Video: Microsoft Surface Tablet Keynote – some lessons for Nokia.
So, we’ve had a couple of posts now regarding the new Microsoft Surface Tablet. For those looking for more information about this, you can watch the keynote.
http://mynokiablog.com/2012/06/19/video-microsoft-surface-tablet-magnetic-type-covers-hands-on/
I haven’t paid much attention to the other Windows 8 tablets, ultrabooks and other devices. This however is quite significant as it’s a PC straight from Microsoft. In a way it competes with Nokia who are expected to produce a tablet, but also acts as a guide on how the Windows 8 software and hardware experience should be.
This video is about 50 minutes long, and the focus of this post is more on the delivery of the keynote.
I like that this non-Apple keynote is becoming much more Apple like in terms of the clarity of delivery of a message. It’s not yet quite there, we can see fluffing of lines etc but it was a very good presentation. I like the guy at the end who seemed so passionate about the attention to detail, about making the very littlest things matter, about getting users to emotionally connect with your products.
This is a significant learning point for Nokia who, pretty much all of the time, fail their products by having really poor keynotes, resulting in much confusion about the products themselves.
Here’s a post I wrote a couple of years back on what Nokia can pick up in their keynotes:
What Nokia needs to learn from apple keynotes – pointers from steve jobs and iPhone 4 announcement
- Good start on history of achievements, showing evidence on success, validating that they have history, that they know what they’re doing and thus you can expect the same from whatever is announced.
- Good elaboration on the features…detailing the pen/touch input or the type cover pressure sensitivity.
- Constructive words/phrases reinforcing some perception on the device…perfect is used a lot. ‘best experience possible…
As for this tablet, some key things are possibly:
- Design
- VaporMg
- Dual WiFi antenna
- Availability dates
- Price
Source: TheVerge
Given this is called ‘Surface’ will there be any ‘MS Surface’ style apps. You know, like that big giant table where virtual objects seem to naturally move about?
Category: Nokia
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I don’t think the name Surface is a good one at all. It might be in the English speaking world, but to my non-English ear it sounds wrong. And it doesn’t even look good as a text. Sorry but no win. IPad is much better and easier. Even slate is better.
Fair opinion. Making sense worldwide is something Nokia tries to stick to most of the time. That’s why they haven’t been using actual names a lot in their products.
I’m not sure what ‘pad’ meant in non english speaking countries but if it had no resemblance to the english word, I guess eventually the meaning was cleared up.
A name I read during the speculations was XSL8 (Xbox Slate). It works on a more popular, more well known microsoft product, it’s only 4 characters and has the ’8′ in the name which can work for Win 8 and just keep the SL8 in future Win versions.
“Xbox Slate” or just “Slate”. If their product (hardware) plans are long-term, then they have to already start thinking beyond Windows 8. “Surface” too is a good name. Not that bad.
However, Xbox branding to this device would have given it an even bigger (marketing) scope. Just my opinion though. Kinect/Xbox has already proven to be a very successfully device/brand for microsoft. Hopefully, Microsoft puts its entire muscle in integrating that technology into this “Surface”.
Btw, looking at the announced colour options, won’t be surprised, if Nokia is the manufacturing partner for this device.
I got the feeling that they were directed firstly business users, not random internet surfers. The price may well indicate likewise. In that sense Xbox brand would give mixed message
The problem with Xbox and any branding derived from it is/would have been its too close association with gaming. Even I, knowing full well that the Xbox is much more than gaming, think of gaming first. And I would be willing to bet a LOT that most people do.
So, as the tablet is mostly, actually, about things other than gaming, moving away from the Xbox brand seems sensible.
As for Nokia being a manufacturing partner – frankly doubt it, but they may have given some consulting on screen tech and manufacturing tech. Clearly this has been in development for a while now though, so not sure if Nokia was even in the picture at the time this was started and essentially finished (design and specs wise).
In Croatian “pad” means fall .
In Finnish at least “pad” means nothing and iPad has no meaning either. It has no other connotations than being an Apple tablet. So the word iPad in Finnish is pretty free from any nasty connotations it might have in English.
Surface of course means absolutely nothing also. Depending how you’ll pronounce it, correctly in English it pretty much sound nothing meaningful, but is unnatural to say to a Finnish speaker.
