Slashdot Mirror


Sendo Can't Get Microsoft Source; Ditches Windows

An anonymous submitter wrote: "Just when you thought the award-winning data leech Microsoft had become invincible... cellphone manufacturer Sendo, in a statement on the front page of its web site, announces the termination of its Z100 smartphone development on the Microsoft platform, licensing the rival Symbian from Nokia instead. (Further reports by ZDnet and Heise.)"

284 comments

  1. **** THE PROOF THAT linux IS EVIL **** by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    L I N U X
    76 73 78 85 88 - as ASCII values
    4 1 6 4 7 - digits added
    \_/ \_/ \_/ \_/ \_/
    4 1 6 4 7 - digits added

    Thus, "linux" is 41647.

    Turn the number backwards, and add 1945 - the year a worldwide conspiracy known as the United Nations was founded. The number is now 76559.

    Add 5991 to it - this is the year O J Simpson was acquitted for double murder, written backwards - you will get 82550.

    Add 96 to it - this is the symbol of perversion and pleasue in sin, written backwards - you will get 82646.

    Turn the number backwards, and add 111 - the only triplet that can ever be prime. The number is now 64739.

    Add 2591 to it - this is the year killer fog haunted London, written backwards - you will get 67330.

    This, when read backwards, gives 03376. This is 1790 in octal, the year US patent system was established (eevil)...

    Evil, QED.

    1. Re:**** THE PROOF THAT linux IS EVIL **** by CableModemSniper · · Score: 1

      ::weeps into his coffee::: That was...beautiful man...

      --
      Why not fork?
    2. Re:**** THE PROOF THAT linux IS EVIL **** by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Uncredited, however, is the fact that it was generated by Evil Finder, linked to by sweetcode a couple of months ago.

    3. Re:**** THE PROOF THAT linux IS EVIL **** by benc · · Score: 1
      ...add 111 - the only triplet that can ever be prime

      and if you divide that "prime" by zero, you can get whatever you want: 8827, 2, tiny elves dancing in tiny elfven shoes with a slightly off-kilter rhythm, etc, etc. Math = magic.

      --
      toot toot
    4. Re:**** THE PROOF THAT linux IS EVIL **** by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can't divide by zero, you stupid fuck.

    5. Re:**** THE PROOF THAT linux IS EVIL **** by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Division by zero is undefined, you stupid fuck. Now give me ten hail marys and go suck Leibniz's nine-inch monster.

    6. Re:**** THE PROOF THAT linux IS EVIL **** by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Everybody knows that bert is evil...

    7. Re:**** THE PROOF THAT linux IS EVIL **** by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ummm, dude, you forgot everyone's favourite numbers, fourty two and six hundered and sixty six. What better for the mark of evil is some esoteric combination out of the meaning of the universe and the mark of the beast. You could have included some other transcendentals, too, like pi, e, G (gravitational constant) the golden mean and the square root of minus one (i). In fact, you could even cite this beautiful equation:
      (t is the Golden Mean)

      e ^ (pi * i) * t = sin(666) + cos(6*6*6)

      That's right, an equation which features 666, e, pi, i and the Golden Mean!

      You can do better than that. See this site for some more really paranoid crackpotery.

  2. The way to change things by Soporific · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I guess this is the way that vendors can get a change out of Microsoft. If you don't like someones product, take your business somewhere else.

    ~S

    1. Re:The way to change things by szcx · · Score: 5, Funny

      Wait a minute, are you saying that if you don't like the way a company does business you can go to an alternate vendor? Good Lord, man. That changes everything!

    2. Re:The way to change things by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, this sure is insightful.

      Don't do business with disagreeable companies!

      Now that's +1 Insightful!

    3. Re:The way to change things by Arandir · · Score: 5, Funny

      The implications are staggering!

      I can actually choose OpenOffice without going to jail. I can use Mozilla without violating the Internet Explorer licensing. I could install Linux or *BSD without having to register as an OS offender. I can even use KDE instead of GNOME!

      Nah... Too much responsibility. I'll just join a class action suit against Microsoft.

      --
      A Government Is a Body of People, Usually Notably Ungoverned
    4. Re:The way to change things by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When you're entrenched in an M$ shop, just try and bring up the idea of an 'alternate vendor'.

      I believe it's actually stated in the M$ EULA that there is no such thing as 'alternate vendors' out there.

    5. Re:The way to change things by isorox · · Score: 3, Informative

      I can even use KDE instead of GNOME!

      Tsshhh, whats wrong with a nice text terminal?

    6. Re:The way to change things by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Next thing they will be saying is if you don't like the way your elected officials are doing vote for someone else! What are things coming to.

    7. Re:The way to change things by Walterk · · Score: 1

      The KDE terminal is better than the GNOME terminal!

      *trows some gasoline onto the flame war and runs away*

    8. Re:The way to change things by Fjord · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well, yeah, you can do all that.

      But you still have to pay for Windows.

      --
      -no broken link
    9. Re:The way to change things by stephanruby · · Score: 2
      Well, yeah, you can do all that. But you still have to pay for Windows.
      --

      "If you don't like someones product, take your business somewhere else."

      Apply recursively.

      If you don't like a vendor that makes you pay for a Microsoft license, take your business somewhere else. There are plenty of other vendors left.

    10. Re:The way to change things by Coplan · · Score: 3, Insightful
      You forgot a key element...

      Taking your business elsewhere is one thing. But nothing will change unless you let them know. If you take your business elsewhere because the vendor is making you buy the machine with MS Windows, and you don't want it...MAKE SURE YOU TELL THEM WHY!

      Said vendor needs to know why they lost your business. Said vendor needs to realize that they actually loose a certain percentage of the population because they do this. Said vender will only learn if you tell them.

      Said commentator needs to stop starting sentences with "said".

      Said commentator is out...

      Coplan

    11. Re:The way to change things by Arandir · · Score: 1

      But you still have to pay for Windows.

      Windows did not come with my computer. It wasn't hidden in the invoice. When I received it, the harddrive was empty but for a small burn-in test suite.

      Yes, it's hard buying a compute without Windows. But it can be done. The first thing you need to do is to realize that it is possible. Once you get past that hurdle, the rest isn't so bad. Tell the salesman you don't want Windows on your system, and want an appropriate reduction in price. If he or she refuses, go elsewhere. If all else fails, there are a million mom-and-pops that will be perfectly willing to build you one to exact specifications.

      You are in control of your own life. If it seems like Microsoft is running it instead, blame yourself for handing over the reins.

      --
      A Government Is a Body of People, Usually Notably Ungoverned
    12. Re:The way to change things by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      KDE's terminal wasn't better; but but is now. GNOME 2 has switched to the vte widget for 2.2 - and vte is slower than my old Commodore 64. it's fucking awful.

    13. Re:The way to change things by Reziac · · Score: 3, Funny

      I must need to up my caffeine injections. I initially read your second sentence as "I can molest the internet without a license."

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    14. Re:The way to change things by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, we all know that you can get whitebox desktop peecee without Windows, if you really want it. But with notebooks, that's tough...

    15. Re:The way to change things by blueskies · · Score: 1
      Yes, it's hard buying a compute without Windows. But it can be done.
      Yeah. Now it can be done much easier. The damage is already done however. I guess we should all blame ourselves for not buying those computers that booted to BeOS. Oh wait, the OEM that manufactured them was pressured (pretty much forced) to making the BeOS boot-up sequence require boot floppies. Do you think the user asked for the OEM to make it hard to boot to BeOS b/c they wanted to give windows a fair chance? Or is it more likely that Microsoft used its power as a monopoly illegally?

      That's ok keep apologizing for MS. The lawsuit was just b/c companies couldn't compete. MS is the god of innovation.
  3. M$ finally gets screwed! by hbmartin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh, I'm sure they'll repent to everybody they ever screwed, now that they know what it feels like. NOT! They'll probably just use more Halloween stuff to kill Nokia and Sendo. Anyway, it's nice to see a company slap M$ in the face on their front page. It kinda give me a warm, fuzzy feeling. Or mabe that's just the caffeine.

    --
    Karma: Bizzare (mostly affected by varying internal caffeine levels.)
    1. Re:M$ finally gets screwed! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Yea, they're really, really screwed.

      It's only a matter of time until they disappear entirely and are delisted.

    2. Re:M$ finally gets screwed! by mentin · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Microsoft does not have to do anything. Slashdot users will do the retaliation instead!

      From now on, every IT vendor knows: if he turns away from Microsoft and uses other's products, an article describing this will be immediately published on /. and his Web site will be immediately slashdot'ed.

      This will obviously stop those IT vendors from doing such a crasy thing.

      --
      MSDOS: 20+ years without remote hole in the default install
    3. Re:M$ finally gets screwed! by sharkey · · Score: 2

      They'll probably just use more Halloween stuff to kill Nokia and Sendo.

      They'll beat the shit out of them with a plastic Bible-man mask?

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
    4. Re:M$ finally gets screwed! by agallagh42 · · Score: 2, Funny

      That message on their front page is sure quite a slap. For those that missed it, it says:

      "Gateway Timeout
      The following error occurred:
      A gateway timeout occurred. The server is unreachable.
      Please contact the administrator."


      Damn, MS must be hurting after such a tongue lashing...

      --
      Carpe Cerevisi - Seize the Beer
  4. Symbian by stewart.hector · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Well, hopefully (but I doubt it), this will be the death nail for stinker.

    Symbian is reliable, isn't bloated and open. Every thing stinker isn't. I am so glad this has happened. This now leaves MS will NO stinker phones out there - or coming very soon.

    Symbian have to convince MS lovers that Stinker phones smartphones isn't the way to go. Just imagine having to install virus checkers on your smartphone and disable all the features to keep your MS phone secure from viruses that try to phone up premuim rate numbers! No thanks.

    --
    1. Re:Symbian by p3d0 · · Score: 1

      It's not "death nail" but "death knell".

      --
      Patrick Doyle
      I mod down every jackass who puts his moderation policy in his sig. Oh, wait a sec....
    2. Re:Symbian by stewart.hector · · Score: 1

      How the hell can this previous be a troll?

      Symbian *IS* a better platform.

      --
    3. Re:Symbian by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're right. Flamebait would have been the right mod. Or they could have just modded you overrated since you posted at +1.

    4. Re:Symbian by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe because you repeatedly say stinker instead of stinger like some five year old making fun of a classmate's name? If you want to be taken seriously then post without the stupid sarcasm.

    5. Re:Symbian by NortWind · · Score: 1
      stinker instead of stinger

      Google shows almost 8000 references to "stinker phone". It is a commonly used term for this particular MS product. Read a few links if you are interested in seeing why.

  5. Not using Windows? Are they insane?? by PhysicsGenius · · Score: 5, Funny

    Windows keeps on getting better and better. From it's award-winning design to it's revolutionary kernel architecture, Windows is the best in the biz. Says Internet Guru Dan Hertzfeld, "I rely on Windows and Office for Windows every day to deliver top-notch performance and it has never let me down." Many others praise Windows, too, including Chief Technology Officer Bill Patterson of Ford Motor Company, "Windows allows us to leverage our most valuable assets, people, into a world-class synergy to delight customers all over the globe."

  6. mirror? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gentlemen, how about a mirror? Their site appears to be served on a cell modem.

    1. Re:mirror? by Anonymous+DWord · · Score: 5, Funny

      Your "GET / HTTP/1.1" is important to us. Please stay on the line, and your request will be answered in the order it was received. Thank you for your patience.

      (Flock of Seagulls tune here...)

      --
      "If he thinks he can hide and run from the United States and our allies, he's sorely mistaken." Bush on bin Laden
  7. Re:Bad news for Linux? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Uh, what are you on about?

  8. Re:good lord by cwis42 · · Score: 1

    Read the article. Read the link. Read this.

  9. Big deal, Windows is the wrong paradigm for cell by typical+geek · · Score: 3, Insightful

    phones. When you are trying to packet send and receive while jumping from cell to cell, you don't want the OS hung while a Window repaints, or an icon flickers on and off. You want an realtime OS tied down to the actual sending/recieving packets and doing the d/a a/d conversion on the speaker and microphone. You want a steady stream of conversation, you don't want the equivalent of an oral hourglass.

    This is also why Windowing software is also the wrong paradigm for industrial strength routers. The reason CICSCO certified people make such great money compared to test passsing MCSE monkeys is that the Cisco OS is all commandline/terminal driven, when you're routing a T3, you don't the overhead for pretty graphics.

  10. woo-hoo! by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 0

    i love it when a plan falls apart!

