Nokia Announces Nokia X Android Smartphone

squiggleslash writes "Despite some industry skepticism, Nokia has indeed been working on an Android smartphone and finally unveiled the Nokia X today. As rumored, it's not a Google Play compatible device, running instead a Google-less AOSP build with a Nokia app store, and Windows Phone style shell. The budget phone will also not be marketed in North America. The Media seems convinced Microsoft — who are in the process of acquiring Nokia — will kill the project, but it's hard to see why Nokia would be working on such a project at this time if Microsoft had plans to do this."

Comments

i have to ask

[beefoot]

Since Nokia makes wonderful handset, could existing nokia handsets running windows be modded to run android?

I wouldn't have believed it - even uglier than WP

[daboochmeister]

If someone had suggested they could release an interface even more playskool, offputting and uglier than WP's tiles, I would have told them they were simply crazy. Alas, I was wrong.

Why now?

[Kingkaid]

It isn't a secret that Nokia was working on this phone for a while and their exclusive deal with Microsoft prevented them from releasing it until now. Part of the reason why MS likely acquired Nokia now was because the contract was set to expire and they could lose their largest handset manufacturer. From Nokia's POV, they've been making this for a while and why not show off the hard work? I am sure it is a bit of an ego thing on their part. And with the timing, in the event the regulatory stuff prevented the purchase from Microsoft, it is a good idea for Nokia to keep proceeding as usual and go ahead with the release. Remember that Nokia is only selling their handset side of the business to Microsoft, with a 5 year use of the name. After that time Nokia may consider getting back into the mobile space and what a nice way to come back by having a product that may wet a few appetites (it worked with their N9 and Meego, look at the diehards for those on /.).

Re:Why now?

[wile_e8]

From what I've heard, the companies are legally required to act like separate companies until the merger clears all the regulatory hurdles. So killing this because of the pending merger would look bad from that aspect. IANAL though, so any legal types feel free to correct me.

Re:Why now?

[Karlt1]

Dalvic is a JIT system, so no, there's no significant slowness caused by apps being shipped in bytecode form.

Just because Java proponents have been saying that for 20 years doesn't make it true.

Re:Why now?

[frisket]

If they fuck it up (and fuck the users over) like they did with the N800, N9, and Meego, then forgeddit.

but it's hard to see why Nokia would be working on such a project at this time

Because they suffer from what my medical colleagues refer to as Glutaeo-Humeroid Distinction Disability (the medical term for not knowing your ass from your elbow). They had exactly what was needed three times (a pocket computer that was also a phone, or could at least run Skype) and threw it away three times. There is precisely zero evidence that they are even marginally competent nowadays to run a phone company,

WTF Nokia

[Nemyst]

So wait, you guys had trouble making the Ovi Store attractive for devs, you haven't managed to make the Windows Store have anything worthwhile in it, and so your answer to WP failing is to make yet another app store you won't know what the fuck to do with? Brilliant.

If you wanted to have Android on the side, you don't make it rely on some rather complex software infrastructure like that. I really don't see Nokia as having the resources necessary to keep up with their full software stack. Even big players like HTC and Samsung aren't using an alternative app store and many alternative skins suck really bad. Just keep in mind that Amazon's Kindle Fire HD is still on a derivative of 4.0.3 and probably will stay that way.

What's so hard in understanding this simple three-step formula:
1) Make some nice hardware.
2) Put vanilla Android on it with a clear upgrade path to the latest version.
3) Profit!

Re:WTF Nokia

[the_humeister]

They probably because they don't want to pay Google.

Re:WTF Nokia

[tlhIngan]

They probably because they don't want to pay Google.

Or just don't agree with Google.

Nokia owns Navteq, and has their own mapping service. Even if Nokia was willing to pay Google, they would be forced to ensure that Ovi Maps is not the default maps app.

And any other app that Nokia has - if you sign the agreement with Google, Google's apps must be #1, available within 1 tap of the home screen, and default.

Re:WTF Nokia

[kamapuaa]

You forgot the "build a time machine back to 2002" step. There are hundred of Chinese factories pumping out cell phone hardware, it's all very efficient and basically zero-margin, Nokia isn't going to be able to be any better at it. And if they are any better at it, by the next week every other factory will be doing the same thing. Cell phone companies make profit by momentum, by advertising, and by stupid gimmicky shit that mostly just differentiates their products.

Re:WTF Nokia

[AmiMoJo]

What you have to understand is that most people don't care about vanilla Android and OS upgrades. They buy phones based on looks, features and what their friends have. Ultimately any modern smartphone will play Angry Birds, so manufacturers are trying hard to differentiate themselves.

