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0 pointsClumsyPilot3y ago0 comments

If Google chose that path, other manufacturers would still need an OS to put on their phones - and it's likely Windows Phone would be the contender. So maybe we'd live in a world with 3 mobile OS's and more competition.

The point is, the alternative scenario involves more actors making different choices.

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slaw3y ago

We would live in a world with 2 mobile OS's iOS and Windows Phone. Android would land in Google Graveyard.

Apocryphon3y ago

Then maybe Firefox OS and Ubuntu Touch would still be around as FOSS mobile OS.

linmob3y ago

Ubuntu Touch is still around, see [0]. That said, with continued funding by Canonical, they like would have progressed differently (likely more).

Firefox OS and webOS are still around under different names, which are Capyloon [1] and LuneOS respectively [2].

[0]: https://ubuntu-touch.io/

[1]: https://capyloon.org/

[2]: https://webos-ports.org/wiki/Main_Page

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doublepg233y ago

Firefox OS was built from a lot of Android internals.

riffraff3y ago

WebOS!

kernal3y ago

Windows Phone was always destined to fall. There is no scenario in which Windows Phone would not been beaten into irrelevance by Google and by Microsoft's own actions in undermining their underwhelming and unpopular mobile OS.

oblio3y ago

Well, this thread is in the parallel universe in which Google would have sold only its own Android devices. So no Android + LG, Sony, Samsung, Huawei, etc.

If you look at Google's hardware's capabilities, Android would have flopped immediately.

As bad as the org level issues were with Windows Phone, it would have still beaten Android-on-Google-hardware-only.

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babypuncher3y ago

Windows phone was destined to fail mainly because they were the third to show up to a two-man race. If Android never showed up, or completely biffed it at the starting line, then Windows Phone probably could have succeeded with enough time.

The other possible alternative is Palm WebOS, but I think they were too Apple-like for their own good. The key differentiators that helped Android succeed as an iPhone alternative (wide device variety, more "open" platform) apply much more easily to Windows Phone.

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babypuncher3y ago

I think Google would have killed off Android before it could really take off if they went that route. Early Android was very rough compared to iPhoneOS, and one of its biggest selling points was the variety of hardware you could get it on. Early successful devices like the Motorola Droid and HTC Evo 4G were important to solidifying Android as a serious smartphone platform. This strategy allowed Google to focus on improving the software while experienced hardware manufacturers did what they already do best.

Apocryphon3y ago

Maybe Nokia would have stuck around unmerged and there would have been hope for the very polished MeeGo build seen on the Nokia N9.

Not to mention BlackBerry and webOS still being contenders.

rootw0rm3y ago

I'm still bitter about Windows Phone. Nokia's hardware was great, Windows Phone was great, but only Microsoft Partners had permission to access the low level APIs that mattered...effectively neutering app development.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

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slaw3y ago

We would live in a world with 2 mobile OS's iOS and Windows Phone. Android would land in Google Graveyard.

Apocryphon3y ago

Then maybe Firefox OS and Ubuntu Touch would still be around as FOSS mobile OS.

linmob3y ago

Ubuntu Touch is still around, see [0]. That said, with continued funding by Canonical, they like would have progressed differently (likely more).

Firefox OS and webOS are still around under different names, which are Capyloon [1] and LuneOS respectively [2].

[0]: https://ubuntu-touch.io/

[1]: https://capyloon.org/

[2]: https://webos-ports.org/wiki/Main_Page

1 more reply

doublepg233y ago

Firefox OS was built from a lot of Android internals.

riffraff3y ago

WebOS!

kernal3y ago

oblio3y ago

Well, this thread is in the parallel universe in which Google would have sold only its own Android devices. So no Android + LG, Sony, Samsung, Huawei, etc.

If you look at Google's hardware's capabilities, Android would have flopped immediately.

As bad as the org level issues were with Windows Phone, it would have still beaten Android-on-Google-hardware-only.

1 more reply

babypuncher3y ago

1 more reply

babypuncher3y ago

Apocryphon3y ago

Maybe Nokia would have stuck around unmerged and there would have been hope for the very polished MeeGo build seen on the Nokia N9.

Not to mention BlackBerry and webOS still being contenders.

rootw0rm3y ago

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse