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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Sorry, Ballmer Did Not Confirm Windows 8 on Phone


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Since I've had sources tell me that Microsoft is going to use Windows 8 as the basis for the next major version of Windows Phone, I've been waiting for some official confirmation. And that confirmation seemed to come today, in a report from Business Insider. Sadly, it's untrue.

Business Insider quoted Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer as saying, "We are driving Windows down to the phone with Windows 8." Seems clear-cut enough. I tweeted it quickly and started digging deeper.

That's when Tom Warren contacted me. Seems Business Insider misquoted Ballmer. And he has an audio clip that proves it. Here's what Ballmer really said, with a bit of highlighting so you can see how its was misinterpreted:

"We've got broad Windows initiatives, driving Windows down to the phone. With Windows 8, you'll see incredible new form factors, powered by Windows, from tablets--small, large, pens--smaller, bigger, room-sized displays. We are in an era in which the range of smart devices is just continuing to expand."

So it is clear-cut. Just not in the way I originally hoped. Ah well.


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  • Posted @ November 16, 2011 03:52 AM by gorath

    Windows on pens? Seriously? What for?

  • Posted @ November 15, 2011 02:12 PM by lzandman

    I'm sure you (and Tom Warren) are right about this. But still I find it weird that he pause AFTER "With Windows 8..." and not before it.

    Also, the sentence sounds kind of weird the way you transcribed it. It then mentions Windows twice, which seems unnecessary: "With Windows 8 (1st mention), you'll see incredible new form factors, powered by Windows (2nd mention, why?), ... "

    But I'm not a native English speaker and I also didn't expect Windows 8 to come to the phone any time soon. But still... :-)

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