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HTC was barred from Windows 8 tablets

Posted: , by Michael H.

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HTC was barred from Windows 8 tablets
Last year, we had heard rumors of an HTC tablet running Windows 8 that would be on its way, but it looks like that may not come around because the relationship between HTC and Microsoft has soured and HTC is no longer getting access to Windows software for tablets. According to Bloomberg, HTC is no longer a preferred hardware partner for Windows tablets, but the reasoning is a bit unclear. 

The official story from Microsoft seems to be that HTC just doesn't have the requisite experience in building, marketing, and selling tablets to give Microsoft the confidence that the company would make a good partner. HTC tablet sales so far have been pretty disappointing, mostly because the Flyer and Jetstream were both reasonably well made, but also quite overpriced. This would explain why the majority of Windows tablet stories we've heard have been in regards to Samsung, Asus or Acer, but it doesn't really explain why HP has been rumored to be making a Windows tablet. 

The other possible reason for HTC being barred from the partnership is that HTC engineers apparently had been pushing to make a customized homescreen on the Windows 8 RT tablet in order to differentiate from the competition, but as we know, Microsoft isn't in the game of selling a customized experience. Microsoft is in the game of selling Windows, and so, HTC was "left off the list" of companies provided early builds of the Windows software. 

Whatever the reasoning, we can understand the POV of Microsoft. The company wants to sell Windows, not a skinned Windows experience, because Microsoft makes money on the Windows brand, whereas Google doesn't much care about making money on the Android brand, so long as the ad revenue keeps coming in. And, it is true that Samsung and Asus have more established credibility in the tablet market. Still, HTC is a quality company, so if it can prove itself with an upcoming Android tablet (although none are on the horizon), or it can prove itself in the WP8 phone space, perhaps it can get back in the game. 

source: Bloomberg

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1. B3BLW29 posted on 07 Jun 2012, 00:28 6 2

Personally don't care about love-hate relationship between MS and HTC but HTC devices are way over priced. Device quality n experience is great but I think HTC overrates its quality which finally translates into expensive devices.

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2. DWillyEfect posted on 07 Jun 2012, 00:32 4 1

Kinda dumb because, IMO, HTC has built the best Windows Phone to date. But I can understand Microsoft not wanting some version of HTC Sense over their OS.

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5. MichaelHeller posted on 07 Jun 2012, 00:55 4 1

No argument that HTC makes quality phones, but the point is the company's ability in the tablet market, which is still unproven.

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13. speckledapple posted on 07 Jun 2012, 09:01

Good point, HTC still has much to prove in that area as do many producers of tablets as none really have made its stamp yet. With more competition, I think that will though.

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21. DWillyEfect posted on 08 Jun 2012, 11:09

Yeah, but isn't Dell making a Windows 8 tablet? The Inspiron Duo was awful mainly because of what Dell did to the Windows 7 OS and the Streak Android tablets were mediocre to bad.

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3. Droid_X_Doug posted on 07 Jun 2012, 00:35 2 2

This might be a blessing for HTC - not having to dump resources into an under-performing product launch. Maybe HTC can use the Windows dust-up to justify re-focusing its efforts on Android and only Android. At least with Android, HTC has an opportunity to make sales into a rather large market. With Win 8 tablets, HTC's market opportunity was speculative at best.

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4. wendygarett (limited) 4 days ago posted on 07 Jun 2012, 00:44 3

NO!!!! HTC YOU MUST LAUNCH WINDOWS TABLETS!!!

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6. wendygarett (limited) 4 days ago posted on 07 Jun 2012, 00:56 3

make a quad core s4 krait phablet to prove microsoft is wrong!!

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15. MichaelHeller posted on 07 Jun 2012, 09:18 1

I doubt Microsoft would allow a phablet WP device. Pretty sure 4.3" is the max phone size right now. Remember, Microsoft controls the chassis for WP.

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18. Berzerk000 posted on 07 Jun 2012, 17:36 1

Not necessarily, the Titan is running WP and its screen is 4.7

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20. snowgator posted on 08 Jun 2012, 08:12

Not only the 4.7" on the Titan, but There are all kinds of rumors of a Galaxy Note for WP8 from Samsung. A Phablet style device for Windows RT is very possible.

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7. Bluesky02 posted on 07 Jun 2012, 01:15 1

True, Microsoft makes money on Windows Brand. Whereas Google makes money on Android ads. So Microsoft can't risks someone would screw the windows homescreen.

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8. Leo_MC posted on 07 Jun 2012, 01:21 5 4

Tablets are stupid. The future, as Microsoft and Intel sees it, are powerfull ultrabooks that can also be used as a tablet.
I mean, why spend 5-800 euro on a bigger phone when you can buy a full feature notebook that can turn into a tablet and can use phone apps?

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9. bobfreking55 posted on 07 Jun 2012, 02:58 1

all the other companies haven't shown W8 tablets... am I missing something here? all I've seen are hybrids... too much hybrids which are also expensive. i have this strange feeling it will overpopulate the market.

imo, there should be THE Windows tablet to rule them all... i'm counting on Nokia.

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14. speckledapple posted on 07 Jun 2012, 09:02

But even HTC is not experienced in making hybrids that have dual functionality (like tablet dock, etc). They need to step it up if they want to.

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10. mercorp posted on 07 Jun 2012, 06:38 1

Retribution for abandoning winmo for android?

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11. bikingpadres posted on 07 Jun 2012, 06:53

Could this be because of the playstation mobile partnership HTC made at E3? Playstation never disclosed if android would be the only os with the games.

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12. speckledapple posted on 07 Jun 2012, 08:59

I think its the latter of the two reasons. HTC just like many wants to customize their experience by adding their bloated touches. Windows 8 is not the place for that and disagreements there could easily shift that relationship. As an app we can choose to download thats fine but not something that should come standard, that is not what is desired by many.

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16. Sangeet posted on 07 Jun 2012, 09:25

HP is making Windows 8 tablets because they sell a good amount of Windows computers. The reason that the touchpad didn't sell that good was because of the OS not the hardware or design, but with windows 8 they will rock..!!

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17. InspectorGadget80 posted on 07 Jun 2012, 09:54 1

M$ is bunch of loosers. HTC sells lots of phones on Android OS and I'm pretty sure they sell plenty of tablets. Just to show you that not too MANY companies support MS MOBILE

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19. andyboi_ph posted on 07 Jun 2012, 20:42

HTC mango phones are great, there's no reason for them not to produce a better tablet but then they had to stick to MS's rule not to modify the METRO UI of W8 otherwise tey will be booted off in the tablet division.

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