    --
    That was classic intercourse!
  11. Slashdotted - Karma capped, just trying to help by br0ck · · Score: 5, Informative

    Sendo Z100 NOT TO LAUNCH

    Company Statement
    Sendo has terminated its Smartphone development program utilising the Microsoft Windows Powered Smartphone 2002 software.

    As a result, Sendo regrets to announce that it will not be shipping the Z100 Smartphone.

    It has been a very difficult decision for Sendo given its leadership position in the development of smart devices. We are disappointed that we will not be able to ship the Z100 given the high level of interest shown in the device.

    Although a set back, we are pleased to announce today that we have licensed the Series 60 platform from Nokia for our smartphone category. We believe this will create the opportunity for us to continue as a lead player in the development of smartphone products for 2003.

    SENDO CHOOSES NOKIA'S SERIES 60 PLATFORM FOR ITS SMART PHONES
    Thu Nov 7 2002
    Sendo, a British mobile phone manufacturer, today announced that the company has decided to license Series 60 Platform from Nokia for its smart phone category. The Series 60 is a software platform for feature- and application rich smart phones that Nokia licenses to mobile handset manufacturers. The platform is optimised to run on top of the Symbian OS. Sendo joins as the newest member to the Series 60 licensing community with Matsushita, Samsung, Siemens and Nokia.

    "Earlier this fall we reviewed our smart phone strategy. While our mission of providing customers with feature-rich and ubiquitous devices remains unaltered, seeing that the Series 60 fully embraces both our mission and the new strategy we decided to approach Nokia," said Hugh Brogan, Chief Executive Officer of Sendo Holdings Plc. "The platform utilises open standards and technologies, such as MMS and Java , jointly developed by the industry. The platform is robust, yet uniquely flexible, bringing great benefits to licensees, operators, developers and consumers."

    "We welcome Sendo, a pioneer in smart phone development, to join our Series 60 community. We see that a combination of Sendo's technical expertise and growing market presence will bring significant contribution to the mobile market with Series 60 devices. Interoperable solutions that are built on open and common industry standards are proving to be the winning formula in meeting demands of business users and consumers alike," said Niklas Savander, Vice President and General Manager, Nokia Mobile Software.

    Nokia licenses Series 60 Platform as a source code. The model enables licensees to contribute to the development of the platform while fully executing their individual business strategy, brand and customer requirements in fast developing and highly competitive mobile communications market. Licensees will be able to include the Series 60 into their own smart phone designs, thus speeding up the rollout of new phone models at lower costs.

    The Series 60 is a comprehensive software platform for smart phones, created for mobile phone users that demand easy-to-use, one-hand operated handsets with high-quality colour screens, rich communications and enhanced applications. The Series 60 platform consists of the key telephony and personal information management applications, the browser and messaging clients, as well as a complete and modifiable user interface, all designed to run on top of the Symbian OS, an operating system for advanced, data enabled mobile phones.

    1. Re:Slashdotted - Karma capped, just trying to help by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Anybody any idea if the Orange (UK) SPV is still going to be released? Seems to be the same phone as the Z100...

      http://www.orange.co.uk/orangespv/

    2. Re:Slashdotted - Karma capped, just trying to help by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Karma capped, huh? So why do almost all of your posts have a score of 1?

      A word to the wise (from someone who really does have high karma): karma doesn't mean shit. Get a life.

    3. Re:Slashdotted - Karma capped, just trying to help by agallagh42 · · Score: 1

      I'm karma capped too, but most of my posts are at 1. Why? Ever seen the little checkbox labeled "No Score +1 Bonus". Some of us actually use that...

      --
      Carpe Cerevisi - Seize the Beer
    4. Re:Slashdotted - Karma capped, just trying to help by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your an idiot.

      If you really do have high karma, learn about the fucking comment options fucktool.

  12. Re:good lord by jshare · · Score: 2
    Follow the link.

    It's a reference to the Big Brother aspects of MS.

  13. OH NO NOT SENDO! by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 2, Funny


    The first and final nail in MS's coffin.

    1. Re:OH NO NOT SENDO! by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 1

      eh?

      --
      That was classic intercourse!
    2. Re:OH NO NOT SENDO! by Gizzmonic · · Score: 1
      --
      (-1, Raw and Uncut is the only way to read)
  14. Sendo.co.uk eh? by MrFredBloggs · · Score: 1

    Bigtime!! Bet MS are scared! That's gonna hurt their bottom line!

  15. Re:good lord by Paolomania · · Score: 1

    Are the editors not even trying to appear like normal, rational human beings rather than blithering idiot linux fanboys?

    Well, to give them credit the blithering belonged to an "anonymous submitter" and not the slashdot editors.

  16. Sendo by Anonymous+Cowtard · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Who the hell is "Sendo" and why should I care that this company no one has heard of has "stood up" to Microsoft?

    1. Re:Sendo by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 5, Funny

      What the hell is "Google" and why should I care that this website that no one has heard of can "search the web" for information?

      --
      That was classic intercourse!
    2. Re:Sendo by Geek_in_Marketing · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That's an easy answer.

      It doesn't matter whether you - or anyone else - has hear of Sendo. Every time the general public (those who are not reading /.) reads something like this, it reinforces what should be the base message of the Open Source community - not 'destroy M$' but, simply, 'you have a choice'.

      Change comes from positive reinforcement. If we want to change the minds of the non IT-literate, stories like this do help.

      You may not care, but I'm selling Open Source answers to small businesses. This sort of thing helps.

      --

      "This is your life - and it's ending one minute at a time" - Narrator, Fight Club
    3. Re:Sendo by orthogonal · · Score: 4, Funny

      Who the hell is "Sendo"

      I think Sendo was a character in Star Wars. You know, the black dude who sold Hands Soloing out.

      This is /., so you can assume it's from Star Wars, Star Trek, The Lord of the Rings, The Simpsons, or some anime cartoon.

      Didn't somebody post the other day that Knuth was a Simpsons character, and Turing was an Elf? Or something?

    4. Re:Sendo by gowen · · Score: 1
      Turing was an Elf?
      Turings to rule them all?
      --
      Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
    5. Re:Sendo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Apperently they make phones for companies like Virgin Moble, and brand them with the operator's own label.

      http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2415603.stm

    6. Re:Sendo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is likely quite significant: Microsoft has made an approx $12 million investment in Sendo, and has been the flagship for the Stinger platform.

      If a company with significant Microsoft investment dumps the platform, there must be something important behind it.

      You would also have to say that there is now little significant support for Stinger in the GSM/WCDMA world (maybe different for CDMA 2000), which means that it may well be condemned to being a minority niche platform in the majority of the World 2.5/3G market.

      This is vital because it means that here is a major future application platofrm which Microsoft cannot dominate, even if it has a reasonable (say 10%) market share.

    7. Re:Sendo by _ministry · · Score: 1

      Only one of the most uNF-looking Colour Cellular Phones available. This news comes as quite a shock; we were waiting for the Sendo, as a Canadian Distributor. This just about changes everything...

      http://images.google.com/images?q=Sendo+Z100

    8. Re:Sendo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What the hell is "rhetorical" and why should I look it up in the dictionary.

      And the partridge family sucked big hairy balls.

    9. Re:Sendo by tryfan · · Score: 1

      Strange that it might be considered as "insightful" not to know anything. Ever heard about a search engine?

    10. Re:Sendo by Ozymandias_KoK · · Score: 1

      Nah, the amount of rings were all odd numbers, weren't they?

      Ooops!

    11. Re:Sendo by razerblade · · Score: 1

      Just becuse you don't know Sendo, does not mean that they will not slap M$ in the face. Do you know who invented the microwave, elastic bands, the little cocktail umbrella, NO maybe not, but they were small once with big ideas and look where it got them. Earning more money than Mr Gates. You should care as Sendo have had the b...s to stand up for something they believe in, and you may one day be making a phone call from one of thier handsets.

  17. Source ? by j_dot_bomb · · Score: 1

    Nothing about the source in the article. Nothing on the front page either. Maybe in the detail of the front page item (link) but its slashdotted. Somehow I doubt they mention the source. Only "open standards and technologies"

  18. Thanks! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    As a big thank you to Sendo from all us Linux loving hippies, we will now /. your server.

    Again, thanks!

  19. Can't get source? by Twid · · Score: 5, Informative

    I'm not sure where the "can't get source" comment in the title came from. I clicked through to the announcement, read both stories, and even translated the german text, and nothing in there said they terminated the agreement due to inability to get the source.

    --
    - "When you want something with all your heart, the entire universe conspires to give it to you" -Paulo Coelho
    1. Re:Can't get source? by lovebyte · · Score: 5, Informative

      This Reuters article explains it.
      He said one reason for the switch was that Sendo could get access to the source code for Nokia software and therefore customize products. It could not do that with Microsoft.

      --

      I'll do it for cheesy poofs.

    2. Re:Can't get source? by r_arr · · Score: 1

      link here
      it's towards the middle bottom of the page.
      Brogan said one reason for the switch was that Sendo could get access to the source code for Nokia software, and therefore customize products. It could not do that with Microsoft.

    3. Re:Can't get source? by Twid · · Score: 2


      thanks!

      --
      - "When you want something with all your heart, the entire universe conspires to give it to you" -Paulo Coelho
    4. Re:Can't get source? by Elwood+P+Dowd · · Score: 2

      Although it's far from noble or anything. Try this one.

      Mr Brogan declined to elaborate on why Sendo is severing its software ties with Microsoft but said the Nokia platform will give Sendo more flexibility to customise phones for different operators.

      Not that Sendo has an obligation to be noble or anything, but I assume they want the source so they can segment their market in a more fine-grained manner. I hate that crap. It's the only drawback to cell phones.

      --

      There are no trails. There are no trees out here.
  20. Big defeat... yay... by FurryFeet · · Score: 2

    Sendo ditched MS! Quick, sell all MS you can! Clearly it's about to go bankrupt!
    Really, I'd be more worried about Sendo.
    Not that I like Microsoft, but this is really non-news. MS does tens of alliances a day, and it's news when one falls through? Geez.
    One more thing: If MS really cared about this deal, I bet you they could buy Sendo, stock, lock and barrel. And pay for it in cash.
    How about some real news, now?

    1. Re:Big defeat... yay... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's called grasping at straws. I'm waiting for "OSS Patriot Calls Bill Gates A Meanie".

    2. Re:Big defeat... yay... by nchip · · Score: 3, Informative

      Microsoft invested a lot in sendo, and for the last year or so sendo was the only mobile phone maker planning to launch a microsoft based smartphone, which was planned to be launched this month. All the microsoft smartphone OS marketing was based around the now never to be launched sendo z100. Sendo is saying like "thanks for the money" and choosing an competitor instead. Microsoft is really running out of partners in mobile phone business.

      --
      signatures pending - ansa@kos.to - (dont mail there)
    3. Re:Big defeat... yay... by 10Ghz · · Score: 2

      This IS a big defeat for MS! Sendo was the only cell-phone manufacturer that was dedicated to their platform. Samsung has also licensed it, but they have been focusing on Symbian and Series 60 lately. Sendo was 100% MS. Sendo was the company that was supposed to bring MS in to cell-phone business.

      --
      Lesbian Nazi Hookers Abducted by UFOs and Forced Into Weight Loss Programs - -all next week on Town Talk.
    4. Re:Big defeat... yay... by mattypants · · Score: 0

      You seem to underestimate the importance of the mobile phone industry. The European and Asian markets for these devices makes the PC industry look like a kids pissing game. This is a big mess for Microsoft and they know it.

  21. couldn't get source? by rm+-rf+/etc/* · · Score: 1, Redundant


    Where did this come from? I read all the links and saw nothing about this being due to Sendo being unable to get the source... From their homepage, it sounds like they just decided Symbian was a better way to go...

    1. Re:couldn't get source? by Vhalkyrie · · Score: 1

      Sendo CEO Hugh Brogan said in a statement. "While our mission of providing customers with feature-rich and ubiquitous devices remains unaltered, seeing that the Series 60 fully embraces both our mission and the new strategy, we decided to approach Nokia." Nokia's "platform utilizes open standards and technologies, such as MMS (Multimedia Message Service) and Java, jointly developed by the industry," he added.

      Quote is from the ZDNet link.

      They didn't exactly say it was because they couldn't get the source. What they said was Nokia uses open standards like MMS and Java, and they felt that was more in line with what they want to do. We know from history that Microsoft resists using existing standards where ever possible.

