Blackberry didn't spontaneously die, people stopped using the platform for a reason. If MS had sought to fill that gap, they'd barely be able to get their foot in before it closed up.
Firstly - as many people have said, MS needs to pull back from the markets it's contesting. Over the last few years they've taken on portable audio, search, the cloud, phones, hands free interfaces, and now finally a tablet. The Surface is still up in the air, I don't think they've even talked prices yet(?) That's going to be a deciding factor, I don't think consumer demand has capacity to support TWO luxury players in the mobile market, and Apple aren't just going to roll over. Kinect is well implemented and can provide a boatload of functionality, but it might be hampered by being shackled to something that isn't quite yet considered an "entertainment" device, as opposed to a games console.
The point being, MS doesn't surprise me with a new offering any more, and they haven't made much impact in any of the above fields. They're always the "me too", and lately they're turning up in third place on a lot of things.
That said, praise where it's due: With all that on top, MS hasn't lost sight of their desktop OS, easily their most important product outside of/in hand with Office. (I don't think I can even say that much for Apple: Lion seems like the dumbing down of OSX to attract iOS users.)
They're in a strong place with the XBox right now, which is probably still their most significant offering outside of general computing. I think if they leverage it correctly, they could really push the old "digital home" angle again, talking to your console, sending YouTube videos from your tablet to your TV, etc. and actually make something cool in the process.
How does this relate to Windows RT? When are Microsoft going to calm down and stop forking off a million different mobile/embedded OS? Having made it clear they want to "do an Apple" with regards to software/hardware marriage, when are they going to learn that Apple's more consistent approach to these concerns is what a lot of consumers appreciate?
Agreed. The only domain more polarised, from my role in communicating by email with the general UK public, is AOL. The "sales" dept. for AOL's home connections must be almost entirely devoted to upgrading existing users.
The only real story here is that Microsoft makes another kneejerk reaction to OSX.
Seriously, if I were the UI lead for W8, I'd save time and start with a 'shopped W2K screenshot as a mockup. It's clear that nobody at MS particularly takes UI seriously except for the purposes of competing with Apple and selling graphics hardware, and their article running down the changes between OS versions does an excellent job of highlighting that as soon as you get past W98.
If MS wants identity, they ought to focus on the business users, and make something that looks like a Blackberry in 2D with the corners sharpened out. Polarise their users against the softy OSX interface.
(For karma's sake, I should point out that I've been an OSX convert for several years since I dabbled in *nix after W2K)
Aside from that nasty business with nVidia GPUs, HP's PCs are by far my preferred platform from a support perspective. Working in remote tech. support, you learn to appreciate a decent platform and a good support site.
So the cops are finally catching on to that whole "forecasting" thing that every single call centre has used since forever. Because it's far more important to know how many people are going to complain on any given day than to know how many people are going to have their lives ruined by crime.
I already think this guy is the smartest (or maybe just coolest) person in politics next to Putin (after all, he knows Judo), and as an if statement, his response only encourages the sentiment for me. If anything, he's acknowledging the difficulties involved.
Quite frankly, fuck that noise. Have you seen some of the garbage the everyman buys into? Better to be a mutant strain (that isn't even that strange anymore). Seeing otherwise normal people brain-deadened by cheap psychology in staff training, purely because they're dialed in to the mainstream, is sickening. Didn't RTFA.
Whilst I agree that Reeves is very reserved, in many ways, and I approve of the dude, I get the impression he'll be open to Matrix films for as long as he's able to kick dudes. Everything I've read indicates that the trilogy was an unaborted accident, based off the back of a stolen script, and not so premeditated.
Sounds more like the XBox, which was a console made out of PC components. And the moment it starts blurring the line, you have console users complaining that your box is too hard, and PC users saying your box is too dumb.
Slashdot Mirror
Because playing for third place is really working out for MS. I honestly don't see what's going to attract users to Yet Another Mobile Platform.
Way to push an agenda: "you did make a mistake".
ITYM "Honorable Brian" and "Christian Family".
Thank you, I'm here every night this week!
Blackberry didn't spontaneously die, people stopped using the platform for a reason. If MS had sought to fill that gap, they'd barely be able to get their foot in before it closed up.
Look at RIM. Turns out if someone makes a consumer product that competes with your business product, your business product doesn't matter so much.
Not just thinking, man.
INNOVATING.
