The blog chronicles my struggle with ALH (Adult Left Handedness). I also post drawings and write about software. Sometimes there's clips and notes from shows I am in or watch.
TAG | Microsoft
Google is making waves in the software industry, pissing off Apple and teasing Microsoft with plans to build an operating system, Chrome, based on its browser of that name. But by skipping the ‘interim’ step of making desktop software it is missing a big and present opportunity. The new model in software is "syncing" in which several platforms–phone, web site, desktop – run "applications" (apps) that synchronize content / data. When given a choice, the browser is usually the last resort for the user. She would rather run an app than open up Safari (et al) and go to a URL. Likewise, it’s easy to open a program on the desktop and enjoy a ‘rich’ experience.
Microsoft understands this, and is able to offer Windows Live Mail, which syncs Email and Contacts and Calendar from the desktop with the Hotmail / ‘Live’ web programs. Google understands this, to the extent of mobile devices and the web (by the way, it licenses the sync technology from MS). But on the desktop, Google only offers..er, Google Desktop. It requires ‘Google Gears’ if you want to access certain apps off-line. In either case, the apps (Calendar, Mail) run through the browser. The apps are ‘read-only’ when off-line: you cannot create a new message or event. Strange.
Google’s offering is the result of a way of thinking that seemed plausible 2 years ago (before Apps and Adobe AIR took off), but now seems silly: that the web means the browser. And it thinks a user accesses a desktop version only when off-line, rather than the other benefits of specialization and richness. Being online does not only mean browsers, but, web browsing does mean being online in people’s mind. People hate using a browser off-line. It’s counter-intuitive. Sure, there’s a lot one can do in a browser as Firefox shows. And there’s a lot more that can be done, as the Chrome OS will no doubt prove. But today, in Dec. 2009, I just want to access my Gmail on the desktop. The best way to do that is with Windows Live mail program (which supports Gmail). But the best overall experience for mail / contacts / calendar syncing is with Windows Live (Hotmail) itself. So I am switching to Live.
Maybe soon Google will at least support an Adobe AIR developer who can make a sweet Google AIR app. Is there anyone out there?
Microsoft is ushering in its new Windows 7 with a high-profile ad campaign. The company has a history of paying big money to stars such as the Rolling Stones and Jerry Seinfeld.
For the new ads, it paid for the rights to use the Brad Pitt film “Se7en.”
“Remember Seven with Brad Pitt? Pretty awesome movie, huh? Well, you’ll love our new Operating System with the same name.”
OR … related news
Crazed Brad Pitt fans have noted that in 1995 Microsoft released Windows 95 and the movie “Seven” came out. Now MS is releasing “Seven.” Where is the new Brad Pitt film “95?” We demand a new Brad Pitt movie,”95!!”
The European Union Antitrust Commission has fined Microsoft a record $1.4 billion. [ See story ]
Fortunately for Microsoft, it had the equivalent 40 euros on hand.
Microsoft has offered to buy Yahoo for $45 billion. [ See story ]
Bill Gates said he has the money, and was either going to use it to assure every African has access to basic medicine and nutrition, or that Microsoft has access to tens of millions of Americans’ back-up email addresses.
Analysts say its a natural fit, as Yahoo’s large graphic ads freeze its users’ browsers, and Windows biggest strengths is its ability to repeatedly Control-Alt-Delete any software.
Steve Ballmer announced the offer by slamming 2 pints of Red Hook IPA and screaming, “That’s tasty, but wait’ll you try a Micro-hoo!”
PC Makers (OEMs) have decided to install multiple trial software programs, which load on boot, severely slowing down the time to get started. These trial programs have earned the nickname ‘craplets,’ and retailers offer to remove them at the time of purchase, often at a cost. This may have been noted elsewhere, but I must ask: isn’t this crazy? This is the new reality? BestBuy sales people, in addition to extending to customers an extended warranty, must also state, with a straight face: “There’s a lot of crap on this computer. Do you want us to remove it for just $30?” Such behavior seems the stuff of a monopoly (you can imagine a Phone Man coming to your parents’ home years ago, offering to remove six bogus digits from the pad), and yet the computer industry is as competitive as ever, with a resurgent, ballyhooed Apple making machines in addition to the many Wintel and WinAmD OEMs.
Questions to consider:
What is behind this development? How much commission do OEMs get from these trials? Or, do the makers get the money upfront just for loading it on the machine? In which case, they may make money despite not selling the machine? Who are these craplet vendors? Is Apple behind it? Craplets have undermined the rollout of Vista… are OEMs so upset at Microsoft that they find self-destruction admirable so long as it helps knock down Redmond?
When Microsoft was being sued throughout the late 90s for its ‘closed’ operating system, OEMs were demanding increased ability to customize Windows. Are craplets what they had in mind? This is the result of the anti-trust settlement: the right to erode customer trust by selling slower machines?
