Woz Digs Windows Phone, But LG Doesn't

LG is giving up on Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, for the moment, because "the total unit of Windows Phones sold in the global market is not a meaningful figure." Ouch, that's some harsh reality for Microsoft to digest right now. Instead, LG is going to focus its smartphone efforts on Google's Android platform.

This tidbit, which comes from the Korean Herald, indicates that LG has toned down its smartphone ambitions a bit. The Korean phone maker has sold Windows Phone and Android smartphones during the last two years, but the number of WP7 models is anemic when you look at the company's lineup of Android devices.

In fact, the only Windows Phone that LG has brought to market is the Quantum, which was probably the most poorly-received of the initial batch of Windows Phones to reach store shelves in late 2010.

LG's fortunes in the smartphone market haven't grown as quickly as those of its Korean competitor, Samsung. In fact, LG has faced a number of losing financial quarters due to lackluster sales of its devices across product groups. Its Android strategy has been to blanket the market with a wide range of products, stretching from entry-level to high-end.

Despite the change in its feelings for Windows Phone, however, LG insists it still has a good relationship with Microsoft, and will "continue research and development efforts" on Microsoft's mobile OS. That's not exactly confidence-inspiring, especially when Nokia is throwing its entire development community at Windows Phone. If and when LG decides to get back into the Windows Phone game, it will be badly outgunned by competitors.

LG may not be a fan of Windows Phone, but Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is. ANewDomain.Net caught up with The Woz recently and found among his smartphone collection a Nokia Lumia 900.

ANewDomain reports, "Steve Wozniak chose the Windows 7.5 Mango phone. He loves the interface. Even though that smartphone's hardware specs are impressive--and its camera is hobbled--the phone runs best, fastest and and most reliably, he told us today." Apparently, what Woz likes best are the Live Tiles, part of the Metro user interface.

Of course, Woz was also carrying two iPhones and a Motorola Droid RAZR. He finds Windows Phone much more appealing, in general, than Android, he says. "Just for looks and beauty I definitely favor the Windows Phone over Android," he said. Wozniak said Windows Phone was "intuitive and beautiful," and even went to far as to liken the operating system to sitting "with a friend not a tool." Score one for Microsoft.

It is worth mentioning that Woz is a technologist, and is often found in line for significant device launches, be they Apple-related or not. The man simply digs technology.

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