Firstly - as many people have said, MS needs to pull back from the markets it's contesting. Over the last few years they've taken on portable audio, search, the cloud, phones, hands free interfaces, and now finally a tablet. The Surface is still up in the air, I don't think they've even talked prices yet(?) That's going to be a deciding factor, I don't think consumer demand has capacity to support TWO luxury players in the mobile market, and Apple aren't just going to roll over. Kinect is well implemented and can provide a boatload of functionality, but it might be hampered by being shackled to something that isn't quite yet considered an "entertainment" device, as opposed to a games console.
The point being, MS doesn't surprise me with a new offering any more, and they haven't made much impact in any of the above fields. They're always the "me too", and lately they're turning up in third place on a lot of things.
That said, praise where it's due: With all that on top, MS hasn't lost sight of their desktop OS, easily their most important product outside of/in hand with Office. (I don't think I can even say that much for Apple: Lion seems like the dumbing down of OSX to attract iOS users.)
They're in a strong place with the XBox right now, which is probably still their most significant offering outside of general computing. I think if they leverage it correctly, they could really push the old "digital home" angle again, talking to your console, sending YouTube videos from your tablet to your TV, etc. and actually make something cool in the process.
How does this relate to Windows RT? When are Microsoft going to calm down and stop forking off a million different mobile/embedded OS? Having made it clear they want to "do an Apple" with regards to software/hardware marriage, when are they going to learn that Apple's more consistent approach to these concerns is what a lot of consumers appreciate?
64 cores?!
Agreed. The only domain more polarised, from my role in communicating by email with the general UK public, is AOL. The "sales" dept. for AOL's home connections must be almost entirely devoted to upgrading existing users.
In my experience, NTP is the easy solution that nobody uses. Because hey, it's only a clock, right? How hard can it be?
:/
The only real story here is that Microsoft makes another kneejerk reaction to OSX.
Seriously, if I were the UI lead for W8, I'd save time and start with a 'shopped W2K screenshot as a mockup. It's clear that nobody at MS particularly takes UI seriously except for the purposes of competing with Apple and selling graphics hardware, and their article running down the changes between OS versions does an excellent job of highlighting that as soon as you get past W98.
If MS wants identity, they ought to focus on the business users, and make something that looks like a Blackberry in 2D with the corners sharpened out. Polarise their users against the softy OSX interface.
(For karma's sake, I should point out that I've been an OSX convert for several years since I dabbled in *nix after W2K)
Are slashdot editors really this shortsighted?
"Posted by timothy"
'nuff said.
Aside from that nasty business with nVidia GPUs, HP's PCs are by far my preferred platform from a support perspective. Working in remote tech. support, you learn to appreciate a decent platform and a good support site.
It read "Delete yourself! (You got no chance to win!)"
So the cops are finally catching on to that whole "forecasting" thing that every single call centre has used since forever. Because it's far more important to know how many people are going to complain on any given day than to know how many people are going to have their lives ruined by crime.
I already think this guy is the smartest (or maybe just coolest) person in politics next to Putin (after all, he knows Judo), and as an if statement, his response only encourages the sentiment for me. If anything, he's acknowledging the difficulties involved.
Because the idea that such widespread human concepts are at fault is more terrifying than blaming a science that mystifies the general populace.
Drudge report also generates more news than this article!
Quite frankly, fuck that noise. Have you seen some of the garbage the everyman buys into? Better to be a mutant strain (that isn't even that strange anymore). Seeing otherwise normal people brain-deadened by cheap psychology in staff training, purely because they're dialed in to the mainstream, is sickening. Didn't RTFA.
Whilst I agree that Reeves is very reserved, in many ways, and I approve of the dude, I get the impression he'll be open to Matrix films for as long as he's able to kick dudes. Everything I've read indicates that the trilogy was an unaborted accident, based off the back of a stolen script, and not so premeditated.
Anybody who's ever tried setting Word's dictionary to anything but "Microsoft English" will appreciate the hypocrisy.
Who fights for the users? (I know, I know... RMS)
Sounds more like the XBox, which was a console made out of PC components. And the moment it starts blurring the line, you have console users complaining that your box is too hard, and PC users saying your box is too dumb.
Stop. Now.
Crazy, I thought the US had too!
I totally agree with the parent, troll or not. People die all the fucking time, and I hear it's something of a hazard in this specific profession.