In Finnish style pronunciation, which vast majority will use, it comes very close or actually sounds exactly like the word “survase”, which is an everyday spoken version of the word “survaise”, which means something like “thrust/mash/prod (forcefully)” (verb). A noun would be “survaisu” = “poke”. “Survaise” is a conjugated second person imperative of the word “survaista”. Here are all the conjugated versions of the basic word survaista (if someone is perverse enough to wanna know how difficult language Finnish is
):
http://www.verbix.com/webverbix/FinnishOld/survaista.html
lol isheep
the marketing for this Name writes it’s self
SURF-ACE (They Aced browsing with IE10 immersive experience “best full screen browser ever”)
SURfacE – You are sure it’s a tablet and a PC (ok this is lame …)
surfACE (they aced creating a surface that’s thin and strong and gorgeous
surFACE it’s facing you with it’s kick stand and great camera.
sURFACE-book with Windows 8 you’ll be connected to facebook more than ever “and to other Networks but facebook is much better specially Pictures integrations.
suRfACE Fast boot ups (less than 7 secs ) fast data transfers , great dual antenna wlan reception … you’ll never lose a speed race …
Surface is a good name. Micriosoft has already a product named surface which looks like a TV-sized tablet, and it was bigger before, like a CRT TV, so it makes sense that they keep their branding with the same line of products, and that tends to give less importance to the iPad, because they are improving on what they had. At least that’s what I get from the name.
iPad reminded people of sanitary napkins. It won’t be a problem in the long run, and for marketing Jay is right, the fact that MS has been working on the Surface project for a long time helps a great deal.
The old “Surface” is now called “PixelSense”
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/pixelsense/default.aspx
fuck apple style keynote!
So basicly Microsoft has given up on Nokia and starts doing mobile hardware on its own. Propably better idea than wasting billions on the hollow shell known as Nokia. Damn, now even Microsoft take over won’t be saving anything for people invested on or working for Nokia.
Overreact much?
Microsoft’s tablet efforts go years back. This is very likely something that started before Nokia was even on board with Windows Phone.
I guess we’ll hear more about Windows Phone 8 tomorrow. If there Microsoft announces their own line of mobile phones then I’m with you in the pessimism, but I’m not there yet.
There is room for Nokia to compete and succeed in this space, if they can deliver, of course.
Janne look at the timing, Microsoft was not planing to do this… it was a rushed thing that caught most media by surprise.
Microsoft did this because they believe NOKIA is toast now.
By “rushed” I mean the event, Not the hardware, probably MS had this in the research department, like they do for so many things that we never see.
How do you know it was rushed rather than keeping things under wraps?
noki:
“Microsoft did this because they believe NOKIA is toast now.”
You really believe that?
I mean, I can certainly entertain the notion that Nokia cancelled their Windows 8 tablet and made Microsoft rush things, but… Does that really sound the simplest, the likeliest scenario?
And was it really rushed? To me it seems they replicated the Apple approach and invited everyone very late. Apple always does it a few days in advance. Maybe the just want to make sure secrecy was guaranteed.
I mean, I can entertain most anything as possible – and this is possible, but unless people have some insider insight this is how it went down I find it unlikely.
Could it be that they planned to combine this with the event on the 20th and then decided to separate them for whatever reason – one might even say out of respect to their Windows Phone partners, but that would be speculating.
If the timing has anything to do with Nokia, I’d say the reason must be Nokia has cancelled their tablet, not that Microsoft thinks they are toast.
I find your “Nokia has cancelled their tablet”, hypothesis plausible as well.
noki:
Just to be clear, I still think Nokia’s Lumia tablet plan is “on” for H2/2012. Unless other insight surfaces.
so in a month? and Nokia’s pall microsoft does this to NOKIA???
MICROSOFT could have done it right, and gone premium/ high-end first using NOKIA. Then you establish reputation and start chiseling it down lower and lower. You don’t start out grubbing for Android country.
noki:
“so in a month?”
No, not in a month, but say – by January 2013 I expect Nokia to have a Windows tablet out. It may get cancelled of course, but that is still how I think it will play out.
“and Nokia’s pall microsoft does this to NOKIA???”
I think Microsoft mostly did it for Windows 8. They are pumping up the hype and with Surface they can start doing that. Tablet experience is an important factor and Microsoft need something to show it off with. Surface is a really cool device for that in a way some ASUS crap wouldn’t be. Nokia, who knows if their tablet is anywhere near ready to be shown considering their late start.
Windows tablets from others will come in due course.
Hardly, since Nokia was working on a Meltemi tablet until last Thursday. I guess Microscum didn’t like having a competitor and made Elop to cancel it.
You really think Nokia wasn’t working on a Lumia tablet also?
And why on earth would anyone want to have a Meltemi tablet when you have W8 and iPads?
Where is the Meltimi ecosystem? Who would make apps for it? It would be another Symbian but this time as a tablet instead of a phone, which means, could be good but it wouldn’t have any devellopers support and that would make it useless.
I really doubt Nokia has had any real plans to enter the tablet space at this time other then just keeping an eye on how that market develops. I think they have more then enough on their plate at the present time getting WP8 devices to market. Sometime in the future, perhaps but not now.
