Tag Microsoft

Entries 14 Total

Microsoft’s new Office

Jul 16, ’12 5:01 PM

Here I thought we were in the future and they go and spring that last millennium Office crap on me.  Have we not reached the era of Apps that do everything saving us from Office Suites that once dictated what OS we needed to make them work? Can we not find an app to do whatever the hell we need to do?

Are we not saved  and delivered from creating and maintaining boring spreadsheets and brain-dead word processors making work on computers just so much dull drudgery ever so tedious?

…I guess not! Its almost better to be shot in the face.

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Apple in the Enterprise? YES!

Jul 9, ’12 3:46 PM

Several years ago business computing was almost entirely the domain of Microsoft and its thunderous legion of OEM manufacturering adherents foreign and domestic. MS certifications and .Net programming were your virtual ticket to jobs and opportunities . Computer Sciece degrees ignored everything else until Apps and social media became the passport to high paying jobs and million dollar opportunities. Back then one need consider Macs or MacOS in the enterprise let alone make space for mobile devices other than Backberries.
Fast forward to today.

Things have indeed changed! App, Cloud and moble security developers have become the positions most in demand.
Apple has actually managed to a limited extent to insert itself into many businesses and educational institutions by showing up well in the pockets and pouches of culture concious young tech execs worldwide. Windows fragmentation has managed to frustrate and confuse almost everyone including so-called Windows experts and network professionals.

Most companies have been content to just tread water and limp along as if things remain the same. Aggressive and forward thinking IT departments have steeped into the breach to include and support Linux and BYOD mobile devices.

We are only at the early phases of anything like platform ubiquity. (the Holy Grail of corporate computing). As Apple invades the enterprise via iPhones and iPads and Web apps lessen our need for Office Suites we should soon see a different ecosystem develop that is a bit more platform agnostic and manufacturer neutral.

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Microsoft going Social

Jun 9, ’12 2:06 PM

Microsoft launches So.cl social network

Was there ever any thought that Microsoft was going to be content to just sit by and watch the whole Social Media parade go by and not try to jump in Ferris Bueller style and try to take the reigns? No way in hell!

Well, if there was ever any doubt cast it aside right now. Microsoft has spits out So.cl, pronounced “social” Their lastest attempt to get in the Social Media game.

Microsoft’s research-oriented FUSE Labs launched this new, student-oriented social network in late May.

It is thought to be an experimental product placing Microsoft’s toe in the water, So.cl is an indication that the once-great software giant is trying hard to find the next big thing or at the very least keep up with the latest things.

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Fringe Companies in 2012

Dec 20, ’11 8:39 AM

Big companies like Apple, Microsoft, Motorola, Samsung and Google have a good idea where their future rests, but what about the thousands upon thousands of smaller marginal companies that operate just outside hot, glitzy, and trendy niches and market segments? These are the bedrock suppliers that make many of the essential external and add-on accessory products that enhance or perfect the capabilities of the dearly acquired computers and mobile devices we own, love and use.

How are these players making it these days? If they are smart and agile they should have their ears to the ground and stay busy studying the latest innovative technologies for openings and sizable gaps representing openings and opportunities to keep their development labs working on products that address those gaps and lead to profitability and sustainability.

Examples:

These are only a few of the worthy cable, hard disc, monitor, bag and case makers now joined in competition for hard fought consumer dollars by a great many newly hot app builders.

It would be fortunate if these two segments came together to innovate and develop products missing from our current range of selections. After all the direction og our times is making everything intelligent by embedding technology into things that do useful stuff.

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What’s Next? Changing of the Guard!

Dec 15, ’11 1:25 PM

It was just a short bit ago when the tech world was dominated by Microsoft.  Research In Motion seemed to  have theworld of mobility squarely in its pocket, then suddenly something happened.

Today Apple and Google rule the roost with Twitter and Facebook becoming forces. Who knows who will step forward tommorrow?

CES2012 might go a long way provide some strong clues or indications of who the real players might be in coming times but if history is any indicator whomever it iswill slowly emerge from the clutter and noise with a product or service most of us cannot live without. We will all wonder what the heck we did before it came into our lives. Theimitatorswill scramble to clone, reverse engineer or under price whatever it turns out to be. Companies will rise or fall. Pundits will tear it apart or extol it.

