Microsoft Kills the Kin

adeelarshad82 writes "The Microsoft Kin is dead, or at least it doesn't have a future as a standalone product. Microsoft released a statement suggesting that it's cutting bait on the Windows Phone 7 spinoff and folding the project's staff and technologies into the main body of Windows Phone 7. For now, it seems like Verizon Wireless will continue to sell Kin phones. But with the Kin team essentially disbanded, it's hard to see future updates and support for the line being a priority within Microsoft."

Re:Let me be the first

[jaymz2k4]

It was microsofts attempt to woo the facebook generation [wired.co.uk]. The fact you have never heard of it probably means the targeted marketing was done competently.

Stop laughing, it's a serious mental illness

[straponego]

They just can't help themselves, especially in mobile. It's like, if they ever stick to a plan for a full year, we'll all know what they're up to! Can't have that. Call it the Sun syndrome...

But on the bright side, one of their employees has come to the conclusion that, in principle anyway, it would be good if their software worked. And was easy to use.

http://www.crn.com/software/225701869

So maybe they'll give that a shot soon.

Re:Cutting Bait?

[Bill, Shooter of Bul]

When you are fishing, sometimes the line gets snagged on a underground log or weeds. You can struggle for a while trying to get it free, but at some point to get on with fishing you have to cut the line and attach a new hook complete with new bait. Or sometimes your bait just isn't working for the conditions for what ever reason, to switch to new bait, you'd have to cut off the old bait. So basically it means one will be trying over again with a new approach by admitting a previous mistake.

Re:Cutting Bait?

[paiute]

When you are fishing, sometimes the line gets snagged on a underground log or weeds. You can struggle for a while trying to get it free, but at some point to get on with fishing you have to cut the line and attach a new hook complete with new bait. Or sometimes your bait just isn't working for the conditions for what ever reason, to switch to new bait, you'd have to cut off the old bait. So basically it means one will be trying over again with a new approach by admitting a previous mistake.

I always thought the metaphor of cutting bait was slicing up other fish to use as bait, so cutting bait was preparing to fish as opposed to actually fishing. In that sense, fish or cut bait is a polite equivalent to shit or get off the pot.

Re:Well, that was fast

[Anonymous Coward]

The Kin was released, at least. The Foleo was actually ready-to-ship in production packaging and was cancelled a few weeks before the expected launch.

Re:Let me be the first

[mattack2]

You're totally missing at least one point of a console - to have a stable (features-wise) platform so that developers can develop for one thing only.. I realize that things like Kinect break down that stability, too.

Not entirely true

[jfoobaz]

If you have a GSM phone, you can switch between handsets without much trouble - just put the SIM into the one you want to use, and have at it. You may have to mess with syncing contacts, etc., but you'd have the problem with multiple handsets with the same number anyway.

Verizon was the problem

[jonwil]

The moment Verizon decided that they would require a $30 per month data plan for the Kin, it was dead in the water.

Re:Let me be the first

[macs4all]

BTW, what happened to MS Surface? That seemed pretty cool.

You're kidding, right [roughlydrafted.com]?

Re:Not surprising

[trenien]

Err...

Just so you know, Samsung is a South Korean company.

Re:Let me be the first

[Anonymous Coward]

marketing is far more than advertising. it's product design, feature selection, pricing, and finally, advertising.