Yes, NOKIA shouldn’t jump in this year, that’s for sure. Just sit back and laugh at the problems with the rushed SAMSUNG units….
Just think, MICROSOFT could have held NOKIA’s hand for an extra 90- 120 days and worked out some beautiful machines and ruled the corporate markets. As it is they are grubbing for ANDROID country….
Samsung is actually manufacturing some really great high end products.
It’s strange why the same people loving Symbian hate Android. Is that only because Android killed Symbian with all those cheap handsets?
Why does Android suck? 1. It’s from Google, who now want to be in your life 2. Each device is open/ hackable and quickly unravels into a piece of worth less junk. 3. it is based on price not quality: save $300 and spend your life troubleshooting (see 2.)
Even MICROSOFT doesn’t suck as much as GOOGLE.
So, it’s more an ideological issue. Not a technical one.
If that’s true, Android is going to win this battle. The majority of people will just ignore the ideological issues. They will buy those Android handsets because they do what they want them to do. Not because Android is controlled buy some company a small group of people dislikes.
It’s incredibly peculiar to think some enermous corporations are considerably better or worse compared to the others. They all exist to make money.
I hear ya, L…. however it’s not a lost cause. There are still companies big and small (mostly outside of tech world) that manage to focus on quality, and give people more value so they are happy to spend more money straight up. And the same companies do not endlessly pursue a strategy of hooking people in like sharecroppers or drug addicts with free or cheap prices and all the strings attached (an option unique to tech world). Summary: GOOGLE is the new MICROSOFT except that MICROSOFT’s anti-trust activities were pale by comparison.
As far as that goes, Google’s largely on the good side. Microsoft has good aspects too, Apple not so much.
Yes migo, I concur…. APPLE is not very nice and another “new MICROSOFT”. Look at the way they are hoarding FILEMAKER for use on iOS only…. Why was that horrible when done by MICROSOFT but APPLE gets a pass?
I consider Apple, Google, Nokia, Samsung and Microsoft to be pretty much equally evil or good.
It’s strange how emotionally some people react to the doings of large companies. Every one of those companies have been trying to hook users. Very little differences actually.
The biggest differences between those companies lie in the performance. Some of them have been able to perform better compared to the others. It’s all about business.
I’d love to hear any actual differences between them.
Wow, how can all be the same. Amazing….
Anyway, I thought this was a blog for people who like NOKIA technology and are pulling for them in these dark hours. To do so, you have to start hacking away at the big greeedy guys on top. But again, other than MICROSOFT blowing this situation, I am going to give the Redmond boys the benefit of the doubt. I am going to just call them: STUPID, and not say they are out to deliberately screw NOKIA and steal from them, as has been presented by others here.
LordUS: Google is the only one of that bunch who makes its profit solely on selling your personal data.
Now We’re Talkin’, zipa! …. To join a Blogspot site I have to join Google+? I am not interested. And now even Google Search results if clicked in Chrome are framed and user held up inside Google land, instead of being released.
Please Google, we know it takes money to do things, so just charge fees straight up and stop acting as a slumlord.
IMO because Android is worse than Symbian. Android is a heavy resource hog and lacks behind Symbian’s versatility and user control. Multitasking and process management is awful in Android compared to Symbian.
Symbian to me is still the most advanced mobile OS in the world. And UI or app count does not OS goodness make. Besides current Belle FP1 has a good enough UI already. Add Harmattan’s Swipe UI to Symbian and it would be perfect for me.
Sure Symbian has it’s problems when developing software to it, but going fully through with Qt would have solved most of them. That will never happen now. If only Vanjoki was the CEO instead of the monkey from M$.
But still, I don’t hate Android. Just don’t like it.
WP and Metro UI I hate/despise. Elop too.
James Scott: In May around the AGM Finnish press had an interview where the leaving Nokia chairman Jorma Ollila confirmed Nokia’s tablet strategy to be on schedule. I thus expect to see a Lumia-tab sometime between September and January… Unless we hear otherwise of course.
In sense of WindowsPhone8 being different from Windows8, you could be right… if you consider a 4.5″ screen such as the N9 that has a handset, to be really a “tablet”.
wasnt that Financial Times?
Janne, yes but he did not define what that strategy was or when it would actually produce a product. The tablet market is still evolving and the Ipad does not define what the entire market will become. Microsoft’s Surface products will define its own sector of the market just as Amazon’s Kindle Fire is defining theirs.
It WAS, before Elop canned Meltemi. Meltemi was Nokia’s tablet OS.
But it wasn’t the only one.