  22. The Reg has it by buzzdecafe · · Score: 5, Informative

    Sendo junks MS smartphone, joins Nokia camp

    BTW, What happened to theregus.com? It seems to be gone. :-(

    1. Re:The Reg has it by BeeShoo · · Score: 1

      It's still there, and it has the story.

  23. How prominent is Sendo? by burgburgburg · · Score: 2
    How big a company is Sendo? How prominent are they in the field?

    Sendo was listed as one of the first SmartPhone (what a misnomer) partners: who else joined? Have they put anything out yet?

    1. Re:How prominent is Sendo? by albat0r · · Score: 3, Informative

      How big a company is Sendo? How prominent are they in the field?

      Sendo isn't really a big player in the mobile industry, but it's nice anyway to see them leaving Microsoft!

      Sendo was listed as one of the first SmartPhone (what a misnomer) partners: who else joined? Have they put anything out yet?

      By now, only Orange offer a "smartphone"...

    2. Re:How prominent is Sendo? by Hektor_Troy · · Score: 2

      I don't know how smart it is, when it takes 45 seconds to turn on and ten seconds to turn off.

      Hell, even I can't turn off women that slowly.

      --
      We do not live in the 21st century. We live in the 20 second century.
  24. I wish Sendo the best of luck... by GnomeKing · · Score: 5, Interesting

    but I have to question the business heads of those who cancel a product DAYS BEFORE THE LAUNCH...

    Sure, it must have been a hard decision, but unless they made some huge fkup working out the per-device costing (did they forget to license windows? ;) ) then surely its worth showing your stock holders that you HAVE something for the millions spent on R&D

    But, as I said at the start of the article... good luck to them
    Now, not only have they "wasted" millions, they will probably have the beast on their back

    1. Re:I wish Sendo the best of luck... by bstadil · · Score: 4, Informative
      I have to question the business heads of those who cancel a product DAYS BEFORE THE LAUNCH...

      One of the first things you learn in business school is that cost already expended should have no influence on your future actions.

      Failure to understand this is sometime called "Throwing good money after bad".

      Lots of reason not to launch springs to mind, Support cost being an obvious one. Once you sell the first unit you need to support it.

      Second Economy of scale. If you can't sell enough units you will not reach the required production cost. You loose money (variable cost) on each unit you sell. Better not to sell anything at all. Lots of other reasons, so I think the people running Sendo has business acumen. It actually takes guts to do what they have done. (Maybe this is a ploy to get code and whatever they else they want. Maybe they want to be acquired by MS and act as their development arm. Who knows)

      --
      Help fight continental drift.
    2. Re:I wish Sendo the best of luck... by Frag-A-Muffin · · Score: 3, Insightful

      ...then surely its worth showing your stock holders that you HAVE something for the millions spent on R&D...

      They're a private company.

      --

      AirSpeak - http://itunes.com/apps/AirSpeak
    3. Re:I wish Sendo the best of luck... by pboulang · · Score: 1
      But citing a devlopment issue as the reason for pulling the plug just before launch wouldn't fall into any of these categories. That decision would have to have been made many months before.

      Thus the question regarding the business minds at work. Now if either of your reasons were true regarding final justification of pulling the plug, then why mention Microsoft at all?

      --

      This comment is guaranteed*

      *not guaranteed

    4. Re:I wish Sendo the best of luck... by bstadil · · Score: 1
      But citing a devlopment issue as the reason for pulling the plug just before launch wouldn't fall into any of these categories.

      That is correct, however I was only trying to site good business reasons for killing a product just before launch. It happens all the time by the way.

      Here is a scenario (pure conjecture) that passes muster as far as "development issues" are concerned and shows good business sense.

      During the development of this handset Sendo had to make one accomodation after another on the "useability" of the handset due to OS constrains.

      Each one was maybe not so great and each something they felt they could live with. Now they have finally made a few prototypes and have put them in the hands of real users. The uses gave the product failing grades and cites in most of the cases issues that Sendo felt was attributed to the Trade-off's they had to make vis a vis MS and their OS.

      Consequently the product gets cancelled. Now who and what would you "blame" if blame has to be portioned out?

      --
      Help fight continental drift.
    5. Re:I wish Sendo the best of luck... by Dan+Nordquist · · Score: 1

      Yeah, so they have private stock holders. They still want the company to perform.

    6. Re:I wish Sendo the best of luck... by Ozymandias_KoK · · Score: 1

      However, you should be able to figure these kinds of things out a bit earlier in your product launch cycle, right? I'm sure their stockholders are a bit peeved that the product they were about to launch (and hopefully get some payback on the development costs) just suddenly went back for a total re-write. It doesn't sound like it's because it was a buggy piece of crap, necessitating that kind of action, but something else.

    7. Re:I wish Sendo the best of luck... by pboulang · · Score: 1
      But citing a devlopment issue as the reason for pulling the plug just before launch wouldn't fall into any of these categories.

      That is correct, however I was only trying to site good business reasons for killing a product just before launch. It happens all the time by the way.

      Here is a scenario (pure conjecture) that passes muster as far as "development issues" are concerned and shows good business sense.
      During the development of this handset Sendo had to make one accomodation after another on the "useability" of the handset due to OS constrains.
      Each one was maybe not so great and each something they felt they could live with. Now they have finally made a few prototypes and have put them in the hands of real users. The uses gave the product failing grades and cites in most of the cases issues that Sendo felt was attributed to the Trade-off's they had to make vis a vis MS and their OS.

      This seems to me to be a fairly normal slipperly slope. I completely agree with you on this point.
      Consequently the product gets cancelled. Now who and what would you "blame" if blame has to be portioned out?
      At some point, yes, you decide to cut off the project. However, the interesting point is the timing. If there is a finger, the finger should be pointing at the liason between Sento and Microsoft. From my interpretation (and this may be wrong, and thus why I'm irked by the whole this), the product was far enough in the development cycle, and Microsoft should have been able to design/support a system what with CE experience, etc.

      The timing of just before release (not product announcement, mind you) signifies that there where issues that were unresolvable in the prototype and alpha stages that were allowed through because of, I'm sure,various assurances by MS that finally Sento didn't believe.

      My gut tells me that the final reason Sento pulled out was that they needed to support the final product and MS has too large of a grip on that angle. Any problem of this type should have been resolved many moons ago, not just before launch.

      I'm not trying to blame, I'm just saying that with a technology product, generally the only thing that is going to prevent launch (*especially* with a chance of first to market) is going to be a negative market reaction. Surely there shouldn't be a technological issue this late in the game that is the equivalent of 'Oh, actually, we can't do that'

      I truly hope the real reason is one of disagreement on support of ongoing development (i.e. political instead of technological) or the like. I think my only beef is, as I said, citing a development issue.

      --

      This comment is guaranteed*

      *not guaranteed

  25. that's not the issue by jacquesm · · Score: 1, Offtopic


    1) businesses cancel deals all the time
    2) for every deal like this that sinks ms will probably ink three more
    3) there is NO way we are going to get the open source boat any further by talking about the supposed evil of the competition, it takes ACTION
    4) the best way you can take action is probably by taking one of the toy applications that are currently available for the 'free' os's and turn it into something real, it's a level playingfield out there.
    5) nobody stops you from attacking redmond on their own turf by say working all out on a competitor for office, which is much more of a stronghold than the os will ever be.

    Case in point, I just downloaded knoppix, and the msword viewer/editor that comes with it can not even properly display the simplest word documents.

    And in the past lack of openness from manufacturers was no deterrent to developing applications compatible with their products, reverse assembly is perfectly acceptable.

    So, stop whining and start working.

    1. Re:that's not the issue by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Get openoffice.org

    2. Re:that's not the issue by Effugas · · Score: 2

      Actually, the build of OpenOffice inside of Knoppix works astonishingly well at reading pretty complex word documents -- I actually used it to parse an RFP a few weeks ago, and that thing was a *mess*.

      --Dan

    3. Re:that's not the issue by Osiris+Ani · · Score: 1
      4) the best way you can take action is probably by taking one of the toy applications that are currently available for the 'free' os's and turn it into something real, it's a level playingfield out there.
      Why focus on toys when you can focus on the free software that works?
    4. Re:that's not the issue by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      1) and 2) are not in dispute.
      3) Who is complaining about the evil of the competition here? In this case, the competition (of Nokia) got outcompeted, and Nokia wins.
      4) and 5) So you're upset that you can't get office to work on your linux box?

      So basically, this five-point rant boils down to the following statement: "I am not a programmer of linux applications, but if I were, I would not care about Microsoft's business deals, and would focus on making applications that make me happy, because writing applications that appeal to users like me is the only way to win. By the way, I have no support for this assertion either by anecdote or through my personal credentials, since as I said I am not a programmer."

      Well, how very masturbatory and off-topic of you!

    5. Re:that's not the issue by jacquesm · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      kmail: toy (can't even handle my 5 years of archived mail without crashing, eudora does the same just fine)
      kword: toy (ANY word document I opened so far came out wrong, it shouldn't even be released from what I can see. The poster above seems to have had a lot more luck, but that doesn't help me does it ?)

      and so on... better to have LESS packages that really work than lots of packages that are half-assed

    6. Re:that's not the issue by be-fan · · Score: 2

      FEWER not LESS. But kword is hardly a toy. I couldn't care less about Word documents. Nobody I know is stupid enough to send me Word documents. Aside from that, KWord is actually reasonably powerful, a good 80% product (ie. 80% of users find it powerful enough). It might not be right for people tied to closed content, but that doesn't make it a toy.

      --
      A deep unwavering belief is a sure sign you're missing something...
    7. Re:that's not the issue by jacquesm · · Score: 2, Interesting

      so, I'm not a programmer eh ?

      I have 3 million lines of C under my belt, possibly more since I don't usually count that stuff. And before that piles and piles of assembler, 6502, 6809, 68000, x86, you name it I have probably programmed it.

      I also run a bunch of technology companies and would be more than happy to part with Windows on
      most of our office machines if I could find an alternative that REALLY works. So, every now and then when something promising pops up I give it a shot, but so far nothing came even close to being a competitor for the crap that gates puts out, which doesn't say much for the rest now does it ?

      My point is, and just to make sure I don't draw any more crap like this:

      Technology battles are not usually won in the media especially not in media like this, they are won by making things work and then promoting the hell out of them, the marketplace will take care of the rest. See MS vs IBM at some point in the past, and that was when nobody thought IBM could be unseated. Not by whining about the competition. Knoppix seems to be a step in the right direction, and with a little - not even that much - concerted effort we can make it a home run but whining is not going to solve it.

      For personal reasons I have decided to stay away from open source myself (we have to eat you know...), but I presume there are many people like me out there that would be glad to make the switch given an alternative that really works and that does not require me to have either a double boot or two machines to be able to do my daily work.

    8. Re:that's not the issue by WhiteKnight07 · · Score: 1

      Then why don't you try OpenOffice for your .doc files and Evolution for your 5 years worth of mail?

      --


      We're going to make information free Mr. Anderson, whether you like it, or not.
  26. Jeeez by cca93014 · · Score: 0, Troll
    It has been a very difficult decision for Sendo given its leadership position in the development of smart devices.

    how can it be a leader in the market if it can't even sort out its products operating system?
    What a load of marketing wank.

  27. Sendo Can't Get Microsoft Source by fava · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I cant find any referance to the reason Sendo decided to ditch Microsoft.

    Where is the referance to Microsoft source code?

  28. Silly Sendo by Gene303 · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Apparently sendo doesn't want to make money. Don't get me wrong symbian is great, but at this point in time it seams to me that people would much rather buy an MS enabled phone than a Symbian one. Also, I wonder what kind of delay it will add to their device, which already has been postponed numerous times. It seems to me like its never going to make it to market.

    --
    im a hippie
    1. Re:Silly Sendo by saider · · Score: 3, Insightful


      People don't care about what OS the phone is running nearly as much as the telcos that have to support it. Also, phones are not percieved as computers and the branding of the software that runs on them matters little because the branding is on the device. Folks buy a Nokia or Motorola phone, not a Microsoft or Symbian phone.

      --


      Remember, You are unique...just like everyone else.
    2. Re:Silly Sendo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Where do you get the idea that people would rather buy a Microsoft based _phone_ than a Symbian based one?

      Maybe in the mobile backwater of the US but not europe or asia. Symbian is far from the potential success it could be but it is light years ahead of any challenge from MS in the phone market. Over a million Symbian phones have already been bought and that is with only a small amount of the announced Symbian phones actually shipping yet.