Consultants will try to figure out how to pimp andmonetize it, users will scratch their heads trying to figure out exactly what to do with it, innovators will attempt to figure ways to integrate enhance, extend or mash it with.

I predict that we will all meet back here (Lord willing) at years end and wonder, what’s next?

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HEADS UP: The Return of Bill Gates

Dec 15, ’11 12:19 PM
Bill Gates

Bill Gates

Three weeks ago in a post of predictions for the coming decade I predicted we might see the return of Bill Gates especially in the vacuum left by the passing of Apple’s Steve Jobs. Little did I know that thanks to Fortune Magazine that rumors and speculation was already starting to fly around that Gates might indeed return. It seems now that it is being confirmed at least in part. Gates pushed aside the notion of a full-time roll remaining committed to his foundation and philanthropic efforts.

This is not unusual. Steve Jobs was the template for execs jumping back in the mix to rescue the foundering ship they built from escalating troubles.
Currently his involment is primarily part-time and limited to offering guidance, advice and direction.
Speaking about Steve Jobs Gates remarked that Steve Jobs was “brilliant”,that despite Jobs calling Gates “unimaginative”. Mr. Gates also noted that, “because Microsoft outsold Apple machines by a large margin Steve Jobs was always tough on Microsoft.”
It really reminds me of Richard Nixon’s “You won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore” statement. The lesson in this is to “never say never”.
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Corporate Copycats: Follow the leader!

Sep 28, ’11 10:17 AM
Copycats

Copycats

Most CEOs seem to  have learned competitive strategy development in Kindergarden or the first grade when and where it was simple and basic.

Somewhere along the line that strategy must have proven effective and worked, because today it has quickly become the very essence of the ways of modern business and new product development especially in these rapidly moving and all-too challenging times.

The latest example of this is mighty Microsoft moving into smartphone and tablet markets while deploying a new marketplace web store to support their new generation of Windows Mango phones and probably more.

It is not my imagination that as I looked over the latest pictures of smartphones about to be released, they all looked like Apple iPhones. Now that is Design-style “Follow the leader” taken to the extreme.

There are surely thousands of other and sometimes better examples as this technique has now become THE most effective and most used business strategy for entering new markets and/or remaining in a market and keeping up with the market leader.

Most analysis is focused on how Apple has managed to whether decades long Microsoft challenges to work design and device magic on the marketplace and move into the envied position they now hold.

I could declare that all this demonstrates a lack of creativity or style, but the “perps” would surely reply that they just don’t have the time nor money to waste on any unproven design, just ask HP how that worked out for them.

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Ballmer: “Microsoft is retinking, rebuilding, and reimaging”

Sep 14, ’11 12:51 PM

Steve Ballmer, Chief Exec. of Microsoft made a timely but surprise appearance at Microsoft BUILD to inform developers that they are taking all steps to reinvent the company.

The reasoning could be subject for debate but most would see this moment in time and space to offer an opportunity for Microsoft to act and become more like Apple under Jobs. To do so theywould focus on design, innovation and development. The window is open.

The opportunity is right in front and this is the perfect time. I am sure that Bill Gates would love to do what Steve Jobs did in his return. He no doubt has monitored all the latest innovations and has ideas what Microsoft should be about.

 

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Moto-Google-rola

Aug 15, ’11 5:11 PM

As long as Google was content and happy to stay exclusively in the software-Operating System business their many OEM partners were fat, fine and happy .

They all benefited greatly from Google’s willingness to license Android to just about anyone and everyone equally.

The recent announcement that Google is about toplunk down a huge fortune said to be as much as $12.5 Billion dollars to acquire Motorola Mobility Holdings surely makes them shiver in shear fear wondering if Google is getting ready to step up their game and play competively in the device sandbox and wind up changing the name of the game or the rules of the game.

Numerous companies, HTC included, have profited very nicely making handsets and smartphones running Google’s free Android operating system. But the shocking, devestating news that Google will soon probably be in the hardware device business in a big way is sure to cause both panic and concern among Google’s primary hardware manufacturing partners.

