http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Jun 30th 2010 7:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
Death before birth.]]>Jun 30th 2010 7:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/The lack of intellect.]]>Jun 30th 2010 7:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Jun 30th 2010 7:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Jun 30th 2010 7:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
Windows 7, if I was the only one to answer seriously. ]]>Jun 30th 2010 7:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Jun 30th 2010 7:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/In order for it to die, wouldn't it have had to live?]]>Jun 30th 2010 7:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Jun 30th 2010 7:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Lack of sales.]]>Jun 30th 2010 7:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Jun 30th 2010 7:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/]]>Jun 30th 2010 7:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/The Kin is Dead, Long live the Kin!]]>Jun 30th 2010 7:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/I did. ]]>Jun 30th 2010 7:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/I'm pretty sure the whole Kin OS can be turnt into a WP7 app lol.]]>Jun 30th 2010 7:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
Topolsky must be quite the Phil Collins fan. In the Air Tonight on the iPhone review, and this little note on the KIN.]]>Jun 30th 2010 7:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/On June 30, at 4:54, the Kin was pronounced dead on arrival to the Verizon store. Cause of death; pricing. ]]>Jun 30th 2010 7:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
Refurb iPhone 3G 8gig. 49$
]]>Jun 30th 2010 7:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
It's very, very simple. The contracts prices are what killed these phones.

They were cute in concept and were right up the alley of the target demographic. One thing they didn't realize is that this same demographic likely is not paying for their own phone's monthly bill; likely footed by parentals. So, parents saw the phone's pricing and said, "No thank you."

It's as simple as that.]]>Jun 30th 2010 7:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
Two things:

1) bad market research

2) the fact that no teenagers thinks that Microsoft is a brand they identify with. If apple had released it, it'd probably done ok. ]]>Jun 30th 2010 8:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
Those kin phones has got to be the ugliest thing I have ever seen with a date plan required. I mean look at it.

I was like let me see,
You know when your best friend has a baby. They invite you over to see it. Your happy they had a baby and just want to join in with the rest of the family. But when you see the baby your face turns into a sour face like you just scarfed down a greasy steak burrito way too fast and you wish you didn't take the last bite because now thats the endgame. It's coming up and there's nothing you can do about it.

That what this kin was.

Microsoft made the baby, new it was the most ugliest piece of crap they built but dressed that baby up like nobody would realize how ugly that baby was.

Can't believe Microsoft actually had the balls to slap a $30 data plan on that asinine crap.
Do us a favor, Put windows mobile 7 into the Zune or just kill the whole windows mobile department. Thank you.

Written from a PC running Windows 7 which I love. That is all]]>Jun 30th 2010 8:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Perhaps, abortion?]]>Jun 30th 2010 8:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
Everytime I see this phone I'm reminded of the seinfeld where they are like
"Come on Jerry, You gotta see the baby"

I'll never forget Jerry's reaction hahaha]]>Jun 30th 2010 8:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Who is notifying its next of Kin?]]>Jun 30th 2010 8:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
DOGFOODING.]]>Jun 30th 2010 8:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Balmer: "Kin-ife the baby".
]]>Jun 30th 2010 8:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
No Kin Do.]]>Jun 30th 2010 8:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Still can't forgive MicroSoft killing the Courier.]]>Jun 30th 2010 8:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Jun 30th 2010 8:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Dead on arrival.

Or, Maggie in the kitchen with a led pipe!!!]]>Jun 30th 2010 8:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/ive said from the beginning the kin really didn't make sense, not at the price point. 1) for the phone but more importantly 2) for the montly service. if its true that MS has a deal w/ verizon for a lower price monthly plan, then straight up pulled the rug from underneath them because things took longer than expected, well...if i were steve and the MS team, i'd be fucking pissed. As a slap in the face, i could imagine it would be fair to launch phones on sprint, tmobile and att but not verizon. Because honestly, they may have single-handedly cost MS millions of dollars. well, nothing is sweeter than eye for an eye. But i'll certainly have my kettle corn ready for the WP7 launch.
]]>Jun 30th 2010 9:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
Inkincievable.]]>Jun 30th 2010 9:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Disagree. I know a bunch of young teens and tweens that have iPhones and the like. Same price for data.