    3. Re:Silly Sendo by Gene303 · · Score: 0

      You guys obviously know very little about the handheld market and the tremdouns gains that microsoft has made with the pocket pc. Are you blind? The pocketpc is a runaway success they had finally gotten it right. And the smartphones in many ways are an extension of the pocketpc and is a very similar technology. The smartphone is targeted at the consumer who likes to be able to look at data on their pda but not necessarily enter it, likes to play games, and likes to listen to music, and maybe even watch some short clips. The smartphone is going to blow symbian away, simply because its got the same gui that gives warm fuzzy feelings to millions of people that windows has. Heros die first. ANd it appears to me that such will be the undisputed fate of sendo if they go with symbian.

      --
      im a hippie
    4. Re:Silly Sendo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      That's the key issue in the battle between Microsoft and Symbian after all. I don't think it's about source code, because after all MS has that Share Source crap. I think it's about brand naming, because MS phone will always be a MS phone, not a Nokia phone, not a Motorola phone, but instead the MS logo will stand out. That's maybe Sendo wanted something anonymous where they can stick their brand.
      I think the blow was Orange picking another provider for the first MS-Smartphone crap, and they realize ... oops, we won't bring anything new to the market and it will have the MS logo on it. I really hope Sendo has the funds to start again from almost-scratch.

  29. Mirror of site posting and some other news... by DAldredge · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Sendo Z100 NOT TO LAUNCH

    Company Statement
    Sendo has terminated its Smartphone development program utilising the Microsoft Windows Powered Smartphone 2002 software.

    As a result, Sendo regrets to announce that it will not be shipping the Z100 Smartphone.

    It has been a very difficult decision for Sendo given its leadership position in the development of smart devices. We are disappointed that we will not be able to ship the Z100 given the high level of interest shown in the device.

    Although a set back, we are pleased to announce today that we have licensed the Series 60 platform from Nokia for our smartphone category. We believe this will create the opportunity for us to continue as a lead player in the development of smartphone products for 2003.

    SENDO CHOOSES NOKIA'S SERIES 60 PLATFORM FOR ITS SMART PHONES
    Thu Nov 7 2002
    Sendo, a British mobile phone manufacturer, today announced that the company has decided to license Series 60 Platform from Nokia for its smart phone category. The Series 60 is a software platform for feature- and application rich smart phones that Nokia licenses to mobile handset manufacturers. The platform is optimised to run on top of the Symbian OS. Sendo joins as the newest member to the Series 60 licensing community with Matsushita, Samsung, Siemens and Nokia.

    "Earlier this fall we reviewed our smart phone strategy. While our mission of providing customers with feature-rich and ubiquitous devices remains unaltered, seeing that the Series 60 fully embraces both our mission and the new strategy we decided to approach Nokia," said Hugh Brogan, Chief Executive Officer of Sendo Holdings Plc. "The platform utilises open standards and technologies, such as MMS and Java , jointly developed by the industry. The platform is robust, yet uniquely flexible, bringing great benefits to licensees, operators, developers and consumers."

    "We welcome Sendo, a pioneer in smart phone development, to join our Series 60 community. We see that a combination of Sendo's technical expertise and growing market presence will bring significant contribution to the mobile market with Series 60 devices. Interoperable solutions that are built on open and common industry standards are proving to be the winning formula in meeting demands of business users and consumers alike," said Niklas Savander, Vice President and General Manager, Nokia Mobile Software.

    Nokia licenses Series 60 Platform as a source code. The model enables licensees to contribute to the development of the platform while fully executing their individual business strategy, brand and customer requirements in fast developing and highly competitive mobile communications market. Licensees will be able to include the Series 60 into their own smart phone designs, thus speeding up the rollout of new phone models at lower costs.

    The Series 60 is a comprehensive software platform for smart phones, created for mobile phone users that demand easy-to-use, one-hand operated handsets with high-quality colour screens, rich communications and enhanced applications. The Series 60 platform consists of the key telephony and personal information management applications, the browser and messaging clients, as well as a complete and modifiable user interface, all designed to run on top of the Symbian OS, an operating system for advanced, data enabled mobile phones.

    --------
    New H1B visa bill signed into law
    --------

    "It is now official. On November 2, US President George Bush signed the department of justice Authorisation Bill which will make extension for H-1B visas easier.

    It will also make it possible for more Indian doctors to live and work in the US once their academic programme is over.

    The extension of H-1B visas will particularly benefit the IT sector. This is good news for Indian H-1B visa holders, as nearly 50% of them are working in the high-tech sector. "

    http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/h tml/uncomp/articleshow?artid=27499106

    1. Re:Mirror of site posting and some other news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thats nice take jobs away from people who already live here!

  30. Pay attention: It's OSS and Java by burgburgburg · · Score: 3, Informative
    As the ZDNet article says, the Series 60 user interface from Nokia uses open standards and technologies, such as MMS (Multimedia Message Service) and Java.

    It doesn't say anything directly about Linux.

    So the editors would be blithering idiot OSS/Java fanboys.

    1. Re:Pay attention: It's OSS and Java by Arrgh · · Score: 2

      It's not OSS at all. Symbian is still a proprietary, closed-source OS. Here's an announcement from April about their "opening" of code.

      What the Reuters article says is that MS wouldn't release the SmartPhone OS code to Sendo but Symbian would.

      IMO, this is a terrible mistake on MS' part. They refused to release code to one of the first licensees of a brand new, untried OS for a market segment that demands vendor differentiation more than any other.

  31. A little bit of research.. by tagevm · · Score: 5, Informative

    ...would have been nice, before giving Nokia full ownership of Symbian. As the article says the licensed software is optimised to run on Symbian, but it is not Symbian. From the Symbian website: "Symbian was established as a private independent company in June 1998 and is owned by Ericsson, Nokia, Matsushita (Panasonic), Motorola, Psion, Siemens and Sony Ericsson. Headquartered in the UK, it has offices in Japan, Sweden, UK and the USA."

    1. Re:A little bit of research.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What should have been said :

      0) Sendo has told MS goodbye

      1) Sendo has joined Symbian

      2) Sendo has licensed Nokia's Series 60 which sit on top of the Symbian OS.

    2. Re:A little bit of research.. by davechen · · Score: 1

      Not to be confused with Sybian.

  32. Don't just dismiss this as unimportant! by FyRE666 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Although many will doubtless claim this is insignificant to MS - the fact they're further delayed in getting their own hardware out there will do them serious damage in the mobile device arena. Nokia and other phone manufacturers have a growing army of 3rd party developers writing new software for their devices, which in turn makes them more desirable for anyone who wishes to expand their capabilities. Although the phone manufacturers are making some mistakes (mostly messing about with the J2ME standard classes, and offering little support) the number of apps is increasing very quickly.

    Contrast this with MS, who have no platform, no 3rd party developers (as far as I know), and very little to offer over the established brands. The other mobile makers already have software to sync their devices with Windows/Linux/Mac OS', and they're pretty reliable.

    MS is going to have a very very hard battle trying to convince anyone to buy their phones, even moreso than the XBox - which isn't doing well compared to the competition.

    This is a good thing ;-)

    1. Re:Don't just dismiss this as unimportant! by fredrik70 · · Score: 1

      MS still got Orange and Samsung(?), but that's the only ones they got as 3rd party developer, IIRC. But anyway, yes, very good news! :-D

      --
      if (!signature) { throw std::runtime_error("No sig!"); }
    2. Re:Don't just dismiss this as unimportant! by cybrthng · · Score: 2, Flamebait
      MS is going to have a very very hard battle trying to convince anyone to buy their phones, even moreso than the XBox - which isn't doing well compared to the competition.


      The xbox is selling very well, but what the hell has this got to do with smartphones?

      Microsoft provides very detailed, powerfull and highly documented application and SDK environments. I don't know where you come off saying they don't provide the var support. Microsoft has by far got the worlds largest 3rd party and VAR support of ANY company.

      Xbox is doing very well, has the highest "attach" rate and has sold MILLIONS. For a FIRST product and FIRST year it is doing very well.

      hell, microsoft will be in the black shortly. Considering a billion went in, thats a FAST ROI!

      Now back to smartphones, sure MS can screw up, but everyone though PocketPC is going no where yet they still sell like hotcakes and compete very well against every other palm type device out there.
    3. Re:Don't just dismiss this as unimportant! by ivan256 · · Score: 4, Informative

      hell, microsoft will be in the black shortly.

      Um, no. I hate to burst your "I bought an Xbox, so it damn well better succeed" bubble, but Microsoft is demonstrateably nowhere near having brought in $1 billion in revenue from the Xbox. Look at their last few quarterly reports. You'll see two things. First, they group Xbox revenue in with revenue from MSN subscriptions, PC games sales, and consumer software. Basically everything microsoft makes that's not Office, Windows, or a server product, and all the revenue (not profits, revenue) from MSN. Second you'll see that they bring in under $2 billion a year with all those things. There is NO WAY that Xbox accounts for half of Microsoft's non Windows/Office sales, especially since those numbers aren't significantly increased from the previous year when Xbox didn't exist. Not only that, but revenue figures don't take into account the expenditure for building each device.

      Estimates I've seen tend to agree that Microsoft must sell between 10 and 20 games to break even on an Xbox sale. How many games do you have for your Xbox?

      The xbox is selling very well

      Again, bullshit. There's loads of market research that shows Xbox in an uphill battle for second place. http://www.instat.com/press.asp?ID=390&sku=IN02004 1ME

      You need to shell out $3k for the numbers, but it's not to hard to figure it out from the abstract. If sony sold >20 million consoles in the last 12 months, 31 million consoles were sold overall, and Nintendo and Microsoft have sold roughly equal numbers of consoles, you can see that the Xbox is not selling very well compared to PS2. That means there are 40 million PS2 in people's houses, and ~5 million Xboxes out there. Also, if you head over to NPDFunworld, you'll see that for the last 6 months Xbox has had on average 1 game in the monthly top ten based on sales. That's not anything to write home about, especially when there are typically 6 PS2 games and 3 GBA games on the list.

      Maybe someday there will be enough good Xbox exclusive titles out there to get more people to shell out the $200 for an Xbox, but with microsoft already planning on releasing Xbox 2 in just over 2 years, and 90% of the good xbox games being available on other platforms, Xbox sales may not be picking up anytime soon.

    4. Re:Don't just dismiss this as unimportant! by Fjord · · Score: 2
      How can you say the XBox is doing very well?
      GameCube hardware sales in September totaled nearly 168,000 units. Xbox sold 175,000 pieces. That brings life-to-date sales of GCN in the US up to 2.3 million versus 2.8 million Xbox sales. Sony's unstoppable giant PlayStation 2, meanwhile, crushed figures of both systems in September, selling an additional 500,000 pieces of hardware. More than 11.3 million PS2s have sold in America since the console launched.

      The PS2 is still outselling XBox almost 3:1, in spite of the fact that the PS2 is a year older. The PS2 still has over a 4:1 market dominance. And that's in the Xbox's best market. It's no secret that the XBox is not doing well overseas versus GameCube.
      To put the 2.8M XBox units into perspective, that is currently 2/3rds of what the Dreamcase sold in 17 months:
      When all was said and done, 4.2 million Sega Dreamcast units were sold in the United States

      At the present rate XBox will not beat the Dreamcast at the 17 month mark, and the Dreamcast at least had a better foreign market.
      --
      -no broken link
    5. Re:Don't just dismiss this as unimportant! by rbrome · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Although many will doubtless claim this is insignificant to MS - the fact they're further delayed in getting their own hardware out there will do them serious damage in the mobile device arena.

      Not really. The Sendo device was crap anyway compared to the HTC device, which is now SHIPPING in Europe as the Orange "SPV". The truth is, before they met Microsoft, Sendo made low-end super-budget phones. They were in over their heads. HTC, meanwhile, has a long history of making great Microsoft hardware, including the iPAQ Pocket PCs.

      Contrast this with MS, who have no platform

      uh... Windows Powered Smartphone IS the platform. As I mentioned, it's shipping.

      no 3rd party developers (as far as I know),

      Windows Powered Smartphone is Windows CE-based, and very closely related to Pocket PC 2002. There are over 10,000 Pocket PC apps out there already - most of which could be ported to Smartphone in less than a day. That gives them a huge developer base.

      and very little to offer over the established brands.

      Probably not so much here, but to many people, Microsoft is a good brand. But that's not really the point of Windows Powered Smartphone. The idea is that Microsoft provides the OS, companies like HTC and Samsung provide the hardware, and the devices are actually carrier-branded. So the main brand on such a device would be "Cingular" or "AT&T", not "Sendo" or "HTC".

