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Microsoft's SkyDrive Drops Silverlight
mikejuk writes "Microsoft's SkyDrive, a web service that provides cloud storage for end user files, has just acquired a revamped user interface — and it is HTML5 based. Yes, another Microsoft website has dropped Silverlight. How can Microsoft expect independent developers to base their future on Silverlight when Microsoft itself is abandoning it like a sinking ship? Whatever happened to 'eating your own dog food'? It seems that now Microsoft would rather eat dog food made elsewhere..."
So Microsoft starts using standards compliant HTML5 instead of Silverlight on their sites and you bash them for it? Seriously?
And regardless, HTML5 was nowhere to be seen when Silverlight came out. It was needed back then, if only as a competitor for Flash. Have you noticed Silverlight hasn't even had the same security concerns and exploits as Flash?
This is a good thing from Microsoft, not bad. Stop bashing them for everything they do, even if its a good thing.
Whatever happened to posting stories that aren't filled with FUD and hate? Maybe HTML5 is more standards compliant and more widely available on other things... like say... Mobile devices... Which are probably one of the places many people would want to access the 'cloud' from. Or perhaps silverlight is too heavy for the task of being a portal UI... Whatever happened to using the right tool for the right job?
I don't care what you say, all I need is my Wumpabet soup.
"How can Microsoft expect independent developers to base their future on Silverlight when Microsoft itself is abandoning it like a sinking ship?"
They don't expect people to base their future on Silverlight. Why would anyone think that at this point?
Except for ending slavery, the Nazis, communism, & securing American independence, war has never solved anything.
Now all we need is Netflix to abandon Silverlight...
Indeed. Sometimes a better technology comes along. Let me toss you guys some top secret info... There will be another version of .NET, another version of Silverlight, and another version of WPF. Rest easy. It's not going anywhere.
Microsoft did not realize the significance of TCP/IP when they released windows 95 .net fat client platform still thinking fat clients is where it is at.
Microsoft rolled out their
Virtual Earth failed to compete with Google Earth
Failed mobile phones
Failed MP3 players
Feel free to add to the long list.
Siverlight is just a small blip because it did not get the uptake MS had hoped for. They do this all the time. They try to compete on all fronts and never excel anywhere. MS product path is littered with abandoned poorly executed ideas some of which might have made it if they only committed to it. I feel sorry for those software companies that put all their eggs in the MS basket because their .net codebase will in the not too distant future be obsolete too.
It should be clear to everyone that operating systems are no longer significant. Running fat clients locally is no longer where it is at. PC's and Laptops are no longer the core device on which applications run. So the MS tax (Windows) on every PC will come to an end. MS is already far too late to change their direction with Windows and if MS doesn't get onto the web based bandwagon with MS Office quickly they will lose that profitable market as well.
It is a pity but unavoidable that successful companies get too big and too slow to respond to changes. Although it is thanks to MS that computing has become so accessible to the masses. They failed to pay attention over the last decade and foolishly thought they could direct their market. Developers trusting anything that MS put out over the last 5 years will wish they had not, no matter the promised potential.
Google was the new kid on the block with some amazing innovation but look closely at Google today and you can see the same warning signals. It is only a matter of time before the next company will take over from them.