MS has the patents cross licenced, the mapping licence and has learned some ahrdware knowledge from Nokia. It doesn’t need Nokia anymore.
Nokia is no more than a shell.
Well I guess that leaves Elop up sh!t creek without a paddle, crew, and sense of direction alone on the Titanic.
There is only one hope. MS prices this tablet high so that leaves room for hardware players like Nokia to build a comparable product.
Windows Phone licence is potentially upto $30 and windows RT licence is potentially $85. I think these are both on the high end. I think $15-$20 for the WP o/s is about the right amount for a $400 plus phone.
However unless the Windows RT licence fee is nearer $40 the margins on these tablets will be small.
kan: Nokia has said they are expecting a new business out of their location platform, not that Microsoft has adopted it. Nokia is selling a service to Microsoft and it licensees, and will be getting paid for it.
Do you have link for that? Especially interesting is the question if it’s included in the “platform support” or it will be real money.
nn: I think it was in one of their quarterly reports or investor calls or other fiscal reports. No link sorry, but wording was such that I read it to mean actual licensing fees as opposed to temporary platform support.
I’ve tried to locate it from their financial reporting with no luck. It is either included in the paltform support payments, not significant to Navteq business as a whole, or so much in the future that they do not have significant effect to the value of the company and does not need to be reported.
jiipee: I believe we are talking about future payments, because the whole location platform is not yet up and running. It will come with Windows Phone 8.
I think people are making too much of the platform supports payments and Microsoft getting Nokia’s IP “for free”. I don’t think that is the setup at all for the longer term.
And yes, Nokia talked about a “new business” aside from what NAVTEQ licensing is currently doing, so I took it that they expect significant revenue from that.
Nokia has also expressed additional revenue streams from mobile, location-aware advertising as part of the new strategy as things unfold.
I think there are plenty of elements of the new strategy that will start making more sense as they get from development mode to up and running.
Assuming Nokia can make it that far without getting bought out, of course.
You forget that MS hasn’t had it’s hands on Nokia’s Pureview yet. It is about the only unique thing Nokia has going now. Once Elop gives them that, then they can ditch Nokia.
Wow, finally a Microsoft product that one can get exited about! I’m looking forward to this hitting the stores. On the surface (pun intended) it does appear to be a worthy challenger to the ipad. Apps aside. But this could be a hero device to get more developer commitment.
I’m puzzled that Nokia wasn’t mentioned for this product as videos I’ve seen seem to show the Surface sporting Nokia’s Clear Black layer. Or does Microsoft own that too already? Still credit where it should be due.
I think the real excitement would be Kinect V2 integrated into Surface. Particularly if both front and rear cams are Kinect.
this kicks apple and ios in the nuts !!!
great introduction of a new product,
aluminium is one thing, but this new marketing slogan called “vapour mg” is great for sales,
fantastic kickstand, nice sound when it closes, amazing design on the touchcovers,
this looks so good, not bad coming from ms,
now all thats needed is for nokia to make a fantastic tablet to take advantage of win8,
just like ms has shown is possible,
can’t see what nokia does, finger crossed
Sooo… We’re #%&@… Aniway, nice tablet MS.
Nice post Jay. I do no believe Nokia needs to build a tablet as they can play off the colors of the surface with different devices fir higher profit. Perhaps a 6” coffee tab phone but the tablet market has too many players. Now we know why elop said they were just looking because he knew the Surface was coming and played it right getting the keyboard s to match Nokia phone colors. Now your phone can match your keyboard and Nokia accessories. More profit in accessories than in a highly crowded tablet market.
I realize this is a “Nokia blog” …but there are bigger implications here
What does this mean for HP, Lenovo, Dell?
What does Samsung think about all this? Think Google+Motorola
Interesting world we are living in…
Good question.
As you pointed out, this has some similarity to Google + Motorola deal. That doesn’t seem to be a big problem for any of the Android vendors.
I’m pretty sure MS has talked with all major tablet makers that are interested in this. MS is not a big threat, just one more manufacturer with two models. While this seems like a cool thing, it’s nothing other manufacturers couldn’t beat with models coming out few monts from now. It might even help W8 tablet sales by making it actually interesting. iPad is one size fits all, Windows world has always been more about having a choice from multiple spec alternatives giving everyone their share.
This is the big question that I think MS answered in a roundabout way.
First of all, only one WinRT tablet has been certified for launching Windows 8. Microsoft needs a home run out of the gate and outside of Acer no one was swinging. This was a move out of necessity to show people what Windows 8 can do on a tablet.
The Intel version on the other hand will directly compete with the Lenovo, Samsung and Dell tablets and will also not launch with Windows 8 so those OEM’s have first crack. They will also only sell these devices in their Microsoft stores so availability will be pretty limited.