    6. Re:Don't just dismiss this as unimportant! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So I guess the game cube is in the total shitter too then? 2nd place is like fucking nothing? Well Linux is far from 2nd on the desktop, does that mean it faces certain death too? Maybe it should just be shit-canned. It's never made anyone a dime of money. (No, not eve Red hat which has millions in unpaid losses to recover (maybe in about 15 years))

      How you people can be to gung ho rah rah for a tinker toy OS like Linux and so down on the XBox shows how truly neurotic you really are.

    7. Re:Don't just dismiss this as unimportant! by nathanh · · Score: 2

      Because Linux doesn't cost $369.

    8. Re:Don't just dismiss this as unimportant! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Linux also doesn't play Halo, or NFL 2003, or any solid recent game.

    9. Re:Don't just dismiss this as unimportant! by nathanh · · Score: 2

      And this affects me... how?

  33. Re:good lord by afidel · · Score: 2

    None of that was typed by the editor, see here at slashdots if it's in italics it's from the submitter. If you think the editors should reject a submission just because of some fanboyism in the submitters comments then go start your own "unbiased" newsite, see if you get over a half million hits a day.

    --
    There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
  34. Thanks!! Headline should have been by Monkelectric · · Score: 0, Troll

    Slashdot reader can't get story, ditches article.

    --

    Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley

  35. Re:good lord by Nintendork · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    You must be new around here. Michael only posts monopoly bashing posts and stuff only a few care about.

  36. Re:Big deal, Windows is the wrong paradigm for cel by Telastyn · · Score: 2, Informative

    It's not that it's command line or terminal driven (directly) as much as there is simply far less people cisco certified than MCSE certified. Simple supply and demand will raise the salaries(price) of the more rare resource.

  37. Guru Soporific by Mulletproof · · Score: 1

    And that has to be the most insightful observation ever made in this entire MS versus the Fanboy war. I'd give you a few more point's myself, if I could.

    --
    You need a FREE iPod Nano
  38. Re:Not using Windows? Are they insane?? by phillymjs · · Score: 4, Funny

    Many others praise Windows, too, including Chief Technology Officer Bill Patterson of Ford Motor Company, "Windows allows us to leverage our most valuable assets, people, into a world-class synergy to delight customers all over the globe."

    <sarcasm>It's no surprise that Ford relies on Microsoft products, because Ford sure knows quality.</sarcasm>

    I can't help but wonder how delighted their customers must be, when they have to bring their Focus back into the dealership for yet another safety recall every month or so.

    Ford ought to be partnering with Microsoft to put a "Critical Update Notification" feature into next year's model: "...Simply plug a phone line into your Focus every night, and the car will dial into Ford's headquarters and download a list of that day's newly-discovered critical safety flaws that you'll need to have repaired immediately..."

    Thankfully, I don't own one of the little beasts, but one of my friends does.

    ~Philly

  39. Re:The Reg US by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I would guess that "The Reg US"--a rather dodgy attempt to grow their American audience through minimal repackaging of what turned out to be mostly the same content--wasn't getting the results which Vulture Central had hoped for. So perhaps they just quietly killed it in the middle of the night.

    Good riddance, I say. Aside from being a half-baked idea, the sight of an American flag pasted up next to the noble Vulture logo was just painful.

    (And I AM American; I can only imagine the horror for British readers.)

  40. It IS a big deal by burgburgburg · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Microsoft is trying to hook it's claws into all things digital (including phones, appliances and cars). The fact that their programs are unqualified for such activities is irrelevant to them. This is, fortunately, a setback. Hopefully, a big one.

    1. Re:It IS a big deal by Surak · · Score: 5, Informative

      Microsoft is trying to hook it's claws into all things digital (including phones, appliances and cars).

      I work in the auto industry as a sysadmin, and I can confirm that last one for y'all if you're sitting their scratching your heads. I picked up an automotive industry trade rag one day and there it was, in big letters on a yellow BMW: Microsoft Windows CE for Automotive. Had the Windows CE logo and everything. I'm not even kidding. I wish I were. ;)

    2. Re:It IS a big deal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Yea? No shit, dude. Clarion came out with an AutoPC in 97 running a modified... uh, CE 2.0, I think. The damn thing even had a ctrl-alt-delete sequence (power-joystick-#).

      It was all voice recognition and TTS. Optional integration with wireless data services and a GPS receivers. And this was in 1997. You can still get these on eBay for about $400. Regardless of the windows portion, not bad radios.

    3. Re:It IS a big deal by The+Wookie · · Score: 3, Funny

      BMW: Microsoft Windows CE for Automotive

      The question here is: What is Microsoft going to do when you try to sell your car?

    4. Re:It IS a big deal by CmdrTypo · · Score: 1

      Insert usual joke about how "Microsoft Windows CE for Automotive? That brings a whole new meaning to blue screen of death!".

  41. Forbes on Fox by bhsx · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was stuck at the Hyatt in downtown Chicago this past weekend and was watching Forbes on Fox. Steve Forbes and his writers and editors were speculating on tech futures when they brought up hopeful Nokia and Motorola sales increases. One of the panel, via satelite, discounted the possible sales increase with the reasoning that Microsoft is entering the cell arena with OEMs rather than traditional cell phone manufacturers and that that would stimey Moto and Nokia. To which one of the enlightenned panel members replied:
    I've had to agonize with Microsoft on my computer, I certainly don't want them on my cell phone."
    It was an unexpected comment and I couldn't stop chuckling.

    --
    put the what in the where?
    1. Re:Forbes on Fox by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, but Linux has agrevated me 10x on my pc than windows ever has. So I guess it'll be THE LAST thing I ever want on a phone then.

  42. Re:good lord by SledgeHBK · · Score: 1

    I was just thinking this, honestly. Do some people really scour the net constantly looking for news that could be construed as negative for Microsoft?

    If so, sheesh. Get a life.

  43. darn it by WildBeast · · Score: 2

    I gave away my cellphone a couple of weeks ago, because I was waiting for the Smartphone to come out, it has some very nice features. To be honest, the only feature that I was looking forward to, was the one where XBox Live players could invite you to a game and if your XBox is not powered on, you'll receive the invite on your cellphone. I love that. I don't wanna miss out on the fun.

    1. Re:darn it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ooo, definately worth the god-awful amount you will be charged for it. Go for it, richboy.

    2. Re:darn it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      serves you right, fuckwit

  44. Re:Big deal, Windows is the wrong paradigm for cel by mrm677 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Oh please. I didn't know whether to respond or mod you down on this one. I choose the former.

    Of course Stingray (Windows for cellphones) uses an underlying RTOS. I interviewed with that group. We talked about it. All of the fancy UI/Windows stuff is in a low-priority task.

    Just like with the Palm OS. The "Palm OS" doesn't actually run the PDA. It runs on top of a small RTOS kernel that handles interrupts, hardware drivers, and other real-time things that have little to do with the UI. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the same Palm OS runs on different RTOS kernels. In fact, I can almost guarantee you that the Qualcomm Palm thingy they had a few years ago likely did not use the same RTOS kernel as my Palm Vx.

    And you comment about Cisco Certified Internet Engineers and Command-line interfaces is a joke, right? A CCIE doesn't make more money because he or she can use a terminal instead of dragging icons. They make more money because internetworking is more of a niche and is arguably more complex than setting up Windows. It also costs much more to become CCIE than MCSE. Trust me, Cisco's next generation routers will be configured remotely through a graphical interface. I guess when that happens, CCIE's will be making just as much as a MCSE, huh?

  45. Misleading title by ChronoZ · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yes the article states that they are ditching MS, but other than stating the openness of Symbian source code, there doesn't seem to be any specific reference stating that Sendo ditches Windows because it "can't get Microsoft source".

  46. Another win for Open Source by miffo.swe · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The more companies that gets used to have access to the source code and being able to make modifications the better. Once you are familiar with the concept its much easier to uncerstand why Gnu/linux works and what benefits it can bring. Also its much harder to fool someone with things like Shared Source if they are knowledged in GPL etc. and can see the really big differences between licenses.

    --
    HTTP/1.1 400
    1. Re:Another win for Open Source by marauder404 · · Score: 2

      How is this a win for Open Source? They just went from one closed-source commercial vendor to another. The latter was simply willing Sendo to show the back room. They're not seeing the value in Open Source at all -- they just wanted something that Microsoft didn't offer.

    2. Re:Another win for Open Source by miffo.swe · · Score: 2

      Well they did get access to the source code didnt they? Symbian is as a matter of fact pretty much a source distribution. So by my reasoning they have discovered benefits in having access to the source code. The step from wanting access to the source code to Open Source or GNU/linux is pretty short. Once they have the basic idea and have discovered the benefits i for one can imagine they have taken one step closer to Open Source.

      Open Source isnt the GPL but the step from Open Source to the GPL is very short.

      --
      HTTP/1.1 400
  47. Re:good lord by SirSlud · · Score: 2

    > Are the editors not even trying to appear like normal, rational human beings rather than blithering idiot linux fanboys?

    Are posters not even trying to appear like they read the links and not even considering that the text they're bitching about wasn't written by the editors?

    PS. Data leech is somebody who takes data from somewhere without volountarily repaying in kind. People believe they are far more individualist than they truely are; the better companies get at matching our perceived 'wants', the more likely we are to change in a manner that befits the company. In other words, when companies get access to what kinds of marketing/communication/interests influence your decision making process, your power of free choice is sacrificed. In the extreme, this would be companies finding out what things are important to you, and using those things as ways of manipulating you. Advertising becomes _very_ effective when the advertiser knows what your weaknesses are.

    --
    "Old man yells at systemd"
  48. Re:Bad news for Linux? by ceejayoz · · Score: 2

    The paradigm of GNU/Linux is one of throwing off the shackles of oppressive, business-savvy regimes.

    Don't get me wrong, I would love to see GNU/Linux installed on every computer in the world, at gunpoint if necessary.

    So, to get rid of oppressive regimes we should shoot people for not using Linux?

  49. Quick look at Series 60 and Programming for it by burgburgburg · · Score: 5, Informative
    Quick look at Series 60 here

    Book description of "Programming for the Series 60 Platform and Symbian OS" here

  50. Shared Source by Airline_Sickness_Bag · · Score: 1
    Come on! We know that Microsoft is just dying to share their source code with people. We just had a thread on Slashdot about it.


    Seriously, the possibilites are


    1) It wouldn't work or fit
    2) Bad licencing (terms or cost)
    3) Figured that Symbian would dominate



    -asb

  51. Paradigm Shift by TWX_the_Linux_Zealot · · Score: 5, Interesting

    For some reason, I'm beginning to think that this could signify a slow paradigm-shift in certain tech-savvy industries.

    I worked for a telecommunications company that had started using NT 3.51/4.0 for embedded system work, because we were using off-the-shelf industrial servers, and at the time, Microsoft' Systems Architect for NT was gearing things toward being fairly decent as an embedded system. When the latter iteration of NT 4.0 and then 2000 came out, they had clearly changed their intent, and our product, to use a technical term, was "fucked". Ultimately, an investor with cold feet spelled the end of the company, but it was taking quite a long time to adapt to the new platform, and this was seen as a big problem.

    We had trusted Microsoft to keep the platform stable for our uses, and they failed to do so. Had we had the source code to the OS, we could have potentially rewritten the parts that we needed to make things work, while still giving them their licensing fee for the newest product. We never (obviously) had the chance.

    Now, I work for an organization that has to maintain a massive database, and while we bought the software that we use, we also received the source code, so we actively maintain our end. We and our vendor work to determine what changes we as an organization made, and sometimes these changes are rolled back into the next release or step of the product, if they're universally beneficial. Others aren't, and we simply have to go and check the new versions to make our changes. This approach works very well.

    Even if 'open source' isn't the answer to everyones' problems, simply having the source at all can be very beneficial. Hopefully, more and more medium to large companies and organizations will realise this, and that this, rather than lawsuits, attacks, etc, will cause people to abandon Microsoft.

    --

    IBM had PL/1, with syntax worse than JOSS,
    And everywhere the language went, it was a total loss...
    1. Re:Paradigm Shift by SoLoatWork · · Score: 1

      +6 - Converted Me

  52. Re:Not using Windows? Are they insane?? by swordboy · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Actually,

    It looks like their web server is using Windows...

    --

    Life is the leading cause of death in America.
  53. Another perspective... by EggMan2000 · · Score: 1

    After reading that press release, it appears to me that they are just making excuses for their failures. If things were as bad as they say, they should have cut bait months ago.

