Ballmer: Android is wild, uncontrolled and malware prone; Apple is overpriced

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer was being interviewed by Reid Hoffman on Wednesday night, and the executive made some unflattering comments about both Android and Apple. Talking about Android, Ballmer said that the OS is"wild", "uncontrolled" and "susceptible to malware". As for Apple, the Microsoft executive calls it "high priced" and "highly controlled."  

On stage, Steve Ballmer is interviewed by Reid Hoffman

Ballmer's goal is to gently position Windows right in between the twoto make a success of Microsoft's mobile OS. Ballmer says that Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and Microsoft Surface have all been done right and unlike Apple and Android, Microsoft is talking closely with developers. Talking about Windows, he says, "It just works," a comment usually directed at Apple's smooth as silk iOS. Ballmer also got in a shot at the Apple Maps debacle.

These are critical days for Microsoft with Windows Phone 8 rolling out along with the Microsoft Surface RT tablet and Windows 8. Next quarter, RIM is expected to launch BlackBerry 10 and the competition will tighten up some more. The conventional wisdom has Windows Phone 8 battling with BlackBerry 10 for third next year with the loser moving one step closer to extinction.