I don’t think this meant to sell well but more to get good reviews and people talking.
Yeah, I think that’s about right, Paul Thurott was confused as to why Win 8 Pro Surface would be launching 3 months later, and giving the hardware partners an opportunity makes sense. That’s rather the opposite of Google and Android, where it takes them 8 months from the release of a new version to actually sell the hardware. That’s good for Samsung and bad for everyone else (probably also why they’re not too concerned about Motorola, because Samsung is still king of Androids).
This gives them all an equal chance.
Quite frankly though, with what they’ve described, I don’t think anything by Lenovo, Dell or HP will swing me over the Win 8 Pro tablet. I’ve thought for a long time that parallax is the biggest problem for inking, and they talked about that in the keynote. I’d be quite surprised if anyone can actually pull that off by the time it launches, unless they’ve already identified that as a problem that needs to be solved.
This is Microsoft blog now
Why would you say that? There are just as many stories about Symbian as there are WP. The N9 also is discussed.
‘Cause he’s a douchebag. I could go into more detail about being sour about Nokia partnering with Microsoft and exaggerating everything, but bottom line is anyone who says this is a MS blog is a douche.
I think the Surface tablet has a change of succeeding. Unlike WP7 which I still think is doomed, Windows 8 seems pretty decent. (But ONLY on touch devices, I can’t believe they are trying to bring it to mouse and keyboard)
I also like the design of this thing, the keyboard cover and the stand are a nice addition. What remains to be seen is the price, availability and specs which will probably give an idea of how well the device could do. If it is too expensive, it is doomed. Mediocre specs, more likely to fall. And limited availability would also hurt this device.
I don’t know how the average consumer will react to this device, but it will certainly be interesting to find out.
I think this is a sign that Nokia will not be making a tablet. They need to concentrate on making decent phones before venturing into the tablet market. Besides, how can their products possibly compete with this? What will a Nokia tablet offer that is better, in comparison?
Last weeks announcement that they killed a number of internal R&D projects, probably included a tablet project (along with Meltimi) I would imagine.
goosepig:
Yes, because Microsoft designed this thing this weekend after hearing the Nokia news…
Come on. These events are completely unrelated and does not say anything about Nokia’s ability or plans to enter the Windows 8 tablet market.
Steady now, poor attempts at sarcasm will get you nowhere… I think you are confused. I never suggested the two events were related.
I just happen to think that Nokia wont be releasing a tablet – obviously it is co-incidence with the timing.
All I meant was that in light of Nokia’s huge cutbacks and cancellations, I just meant that in light of their announcment that ‘some internal projects got cancelled’ this probably included a tablet one. Just a guess, as they cannot afford to concentrate beyond phones, and had nothing to do with this Microsoft announcment.
goosepig:
Fair enough. I agree that if Nokia cancelled their Windows tablet, that is one reason for Microsoft to rush this announcement.
Another option I can see is also that Microsoft felt they needed to counter the negative news with something positive.
On the other hand, why rush either one of these, just becuase of Nokia? They could have waited a week or two and still gotten the same effect, without the mad rush.
It might also be that it was done just out of secrecy or because of some logistical reasons (Ballmer availability etc.). Or because they wanted the create the magical buzz.
Third option is that all this become clear tomorrow at the Windows Phone 8 event, the reason why they wanted to do this now.
There are plenty of plausible options that don’t include Nokia, but of course the link you suggest is possible.
Of course announcing the Surface today might actually be Microsoft’s attempt to not get in the way of the hype/ announcements with their partners on the Apollo release event whilst at the same time creating excitement for it. I think either way, Nokia may not find this the best time to get into the Tablet market. There are too many advantages with other players. Best for them to concentrate on their phones and then hit the tablet market when their stable, good and ready.
I wasn’t commenting on Microsoft and their announcments. Again, I don’t think this news is anything to do with Nokia! All I was saying is that Nokia should veer away from tablets… in their current state, they should not be veering into this area IMHO
MICROSOFT owed it to NOKIA not to jump in like this using SAMSUNG. Did SAMSUNG promise to drop ANDROID? This is W8 on ARM….. MICROSOFT should have held the door open for NOKIA to hammer this out. As it is they will have problems….. SAMSUNG blows.
Being unrelated, but still the same day implicates that Nokia did not know about the launch.
The only way I see Nokia succeeding with Win tablet is that they would tweak the UI. Maps don’t really give an edge since tablets are rarely used as navigators and for others the maps are porbably the same Nokia/Bing.