    I guess this helps deflect investor concerns. Not a huge annoucement IMO.

    --
    what? what I thought we were in the trust tree in the nest, were we not?
  54. Re:Not using Windows? Are they insane?? by computer_redneck · · Score: 1

    If this is true.... Why is FORD working on converting a chunk of their Servers to Linux.

    --
    "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - BF
  55. Yeah so what by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A phone is made to talk to other people not to run windows or linux on. That is all we need is people driving talking on thier phone and playing solitare.

  56. Another one... by Fnkmaster · · Score: 3, Funny
    Wow, that sure is one smart phone. I mean, these Symbian things seem really popular these days.


    I hope I can get the source code to a Symbian and hack on it to improve the vibration modes, the "gooey" interface, and even make it go faster.


    Oh, that's a Sybian. Never mind.

  57. It is news.... by Sunkist · · Score: 5, Interesting


    ...because MS is a minority shareholder in SENDO. Not only is it embarrassing to MS but points out that MS power to control is loosening and can't even strongarm companies in which it has a stake.

    --
    No, Vern. They just let him in.
    1. Re:It is news.... by jamezilla · · Score: 2, Interesting

      What's more, MS bought it's minority stake in Sendo in order to buy it's way into the cell phone software market. The heart of MS's cell phone problems runs way deeper than the fact that they make crappy software:
      If you look at profit margins for cell phone hardware, Nokia makes about a 50% profit on it's handsets. By contrast, Dell makes somewhere in the high teens (~18%) for it's PC hardware. This is largely due to the fact that MS is sucking up all the extra profit. No cell phone maker on the planet wants to let MS muscle in on their hardware profits - MS was forced to buy their way in.

    2. Re:It is news.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Idiot. MS ALWAYS fails at it's first attempts at anything. But unlike Linux and Mac, MS learns it's lessons and by version 3 will stomp the shit our of anything in the Mac/Linux/xxx camp. This means NOTHING for the long term prospects of Windows on any particular device.

    3. Re:It is news.... by nEoN+nOoDlE · · Score: 2

      Now, if only we can get Microsoft to switch their workstations over to Linux... Then the chaos can begin.

      --
      Don't trust a bull's horn, a doberman's tooth, a runaway horse or me.
  58. I'm really excited about MS on cell phones by bobetov · · Score: 5, Funny

    They'll no doubt bring the same fine usability and security features they've perfected in Outlook to my cell phone's address book.

    Just think of all the new capabilities we'll have! Helpful users (especially those swell guys in eastern europe!) will no doubt quickly create vbscript autodialers. Heck, my phone will probably call my friends more often that I do!

    And that's the Microsoft Promise: "We do things so you don't have to!"

    --
    Looking for a Rails developer in Chapel Hill?
  59. Windows CE for Automotive and BMW 7 Series by burgburgburg · · Score: 3, Informative

    The press release from Microsoft and a discussion at news.com.

  60. Cisco router configuration by Cato · · Score: 2

    It will be a cold day in hell before CCIEs stop using a command line interface. Being able to use config files and command lines has many advantages that will be familiar to *nix users.

    Various web-based GUIs exist for Cisco routers (some of them are built in), as well as larger-scale provisioning/activation systems for QoS, IP VPNs, etc, which include GUIs as well as APIs. The latter don't replace CCIEs but they make it possible to use less skilled provisioning staff to do certain complex and repetitive configuration actions using the CLI.

    There have been various efforts to provide a better protocol for provisioning systems to configure devices (e.g. COPS and now XMLCONF), but none of them has really taken off.

    1. Re:Cisco router configuration by mrm677 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The day will come when a competitor of Cisco develops a router that is easily configured by a Sysadmin who isn't a CCIE that knows the Cisco IOS terminal-driven interface like the back of their hand.

      When that day comes, Cisco will feel the pressure and follow suit. Why pay a CCIE $80,000 to do your configuration when you can pay somebody $35,000? Same reason why many companies choose Windows instead of Linux. I'm not saying its right or even cost effective, but its a lot cheaper (up front) to hire someone to set up a Windows server than a Linux server. Especially for simple things like file and printer sharing.

      There will always be a place for a CCIE expert, however their choice of places may become fewer.

    2. Re:Cisco router configuration by fwr · · Score: 2

      Your kidding right? 80K for a CCIE? I think you are a little low. BTW, I'd find it Real Hard to believe that someone who only makes 35K a year knows enough about the underlying technology and protocols to configure an internet backbone router...

    3. Re:Cisco router configuration by NeoSkandranon · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Why pay a CCIE $80,000 to do your configuration when you can pay somebody $35,000?

      Because if you offer 35k/year to someone who knows this stuff, whether CCIE or not, they're gonna laugh all the way to their interview with your competitor.

      --
      If you can't see the value in jet powered ants you should turn in your nerd card. - Dunbal (464142)
    4. Re:Cisco router configuration by mrm677 · · Score: 2

      Because if you offer 35k/year to someone who knows this stuff, whether CCIE or not, they're gonna laugh all the way to their interview with your competitor.

      You see, existing large-scale routers require someone to really know the stuff inside and out. Just like how a UNIX admin really has to know his/her stuff to be a competent sysadmin.

      Now they are often being replaced by an MSCE who can run a Win2k installation CD.

      The key is removing complexity and make it appear cheap to the customer. This is how Microsoft sells their server products, not because they are more capable. Installing *any* server used to be very complex. Right now, configuring any Cisco router is complex. Someday, a product will be available that is easy to set up and is capable of doing the same job as that Cisco router. Just like how Win2k is capable of performing many (but not all) of the jobs once reserved for complex Unix installations.

    5. Re:Cisco router configuration by ealar+dlanvuli · · Score: 2

      Heh thats funny, we pay 70k to our "MCSE", except he only has a MCP and knows about three times as much as any of the "MCSE" bragging techs that run around campuss.

      For professional quality anything it takes a professional quality support man. I would hate to work for a company implimenting a 40 box citrix setup with a 35k "MCSE", in fact I might leave if a company tried to do that...

      --
      I live in a giant bucket.
    6. Re:Cisco router configuration by doorbot.com · · Score: 1

      The day will come when a competitor of Cisco develops a router that is easily configured by a Sysadmin who isn't a CCIE that knows the Cisco IOS terminal-driven interface like the back of their hand.

      You mean, like Linux + IPTables + Webmin?

    7. Re:Cisco router configuration by mindstrm · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Oh please.
      CCIE is not about configuring a single router. It's not about "knowing how to configure ciscos".

      It's about being an expert at internetworking, and being able to deal with many, many different types of protocols and situations and hardware. Of course it's primarily focused on Cisco hardware, because the Internetworking business in general is primarily led by Cisco.

      CCIE expert.. ist hat like an LCD Display or a CRT Tube? an ABS System? an MD Doctor or a CGA Accountant? A CEO Officer?

      If you can hire a CCIE for $80k a year, more power to you.. his certification is probably fake.

      Of course in time there will be less of a market; the same can be said for most technology trades. But don't mix up CCIE with normal everyday cisco adminsitrator certifications, they are very different things.

    8. Re:Cisco router configuration by rodgerd · · Score: 3, Informative

      Because you're paying for someone who understands networking, not for someone who knows the Cisco command line.

      Anyone - me included - can spend a day or so learning the Cisco shell. Whether that gets you a finely tuned network that operates to the SLA you require or a big, steaming, festering pile of dog crap depends on whether that someone understands the underlying concepts. That doesn't change with a GUI, which is why there are so many fucked-up Windows installations out there. Because people like you believe that a GUI makes an expert.

  61. Submission? by Yankovic · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Is there anyway to give a -1 Flamebait to a submission? SHEESH!

    1. Re:Submission? by fantastic · · Score: 1

      nope they are just findings of fact.

      I'm still waiting for the Microsoft community site (is gotdotnet all they are doing) let us know of their plans Yankovic

  62. Excellent Point by Dan Gillmore by serutan · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Great links ... the last paragraph of Dan Gillmore's article gets to the crux of this and many other modern problems:

    The one chance is for people to realize what's at stake and do something difficult: Make choices that mean less convenience today in order to have liberty tomorrow. Americans are lousy at this, but a lot is now at stake. You may not care. You should.

    Yup. Americans ARE lousy at this, at least nowadays. We are the proud, the free, willing to fight for liberty justice for all, as long as we can do it with a remote from the couch. Today's America is a golden land of opportunity for anybody who can figure out clever ways to exploit our overriding aversion to inconvenience. That's the problem. Come up with a good solution to that, and the rest is details. My great fear is that fixing our sheep-like mentality is going to take something starkly real and immediate, like guerrilla warfare in our streets or an economic depression on the scale of the 1930s.

  63. Re:good lord by Loki_1929 · · Score: 2

    "In the extreme, this would be companies finding out what things are important to you, and using those things as ways of manipulating you. Advertising becomes _very_ effective when the advertiser knows what your weaknesses are."

    That being why many marketing gurus have psychology degrees. People don't have anywehre near as much free will as they'd like to believe. We're creatures of habit and instinct, and we're very easily manipulated.

    --
    -- "Government is the great fiction through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else."
  64. New Headline Microsoft buys Sendo by inteller · · Score: 0, Troll

    ...and immediately fires their asses for being mooches. Smartphone 2002 is poised to kick Nokia's proprietary ass. ou wouldn't believe how many people I know that walked away from Nokia's communicator thingy when they found out they couldn't load windows CE apps on it. Nokia you are gonna lose. Sendo has already lost.

  65. *Windows is DYING! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You don't need to be Kreskin to predict *Windows's future. The hand writing is on the wall: *Windows faces a bleak future. In fact there won't be any future at all for *Windows because *Windows is dying. Things are looking very bad for *Windows. As many of us are already aware, *Windows continues to lose market share. Red ink flows like a river of blood.

    Let's keep to the facts and look at the numbers.

    OpenWindows leader Theo states that there are 7000 users of OpenWindows. How many users of NetWindows are there? Let's see. The number of OpenWindows versus NetWindows posts on Usenet is roughly in ratio of 5 to 1. Therefore there are about 7000/5 = 1400 NetWindows users. Windows/OS posts on Usenet are about half of the volume of NetWindows posts. Therefore there are about 700 users of Windows/OS. A recent article put FreeWindows at about 80 percent of the *Windows market. Therefore there are (7000+1400+700)*4 = 36400 FreeWindows users. This is consistent with the number of FreeWindows Usenet posts.

    Due to the troubles of Walnut Creek, abysmal sales and so on, FreeWindows went out of business and was taken over by WindowsI who sell another troubled OS. Now WindowsI is also dead, its corpse turned over to another charnel house.

    All major surveys show that *Windows has steadily declined in market share. *Windows is very sick and its long term survival prospects are very dim. If *Windows is to survive at all it will be among OS hobbyists, dabblers, and dilettantes. *Windows continues to decay. Nothing short of a miracle could save it at this point in time. For all practical purposes, *Windows is dead.

  66. Re:Big deal, Windows is the wrong paradigm for cel by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Cisco has never felt compelled to use their cert as a marketing tool. Microsoft used the MSCE as a means to devalue Novell certs like CNEs in an application of Gresham's Law. Microsoft, faced competition with Novell and combined with a lack of integrity, dumped huge amounts of poorly trained people on the market. Sure enough MSCEs were easy to find and nobody knew the differece until the damage was done. They do the same thing to pump up their MSDN because all I did was buy a student C++ complier with IDE and MSFC 6.0 and I was on the list for 5 years while at the same time I saw MS publish the numbers to promote themselves. A Cisco cert certainly shows a little more effort. It might be a bad paradigm but Cisco certified people are much better trained because Cisco has not seen much credible competion and/or have the integrity not to cheapen the status of the people they stand behind. This tends to make a more reliable career for the people who want to work for it much like Novell in the old days.

  67. Re:Not using Windows? Are they insane?? by GreyPoopon · · Score: 1
    Why is FORD working on converting a chunk of their Servers to Linux

    We're totally off-topic now, but I would suspect Ford's latest financial results are drive enough to convert their servers to Linux.

    --

    GreyPoopon
    --
    Why is it I can write insightful comments but can't come up with a clever signature?

  68. Re:The Reg US by gosand · · Score: 2

    I used to read both daily, but the US version wouldn't have the same stories. They would have a subset, leaving some out and offering nothing more. I took it out of my bookmarks because the *real* register offered everything.

    --

    My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.

