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I wasn't sure what to expect after seeing the title. But I will admit, the author makes an interesting point about how <spoiler alert> Microsoft could "embrace

I wasn't sure what to expect after seeing the title. But I will admit, the author makes an interesting point about how <spoiler alert> Microsoft could "embrace and extend" Android <end spoiler alert>. But: I personally don't see that happening. Even if Microsoft was able to influence the forked versions of Android, how would that help Microsoft's bottom line? And at this stage, how much damage could they inflict to the real Android, which is now running on almost all smartphones except those from Microsoft or Apple? The PC industry in the late 80s was a competitive marketplace, and there were real competitors to Microsoft's business till it basically took over the PC market. I think the mobile industry has pretty much entered that phase now.

Alterlife 12y ago
The big problem with Android is the lack of updates for popular phones. Love it, or hate it, cyanogen does address that. More significantly, manufacturers have tested the waters with cyanogenmod devices -- oneplus one, Oppo n1, Micromax's Yu Yureka. I for one would be more likely to buy a cyanogenmod supported phone than a 'touchwiz', 'optimus' or "Windows 8" phone if I was assured of two year updatability. And how would this help Microsoft's bottom line? Android... with Bing.
- pests 12y ago
  Not only Bing but Microsoft could roll out their own api-equivalent to Google Play Services in order to support third-party apps developed with a dependence on the Google ecosystem.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
- fpgeek 12y ago
  For popular devices, the bottleneck with Android updates isn't really the resources to develop them, it's the carrier certification process. You can see that when the same device gets updates on some countries/carriers and not others. CyanogenMod doesn't address that, it just evades it via unlocked bootloaders and flashing. The more official they try to be, the more they will run into the same problems.
  - yuliyp 12y ago
    Why is carrier certification a thing? The carrier supplies a SIM card and as long as the device cna properly use its antenna and the SIM card the carrier should not need to do anything else.
    - Infinitesimus 12y ago
      Among other things, 'carrier certification' also includes installing 5-10 apps the user will never use and adding restrictions they deem fit. Plus, the certification is to make sure that the device updated doesn't bork the phone's service (or so I'm told, no experience in that industry)

Alterlife 12y ago

The big problem with Android is the lack of updates for popular phones. Love it, or hate it, cyanogen does address that. More significantly, manufacturers have tested the waters with cyanogenmod devices -- oneplus one, Oppo n1, Micromax's Yu Yureka. I for one would be more likely to buy a cyanogenmod supported phone than a 'touchwiz', 'optimus' or "Windows 8" phone if I was assured of two year updatability. And how would this help Microsoft's bottom line? Android... with Bing.

pests 12y ago
Not only Bing but Microsoft could roll out their own api-equivalent to Google Play Services in order to support third-party apps developed with a dependence on the Google ecosystem.
deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
fpgeek 12y ago
For popular devices, the bottleneck with Android updates isn't really the resources to develop them, it's the carrier certification process. You can see that when the same device gets updates on some countries/carriers and not others. CyanogenMod doesn't address that, it just evades it via unlocked bootloaders and flashing. The more official they try to be, the more they will run into the same problems.
- yuliyp 12y ago
  Why is carrier certification a thing? The carrier supplies a SIM card and as long as the device cna properly use its antenna and the SIM card the carrier should not need to do anything else.
  - Infinitesimus 12y ago
    Among other things, 'carrier certification' also includes installing 5-10 apps the user will never use and adding restrictions they deem fit. Plus, the certification is to make sure that the device updated doesn't bork the phone's service (or so I'm told, no experience in that industry)