Other apps, no differentiation. They won’t get exclusive EA deal for windows for sure.
logistics and availability edge they have already lost to Sammy. Cost wise Sammy will beat Nokia hands down since they already have infrastructure for tablets and volume discounts for components thanks to existing tablet manufacturing. And they have the exactly same tiles on windows. They probably can link the tablet also to their TV sets bypassing Xbox. And they’ve already showed that they are fast to copy industrial design.
jiipee: I agree with that (Surface or not) Nokia has a hard time with their tablet value proposition. BlackBerry can’t seem to sell the PlayBook, even though it is decent. I wonder how Nokia will be able to. Maybe had the invented the market properly in 2005 or something with Maemo… and the tablet side will be an even harder road than smartphones.
Having said that, I disagree with you that Nokia can’t differentiate with “other apps”. I think they are already showing some premium love on Lumia, they might do something similar for their Windows RT tabs. Sure, getting EA exclusives might be harder, but there are more possibilities – things like Nokia TV and the like. I don’t think one should exaggerate too much either.
But it will be a hard road for sure, if they enter the tablet-market that is.
it is uncertain whether windows 8 tab which ever brand it is will be sucessful.also adding to the fact that nokia dont have any expertise in tablet making and it will have much more competition than windowsphone arena.id like nokia to keep away from tab market.they can/need to make hybrids like galaxy note or hero device like nexus or galaxy s3.
The PlayBook is selling fine in Canada. Obviously that’s a home field advantage, but they are doing a decent job there.
Also, they’re not trying too hard with the PlayBook, they’re using it as a testing ground to get BB10 right out of the gate, so it’s more of an assistance to their core products.
It also depends on what you’re looking for in a tablet. Early on I’d pointed out that the 7″ form factor (of which there were a few low end tabs before the PlayBook) was the best, due to portability and using the keyboard easily in portrait mode. RIM evidently had the same idea, and they picked the size well. I have 5 different jackets with slightly different pocket designs and the PlayBook just neatly fits into every one of them – no extra space but it’s not too big to fit either. That means pockets have a pretty uniform size, and the PB was designed to fit in them. It’s pretty much the size of a digest sized novel, and roughly the size of the Kindle, Kobo, Nook and such. Amazon went with the same size as for the Kindle Fire.
So in my view, of the current tablets, the only really practical ones, that you can take with you, are the PlayBook, Kindle Fire, Nook Color, and a few other 7″ Android tablets.
Nokia could still bring in a value proposition with a Lumia 900 styled 7″ Windows RT tablet. It’d be more of a niche product, but it would work.
Yes migo, I like the Playbook A LOT. It has some weird ommissions but it shows how you can design a snappy yet helpful experience for an average guy who doesn’t want to port every one of his favorite Linux utilities on board and destroy the equipment.
Do you think MICROSOFT will minimize Surface as it needs to be, to be bug-free and successful on ARM architecture while differentiating user experience enough to create value? We can see that Ballmer digs the concept but really, the odds with SAMSUNG working with them to crank volume on this deadline are 100 to 1 against. They would have done better with a smaller manufacturer and lower quantities and keeping the price high….. OH YEAH, that would have been NOKIA…….
Nokia has no track record with tablets. Samsung has a pretty good one, only being held back by the OS options.
Only Asus would have been a better partner to choose based on track record.
Yes, migo– ASUS would have been a nicer choice, from standpoint also of not slapping at NOKIA and keeping NOKIA interested. MICROSOFT must think they are so smart, having both NOKIA and SAMSUNG in the mix with new mobile WINDOWS products, as if it leads to global distributions. But they are too greedy by half because now they have demoralized NOKIA and NOKIA does have its own loyal markets and options. While SAMSUNG as you said, prior to this new deal, has been peddling worthless crap, and in actuality is a piss-poor choice as a contract manufacturer.
migo:
Fair points there.
“Nokia could still bring in a value proposition with a Lumia 900 styled 7″ Windows RT tablet. It’d be more of a niche product, but it would work.”
And I expect them to do just that. Well, not saying what the size is, but generally speaking.
I don’t know if this could be taken as a sign for Nokia not making a tablet. It’s just that Nokia isn’t MS’s go to HW vendor for tablets. Their tablet projects, like Courier, are older than the Nokia/MS partnership, so it makes sense if they don’t want to bet on a new partner with project this old.
I can’t say if Nokia _will_ make a tablet, but they still _could_ make one. It’s not in MS’s interest to prevent others from making tablets as long as they still use Windows in them. This was introduced now at the end of Q2. Next Surface might be a year away, so there’s good time for others to publish their tablets this fall Q3, Q4. Many companies are going to do that.
Since Meltemi is gone, Nokia probably won’t go for the low end tablets. They still could make Win tablets.
