Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Them Twin Cities
Posts: 1758

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/200...tnership_1.html

Just saw this on PalmStation!!

What is HS thinking? I can't believe it...

quote:

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Allen Bush, spokesman for Mountain View, Calif.-based Handspring, said the agreement had little to do with competition between the operating systems, and did not signal any willingness on Handspring's part to switch to the Microsoft operating system.

``For us the most important thing was just having a great content partner,'' Bush said

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Wouldn't it have been better to team up with Yahoo, or even VisorCentral ?

quote:

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Still in the development phase, Microsoft has said that the final version of .NET will allow users to access personal data and services on any computer device, including competing platforms.

The .NET service could include anything from telling users whether or not airplane flights are on time to providing an automated system for making doctor's appointments. All such services will depend on partnerships with companies such as United and Handspring, and on convincing users to think of Microsoft beyond traditional personal computer uses.

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... I'm surprised that Microsoft is so eager to market .net that it's allowing a non- PocketPC device to get to their stuff. I wonder was HandSpring REALLY got out of this deal? Surely it's more than "having a great content partnet."

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location:
Posts: 118

Hmm..

Well, that just *cemented* my decision to upgrade to a Handera 330 instead of a Prism.....

Bad choice Handspring. MSN and .Net are going to be poor choices for people to *have* to look at when they use your products. I don't see too many MS Palm applications out there.

Annoyed,

Tucson Sailors

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Them Twin Cities
Posts: 1758

Re: Hmm..

quote:

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Originally posted by tucson_sailors
Bad choice Handspring. MSN and .Net are going to be poor choices for people to *have* to look at when they use your products.

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Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

I haven't gotten Blazer 1.1 yet, but in the old version you could modify the home page.

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: McLean, VA USA
Posts: 216

As my uncle used to say:


"Get over it, or get used to it!!!!!"

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What the Heck! It's what I want!

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Metro Station, Hollywood and Highland
Posts: 1018

Yawn. There are so many legitimate things to knock Microsoft over, it's hard to believe that anyone would waste time worrying about a changeable default page. As much as I'd prefer a Yahoo default portal, Microsoft almost certainly offered Handspring a better deal. You should've seen all the inducements MS gave ISPs in the mid/late nineties to make IE their default browser.

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

Disclaimer I don't work for Microsoft, and in fact I've sued them for other clients a couple of times. My sister does work for them however.

That said:

Resistance is futile. You will all be assimiliated.

Seriously, I don't see this as that big a deal. I personally would have preferred they partner with Yahoo myself, but I already get most of that content using AvantGo Wireless anyway.

I'm much more cheesed off that I am expected to lay out close to $20 bucks for the new version. I don't mind them charging non-visor owners for the software, but I think loyal Visor (particularly Prism) owners should get Blazer for free. As I understand it, only VisorPhone owners get the upgrade for free.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Seattle, Washington
Posts: 293

Re: Re: Hmm..

quote:

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Originally posted by dietrichbohn


Well, I'm not sure about the have to part, can a Blazer user confirm whether or not the homepage is customizable?

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Have A Good Day!
I Love My Prism!

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

quote:

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Originally posted by VTL
[BI'm much more cheesed off that I am expected to lay out close to $20 bucks for the new version. I don't mind them charging non-visor owners for the software, but I think loyal Visor (particularly Prism) owners should get Blazer for free. As I understand it, only VisorPhone owners get the upgrade for free. [/B]

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"One of the most important things you learn from the internet is that there is no �them� out there. It�s just an awful lot of �us�." -- Douglas Adams

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

No, the way I read their website it's only for folks who own the VisorPhone.

quote:

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The Blazer browser is available immediately for purchase from Handango and Palmgear for $19.95. Customers who own the Handspring VisorPhone Springboard module can obtain the browser for free by going to the following URL, www.handspring.com/software/visorphone_sw.jhtml.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland
Posts: 205

quote:

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Originally posted by EricG


I was under the impression that only NON Handspring Palm users would be charged...

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The Blazer homepage leads me to believe other wise. I actually wouldn't mind paying for it, but I think $19.95 is a little steep. Of course, I would always welcome a freebee for being a Visor owner.

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Sven

If at first you do succeed, try not to look astonished.

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Posts: 2531

I have to say this is a brilliant tactical move on the part of Handspring. Microsoft isn't going to sink Apple with the working relationship the two have, and Handspring has moved to put itself in the same position, with Microsoft providing content. Handspring has a beautiful relationship with Apple already, so it's a good move on Handspring's part to bed Microsoft.

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-Joshua
Abortion: Darwinism at its finest.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Seattle, Washington
Posts: 293

I just try to run blazer ver 1.1 again and now the home button will redirect you to the default page(the same page with the one in the article).

Just curios, is the beta version of the blazer still redirect you to the default blazer page or the one with msn?

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Have A Good Day!
I Love My Prism!

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Alive and well on VisorCentral.com
Posts: 861

Humm, maybe I was in error..

Anyone know how long the beta will function for?

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"One of the most important things you learn from the internet is that there is no �them� out there. It�s just an awful lot of �us�." -- Douglas Adams

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Mountain View, CA
Posts: 211

Til May 22nd

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