As the Windows 8 launch date gets closer will it be a success or failure

October 23, 2012 by

As the Windows 8 launch date gets closer will it be a success or failure just like Windows Vista was a few years go. 

The success or failure of the OS depends on a few things, but one of the main areas that the Windows os where it does shine out above the competition is in its  flexibility in terms of being able to many things  with it that cannot be done on iOS or Android, such as it’s the only OS that offers compatibility with various hardware peripherals through usb connections, such as printers and other hardware devices and it’s the only OS which offers a full access to a file system without the need to jailbreak the OS. It’s also the only OS that is especially in the case of the Windows 8 none rt version of Windows to offer access to adobe flash websites, which still is used by a large percent of the Internet today.  However it’s important to point out that the rt version is likely to have a limited version of the adobe flash player that will come as not a plug in but instead will be built into the Windows ie metro app, which will give you access to a limited number of flash based websites. Also the none rt version of Windows is the only OS that will give you access to all the various digital media stores such iTunes, the  Google play store and the other various digital media stores.   
All this does highlight the other oses short cummings compared against the Windows os, such as in the case of Android it has a fragmentation and security issues, which results in app instabilities at times on certain devices. And in the case of iOS, the restrictive nature of the OS in terms of buying and sharing apps and digital media outside iTunes severely limits the usefulness of the OS.  So these issues with the other oses should give the Windows OS a fighting chance in determining it’s fate.
In conclusion the success will depend on a few other things as well, such a advertising, hardware, app availability. If they can get within a year most of these bases covered, then the os might stand a good chance of succeeding. But with the Windows OS having over 80 of the market should further increase the odd of it succeeding.   
The fate of the rt version of Windows that will run on the arm processor will be mainly dependent on whether the Windows app store can provide a decent selection of apps, due to it being unable to run Windows 7 legacy apps.  The selection of apps available will be dependant on how well the OS sells, however it has a fighting chance of succeeding, because the metro apps also work on the none rt version of Windows that still commands over 80 percent of the market in terms of sales. So then in reality this could aid the rapid growth of apps and then act as a catalyst for the  possible success for the Windows rt version of the OS. 
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Windows 8 is to get “Xbox Windows” Branded Games

August 12, 2012 by

According to a tech website called eurogamer Windows 8 is to get “Xbox Windows” Branded Games, the same as the Windows Phone Marketplace has. The new Xbox branded games will also be able to link with Microsoft’s Xbox Live service, offering Gamer score points for earning achievements in the games.  These games are likely to be found on it’s new Metro app tile service so keeping the new branded games separate from the Windows live service which also offers games. The first games to get it’s new branding will be Minesweeper, Solitaire and Microsoft Mahjong that will offer up to 50 Gamer scores. 

This re branding raises some red flags for game developers, because it invokes thoughts of Microsoft making it a closed platform like that of  Microsoft’s Xbox. If Microsoft did decide to make it a closed platform the developers would have to go through extensive certification processes and mandatory features to release their games through the Windows Store, which would be an headache for developer and which could discourage developers from developing for the platform.

Windows 8 comes out in October so be sure to check it out if you intend buying the new OS.

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Microsoft announces the launch date for its Windows 8

July 19, 2012 by

Microsoft has just announced the launch date for its Windows 8 operating system which is going to be on the 26th of October. 

 

Microsoft  is pinning its hopes on the fact that the Windows 8 operating system will also be able to run on the desktop and Arm based tablets, which it hopes it will give it an  advantage over other platforms such as Apple and Android, due to the fact that they cannot do that. Also the more integrated and broader eco system that it will have to offer that will include an app style app store, will also allow it to further compete more effectively with the likes of Android and Apple.

Microsoft have also gone that extra step in other ways to make sure that they can compete successfully by introducing a family of it’s own branded tablets called the Surface family of tablets.  

However after they were launched by the chief executive Steve Ballmer, Steve Ballmer has since took the opportunity to reassure his company’s hardware partners, describing Surface as “a design point” that would have a place within a “broad Windows ecosystem”.

Whatever the case, investors seem positive about the companies future prospects. 

 

Colin Gillis, senior technology analyst at BGC Partners told the BBC”Microsoft’s stock is up 17% since the start of the year in part because of anticipation for Windows 8 and Surface,” . 

