Now that WM has been discontinued...What's next?

[DOGC_Kyle]

Please note that 'Ultimate mobile device' is a phrase that is commonly misunderstood here. The word ultimate is often misunderstood due to marketing misuse (and MS don't do marketing, so you know they don't use marketing speak). It does mot mean 'best'. In reality it means 'final'. MS did live up to the often missed quote and have already created their ultimate, or final, mobile device. It was a phone. It was called the Lumia 950XL.

The quote was referring to after the Lumias, if I remember correctly. The 950/950XL was "for the fans", and the Elite x3 was "for enterprise". The mention of the "ultimate mobile device" was a third device that has since never been mentioned or released.

Would have to look it up to check, but I remember the mention of three devices (and we only got two).

EDIT: Yep, it was a full year after the Lumia 950 launched. The "ultimate mobile device" is obviously not a device we've seen, because Microsoft has not launched any hardware since then besides the Surface Laptop and Xbox One X. https://www.techspot.com/news/67175-satya-nadella-hints-ultimate-mobile-device-surface-phone.html
I was mistaken about the three devices though, the mention of "ultimate mobile device" was way after that.

 

[BajanSaint69]

The phrase was dropped by Nadella in a particularly opaque comment on the future of Windows Mobile... It could mean anything from a HoloLens to a phone to a tricorder ...

Clearly there's a plan but they are playing their cards very close to their chests

 

[Prometheus2021]

I remember reading way back that MS had patented or was in the works of patenting a foldable screen, or device, if this is the case maybe this is the next thing to come out of Mobile Computing. A foldable device capable of converting to a larger laptop like or tablet device, mix in continuum, with its capabilities to connect to other peripherals like a bigger screen, a keyboard and a mouse and you got yourself a mobile computer. Maybe they might even offer bundles with a laptop dock like the Elite X3 (BTW that is one sexy device, that I still want to buy). We could have foldable cases that double as keyboards. The technology IS out there, we've seen bendable screens being developed. Windows on ARM is now a thing, even continuum like copycats are being developed. The parts are there it is just a matter of getting it done. I feel this is the next logical step if MS wants to get into the mobile market again, after killing off Windows Mobile, it is the only step it has. GO BIG OR GO HOME

 

[Wbutchart1]

What's next is no windows mobile. It's crystal clear that the new mobile strategy is to have excellent services on ios and Android, with Android able to be almost maxed out to Microsoft stuff.

I don't think we will see another phone like device from Microsoft, it would be poor use of money for a start. There is simply no money it in, no interested developers and very limited customer interested. It's time to accept that what's next is either Android or stupidly going to ios.

 

[AndyCalling]

I thought that what's next was supposed to be Mixed Reality? Surely in the next gen all we'll need is a pair of specs and a little PC box in our bags, wirelessly connected?

 

[DOGC_Kyle]

I thought that what's next was supposed to be Mixed Reality? Surely in the next gen all we'll need is a pair of specs and a little PC box in our bags, wirelessly connected?

I'd imagine that W10ARM would support Windows Mixed Reality, at least in theory. The real question is whether a Snapdragon 835 is powerful enough for MR. If not, it'll be a little while longer.

And of course the headsets are not nearly small enough yet. In time they'll probably be just as small and simple as sunglasses, but not yet.


MR software is here, and it'll almost certainly be on W10ARM, but the hardware just isn't ready yet.

 

[BajanSaint69]

If every Windows on ARM device has phone software built in..... what does that do to the phone market? Anything?

 

[DOGC_Kyle]

If every Windows on ARM device has phone software built in..... what does that do to the phone market? Anything?

Depends on the device.

Devices like the Elite x3, Samsung Galaxy Note, the bigger iPhones, and probably more, those are already the form factor that a W10ARM device could be. With the benefit of running any desktop (or mobile, with an emulator/google chrome) app, in that small tablet/phone size, it could certainly get into the phone market there.

On the other hand, you wouldn't carry an ARM laptop with you. An ARM-based laptop would be very thin and light, but the form factor makes it harder to use on the go. But, it still has the option, especially given that actual phone calls aren't as common anymore.