I'm really glad Beth Schultz wrote this article for ComputerWorld about content-aware applications. It's actually one aspect of some product R&D I've been engaged in over the past year, and I was beginning to consider what things to write about on the topic. We often think of content-aware applications as location-aware apps, integrating GPS information into apps such as tracking delivery trucks, or equipment in a hospital, things like that. Read more
Today marks the end of the public beta of Windows 7, introduced early in 2009 with even earlier bits available to attendees at PDC 2008. As beta's go I think most would say the Windows 7 beta was an overwhelming success. Lets look at the things Microsoft did right with the Windows 7 beta.
Firefox released their 3.5 version update for download today and so far it seems to be a pretty good release, including some new additions and some catch up features. Probably the biggest change, though not classified as a new feature, is Firefox 3.5's use of the TraceMonkey JavaScript engine. Whether you love all the interactivity or the slowness it can impose, we're relying on the interactivity JavaScript enables more and more. JavaScript isn't going away anytime soon so having a higher performance engine makes for a much better user experience. Read more
Microsoft's set to bring online two new data centers, one in Chicago and the other in Dublin with 700,000 and 300,000 square feet of space respective. One of the things that's been talked about quite a bit, and that I also find fascinating, is Microsoft's use of cargo like containers. Just like you and I slide a new blade into a blade server, Microsoft's doing that at a container sized level, each housing +/- 2,000 servers. Read more
I wish I could say I made it into the first round of the beta but Microsoft cut off downloads of Microsoft Security Essentials beta software after 700,000 in the first 24 hours. So, while I haven't had a chance to look at the beta software, it's interesting to see the reaction from the market. One of the most common threads you hear are calls that anti-virus software from Microsoft is like the fox watching the hen house. Because of Microsoft's track record with viruses and vulnerabilities, users can't trust anti-virus software from Microsoft to protect their own stuff. Read more
So which is it? Are we going to have aggressive pricing for Windows 7 so we can finally move on from Vista and XP, or will we see the Microsoft of old, overcharging for Windows upgrades, this time starting at $120 for entry level Windows 7 versions. Well, for two weeks we'll see both; the aggressive plus the old approach to pricing, and then were back to the old way across the board. Read more
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All who heavily rely on Microsoft Outlook but feel you could strangle the stupid program every time it locks up or crashes, raise your hand and say "I". Great. The "I's" have it. You've now been duly sworn to click on this link, http://fixoutlook.org, to demand Microsoft fix Outlook. This site happens to be about fixing how Outlook renders, or doesn't render, html in emails accurately.
Collaboration products like wiki's and platforms like SharePoint have gradually added social media-like features to their products. Wiki's, content management systems, and SharePoint all have things like personal pages, blogs and RSS feeds. Many are expecting SharePoint 2010 to accelerate its support of social media features, but for most of us it's hard to know what really will be there until later this year when we get to take a peak at it via the Technology Preview of SharePoint and Office products. Read more
We all often wonder how our employers could do something as devistating as lay someone off from their job. Despite any social obligations to the community or altruistic wishes we may have for our employers, companies ultimately have to cut expenses when their business suffers a downturn, especially during a deep recession like we are experiencing. Read more
Blackberry maker, RIM, just reported it's first drop in subscriber growth since 2006 back when they were in patent litigation. RIM likely has the iPhone, and to a lesser degree, Google's Android phones to thank. But while RIM might point the finger at Apple or Google, there's more fingers in that hand pointing back at themselves. The failure of the Storm. Read more
My recent blog post about the new Apple OS X Snow Leopard release not being enough to “beat” Windows 7 sparked quite a response from many Apple users. I understand that, when users are passionate about a product, brand and/or a company, as so many Apple users are. Apple’s always been successful at building loyalty with their customers. Read more
To say the Windows Mobile web browser is a bit long in the tooth would be as big of an understatement as saying Wall Street thrives on greed. Newer mobile OS's on the iPhone, Google Android and Palm Pre make Windows Mobile 6.x's web browser look as ancient as DOS text graphics. But, there's good news. Great news actually! Enter... Skyfire.
Skyfire is a free, downloadable web browser that not only brings Windows Mobile's web browsing up to par with other mobile OSs, it surpasses them. Read more
The dilemma: quickly update your Windows boxes and cross your fingers there’ll be no problems, or stay unpatched and get p00wned by some bot? The chances the most recent massive Windows updates would go flawlessly for everyone who patched their systems was probably small because of so many fixes. One of the unintended consequences from the patches, specifically kb969897, were IE users who suddenly could not print, use Find or use the browser's help function. Read more
We've all seen the laptop hunter "you find it, you buy it" ads taking aim at the Apple Tax, but probably still the cutest ad has to be the little Asian
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Though yesterday's Apple WWDC announcements were largely about the iPhone OS 3.0 and iPhone 3GS model, Apple also rolled out Snow Leopard, the next in line Mac OS X upgrade to do battle against Windows on desktops. The iPhone OS and 3GS phone were all about features, features, features, plus better 3GS performance, but Snow Leopard carried a much different message. Just as the fundamentals determine winners in sports, Snow Leopard is emphasizing software fundamentals. Read more
Last week Microsoft stunned its partner channel by significantly changing the terms of Microsoft financing for customer deals. Previously Microsoft offered partners very favorable terms, almost too favorable some would say, by only requiring one Microsoft license in any deal financed. Deals could have a Windows Small Business server plus plenty of services, servers, desktops, network gear, etc. and still qualify for Microsoft financing. That's no longer the case as Microsoft has changed qualifications to require a minimum of 35% Microsoft product and services to receive financing. Read more
It's "thinking out loud" Friday. A few days ago the SharePoint Team Blog announced that the Microsoft Office developers conference would now be a track at the SharePoint 2009 conference . No more Office developer's conference; join the SharePoint folks to talk goings on about the pending Office 2010 product. Read more
It's been an interesting learning experience using Amazon's EC2 computing cloud. I was showing a friend who I frequently seek technical council how EC2 resources are managed using the ElasticFox and S3 Organizer FireFox plugins. He was quite shocked at the granular, low level you're dealing with in bringing up instances from saved images (AMIs), attaching volumes, local steps that need to be performed (such as when attaching dynamic volumes), and requirements to bundle images to persist data on any local drives. Read more
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