  69. AmigaDE? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So what happens to the Amiga DE deal?

    1. Re:AmigaDE? by dammy · · Score: 1

      Amino/Amiga's DEad? Another one bites the dust. Who is going to trust a company that can't even ship T-Shirts and coupons for those stupid enough to pay out $50 for the Club scam? One would have though they would have spent that $51K on office rent and paying their phone bills. Guess that hasn't happened either.

      Say, wasn't the DEad's SDK owners suppost to get a T-Shirt as well? Not to mention a major update last year? Guess the $50 club is going to be waiting a long time for their goods...

      Dammy

  70. SirCam Worm by yerricde · · Score: 1

    Who the hell is "Sendo"

    Hi! How are you?

    I hope you like the file that I sendo you

    See you later. Thanks

    (It's SirCam.)

    --
    Will I retire or break 10K?
  71. Re:Bad news for Linux? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I would love to see GNU/Linux installed on every computer in the world, at gunpoint if necessary.

    That would be the only way I'd use Lunix.

  72. If BMW is the OEM, and you're the buyer ... by burgburgburg · · Score: 2

    Then there is every possibility that Microsoft might try and stop the sale of your car because you can't transfer the license to the software. They'd need the buyer to buy a new Microsoft Windows CE for Automotive license. They've done it before.

  73. Re:Not using Windows? Are they insane?? by isorox · · Score: 5, Funny

    Windows keeps on getting better and better.

    After Windows ME, it couldnt really get worse could it?

  74. Also from reuters by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 2

    Reuters has also has an article on the subject.

    --
    Jumpstart the tartan drive.
  75. Re:good lord by IIRCAFAIKIANAL · · Score: 3, Insightful

    That being why many marketing gurus have psychology degrees. People don't have anywehre near as much free will as they'd like to believe. We're creatures of habit and instinct, and we're very easily manipulated.

    --- They may take our lives, but they will never take our FREEDOM!!!


    Normally I would have a smart ass comment, but I don't think I need to say anything here.

    --
    Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people's medicine for fuel.
  76. Reviews killed the Z100 by phkamp · · Score: 2, Insightful
    A fair number of the journalists and reviewers have been rather underwhelming in their thrill about the Z100.

    A common conclusion have been something like "Yeah, it looks like windows a bit, yeah, it can do some nice things but it is not really an good as pda, it takes 40 seconds to start and it is not a very nice telephone either."

    A few reviews have contained rather nasty hints that it was *painfully* obvious that Microsoft was involved (original emphasis).

    Faced with that, I'd probably cancel the product too, jump ship and be happy I didn't end up with an inventory of 100000 phones I couldn't sell.

    --
    Poul-Henning Kamp -- FreeBSD since before it was called that...
  77. Re:Big deal, Windows is the wrong paradigm for cel by void* · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This is because a Cisco CCIE certification actually /means/ something. I've known a CCIE or three, and they've all told me that there's a lab test where the instructors are running around breaking the network, and to pass the test, you have to fix it real time. This is a far cry from MSIE, where you can pass the written test and still not know anything about how to fix issues in the real world.

    --


    Code or be coded.
  78. NOT ON REDHAT! by Eric_Cartman_South_P · · Score: 2, Troll
    KDE instead of GNOME

    Not on RedHad, buddy... that WILL get your ass in jail.

  79. 911 by sharkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was reporting a murderer on my Z100 Smartphone, and it was like, bleep bleep bleep bleep bleep. And then it was like, half the call was gone, and I was like hhggnnngnn? It devoured my call, and it was a really good call. I described him good, 'cause I like looked at him when he was after me. I had to call again really fast, but it wasn't as good 'cause he stabbed me, and it was, like, a bummer.

    I'm Ellen Feiss, and when this sucking chest wound heals, I'm like, getting a Nokia.

    --

    --
    "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  80. Re:Bad news for Linux? by Walterk · · Score: 1

    Brilliant idea. That way we also rid ourselves of the useless 7/8th of our population, including, but not limited to, phone booth sanitizers, marketing people and hairdressers. Oh wait...

  81. also ditches amiga by roskakori · · Score: 1
    interestingly, this also hurts amiga. recently, bill mcewen stated:
    6. Amiga is also making available for release before Christmas Amiga SmartPhone Packs. These will be similar to the Pocket Paks, but targeted for the new SmartPhones coming out this year. As you know they will run on the new Sendo Z100, and they will be available for the new phones being offered by Orange also.
    this might have some major impact on their financial situation. but then, many amigoids didn't seem to like the idea that their system is going to be sponsored by microsoft...
    1. Re:also ditches amiga by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wouldn't think so - that Amiga environment (completely different from Amiga OS) is as portable as Java (the Tao Group, which supplies the VM technology, also supplies embedded JVMs). That's the whole point of the new Amiga environment, platform independence.

    2. Re:also ditches amiga by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who gives a fuck about what happens with the clowns at "Amiga Inc"? Nobody interested in anything Amiga-related anyway.

  82. Re:good lord by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    " constantly scouring net for ..."
    That is good work that will make a difference.
    If you scoured the Net a little yourself you would quickly find ample evidence as to why
    many are anxious to toil in the battle against
    MS and for freedom.

  83. Doubt it by mekkab · · Score: 3, Interesting

    While hearing a talk given by Sham Chakravorty (one of the founders of Signafore and in the comm field for 30 years this February) last night, he mentioned that while other router companies were putting pretty gui's on their network management interface Cisco was busy making fast and robust routers.
    (this is a paraphrase... but I inferred that Cisco owned the market becuase they really had the better product)

    Just becuase it is easier doesn't mean it is better.

    --
    In the future, I would want to not be isolated from my friends in the Space Station.
  84. Finally killed off by lnixon · · Score: 1

    My guess is that the phone was killed by software glitches; that they finally realized that the phone was too buggy to release.

    A quick google shows that the Z100 project has been a long and painful journey.

    The phone was to have been released last year, but was delayed because of trouble with GPRS. It was then supposed to have been released Q1 this year, but in March it was announced that it would be delayed until summer because of software glitches. And now they finally killed their darling.

  85. Yesterday, at the Wince Promotion Con... by Qbertino · · Score: 2, Funny

    Steve-O: "Yay! WHOOOOHOOOO! Developers, Developers, DEVELOPERS! WHO TOLD YOU TO SIT DOWN?"
    Jules: "Nobody."
    Steve-O: "What did you say?"
    Jules: "I said 'Nobody'. Don't you speak english? What country are you from?"
    Steve-O: "What???"
    Jules: "'What' ain't no country I ever heard of. Do they speak english in 'What'?"
    Steve-O: "What...."
    Jules (draws gun, points at Steve-Os face): "Say 'What' again, SAY 'What' again, I dare you motherfucker, I double-dare you, say 'What' again..."
    Steve-O: "But...but...I just was saying that our Software is sooo sweet and you should dance and sing and not sit down...."
    Jules: "You don't give us the sources, so we're not dancenig our singing or buying no Software from you."
    Steve-O: "What?"
    BLAM!BLAM!BLAM!

    --
    We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
  86. Re:Not using Windows? Are they insane?? by piznut · · Score: 1

    Yeah, those engineers using SGI, HP, IBM, Apple and other various *nix machines at Ford sure do know how to design an unreliable car.

    Or were you implying that the IT guys, administrative employees and business managers using the PC systems at Ford have some sort of influence on design flaws?

    Ford relies on Microsoft products for administrative and web purposes. If you want to blame a computing platform for design flaws (a bad choice imo), blame the platform being used to design these cars, blame *nix. I think a rational person might likely choose to blame the actual people/person that designed the faulty parts. Unless you were just spewing anti-ms FUD. In which case, carry on. This is /. afterall.

  87. Re:Not using Windows? Are they insane?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  88. Re:Not using Windows? Are they insane?? by doorbot.com · · Score: 1

    Chief Technology Officer Bill Patterson of Ford Motor Company, "Windows allows us to leverage our most valuable assets, people, into a world-class synergy to delight customers all over the globe." ...to which the interviewer replied, "What? I didn't understand that last sentence." ...to which Patterson replied, "Here, have a cookie, that will explain everything."

  89. Re:Sendo are... by mattypants · · Score: 0

    ...a British manufacturer of mobile phones.

  90. Re:Not using Windows? Are they insane?? by isorox · · Score: 5, Funny

    I own a ford, the biggest safety flaw is me!

    (Aside from the tree that drove into me, and the minibus that reversed into me, and fell apart, at a red light)

  91. The Iron Kettle and the Clay Pot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Working with Microsoft always reminds me of this fable.

    Your answer is a good response to the recent post about the cost of open source vs. closed source.

  92. Re:Big deal, Windows is the wrong paradigm for cel by Telastyn · · Score: 1

    I totally agree, though I also think that there's simply less interest in doing cisco work (generally) than being a windows admin (or at least there was 0-4 years ago.

  93. Do you think that... by Eric+Damron · · Score: 1

    Companies are seeing the despicable way that Microsoft has bullied computer manufacture's and decided not to go down the same path??

    --
    The race isn't always to the swift... but that's the way to bet!
    1. Re:Do you think that... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I actually had a chance to use this phone at MS TechEd in New Orleans last year. Nice little phone for what I need - a phone that handles all PDA functions. Anyway, the unit they had seemed to work fine and had a intuitive interface. I was waiting to see what happened as I need to replace my dog Nokia 7190 which is a piece of crap with the exception of the ability to sync with my desktop and hold a reasonable list of contacts and calendar events.

      Oh well. The press release looks largely like a CYA piece to justify the huge delays and problems they had during development of the phone. What was suprinsing was the way that they lashed out at MS in the Reuters article. Some VP of Marcom's head will roll.

  94. Help! My car keeps crashing! by Simon+Brooke · · Score: 2

    So what happens when you get a blue screen of death at 200kph on the autobahn?

    --
    I'm old enough to remember when discussions on Slashdot were well informed.
    1. Re:Help! My car keeps crashing! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uh nothing?

      On the other hand since all bimmer drivers act like they own the road and are driving a tank, I doubt one of them could make it down the autobahn at 200 MPH without crashing it of their own accord.

  95. Pay for your source? by lpret · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I have a question about a possible Microsoft avenue. Do you think Microsoft could sell their source code to a company for x amount of dollars and also require licenses for the derivatives of that modified OS?

    Example

    ABC Widget company buys the source for XP Pro for $20,000 and then, after modifying XP to actually do the stuff they need, they use 100 copies of it, and they have to pay Microsoft for 100 licenses of XP. Wouldn't this work? I mean, it would allow companies to work on XP, but also allow them to keep making money. One concern might be that the source might "get out" but I'm sure they'd figure out some way to know how it got out and then sue the company for all their worth. Anyways, just an idea, I don't know what yall would think of that...

    --
    This is my digital signature. 10011011001
    1. Re:Pay for your source? by TWX_the_Linux_Zealot · · Score: 1

      You'd need to ask Microsoft about that one.

      The thing to remember is that where I work at now, we don't resell anything, we use it for our internal system. The place before that, it was embedded, rather than a user-accessible system, so it was also therefore different.

      --

      IBM had PL/1, with syntax worse than JOSS,
      And everywhere the language went, it was a total loss...
    2. Re:Pay for your source? by tres3 · · Score: 1
      M$' program is shared source. It is a look but DON'T TOUCH proposition. They do not want you to change the way they do things. Period. At all. In no way, shape, or form!

      I think you also have to provide a DNA sample, retina scan, and rights to your first born to get access to it.

    3. Re:Pay for your source? by ebbe11 · · Score: 2
      and then, after modifying XP to actually do the stuff they need, they use 100 copies of it, and they have to pay Microsoft for 100 licenses of XP. Wouldn't this work?

      That's the way it's usually done in the embedded world.

      --

      My opinion? See above.
  96. Re:Not using Windows? Are they insane?? by kraksmoka · · Score: 1
    i thought WinME was fantastic! or didn't you hear the announcement of the new M$ software platform, Abortionware. Its middleware for the masses, in the middle of stable 98se and stable xp.

    why'd u people remind me that ME exisists, i had gotten over it, almost

    to say something ON TOPIC HERE. unfortunately for Sendo, they seem to have forgotten to ditch ALL of their MicroCrap. its so /.'d down, i don't even get the fancy call your administrator message (i wish stupid users would stop calling me when they see that). oh well, off to google

    --
    "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste." - Rahm Emanuel
  97. Yes.. by mindstrm · · Score: 2

    But the point is that CCIE is about general internetworking knowledge; the body of knowledge you need to pass the certification is wide and deep.

    MCSE is not the same thing whatseover.