This all must great news to Microsoft who is hoping to attract those manufacturers and developers to the Windows phone platform, and to HP also looking to draw them to HP’s WebOS.

What seems pretty certain is that Google most likely will be going head-to-head with former partners so it will be no small task to convince them that things won’t change.”

Certainly we will closely follow this story.

The deal will first have to pass probes and regularatory scruitiny which might just take as long as a year. We should also keep an eye on how Apple responds to this new development and what effect it will have on the market dominant iPhone/iPad ecosystem.

Some believe that Google may be inheriting Motorola problems ranging from tepid device success to having lost serious market share and experiencing problems with delayed product releases.

Google on the other hand is flush with talent and might be able to right the ship.

Addendum: It turns out that mighty Microsoft was also in the running and in talks with Motorola, but as it turned out Google had bigger eyes, and a bigger appetite for Motorola and their many patents.

… Are we ready for a Google Droit?

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Microsoft Mango SmartPhone

May 24, ’11 9:16 AM
Windows-Phone-7.5-OS-Phone-Mango

Windows-Phone-7.5-OS-Phone-Mango

Microsoft has been searching for a way into the mobile space. Their latest effort was to create a media buzz around the launching of their new Windows Phone OS 7.5 code-named “Mango” at a New York VIP Preview event this morning to show off the next Windows 7 Phone reported to bring over 500 new and compelling features.

Microsoft will have to go a long way toprove they are serious competitorrs in this rapidly emerging and evolving market.

Microsoft has to step forward with:

  • Functional business and enterprise-focused features
  • The full set of 500 features?
  • A successful robust next version mobile OS
  • Avoid killing demand for existing WP7 phones
  • Innovative consumer-focused features
  • Answers to VB.net Visual Studio 2005 developers
  • Is it running in WM (Windows Mobile) 6.5?
  • WM 6.5 and WP7 Backwards compatibility plans, if possible?
  • Any support for encryption,VPN and private-app loading?
  • Marketplace support for Mango phones
  • Verizon’s upgrade plan for Mango
  • Date of Mango downloads for existing Windows Phone users
  • Front-facing camera or a gyroscope or a built-in NFC chip
  • New ways to generate excitement around Mango phones
  • Ways to overcome Apple’s and Google’s head start and momentum.

At Tuesday’s VIP event Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business Pres. Andy Lees said the company aims to make mobile computing “smarter and easier for consumers, applications and the internet.”

“We wanted to provide the customer with less clutter, more clarity. This builds upon our mission to make the smartphone smarter, and easier. With Windows Phone Mango, we’re taking a people-centric approach to communications.” It seems the company is pursuing a strategy to integrate mobile applications with the operating system.

“Think of your applications as musical instruments,” said Lees. “With Mango, they finally become part of an orchestra, with a conductor. With Windows Phone 7, applications are alive as part of the total experience.”

In order to differentiate itself from the likes of Apple and Google, Microsoft said Mango will be available on devices beginning this fall, Lees said, adding that the software is already live on not-yet-public handsets built by Nokia.

One of the components of the new Windows Phone 7 is what they are calling the “people hub,” an all-in-one contacts list with tight Facebook integration that allows users to text, call, IM, or tweet at people on your contacts list. Other new features Microsoft announced for the software update were multitasking, copy-and-paste and multimedia messaging.

Microsoft is releasing the API immediately to allow developers to create applications for the software. Lees said that the software would be integrated with Skype recently purchased by Microsoft for $8.5 Billion.

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Microsoft Buys Skype: Spends Way In

May 10, ’11 9:35 AM

I don’t know why but I was a bit shocked to learn that mighty Microsoft is spending $8.5 Billion dollars in an all-cash deal to buy Skype.

Analysists respond that this deal gives Skype and Microsoft the competitive edge to battle Google and Apple’s Facetime video chat for iPhone.

Skype brings Microsoft an innovative, knowledgeable engineering team and a robust dedicated user base both recent Microsoft weak points.

I don’t know exactly what I dread most about this revelation, but I am lead to wonder how Microsoft will change things on Skype, what they will do in attempts to monetize it and reaps profits to recover their investment, how they will morph it into other products and service, what they will do to force it into other devices such as Windows Phone 7 to leverage their way into new markets and compete with Apple and Google. Some of these are just how business is done, others are just how Microsoft does business. The long and varied history of the later is less than encouraging.

