I wouldn’t call $7.6 billion half-assed, but maybe that’s just me.

Timing is a given… the whole point is now there is a duopoly it’s impossible to compete.

Windows Phone OS was excellent, smooth, efficient and relatively intuitive with flagship models competing with Google and Apple.

The problem was getting apps created for the App Store with the lowest market share. The phone sector was losing money, it did that for years with no great improvement in market share. The call was made entirely because Microsoft can’t have a red mark on their balance sheet for that long without investors getting annoyed.

It was the money.

There is a reason it’s a duopoly, making a competing phone eco system to rival two of the wealthiest companies in the world is not easy. Microsoft tried but even they didn’t have enough money. People need apps, because companies want us to use their apps and there are only two app stores, one is walled off so you basically have to run Android apps or convince every company to make an app for your OS. I’m not wealthy so I only buy a phone every 8-10 years… if I can’t ensure I can do my banking shopping and entertainment on my phone I can’t buy it, and every banking/shopping/entertainment site is designed to be terrible on a phone so they can get you to install their app.

I’ve been intending on replacing all the locks in my house to use a single key, ASSA are at the top of the list… but it’s hard to justify any lock after decades of watching LockPickingLawyer and McNally

He complemented the man’s fascist hat collection! What more could he do?