As a marketing professional with access to user data, which game console would you say is the most popular amongst 18-34's? As a manager, which console would you say will present the highest yields when you compare the cost of development tools and expertise vs. the distribution of the console?
Maybe they're trying to develop a functional open source movement within their development culture? After all, Microsoft sells a platform. The DOS free software movement was a boon to their platform, not a detraction.
We're not looking at a war of ideas, we're looking at a basic platform war. Take Apple, for instance; they sell a high-end commercial platform which heavily leverages the open source ecosystem to augment and flesh-out their platform. Commercial software can be obnoxious, even to a platform vendor: it works against its platform, it puts branding over adherence to user experience, and it makes computer usage frustrating.
If the Windows platform were viewed from the angle of its development community instead of as a vessel for shareware, then they might be able to preserve and further their platform against more open markets (even Apple) coming up against them.
The full F/OSS stack (Linux-FOSS-and above) is a weak platform technically, but a strong idea. Microsoft doesn't have to give up the idea of a professionally maintained platform to leverage an open source third party software ecosystem. Better within their sphere of influence than outside of it. Microsoft is offering an extremely friendly and accessible development environment to its users already; it would be a boon to foster an influx of new platform-defining free applications that add value while not becoming an issue of anti-trust.
That's funny.. when I was working for a major video game publisher, it seemed an awful lot like the 360 was the new PS2. But all we had was a highly-paid marketing department... but wait...! You're some jackass with a poorly designed blog and a hard-on for Steve Jobs, so you must know more about this.
I'm not sure if you were teasing him, but DECS [slashdot.org] is Daniel Eran Dilger and RoughlyDrafted is his site. His ludicrously pro-Apple comments and site-pimping should be a hint.
I literally had no idea. I've seen that FUD site pop up a couple times... I am not particularly impressed with his "analysis".
...you just quoted RoughlyDrafted as if it were a reputable source of information. I will just disregard that.
Microsoft will need a strong product to build a new platform. Solution... despair? Maybe this will be a strong product and the platform can start to build. The Xbox seemed pretty silly at first, too.
But it's not actually outputting at 1080p... it's outputting at its native resolution. The question is whether it can map that video at high resolution or if it's downsampling.
I don't know if you can get 1080p out of a processor of that power. It would be quite a feat. You can color me impressed if they manage it.
Could it simply be that the device properly downscales the video to the point where it can play on the device? I think actually outputting at that resolution would be tricky.
If you mean what I think you mean by that, you are exceptionally optimistic. Like these Best Buy ads I've been hearing on the radio about the Zune HD saying you should reserve yours now to beat the rush...
They managed to turn the Xbox franchise around with the Xbox 360. If the product is a lot better, there could be a sea change on it within a few product cycles.
I don't really care about that, though, since I am not an investor. I just want to use it as a media player and development platform.
By the way, an engineer I know had a Zii in his office the other day. I picked it up and looked at it, and it felt thick, plastic, and cheap. It's also currently just a development platform, there are no consumer-level products based on it yet. I wouldn't be using the Zii as a comparison point against a device that's slicker, thinner, and has been shipping for 2 years already.
I found the ZMS-05 to be pretty impressive. I'm eager to see what they do with the platform... but I am not pitting it against an inexistent product in a real sense. Right now I care about the iPod Touch vs. the Zune HD from a hardware/software perspective, culture aside.
XNA is quite native at the bottom. It's just abstracted at a high level... I think you could get near-native power on it, which should still outstrip what can be done on an ipod. besides this, I don't have a mac and don't care to buy one in order to develop for my handheld.
Yeah. Yeah. That's rational and all. I think the Zune HD will be a more turn-around product for them.
Really, I fanatically hate Apple and it seems like the strongest competition so far at a decent pricepoint. I like their development tools, too. I care about that.
If you're talking about the Zii, it's not vaporware because they are shipping the actual hardware with the SDK... it's just not productized yet. I am not sure Creative is planning to do so under their own label.
Well, it's got a pretty hardcore Nvidia Tegra APX, which really slaps the iPod's solution sideways... plus it does have a pretty nice.NET development environment. I develop games... so I do care about this sort of thing.
Aside from that, it does 720p video out... but I don't have an HDTV so I don't care.
I am not going to bother defending this device. It's quite speculative since I don't know how Microsoft will position their App market on it. If the device can be App-centric, it has great potential. If it remains media-centric, then it will likely just be a flashy alternative to lower end iPods.
I just can't legitimize spending that sort of money on something like that with the Zii Egg and the Zune HD around the corner. They're a lot more powerful... and for some reason I can't get past the hardware of handheld devices.
This may sound silly on slashdot, but I am actually comparing it to the Zune HD.
Slashdot Mirror
As a marketing professional with access to user data, which game console would you say is the most popular amongst 18-34's? As a manager, which console would you say will present the highest yields when you compare the cost of development tools and expertise vs. the distribution of the console?
I am interested in your expert analysis.
Maybe they're trying to develop a functional open source movement within their development culture? After all, Microsoft sells a platform. The DOS free software movement was a boon to their platform, not a detraction.
We're not looking at a war of ideas, we're looking at a basic platform war. Take Apple, for instance; they sell a high-end commercial platform which heavily leverages the open source ecosystem to augment and flesh-out their platform. Commercial software can be obnoxious, even to a platform vendor: it works against its platform, it puts branding over adherence to user experience, and it makes computer usage frustrating.
