of those as there may be—we have Nokia, Samsung, and HTC, offering one option each. And if rumors are to believed, Samsung may only be offering Windows Phone thanks to Microsoft paying them to do so. To suggest that Nokia should offer Android phones implies there is some subtle quirk or distinguishing design element that would make a Nokia android preferable to the seven existing Android manufacturers' offerings. Certainly there isn't anything as substantial as a wholly new look and feel or new way of working with applications to distinguish the potential Nokia Android phone from those seven other manufacturers. So it would be something like the color of the case, maybe a few proprietary apps, the material, a few minor specs such as a good camera or wireless charging. Though many existing Android phones offer all of those things and more. Meanwhile, being the principal Windows Phone manufacturer brings actual variation to the consumer. In fact, taking away the operating system, the Lumia hardware is not very unique. Spec-by-spec, it's about on par with an average Android phone. But it piqued my interest because it's not-Android and I wanted something new to try having become tired of the same old thing. My wife is now waiting for the Icon to be released to replace her Galaxy Nexus because she too wants to move on. So yes, Nokia's sales are disappointing. Maybe they will look up in the future. Maybe not. But as a consumer, I treasure that they offer something more interesting than just another Android phone.
- Someone 13y ago
  "To suggest that Nokia should offer Android phones implies there is some subtle quirk or distinguishing design element that would make a Nokia android preferable to the seven existing Android manufacturers' offerings." There is: Nokia's Android phones would be the only ones with a Nokia name on them. Despite the problems Nokia got (itself) in, the Nokia brand still is very strong for some.

by awjr 13y ago

sp332 13y ago

There's been a lot of talk recently about a Nokia Android phone. Apparently it's called "Project Normandy". https://www.theverge.com/2013/12/10/5197746/nokia-android-phone-normandy https://www.theverge.com/2013/12/10/5197746/nokia-android-ph...

mtgx 13y ago
But is it really an Android phone if it doesn't come with Play Store apps? Also, I think what people mean by wanting a Lumia with Android, is not a low-end phone with Android, but a more high-end one.
- rthomas6 13y ago
  If it can run Android, I'll put Play Store apps on it, regardless of whether or not they come with the ROM. Granted, rooting a phone and putting a new ROM on it isn't exactly user friendly or easy for most people.

bhauer 13y ago

This sentiment that Nokia should make or should have made Android phones is common. I won't disagree with the article that Lumia sales are disappointing and that Nokia would have faced much harder decisions today were they not part of Microsoft. But I find it surprising how often I hear fans of Android bemoan the dearth of Nokia Android phones. It implies that there is some hole in the Android market that would be filled by Nokia. That is remarkable—I'd go so far to say implausible—considering the wide spectrum of manufacturers already providing Android hardware. A quick glance at Verizon's current offerings shows seven manufacturers offering Android phones via Verizon, many with multiple options. Meanwhile, for fans of Windows Phone—few of those as there may be—we have Nokia, Samsung, and HTC, offering one option each. And if rumors are to believed, Samsung may only be offering Windows Phone thanks to Microsoft paying them to do so. To suggest that Nokia should offer Android phones implies there is some subtle quirk or distinguishing design element that would make a Nokia android preferable to the seven existing Android manufacturers' offerings. Certainly there isn't anything as substantial as a wholly new look and feel or new way of working with applications to distinguish the potential Nokia Android phone from those seven other manufacturers. So it would be something like the color of the case, maybe a few proprietary apps, the material, a few minor specs such as a good camera or wireless charging. Though many existing Android phones offer all of those things and more. Meanwhile, being the principal Windows Phone manufacturer brings actual variation to the consumer. In fact, taking away the operating system, the Lumia hardware is not very unique. Spec-by-spec, it's about on par with an average Android phone. But it piqued my interest because it's not-Android and I wanted something new to try having become tired of the same old thing. My wife is now waiting for the Icon to be released to replace her Galaxy Nexus because she too wants to move on. So yes, Nokia's sales are disappointing. Maybe they will look up in the future. Maybe not. But as a consumer, I treasure that they offer something more interesting than just another Android phone.

Someone 13y ago
"To suggest that Nokia should offer Android phones implies there is some subtle quirk or distinguishing design element that would make a Nokia android preferable to the seven existing Android manufacturers' offerings." There is: Nokia's Android phones would be the only ones with a Nokia name on them. Despite the problems Nokia got (itself) in, the Nokia brand still is very strong for some.