“We’re also still seeing nearly one million PCs sold worldwide a day so that’s a sizeable marketplace for them.” Source BBC

 

However in reality whether it can compete successfully against the likes of  the iPad,  Amazon’s Kindle Fire and the likes of the Android Nexus 7 which has had positive reviews will depend on a number of factors such as user experience, App availability etc, only time will tell who will be able to take a large slice of the cake.

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Nokia announces it has started rolling out a software update for it’s Lumia phone range

July 1, 2012 by
The WiFi tethering feature will bring a much needed missing feature to the phone, now it will be possible to turn your phone into a WiFi hotspot and it will be able to support up to 5 devices.
The flip-to-silence feature will work when the phone is simply put face down, then all your calls and alerts will be silenced.
The Camera Extras app will add a number of much needed new features to the phones camera. This app provide the user with an option to choose from various different modes when taking a photo, this will include a Panorama mode option for landscape shots, users will also get a mode called Group Shot which will take five photos, there will also be an Action Shot that snaps a burst of shots in quick succession so you can then choose the best of them. Last but not least there will be a also Self-Timer added to the camera list of functions. 
There will also be a feature called Contact Share added that lets you send business cards using SMS.
Users will also be able to make use of an app called Play To, this app will allow the user stream their media content over to any DLNA compatible device up to HD qualty.
The Tango update will continue rolling out to the handsets until the end of July, the owners of the 610 and 900 models should receive their update shortly after. In order to get this update you will need to fire up the Zune software on your computer and plug the phone into your pc. 
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Microsoft has showcased a family of Windows 8 powered tablet computers

June 19, 2012 by

Microsoft last Monday night showcased a family of it’s first own branded Windows 8 powered tablet computers at a presentation in Los Angeles. 

Microsoft executives said at the event that: ”The Surface tablet comes in two flavours. There are consumer-targeted slates powered by an Nvidia Tegra processor and running Windows RT, Microsoft’s first OS designed for devices using ARM-based chips, and there’s also a “professional” version of the tablet for content creators that uses an Intel Core i5 chip and runs the x86-optimised flavour of Windows 8 for mobile devices”. ”The new tablets include a “kickstand” for viewing content, as well as a cover that also doubles as a keyboard and touchpad for content creation. A version of the tablet will include a “TypeCover” designed to replicate a full-size keyboard”.

Microsoft chief executive, Steve Ballmer , said ”that the company had set out to work with OEMs, but also has a history of designing its own hardware to showcase the best designs”. Ballmer also used the Microsoft keyboard, Mouse, and the Xbox game console and Xbox Kinect sensor accessory as examples”.

The two versions will have different amounts of memory, the Arm powered version will come with either 32 GB or 64 GB of memory while the Intel Core version will come with either 64GB or 128 GB of memory. The Intel Core version will also come with a slightly higher resolution screen. Size wise the Intel Core version is slightly thinker at 13.5 mm vs  9.3 mm for the Arm version, this is due to the extra room needed to accommodate the Intel Core Ivy Bridge i5 processor. It’s also the heaviest of the two models weighing  903 grams (almost two pounds) vs 676 grams (1.5lbs) for the other model.  The Intel Core version will also come with a larger battery too offering 42 Watt-hours in total capacity vs a battery offering 31.5 W-hs for the Arm powered version.

All models will come with hdmi output, other features will include twin cameras, stereo speakers and dual microphones that are most  suited to work with Microsoft owned Skype. 

These tablets will also come with a case made out of VaporMg, which is a magnesium alloy, which will be very strong and light that will have magnets embedded into it to help secure the case shut. This case will also be able to perform the function of a kickstand for the device. 

The Intel Core version will be released 3 months after the Arm version is released and it will be priced at a similar price to other ultra books, so making it the more expensive of the two versions. However no official announcement has been made by Microsoft regarding the release date. But it is expected to be released in the Autumn along side the release of Windows 8 which is due in October.  