5/10/11 As so it begins:

Microsoft is already talking about how they plan to use Skype as a feature of XBox 360 products.

Once again this example shows that if you can’t innovate your way to leadership and you have the bucks you can buy and spend you way in. This makes the whole world your R&D lab and the marketplace your test base. If you have a war chest just as Apple does its all up for grabs.

The deal is still subject to regulatory approval, but that shouldn’t be a problem.

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COMPETITION: Targeting Apple

May 2, ’11 10:19 AM

Bullseye

It must be very unsettling for high-flying Apple at the peak and apex of profitability and success to find itself in the crosshairs of every would be competitor nipping and chipping away at just about every aspect of Apple’s market success and dominance. On one hand Microsoft is busy going after Apple’s developer base. HTC is busy cranking out iPhone looking phones. Google is hard at work flooding the device mainstream with many flavors of Android OS’ for Smartphones and tablets allowing every hardware manufacturer to build a functional tablet device or Smartphone. Then you have RIM and IBM tightly holding on to their enterprise and corporate strangleholds. Lastly Amazon is following up on plans to build an AppStore that they believe should and will eclipse Apple’s.

We Shall See what we shall see!

No one has a crystal ball revealing the answers or the future. The jury is still out as to wether any or all of these efforts will succeed or fail but what is known is that Apple is in for very interesting times ahead. Such is the state of successful market leaders in the current technology ecosystem.

I was just thinking that given recent history, I would be careful if I was a competitor of Apple’s. They are one company that seems to have a knack for landing on their feet. Although it is not seen by all as the actual case, personally I would say that in the long run Apple beat mighty Microsoft and that is an unparalleled seriously momentus achievement.

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Decision 2011: To Litigate or Innovate?

Mar 22, ’11 6:42 PM
Scales of Justice

Scales of Justice

As I was busy perusing the headlines this morning one thing stood boldly out. It seems evertbody is suing or is about to sue everybody else. In this Bizarro world senario innovation is giving way to litigation. Apple is suing Amazon over use of the AppStore name; Microsoft is suing Barnes and Noble over Android e-readers; Small carriers are considering blocking the AT&T/T-Mobile deal.Those are just a start. I think I will soon post a page that attempts to keep track of the latest forays into the courts and through the vaulted “Halls of Justice”.

4/1 Addendum: Even though it’s April’s Fool day, this is no joke:

MICROSOFT IS FILING AN ANTITRUST COMPLAINT AGAINST GOOGLE WITH THE EU.

Alleging anticompetitive behavior.

4/19/11 Addendum: Apple Suing Samsung over Galaxy Smartphones and tablets!

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Microsoft killing off ZUNE player

Mar 15, ’11 2:31 PM
Microsoft ZUNE

Microsoft ZUNE

Well maybe not really completely killing it, but Microsoft is ready to stop making new versions of their Zune Player, once their main effort to compete with Apple in digital consumer electronics. Microsoft instead intends to shift its focus to different strategies in attempts to outflank Apple.

The failure of Zune after four versions (first launched in 2006) marks a clear admission after five years of marginal sales and lukewarm user reception that Microsoft never even dented Apple’s iPod’s market share. Now with smartphones, tablets and other devices creating new ways to access audio recordings Microsoft is examining newer strategies to reposition itself in the mobile device marketplace. The music market hasn’t been completely dominated or saturated and there are still ample opportunities as part of more complete ecosystems like Apple’s iPod/iTunes/AppStore.

The failure of Zune hardware could be an instructional lesson for Microsoft in their efforts to win over tablet market, where it has fallen far behind Apple. So far Microsoft has gone low-key and has refused to comment on the fate and failure of Zune. Oh Well!

5/1/11 Addendum: We learned on 4/30/11 that Microsoft has adopted and is implementing an interesting strategy of going after Apple’s developer base, a wise if not totally ethical move. So they did learn something from the failure of the Zune. They are releasing API mapping tools that allows developers to convert their solutions over to Windows Phone 7.

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