If the Windows platform were viewed from the angle of its development community instead of as a vessel for shareware, then they might be able to preserve and further their platform against more open markets (even Apple) coming up against them.
The full F/OSS stack (Linux-FOSS-and above) is a weak platform technically, but a strong idea. Microsoft doesn't have to give up the idea of a professionally maintained platform to leverage an open source third party software ecosystem. Better within their sphere of influence than outside of it. Microsoft is offering an extremely friendly and accessible development environment to its users already; it would be a boon to foster an influx of new platform-defining free applications that add value while not becoming an issue of anti-trust.
What a douchey comment... what are you basing this on?
Are you just mad? Are you mad that I don't like macs? >:( I'm sorry, eDouche. There's nothing "legacy" about XNA.
That's a literary device called hyperbole.
This is absurd. This is like over-the-top consumer product worship. I take back what I said, DECS. You are not a better a troll than me.
I know, that's why I can't buy an iPod touch even if there is a cheaper one offered. I am way too hardware centric...
and I think the Zune HD is a sexier product. The iPhone's look is getting trite and dated.
...because it could play HD videos, not because it can display them (neither the Zune HD nor the iPod can).
Actually the Zune HD can output 720p video through an HDMI connected to the dock. So yes, it actually can.
Well I do. But in addition, I also have arguments about the product. I am tired of brushed metal, anyway.
I think you get enough stroking in on your blog. I will admit that you're a better troll than me, but that's about it.
That's funny.. when I was working for a major video game publisher, it seemed an awful lot like the 360 was the new PS2. But all we had was a highly-paid marketing department... but wait...! You're some jackass with a poorly designed blog and a hard-on for Steve Jobs, so you must know more about this.
I'm not sure if you were teasing him, but DECS [slashdot.org] is Daniel Eran Dilger and RoughlyDrafted is his site. His ludicrously pro-Apple comments and site-pimping should be a hint.
I literally had no idea. I've seen that FUD site pop up a couple times... I am not particularly impressed with his "analysis".
But thanks for informing me. :)
...you just quoted RoughlyDrafted as if it were a reputable source of information. I will just disregard that.
Microsoft will need a strong product to build a new platform. Solution... despair? Maybe this will be a strong product and the platform can start to build. The Xbox seemed pretty silly at first, too.
It's okay to not like something because of the connected culture, though, right? Especially when the culture is pushed so hard.
It's also too expensive.
I really should add that, actually. This will be the year where 1% will become 50% for all underdog products.
But it's not actually outputting at 1080p... it's outputting at its native resolution. The question is whether it can map that video at high resolution or if it's downsampling.
I don't know if you can get 1080p out of a processor of that power. It would be quite a feat. You can color me impressed if they manage it.
Could it simply be that the device properly downscales the video to the point where it can play on the device? I think actually outputting at that resolution would be tricky.
If you mean what I think you mean by that, you are exceptionally optimistic. Like these Best Buy ads I've been hearing on the radio about the Zune HD saying you should reserve yours now to beat the rush...
They managed to turn the Xbox franchise around with the Xbox 360. If the product is a lot better, there could be a sea change on it within a few product cycles.
I don't really care about that, though, since I am not an investor. I just want to use it as a media player and development platform.
By the way, an engineer I know had a Zii in his office the other day. I picked it up and looked at it, and it felt thick, plastic, and cheap. It's also currently just a development platform, there are no consumer-level products based on it yet. I wouldn't be using the Zii as a comparison point against a device that's slicker, thinner, and has been shipping for 2 years already.
I found the ZMS-05 to be pretty impressive. I'm eager to see what they do with the platform... but I am not pitting it against an inexistent product in a real sense. Right now I care about the iPod Touch vs. the Zune HD from a hardware/software perspective, culture aside.
Agreed. I am making fun of the branding, but I will likely be buying a Zune HD around release time.
I actually really dislike the use of "HD" as a magical branding wand.
I care more about the hardware and development environment of whatever device I am using, though.
XNA is quite native at the bottom. It's just abstracted at a high level... I think you could get near-native power on it, which should still outstrip what can be done on an ipod. besides this, I don't have a mac and don't care to buy one in order to develop for my handheld.
Yeah. Yeah. That's rational and all. I think the Zune HD will be a more turn-around product for them.
Really, I fanatically hate Apple and it seems like the strongest competition so far at a decent pricepoint. I like their development tools, too. I care about that.
The HD video output is a dead giveaway. That takes horsepower. The Tegra has it and they are showing it off.
If you're talking about the Zii, it's not vaporware because they are shipping the actual hardware with the SDK... it's just not productized yet. I am not sure Creative is planning to do so under their own label.
Well, it's got a pretty hardcore Nvidia Tegra APX, which really slaps the iPod's solution sideways... plus it does have a pretty nice .NET development environment. I develop games... so I do care about this sort of thing.
Aside from that, it does 720p video out... but I don't have an HDTV so I don't care.
I am not going to bother defending this device. It's quite speculative since I don't know how Microsoft will position their App market on it. If the device can be App-centric, it has great potential. If it remains media-centric, then it will likely just be a flashy alternative to lower end iPods.
I just can't legitimize spending that sort of money on something like that with the Zii Egg and the Zune HD around the corner. They're a lot more powerful... and for some reason I can't get past the hardware of handheld devices.
This may sound silly on slashdot, but I am actually comparing it to the Zune HD.