For Microsoft to be able to effectively compete with the iPad, which they need to do to fully succeed, they will have to compete with Apple on a number of levels, firstly they will need to offer as many useful apps as Apple does, because that is what the iPad is about. Secondly they will need to offer a similar iOS experience to what Apple offers, which is very user friendly, smooth, highly polished and highly integrated.  I cannot see Microsoft being able to compete on this playing field for the immediate future. These tablets maybe be able to out match the iPad on functionality, but as history has told us its not functionality that is the most important factor, when the man in the street looking for a tablet pc. 

 

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Windows Marketplace now has over 100,000 apps

June 6, 2012 by

The Windows phone Marketplace has now exceeded 100,000 apps after just 20 months. An article on a website called All About Windows Phone states that on June 3rd 2012 the Windows phone Marketplace has exactly 100,145 applications, this total includes all the applications that have ever been sent to the Marketplace. Applications that were and are only offered on a regional bases were also included. The site went on to say that Applications that were released and discontinued for whatever reason where also added to the total. 

The Windows phone Marketplace now seems to be growing at a rapid rate of over 300 apps per day on average. If the store keeps growing at this rate it will not be too long before it becomes a credible challenger to Android and IOS.  Android actually had less apps than Microsoft when their store was at the same point in history, Android took as long as 24 months to get to 100,00 apps. However its worth pointing out that the App store only took 16 months to achieve 100,000 applications.

The most popular category within the Windows phone Marketplace according to AAWP is Entertainment, which has a total of 18,867 apps and the average price of an app was $0.99.

The steady growth of the Windows Mobile OS is promising. If Microsoft can play their cards right, it has the opportunity to become a formidable player in the mobile tech world of the future.

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Windows 8 to be a rebirth of the OS

May 24, 2012 by

The boss of Microsoft Steve Ballmer speaking at the Seoul Digital Forum, has said: “It’s really, in some senses, a dawning of the rebirth of MS Windows. It’s certainly the most important piece of work we’ve done.”

Windows 8 is expected to be launched in October. Microsoft has been steadily loosing ground over the last few years, while the competition such as Apple have been gaining in popularity.

Windows 8 will be more of a radical departure from previous versions in an  attempt to capture peoples imagination. It will get a app store and it will be integrated with Microsoft’s SkyDrive cloud computing service, which will be similar to Apple’s cloud based backup service.

Steve Ballmer goes on to state that next year Windows 8 could have up to 500 million users, which will give incentives for device makers and app builders to move over to the OS.

Whether his predictions will happen remains to be seen.

 

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Microsoft goes into a strategic partnership with Barnes & Noble

April 30, 2012 by

Microsoft has decided to go into a strategic partnership with Barnes & Noble to combat the fierceness of the competition from the likes of Amazon and Apple. The new joint venture will concentrate on developing a Nook e-reader application for the new Windows 8 platform. Microsoft will invest $300 million in this venture and Microsoft will own 17.6% of the new company through its investment, the other 82.4% will go to Barnes & Noble.  

The new Nook e-reader application could prove to be a successful competitor to Apples ios ibooks app, if Windows 8 can do well in the new table market.

Filed Under: Microsoft, Other tech news and developments

The new windows phone made by Nokia not doing as well as expected

April 23, 2012 by

Mobile carriers were hoping that there would be a 3rd force in terms of competition in the telephone  market. But according to a website informationweek.com Nokia’s new brands of Lumia-branded Windows Phones aren’t filling this role, as some of the mobile carriers had expected. Evidence of this comes from Nokia latest quartely report that indicates that the Lumia 800 and 710 have only sold 2 million of these devices compared to five times as many Symbian devices sold since November.

This lackluster performance is due various issue. Firstly these phones have been plagued with various software issues since they were launched,  which Nokia have now fixed.  Another reason for the lumias poorer performance than expected is that Microsoft and Nokia are not doing nowhere near enough in terms of marketing and promoting their Lumia-branded Windows Phones. Also the Lumia phones don’t seem to be innovative enough. One of the reasons  apple have done so well over the years is because until recently they were on the cutting edge of innovation.

Nokia made a big mistake tying itself totally to Windows mobile OS, because  its backing a underdog at the moment in an already over crowded mobile OS market.  It remains to be seen whether Microsoft and Nokia are able to compete effectively with Android or Apple in the future only time will tell.  Nokias best strategy would have been to make produce some Android phones as an insurance policy to cover every eventuality.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Microsoft