[smegel]

People buy smartphones for apps. People want fast access to lots and lots of apps - hence the popularity of the Android/iOS experience. I think de-emphasizing apps for more Twitter/Facebook spam is a bad move and consumers wont go for it.

I also think WinPho8 looks absolutely crap. Despite what MS bleats about making the phone about "you" and making the screen more bespoke etc, I actually find the live-tile layout incredibly bland and repetitive - everything just looks like a blue or yellow square with some simple white wire frame figure inside - compare that to an Android screen with a stunning live background of a Galaxy rotating (in my case) and a grid of unique, beautifully well-designed app icons that carry so much identity and flair - no comparison at all IMO.

As for integration with XBox/Surface etc, I think this is a niche market that wont affect the overall picture.