What killed this for the teens was that it wasn't as cool as an iPhone. Its lack of smartphone functionality killed it for geeks and people who care about features. The data plan prices killed it for everyone else.]]>Jun 30th 2010 9:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
Pretty sure it's a Groucho Marx reference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCvz8y_DUSY]]>Jun 30th 2010 9:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
Thank you. That's exactly why this thing failed.
I'm so sick of everyone blaming the phone and the KIN OS. It was supposed to be simple. If it had a data plan that complimented the little amount of data that it was actually using, this thing would have sold like hotcakes.

I'm not a big fan of the Kin 2, but the Kin 1 is (was?) great. It's a really unique form factor. I have A LOT of industrial/graphic design friends (who, as I'm sure you know, are extremely mac biased) that said that they would want that phone more than the iPhone if it weren't for the expensive data plan.

Verizon basically strangled this thing before it had a chance to breathe.]]>Jun 30th 2010 9:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/]]>Jun 30th 2010 9:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
I agree with anyone here who thinks the Kin died because it was targeted towards teens whose parents are paying their bills - and that if Apple had released it it with iOS it would have done very well.

AGGRESSIVE MARKETING IS EVERYTHING]]>Jun 30th 2010 9:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Jun 30th 2010 9:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Jun 30th 2010 9:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
The company behind the MacKINtosh. ]]>Jun 30th 2010 9:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
How many iOS 4 commercials have you seen? ]]>Jun 30th 2010 9:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Microsoft did. You know how! This is not a victimless crime lol!]]>Jun 30th 2010 9:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
In a World of IPhones, Adroids and Palms, they made a Windows ME!]]>Jun 30th 2010 9:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
If this is foreshadowing for WP7.. Ill be happy with Android..]]>Jun 30th 2010 9:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
The second reason is that atrocious UI. It's an attempt at being artistic but its just crap all over the place. And I don't know why people keep talking about win phone 7 because that home screen is the same chaos. Again I understand the artistic negative space on the rest of the interface bit I don't think its going to work. The only people excited about win phone 7 are wIndows folk that feel left out Id all the Android and IPhone excitement and feel like traitors to use either one. These same people were the ones saying kin would sell mainly because they were so anxious to see the MS alternative. Win phone 7 is actually just as much in danger of flopping. The hard corp winmo base already dislikes it and thinks its a toy. ]]>Jun 30th 2010 10:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Jun 30th 2010 10:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
Not sure how you can see winphone 7 interface as chaotic. If anything, it's the most functional UI among all the OS.

There are tabs that denote services.
Data get pumped to their respective service tabs.
Opening a service takes you to your data with minimal UI.

What we've seen so far has shown it to be a very easy to understand; if understanding is even necessary.

I certainly don't think our current paradigm (icon grids, drop shadows, 3d effects, comic san-font apps) is really the epitome of usability and functionality.]]>Jun 30th 2010 10:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Lack of advertising. Lack of innovation. Lack of being a good deal. Lack of anything appealing to be honest...]]>Jun 30th 2010 10:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/
Another commenter said that Microsoft should be pissed at Verizon but from what I can tell, if you understand how fast the mobile market, I believe Verizon was justified in pulling out on their original deal if it took Microsoft 18-months longer to finish the product that originally promised. 18-months in the mobile market is more than a lifetime in the mobile industry when Google is releasing a new version of Android every few months. I believe Microsoft is just being anti-competitive and a bully if they are retaliating against Verizon by dropping them as a launch partner for Windows 7 because Microsoft was expecting Verizon to upsell a product that should have come out 18 months prior. I wouldn't want to put my reputation and brand up for such a sub-par product either. I don't understand how Microsoft thinks that going after mainstream market also means that mediocre products are OK for their brand. It's not. Microsoft should learn something from Verizon's strive to continually have the best of breed network and best of breed phones.

Andy Lees needs to be fired and they need to hire someone that understands that the consequences of being slow in the mobile industry means that you're behind the competitive curve. If you're behind the competitive curve, you lose! Sorry Microsoft! Andy Lees just won't do. I agree with @BeeDavis. If Microsoft keeps this up, they should just close their mobile division now.]]>Jun 30th 2010 10:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/30/what-killed-the-kin/Jun 30th 2010 11:07PM