Considering how Nokia is kicking people out as fast as they can it is probable that they won’t make a tablet, at least all by them selves. Then again if you look at the Booklet 3G, as far as I know Nokia’s input there was rather small. It might be in Nokia’s interest to contact Compal or some one else and just give list of specs and beautiful N9 inspired design. Minimum financial investment, but they still could sell a few and make small profit from them.
Fz:
A sensible post there Fz. I too don’t think this is a sign that Nokia is not making a tablet. Of course it is possible that is the case, but I don’t think this is necessarily any kind of proof of that. More so, had Nokia really cancelled their Windows tablet, I think it would have leaked…
As for a Meltemi or other non-WP-low-end-tablet, I haven’t completely written off the idea that Nokia still might do it at some point (maybe even based on Series 40 and Java apps or some Meltemi spin-off that flew under the radar). But clearly I put the odds of that now happening at around 0.5%, when I used to think more like 50%.
lol what is the need of s40 tab.in india there is akash android tab which cost just 2000rs=40$.also there is micromax funbook for 6000rs.
Hey, it may be a silly idea but I can’t shake the feeling they might still have plans in that area. I agree, probably not though.
Agree on the fact that this news has anything to do with Nokia actually doing a tablet.
I believe that they won’t. They don’t get anykind of exclusivity or strategic partner position from MS in regards tablets.
Meltemi is killed for good unless they’ve subcontracted it outside (again). Most probably we get more leaks within next weeks (kicked out Nokians emailing drunk during Mid-summer festival to media).
In my opinion a non-maemo style low-end internet tablet with Nokia life etc to non-Western countries would have been the segment for Nokia.
Anyway, I just need to go on. Luckily the polycarbonate N9 is durable. Now my fourth test day (for MS Dynamics CRM and own solutions) with Lumia 800 and I’m sure that I won’t plan WP before version 8 if then. I’ll try to accept what has happened (& osat incompetence of Elop) and enjoy vacation. Hyvää juhannusta Janne & all the othets
It seems that MICROSOFT also expected NOKIA to abandon Symbian pipelines immediately and turn around on a dime and start selling WINDOWSPHONE worldwide. But NOKIA had invested in new product. Then sensing they missed the boat NOKIA belatedly placated MIROSOFT by announcing that BELLE was the last Symbian…. so guess what, CarlaIsBack! too…..
Thanks jiipee, hyvää juhannusta to you too!
Frankly, last three, four years as a Nokia fan has been constant adapting. Not fun. I wish they finally crack some course and stick to it.
Let’s face it– after appearing to go on the high road by reaching out to NOKIA, MICROSOFT is desperately back to old tricks: whipping the hardware companies for better/ faster/ stronger. I was really liking the whole WINDOWS 8 buffet, it was lined up just fine, but now MICROSOFT has pooped on the plate… and MeeGoIsBack!
There you go, optimism! NOKIA will do it, although they will be wise to (again) avoid the US……..
Fellers, it’s true, there will be no NOKIA Tablet for W8: this unit is going into production w/ SAMSUNG (NOKIA’s archenemy), and also is likely under contract in lieu of SAMSUNG branding their own device. NOKIA was left at the alter for this, not that they wanted the thin margins and liabilities anyway. (But MICROSOFT didn’t need to do it they could have handed the ball and a downpayment to NOKIA who afetr all gave a leg up to the faltering WINDOWSPHONE. Sons of bitches….)
But check this too: NOKIA is far from toast: MeegoIsBack!
Meego is back? You joking or what?
Well, check it: NOKIA still believes in MeeGo enough to try and downsize it to cheap phones, although in the end there was nothing wrong with S40. And did you notice the N9 product? There is little to stop them.
are you well?
“Besides, how can their products possibly compete with this? What will a Nokia tablet offer that is better, in comparison?”
Well, they could put a camera on it for starters. Maybe some GPS and 4G as well. How’s that?
Scratch the camera, it has one. Still, no 4G, nor can I see GPS mentioned on the (limited) spec sheet.
GPS in a tablet with no cellular radio doesn’t make a great deal of sense. I wouldn’t be surprised if they also launch an LTE/UMTS version of Surface.
Maybe. Just pointing out that there are glaringly obvious ways available to differentiate from what was announced by Microsoft.
One obvious way to differentiate is to actually make the tablet available for the public to purchase…
http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-only-selling-the-surface-at-its-stores-2012-6
Like said, anyone who thinks that the MS Surface in anyway “shafts” any of its partners should book a time for a thorough head examination.
It is so blatantly obvious that the idea behind the launch is to generate interest in the platform and to “raise the bar” for the Windows 8 tablet OEMs in order to ensure that they can’t get away with publishing just any kind of poopsmear.
