Water rusts pipes - WC Fields
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Microsoft angers Angry Birds developer
DESPERATE TO GENERATE INTEREST in its smartphone operating system, Microsoft managed to turn a Windows Phone 7 mock-up into a mockery by displaying an icon of Angry Birds.
A picture appeared on Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 website that displayed an icon for Angry Birds. The only problem is, Angry Birds won't be available on Windows Phone 7 and that led Rovio Mobile, the developer behind the popular game to say, "Microsoft put the Angry Birds icon on their site without our permission."
Adding to Microsoft's embarrassment, the developer further said, "We have NOT committed to doing a Windows Phone 7 version." You could say that the Vole has managed to ruffle a few feathers with its stunt.
Microsoft issued a statement saying, "It appears information was mistakenly posted to Microsoft's website, and has been removed. We have nothing new to share, but stay tuned for announcements from Microsoft and its partners on Monday."
We assume Rovio Mobile won't be one of the software partners lining up alongside the Vole's CEO Steve Ballmer to sing the praises of Windows Phone 7 at its launch later today.
As it kicks off its last ditch effort to make something of itself in the smartphone market, the Vole needs applications to woo new customers. Microsoft needs to attract developers of popular applications such as Angry Birds if it is to make Windows Phone 7 competitive against Apple's IOS and Google's Android and this blunder will do little to persuade developers to allocate effort to writing Windows Phone 7 applications.
In recent months Microsoft has gone on the offensive against Android by claiming that it has hidden costs and that its own upcoming mobile operating system will protect handset manufacturers against potential litigation.
That might be true but it doesn't protect Microsoft against its own developer relations gaffes. µ
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uGGGHH, My contract expired but I kept the service for another 6 mos, I called to cancel and the girl said your paid up for the next two weeks. So I called back on the last day and they said I volunteered to extend my contract for another year. No point in arguing, I said play the recording back I want to hear it. Company policy prohibits that they said it's $150.00 to cancel. Lots of yelling several mgr's to explain company policy. Original contract allows ATT to extend contract without consent. Etc...... 2.5 hrs on the phone to cancel a line that I had for 4 years. WoW did that suck.
Protect manufacturers from litigation from whom?
Re: Bill - "At the very least, the Microsoft lawyers should've asked permission from Rovio to include the Angry Birds icon"
As the past history of Microsoft has shown Microsoft tend not to ask first, but acquire and then ask later e.g. WIMP system acquired from Apple (who acquired it from Xerox), Java acquired from Sun Microsystems (and then removed and re-worked as JScript 'cos Sun got a little bit annoyed!) and many more acquisitions.
Microsoft screwed up, plain and simple. At the very least, the Microsoft lawyers should've asked permission from Rovio to include the Angry Birds icon in their publicly viewed website. Since it appears that they failed to do even that, they have some serious relationship patching up to do.
Having worked at a company that changed it's INTERNAL documentation to avoid litigation with a hollywood movie house, I can tell you that this issue is no laughing matter.
you are making too much of this, within 14 hours this will be forgotten by all.