HTC 'cut out' of the Windows RT loop: report
Summary: Reports suggest "inexperienced" tablet maker HTC has been shut out of Windows RT development. Microsoft playing politics, or could a poor tablet experience tarnish Windows 8's fragile outlook?
Things are going from bad to worse for HTC.
You would think Microsoft would want all the help it could get in bringing Windows 8 to the tablet market, as the Redmond-based technology giant attempts to take on Apple at its own game. Apparently not.
HTC already makes Windows Phone devices (Source: CNET)
The smartphone maker has been "shut out" of the introduction of Windows RT --- the forthcoming operating system's debut on ARM processors --- after HTC said its second-quarter looks bleak, according to Bloomberg's sources that are familiar with the matter.
On Wednesday, HTC said it will deliver weak revenue on its second-quarter earnings, and took a charge of NT$2.6 billion ($87 million) after it was struggled to shift its inventory.
One of the reasons for the poor quarter was due to a U.S. Customs battle over imports of its smartphones, after Apple won an import embargo following a U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) patent infringement case.
While Bloomberg's sources suggest the move could be that HTC may diminish and tarnish the Windows RT experience and with a lack of HTC's tablet-building experience, speculation has already begun suggesting it may be a case of Microsoft playing politics.
This quote raised an eyebrow:
"HTC engineers wanted to build a Windows device with a customized home screen that would be distinctive to its devices, as manufacturers are allowed to do with Android. Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft refused, said the people, and HTC was left off the list of companies the software maker provided with early versions of the software."
It would not come as a surprise if HTC's poor Q2 outlook was merely a scapegoat for Microsoft's already risky bet in Windows 8.
There is another play.
HTC and Nokia are smartphone rivals. Escalating the tense relationship, HTC confirmed the ITC is investigating Nokia's concerns that the Taiwan-based infringed its patents.
Considering Nokia and Microsoft's partnership, it has already been suggested that the Redmond-based technology giant is pushing out HTC in a bid to strike back at the alleged Nokia aggressor. Also, HTC also makes Android-based tablets and smartphones which could be seen as a threat to Microsoft.
Bloomberg said a Microsoft spokesperson said HTC remains a "strong partner now and for the future." A HTC spokesperson said the smartphone maker "intends" to support future versions of Windows, but was unavailable for further questions at the time of writing.
Image credit: Sarah Tew/CNET.
Related:
- HTC stuck with inventory, weak Q2 revenue
- Microsoft's headache: Will Windows 8 be another Vista?
- CNET: Imports of HTC smartphones slowly resume
- Judge tells Apple and HTC to start talking settlement
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Talkback
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Business users have this thing called "software assurance" which i know you have no experience with, just like most of these people saying they wont sell any copies, but they are tied in to multi million pound deals and taking Windows out of that deal that includes licensing for sharepoint, sql, office and the entire system center suite is minimal so they wont bother and will renew the licenses for 8 when renewal time comes so they will sell (or at least get paid for, the definition of selling really) around 100m copies without doing anything. Plenty of consumers out there will buy these things, and out IT department are looking at replacing all company tablets with hybrid laptops as it makes more sense than giving people 1 laptop and 1 tablet, when we could just give them 1 hybrid (and no.... nobody can use an Android hybrid to do real work)
Better update your stats
So, in other words, HTC
Avoid Fragmentation
It only makes sense that the first Windows RT tables should be produced by Nokia.
where are NOkia tablets?
Customized home screen
I think HTC are certainly welcome to manufacture Windows RT devices provided that they do not demand access to make user interface changes to Windows.
Avoiding "me too"?
It doesn't matter
I do feel bad for HTC though as they actually made some fantastic WinMo 6.x devices which is like turning Rosanne into Charlize.
HTC 'cut out' of the Windows RT loop: report
[i]HTC engineers wanted to build a Windows device with a customized home screen that would be distinctive to its devices, as manufacturers are allowed to do with Android. [/i]
Its obvious they wanted to put their crappy sense gui onto Windows 8 and Microsoft told them to get bent. HTC either follows the rules as everyone else or they get left out as is the case here.
There is nothing "crappy"
Having said that if one of the rules to have a Windows 8/RT handset is to have an unmodified Metro interface on it and HTC insisted on modifying it then the decision to leave HTC out of the 8/RT loop is understandable.
Then you're either blind or......
I'd suggest you need to burn your eyes out with a red hot poker, because they are obviously aren't doing anything for you. Sense sucks. TouchWiz sucks. Android sucks. They all suck from a UI perspective. iOS doesn't suck by a long shot. It's very good, but still is lacking compared to Metro.
@jhammackHTH
SenseUI is nice, useful, can be customised has widgets
Android is nice, useful, can be customised has widgets
Metro is nice, useful, can be customised has Live Tiles
iOS is bland, boring, cannot be customised, has nothing
Hmmm... tricky this one....
Or More Likely
If HTC struggle expect Huawei to be eyeing them or even just sweep them aside.
Yeah that's pure crap. Most W8 tablet makers also make android tablets.