    CCIEs make lots of money because there are not many peopel with their full set of skills out there in the world. In contrast, there are a bazillion and two MCSEs, and in many circles it is regarded as a worthless certification.
    I don't know anyone who considers CCIE to be worthless.

  98. Mac Ad Parody (Re:911) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    For those who didn't get the humour in the parent posting should visit http://www.apple.com/switch/ads/ellenfeiss.html and http://www.ellenfeiss.net/.

  99. or by geekoid · · Score: 2

    "Linux is like my wife, hard to understand but very easy to get under the hood."
    Never use your wife to make a statement, it will get thrown back at you.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  100. Re:Big deal, Windows is the wrong paradigm for cel by cpeterso · · Score: 1


    The Microsoft smartphone product is called Stinger, not "Stingray".

  101. Hmmn by johnburton · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So it's nothing to do with the fact that they announced this phone YEARS ago, never released it and now orange have gone a developed their own similar phone which is actually going to be available and for much less money than sendo were planning on charging? I think is entirely possible they were simply unable to produce a competative phone and decided to blame someone else.

    --
    Sig is taking a break!
    1. Re:Hmmn by Action_Jax · · Score: 1

      Funnily enough the actual cost of the phone doesn't really matter that much to the service providers, they'll just use it as a measure of how much they should mark up their margins. In the UK only phone's sold without a contract cost full price e.g. My old T68 cost £180 with a contract but if I bought it without one it would have cost £400.

      Talking about competitive phones anyone remember the Nortel/Matracom phone, poor design and very expensive but still made it to market.

      The register has released and update on their website explaining the key reason for their decision to pull out was related to lack of access to the source code.

    2. Re:Hmmn by Eminence · · Score: 1

      I don't think so, because their salesmen have been showing working Z100s to operators for a few months now giving shipping dates and prices for the ops. Also, a program for developers was in place that allowed purchasing Z100s for some time now - and the program started exactly when they said it would. All in all - this would be a huge setback for Sendo itself, although they already produce other (simpler) handsets at competitive prices.

      There must be something very big at stake, even a delay wouldn't justify such a drastic move - deleys are no big deals in this industry anyway. It's rather possible that some financing has dried up.

  102. Re:Bad news for Linux? by rlangis · · Score: 2, Funny

    So, to get rid of oppressive regimes we should shoot people for not using Linux?

    Yes, damnit! Hell, I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!

    --
    GIR: I'm going to sing the Doom song now. Doom doom doom doom doom doom de-doom doom doom doom doom doom doom...
  103. Cant get the source for windows CE? by autopr0n · · Score: 3, Informative

    I thought you could just download that of the M$ homepage? Has something changed or is this a diffrent product they were after?

    --
    autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
  104. Re:Not using Windows? Are they insane?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I seem to remember about a year or so ago, Ford's servers were compromised and someone was downloading all their credit application information. As I recall, it had been going on for over a year before they realized it and ten of thousands of peoples credit info had been stolen. (Perhaps yours!)
    I would guess this is the reason they are dumping Windows!

  105. Re:good lord by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Then you must be one of the few who cares about the stuff Michael posts? Otherwise you wouldn't be reading the comments? No?

    Dork.

  106. Re:good lord by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There is no need to scour the net. Microsoft leaves its hoof-shaped footprints everywhere, for everyone to see, without anyone looking for it in particular.

  107. Sendo Sample Code by TheCag · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I downloaded only one of Sendo's sample code zip files off of their developer's website. I found it to be very helpful. Much more helpful than any documentation that Microsoft has put out so far for the Smartphone platform. I was wondering if anyone had in their possession, the entire Sendo sample code library. If you do, I would really appreciate it if you could send me the zip files.

  108. Moderators on dope by drinkypoo · · Score: 2

    This is not insightful. None of the programs listed require windows or any part of the win32 (or other windows) API. There are other operating systems which can be used for anything which is done with Windows.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    1. Re:Moderators on dope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's called the MS tax. Buy a computer from virtually any large scale vendor, they buy licenses for their computers per model. Ie, unless they're selling a Linux, OS/2, etc line, you're paying for Windows regardless of whether or not it's installed, used, etc. How many vendors are selling Linux on all scales of desktop models again? A few?

  109. They recieved their clarification: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    Dear Partner,

    Subsequent to the recent final judgement, we have decided to clarify the position which our partners currently maintain. This is being done in an effort towards full disclosure and to try reduce the legal workload which we are having to maintain. As an added benefit as a partner, you are free to enjoy all the benefits which are currently granted you.

    1. You may use our name in your advertisement provided that our name is positioned prominently upon the copy.
    2. Your own product may appear on the copy provided that it does not appear too near our own. Adequate credit or acknowledge of our products is required, specifically mentioning how our product "enables" your product. Also, general mention of performance, speed or the like is beneficial. Also, some general comments about how much faster you were able to bring your product to market (because of us) would be appreciated. If you could somehow mention our product as being "secure" or even "incredibly secure", some additional market share will be arranged for you.
    3. If you currently are or plan to become a hardware or software manufacturer, it is important that you understand that your current or potential market share will eventually be reviewed. We are continuing our "market share adoption" program and expect full cooperation from our partners. The fact that you are recieving this letter indicates that your share has not yet been reviewed. Even so, we reserve to right to eventually begin branding your product as our own. This will of course be done in a legal and open manner, typically under one of the following scenarios:

    • A. We might buy you.
    • B. We might not buy you, but instead hire your staff.
    • C. We might neither buy you nor hire your staff, but simply learn about your product and create a "Clean Room" version of our own product.
      In this final case, you can expect to be allowed to survive for a few months or perhaps even years. Our first iteration will likely not be quite as good as your own, but eventually we'll get it right. Or we might not, in which case we will drown your product out with advertising. In either case, we reserve the right to choose the method in which we carry out the "adoption" of your current market share. Please note, that submissive companies are handled more gently than those who struggle.

    See you soon, and you should really ask for our department to supervise yours when you come on board. We used to be "independent" too. We really understand what your going to go through. We know how it seems like such a good thing to be on your own, but eventually you'll understand how much you are really holding back "true" progress and innovation.

    P.S.
    Your shared source for this month is:

    void main(){
    }

    This code fragment is used extensively throughout many of our products.
  110. A bit suspicious? by salimfadhley · · Score: 1

    Am I the only one who thinks it's odd that they dumped microsoft (and their flagship product) shortly before they were due to launch?

    Surely they knew that they were not going to get this source code for a long time - I cant imagine (for all their tricks), MS playing a practical joke on Sendo - promising source code and then repeatedly finding an excuse not to share it untill Sendo got sick of the whole thing and decides to split with MS.

    More likely Nokia paid Sendo a bigger ammount of money than MS originally paid them to publicly ditch Microsoft, and thereby prolong microsoft's entry into the smartphone market.

    1. Re:A bit suspicious? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > Am I the only one who thinks it's odd that ...

      Probably.

      > promising source code and then repeatedly finding an excuse not to share it untill Sendo got sick ....
      You are assuming that there is a causal relationship between 'not getting source code' and 'dropping MS'. Nowhere is this implied. You are assuming that MS 'promised' source code, where did you get this ?

      Sendo can't get source code. Sendo drops MS. These are both true, but one is not the cause of the other.

      It is far more likely that the phone simply is not marketable. Some have mentioned that it takes 45 secs from switch on to being usable. Who would ever buy that ? It seems probable that MS kept assuring that it would be fixed but never was.

      Having the source code may have allowed Sendo to see why this was a problem, or even suggested fixes. Without it they are entirely hung out to dry if it doesn't work.

      > More likely Nokia paid Sendo a bigger ammount of money

      It may have been worthwhile for Nokia to pay Sendo to _make_ the phone so that people could see what a MS phone was like.

  111. Behind closed doors... by wiresquire · · Score: 1

    I've been involved in licensing deals, and it is not as simple as the above implies.

    You can come to an understanding. And then you bring in the lawyers. It pays for the licensor to drag things out to play hardball and backtrack on terms that you had agreed to.

    These guys showed *a LOT* of guts not to just drop something on the market and then abandon it.

    --

    So does Anonymous Coward have good karma?

    1. Re:Behind closed doors... by ebbe11 · · Score: 2
      It pays for the licensor to drag things out to play hardball and backtrack on terms that you had agreed to.

      Up to a certain point - as Sendo has so amply demonstrated. I don't think this is the outcome Microsoft wanted.

      --

      My opinion? See above.
  112. Re:Big deal, Windows is the wrong paradigm for cel by Groo+Wanderer · · Score: 1

    "Just like with the Palm OS. The "Palm OS" doesn't actually run the PDA. It runs on top of a small RTOS kernel that handles interrupts, hardware drivers, and other real-time things that have little to do with the UI. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the same Palm OS runs on different RTOS kernels. In fact, I can almost guarantee you that the Qualcomm Palm thingy they had a few years ago likely did not use the same RTOS kernel as my Palm Vx."

    Actuallly, it usually does run on the same RTOS. The Qualcomm, and the later palm/phone combo's, including the latest samsung (drool) one have a seperate chipset for the phone and the OS functions. The integration between the 2 is strictly software. The more time and effort ou put into it, the more integrated they look. Qualcomm's integration absolutely sucked, Samsung's is quite good. Either way, it is faked.

    All this said, it is Intel's wet dream to get into this market, and a major strategic push that they just announced was to make a single chip (note: not a single core) that would do both by 2005 if I remember the announcement right. Either way, we are a long way off from a RTOS running both halves.

    -Charlie

  113. Re:Not using Windows? Are they insane?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "leverage" "assets" "world-class" "synergy"

    BINGO!

    BS-Bingo that is.

  114. Yakkity Yak by whereiswaldo · · Score: 2


    Funny, even without the launch those people on the front page are still laughing and yakking it up on their spiffy new phone. I wonder who's it is? ;)

  115. stupid by danro · · Score: 1

    It's only a matter of time until they disappear entirely [yahoo.com] and are delisted [yahoo.com].

    And what do we care?
    VA isn't linux.

    In fact you could bancrupt all commercial linux distributions and linux related companies, and it wouldn't kill linux.
    Just a setback, and a recoverable one at that.

    The only thing that kills an open source project is when the developer community loses interest in it.
    With linux, I don't see that happening anytime soon...

    --

    "First lesson," Jon said. "Stick them with the pointy end."
  116. Is that their only problem? by mattr · · Score: 2
    Sure sounds great but I wouldn't eat it up.


    Obviously they must either have hardware problems or a serious financial rethink going on (maybe Nokia helped them with that ;), otherwise I find it hard to believe that a working, about to roll out the door product is going to be ditched so quickly.


    I took one look at the site (click on the phone picture). Sheesh! They only are about 20 generations behind phones in Japan and the cutting edge. Or are they specializing in low-end phones and can't afford what M$ is asking?
    You don't make a decision like this after you build the product. Sounds like they really had nothing but vapor and have just begun to think about "let's build a cell phone".

  117. No, you don't. by jotaeleemeese · · Score: 1

    You can build you computer from spare parts, buy a 2nd hand computer (cheaper, normally good enough) or buy a computer made to measure by small computer shops.

    Then install the OS of your choice.

    --
    IANAL but write like a drunk one.
  118. It does. by jotaeleemeese · · Score: 1

    Read the article.

    Moderators: down with him please.

    --
    IANAL but write like a drunk one.
  119. Sendo and Microsoft split by Alcohol+Fueled · · Score: 1

    To quote Robin Williams mocking Bill Gates...
    "No Senator, I'm out to control the whole fucking world! It all started with Windows Me, or ME. Now it's going to Information Technology. Soon it will be Total Information Technology, or TIT. And while you're sucking on the TIT, I'll have you by the motherboard!"

    I guess Sendo let go of the 'TIT'. =)

    --
    Ah am not a crook! (\(-__-)/)
  120. Sybian? by tgrigsby · · Score: 1

    Am I the only one that thought that said, "Sybian?" Immediately followed by, "Nokia ROCKS! Communication and ...er... entertainment.... in one package!"

    --
    *** *** You're just jealous 'cause the voices talk to me... ***
  121. Re:good lord by SledgeHBK · · Score: 1

    Good work that will make a difference?

    Well, back to my video games. You know Xbox Live comes out in a week from today right?

  122. Re:Sad news .. Stephen King dead at 55 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Stand by

  123. Last Post! by alpg · · Score: 1

    That's the thing about people who think they hate computers. What they
    really hate is lousy programmers.
    -- Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle in "Oath of Fealty"

    - this post brought to you by the Automated Last Post Generator...