Apparently, according to Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, they opted for Windows Phone 7 to because they wanted to avoid a “duopoly.” They were concerned that the Nokia-Google tandem would create a market wherein it’d only be them and Apple. Instead, Elop says they “wanted to create a challenger.”

Right, because everyone would much rather be a strong third than split the top spot with one other party. Right, because it has nothing to do with the fact that Elop was formally playing for the same team as Ballmer and Gates. I’m not necessarily saying that going with WP7 is bad move (though the stock drop and massive exodus appear to indicate otherwise); I’m just saying the avoidance of a duopoly isn’t that good a reason.

Either way, it’ll be interesting to see how these two juggernauts combine their efforts. Bing Maps or Ovi Maps? Ovi Store or Windows Marketplace? Or, more likely than not, we’ll get some Frankensteined combination of the two.

[MWC]

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Those of us who rely on bartering skills rather than financial know-how will now have to stick to the rules of the game. Using infrared light and cameras, the tower watches each player’s piece, reminding whose turn it is – complete with a spoken bank statement. Cup your hand over your piece and the tower rolls its electronic dice and watches to make sure you land on the right spot.

Once you land on a spot, the computer tells you how much you have to pay to the owner or to be the owner, with an optional utilities upgrade to green your new property.

Hasbro has also added a few random events such as a horse race and auctions, plus a gas tax.

And the computer never makes a mistake, says Hasbro designer Leif Askeland. But if you’re not looking to give up the nostalgic old-style paper game, the cheating and bartering; the creatively-twisted or twistedly-created house rules, the traditional version will still be in stores for $15.  The new Monopoly will cost $50 this fall.

[NYTimes]

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