Yes, if only because MICROSOFT knows how to steal defeat from jaws of victory (as they just proved). You will see: SAMSUNG and MICROSOFT will be pointing fingers by the end of the year. And other MICROSOFT partners are now backing up….
It is plain to see… on the ARM chip MICROSOFT needs more time. This hardware is MeeGo country and NOKIA should get their unit ready to go!
This compared to ASUS.
Love the fact he goes to show internet explorer, and something fails when he’s swiping. Then he has to go and get another tablet LOL
Apart from that, it looks nice.
No, he was going for Netflix.
I completely wholeheartedly disagree. Id like a keynote like the one that was done for lumia 800 and have phones available immediately. I can say I speak for some here when I say: Don’t make me wait 6 months to order a product when something better will come out then.
It depends. Sometimes you announce a product early to disrupt an already shipping product. Other times you wait to announce it right before selling it, so that you’ve got the momentum from the announcement.
Usually though, the second model works best if it’s something that was already anticipated but not confirmed. So Nokia mentions in some interviews that they’re looking at tablets, people are speculating about a Nokia tablet, and Nokia announces one and starts shipping the next day. That works well. In this case, MS hadn’t said anything about getting into the HW game themselves, so it would come as a surprise. There having a 6 month lead up to it would make more sense. It also gives their other partners enough room to revamp their offerings to compete with what MS has announced, like Samsung redoing their Tab 10.1 on seeing the iPad 2 announcement.
would be great if it is named windows flat|iron.LOL
or bob.
offtopic
Ive heard that 808 pureview cant play 1080p or 720p divx/xvid is this true???
you couldn’t ask this in one of the many 808 posts?
Question : What’s worse than a paid shill?
Answer : A hallucinating shill that works for free. See USer posting about Symbian, Android, etc.,
Nokia did kill one tablet already. I think there will not be any tablets from Nokia. They will make 1 windows phone 8 and then it’s sold to MS.
And I assuming that killed tablet was running Maemo.
Meltemi.
Fascinating… well there it is, Meltemi was also a tablet. But from what I have read it would have been a cheaper tablet for rest of world not the US? And MICROSOFT nevertheless got bitchy hat they weren’t 100% focus so Elop tried to belatedly “kill two birds with one stone”, cut his workforce cost and kiss back at MICROSOFT but it was already too late? You are right then, he is a complete idiot who got the worst of both worlds and should step aside.
MeeGo
Those are your estimates right? Not the plans?
If that’s the case then I’m holding off buying a nokia this year and if that happens, management sucks.
“Nokia’s own brand for their tablet is really important. As for now, the only tablet that gets called by its name is the iPad. All the other pads and tabs are either called tablets or mistaken for iPad in conversation. Maybe Nokia can also build a ‘surface’ tablet? Or does it need to be Lumia related?”
Actually Nokia was making its own tablet. And it was based on Meltemi. Here’s what I just heard from someone who worked on Meltemi and was among those who just got sacked by Elop: They were of course working on Meltemi, BUT that it wasn’t for phone! That’s what he could say.
So not saying directly that it was a tablet, but what else can it be, if it’s not a phone? The common wisdom going around is, that it was a Nokia tablet. The only other option that came to my mind is, that it was the future disruption, something more than just a tablet, something that Nokia was also hinting. Meltemi, but not for phone. There aren’t many options what it could be. Tablet or tablet-like future disruption.
And they were totally blindsided by Elop last Thursday. Shocked at what happened.
Now isn’t it convenient, that right before Micro$cum releases its Windows tablet, Nokia gets its own Meltemi tablet project cancelled by Elop? Little too convenient.
This is disgusting what Elop is doing to Nokia. The man must be investigated and prosecuted some day. He just cannot be allowed to go scot-free after destroying the biggest mobile company in the world in behalf of his (old) boss.
You should have your head examined.
Meltemi tablet from Nokia was always in the cards in the speculation, I had written about it many times. (In addition to speculated Metelmi phones, considering Meltemi products were developed in many sites.)
But I have always considered a Next Billion product for emerging markets, not something competing with Windows. Because the other part of Nokia’s tablet plan has been speculated to be a Windows RT tablet for the developed world.
I expect at least the latter to still happen, unless it too gets cancelled of course. Conclusion that just because a Meltemi tablet was (probably) cancelled, does not mean that was the only tablet project at Nokia.
That’s the prolem with singular leaks, people have limited visibility and make too far-reaching assumptions based on them. This is what has bitten Eldar, for example, many times. Nokia is a large, global company with many sites and teams that work in secret.
but what do we expect from Nokia?? Actually, Nokia has launch just 4 devices, and the deliver in other countries (not Europe, ie LATAM) is so slow, and it produces that the market share is decreasing very fast…