Microsoft's KIN: A Eulogy
by Brian Klug on July 13, 2010 3:42 PM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Microsoft
- KIN
- Mobile
Final Words
The reality is that the KIN launched too close to WP7 to be relevant, and too late in the game to be avant garde. Even if Microsoft had kept the platform going, it likely would've required a separate marketplace and different subset of applications. The truth is that Microsoft needs to focus all its resources and and efforts on successful WP7 launch, and build out a Windows Phone 7 Lite device after the core is established. There's a market for devices that are priced like featurephones, but deliver features they can't. Even if the KIN didn't succeed, there surely will be other devices that will if the price is right.
What's unique about KIN remains its unprecedented level of cloud integration. The KIN gave us a brief glimpse of the future of mobile integration with the cloud. Even if the platform itself failed, the KIN's cloud centric data storage and backup model remains the best out there. Android implements a number of similar features, but none of them come close to the level of integration Microsoft pulled off with KIN. Truly smart smartphones should be able to stand on their own - without a desktop they need to be nightly tethered to, synced with, or used to pull photos off.
Even though the KIN were yanked from the market under 3 months after launch, they weren't the abject failures that some have made them out to be. In fact, the competition would do wise to borrow concepts like the KIN Studio and build their own background sync services. The ideal smartphone OS is still floating around out there somewhere, waiting to be realized. Combine iOS' polish, speed, and battery life, Android's open marketplace, flash support, and customizability, WebOS's card multitasking model, beautiful UI, and finally KIN's level of cloud integration, and we might just have it.
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Brentcsi101 - Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - link
someone saying "Droid X" anyone?? But come on... between Android and iOS, there is nothing right now that can compete with them.Diesel Donkey - Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - link
You must have never used a Palm Pre or Pixi.mrjminer - Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - link
Yea, I was going to get a Palm Pre... but the cost of the required plan was far more than what I'm willing to spend for a cell phone. I ended up going on Craigslist and getting someone to transfer their SERO plan over to me for $75. Can't really beat $35 a month (after taxes) for 450 minutes, unlimited texting, and unlimited data -- I can deal with using a Palm Treo Pro in the meantime.As for the Kin, I really like the form factor of the smaller one. However, it will be tough to decide between WebOS and Windows 7 Mobile, assuming HP actually continues development on WebOS.
Stuka87 - Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - link
Why would anybody buy a phone from a company that no longer exist?mrjminer - Thursday, July 15, 2010 - link
..... "assuming HP actually continues development on WebOS."inspire - Friday, July 16, 2010 - link
Palm exists today just as much as Mobil does.mcnabney - Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - link
The WebOS devices have fallen into the same category as the Kin. A nice try, but too little and too late. If the Pre had come out on schedule (two years ago!) they would have kept in the race and likely not have been acquired by HP.aebiv - Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - link
Amazing how everyone is so quick to forget the most flexible and powerful mobile OS, Windows Mobile. Yes, Android comes close, but the roadmap for 3.0 doesn't look good locking down the UI more. Battery life? Why is it my HD2 with a smaller battery gets better battery life than the EVO? They're virtually the same phone hardware wise, just a difference in mobile OS.sprockkets - Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - link
"Amazing how everyone is so quick to forget the most flexible and powerful mobile OS, Windows Mobile."We forgot about it when the iphone and even others at the time made us realize how horrible it was to use.
Only thing keeping WM alive before ver 7 is HTC and their skin.
aebiv - Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - link
Horrible it was to use?How was it horrible?
Quit making generalizations and give some points.