I think Nokia had better hire some brilliant UI designers and make their investment more pleasing to the eye than blue boxes.
I don't think a UI will help. The market response to a partnership with MSFT seems pretty apparent - and it isnt' good.
The again, where I see a Short, other's see a Buy Opportunity. Me, I wouldn't want anything to do with it. MSFT has earned ill-will; people rush out to buy Android, iOS or RIM phones... people hold their nose and buy MSFT products because they have to. In the mobile market, they don't 'have to' buy MSFT.