Windows Live

PDC2008: Attendee Reception

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Held at the rooftop of one of LA’s newest ‘beautiful people’ hangouts, this was a kinda odd event for me, as my two most favorite bloggers on Terra, Terri Stratton and Mike Reyes, were not in attendance due to previous plans.

However, it was good seeing...(read more)

© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

PDC2008

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I am in Los Angeles for the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference 2008, aka PDC2008.

This promises to be a ‘ very big deal’ , as several new technologies will be announced, showcased, and demo-ed here.

Most importantly, Windows 7, will be shown...(read more)

© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

Microsoft Equipt

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About time!

With all the talk about alternative office suites out there, Microsoft has been lagging in articulating it’s strategy for delivering a financially-competitive offering in this space.

No longer.

With the announcement of Microsoft Equipt – formerly code-named ‘Albany’, Microsoft is attempting to kill several birds with one stone.

Read the entire article

© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

My Microsoft wishlist 2008 - #16-23

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16. Set a credible baseline hardware requirement for functional UE scenarios. Remember that OEMs right now can create the most basic, and basically, useless configurations, and offload buyer angst at Microsoft. I seem to remember somewhere that the Windows Mobile people got the message, and are vowing to limit certifications of Windows Mobile devices to those that would deliver a realistic user experience to buyers henceforth. The Windows client team would do well to require that sort of baseline, or a very visible disclaimer as well.

17. Create a series of reference designs embodying the most forward-thinking innovations in the desktop, notebook, Origami, and server spaces., and use them as a cudgel to move stale and environmentally unfriendly design forward

18. Use data collected by crash reports or the CEIP to create a database of programs to be SoftGrid’d. The usefulness of application virtualization cannot be understated. I would like Microsoft to use the collected data to create a database of SoftGrid containers for the most problematic 10,000 programs as reported to the databases for inclusion in either the next service pack or the next version of Windows, eliminating a source of customer anger.

19. Use the same data to expose bad software OEMs, either directly or using a proxy. I volunteer.

20. Expand the role and visibility of the Microsoft Solutions Accelerators program. While I know the wonks on the SA team have enough on their plates, I feel the gongs have not pealed loudly enough yet. This program is a godsend. It is my opinion that were evangelists sent out with the MSDN, TS2, and TechNet teams to proselytize the usefulness of the components of the Solutions Accelerators, much of the annoyance directed at Microsoft by IT pros in this Windows Vista migration era would abate, since these solutions would greatly ease, and in some cases, completely automate migratory tasks.

21. Improve and increase the current SkyDrive offerings. Seamless integration with Hotmail should be task #1 for SkyDrive. To a lot of users, it would represent Web 2.0 nirvana: Windows Live ID, mail, Office Workspace, collaboration, instant messaging.

22. Improve the stickiness of the Windows Live properties by adding usable VOIP phone services, or even a GrandCentral-like service, and a working Internet fax gateway such as j2.com offers.

23. Re-do Windows Search completely. Search as it currently is in Windows Vista, frankly, sucks! The UI is flawed, non-customizable, slow, and worst of all, the results are inconsistent. I get better results opening up a command line and entering in the search parameters there. Do I need to add that indexing is the mother of resource hogs?

Windows Experience Space

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I have been at the Windows Experience Space event in New York City for the past few days, hence the dearth of posts on this blog.

Over this weekend, I shall be posting about the event and the epiphany I had about a much-maligned Microsoft property. Stay...(read more)

© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

Deepfish

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What is it?

Deepfish is a browsing enhancement utility, currently in beta, for Windows Mobile devices. According to Microsoft Live Labs,

Deepfish is a lightweight client application that leverages a powerful server side technology for delivery of content such as web pages to a Windows Mobile device. Content is displayed in a familiar desktop format that requires no additional work by the content or site author.

Just how impressive is that?

It creates dynamic snapshots of regular web pages which it then zooms into on demand from the Windows Mobile user.

Yes, regular webpages, not designed for mobile devices pages.

Folks, Deepfish has to be seen in action to appreciate it.

Another product from the Microsoft Live Labs, and Microsoft Live crew of which you all know I'm enamored of.

© 2007, John Obeto II for SmallBizVista.com®

© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

Windows Live on Lenovo systems

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They have seen the Light Live!

Lenovo, the #3 PC manufacturer, has inked a deal with Microsoft to ship its systems with the Windows Live Toolbar, and Live.com as the start page of all systems.

The move for Lenovo to Live.com from the former sparse page will allow for greater customization of the start page by Lenovo, and their customers.

Live.com, for the 3 people on Terra who do not know, allows an infinite number of customization options including gadgets, RSS feeds, and mail.

I also see deals of this sort help the fortunes of other Live properties, which is 'A Good Thing', since I consume virtually all of the Windows Live products on a daily basis, including but not limited to Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Mail Desktop, Windows Live writer, Windows Live QnA, Windows Live Expo, etc.

This is a big blow to those those search philistines who owned the space with this vendor before.

Congratulations to the Bruce Kasrel and the Windows Live team for this very auspicious start to the hopeful flood of similar deals.

© 2007, John Obeto II for SmallBizVista.com®

© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

Dell to Linux Fanboi: Er, not right now!

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Michael Dell must read my blog!

Coming on the heels of my post here are reports that Dell (the company) is rethinking that absurd decision to preload Linux on systems shipped there.

Good for you, Mike.

Why don't you take a miniscule fraction of the funds you would have devoted to certifying and promoting that stepchild OS and utilize it in training the droids that are supposedly your customer service and technical support departments?

As expected, Linux fanboi is not happy!

I am.

© 2007, John Obeto II for SmallBizVista.com®

© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows

The end of (the Live) branding madness

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A while back, Microsoft decided to rename Hotmail, that most-used of all email services in the known universe, Windows Live Mail.

Why?

This was at a time when the adults were more concerned with bigger fish and the kids were allowed to play with scissors.

Now, thankfully, that is reversed.

Windows Live Mail will henceforth be called Windows Live Hotmail, leveraging the humongous amount of brand capital in the name.

Also helping the ginormous numbers of spammers continue plying their trade.

BTW, the adults reach into Windows Live continues, with the absurdly-named Windows Live Local being renamed Windows Live Maps.

Thanks, adults.

Edit: I see I'm not alone: Mary Jo Foley, Sidebar Geek, and Dare Obasanjo all concur.

The announcement is here.

© 2007, John Obeto II for SmallBizVista.com®

© 2005-2009, John Obeto for SmallBizWindows