If Nokia made a vanilla Android phone it would have to compete with the Nexus 5, a phone with excellent hardware, support and a really low price. To be honest Nokia is probably fucked no matter what they do at this point, but their plan to become a successful platform in their own right at least has a small chance of returning them to greatness. Everyone wants to be Apple, not realizing that Google has already won precisely because they are not trying to be Apple.

Sounds like a Niche, not a future

[Quick Reply]

An AOSP phone without Google Play, let alone Amazon App Store or any other established Android App Store, sounds like a Niche phone for programmers/hackers.

I suspect that it is designed to succeed the legendary Maemo operating system & N900/N9 phones, than a serious attempt to build a future Operating System.

I expect that it will be highly prized among the hacker community, totally hacked to death with an onslaught of Linux-based operating systems including Ubuntu phone, Firefox OS, CyanagenMod, and Maemo itself. Maybe a few surprises with some left-field operating systems finding their way on there as well.

Re:Sounds like a Niche, not a future

[Howitzer86]

I was under the impression that this phone was a low cost offering for developing countries. Hackers DO like that kind of thing, but I doubt it was made with them in mind. I agree with your suggestion that it might have been the successor to the Maemo platform. If so, this was something in the works since before the buy-out plans by Microsoft, and that MS, rather than kill it all together, decided to let them get it out there in order for them to make a return on their investment, provided they at least make it look like the Windows Phone OS.

This will definitely be wanted by hackers though with Android drifting ever-away from AOSP, it's almost assured to be considered a dead-end phone.

CyanogenMod?

[DdJ]

So, this is supposed to be a decently-made budget handset for less affluent markets, running AOSP? That sounds to me like the perfect target for a CyanogenMod port...

Re:CyanogenMod?

[drinkypoo]

So, this is supposed to be a decently-made budget handset for less affluent markets, running AOSP? That sounds to me like the perfect target for a CyanogenMod port...

It sounds to me like the perfect target for a simple root, and installation of gapps and xposed framework. No need for CM. AOSP with a couple Xposed modules is nearly indistinguishable from CM. I suggest Rocket Player and Transparent Weather Clock to bring it up to feature parity, as well as a some of those modules like App Settings, and AppOps Exposed.

Re:CyanogenMod?

[DdJ]

It sounds to me like the perfect target for a simple root, and installation of gapps and xposed framework. No need for CM.

Well, if you want to rip out the extra points of integration Nokia added to Microsoft services, CM might prove to be the simpler way to get that.

Is there some reason I'm unaware of for avoiding CM?

No thanks Nokia

[Nyder]

Due to your spying on customers with your other phone, and of course, MS getting the spying results, I'll stick with my Obama phone, which I know just the NSA is spying on. At least I feel safe knowing that they aren't trying to make money off me, they are just making sure I don't turn terrorist.

I see a long and successfull future

[DrXym]

For a phone product line that runs a bastardized version of Android, which doesn't provide access to Play store out of the box, and that is produced by a company shortly be absorbed into Microsoft

Re:What's going on?

[Immerman]

Maybe it's a little added incentive to make sure Microsoft doesn't back of of the deal at the last moment? Plus insurance in case the deal falls through anyway. Plus letting the engineers show off their work publicly now, because you know they won't get a chance if the deal goes through as planned.

Re:I wouldn't have believed it - even uglier than

[tepples]

A phone UI can't get more Fisher-Price than this one.

It's not Android

[Mr_Silver]

Don't think of this as an Android phone, it will never be marketed that way.

Think of it as a new operating system than just so happens to be easy enough to have Android apps ported to it.

If the changes to support maps, in-app billing and the Nokia store are as simple as Nokia makes out to be - then it's a bit of a no brainer for developers to do. Especially since it's far less effort than building a new app for a whole new platform (like, say, Tizen).

Finally, yes, Nokia could have just shoved out a pure Android phone with decent hardware - but, against the mighty Samsung's advertising budget and the fact that all the other OEMs are unable to turn a profile - how exactly do people think that Nokia will make enough money?

Not to mention that Nokia would be beholden to Google and where Google wants to take Android, which may not be in their best interests. It's a gutsy move, but if they didn't do something radically different then there is an extremely good chance that they'd just be another Android OEM making a loss.

Even the highly praised Moto X had a price cut in January - an immediate indication that it's not selling as well as hoped.

Development website

[squiggleslash]

Those of us who need more information on the technical side of the version of Android shipped with this phone can look here for more information. They include an APK checker (no, not Mr Hosts...) that looks for common problems (presumably anything that calls GMS)

Cool

[snookiex]

I'd buy it.... as soon as it's supported by Cyanogenmod.