Archive for July, 2009



Twitter Hoopla Over Windows 7

July 29th, 2009 by Erin Posted in Technology, Twitter | 1 Comment »

This is more of a clarification than a rant.

Lately I’ve noticed a lot of hatred being spewed on Twitter about Microsoft. Even before its tanked Q2 2009 earnings were revealed –  negative tweets were swirling about everything, from Bing to Windows 7.

Windows especially.

Put it this way. People are not very excited about MS Windows 7.

Case in point.

Read what some anonymous Twitter followers have said recently about Windows 7:

Microsoft recommends XP users buy a new computer to get Windows 7 over upgrading. http://is.gd/1Is6H You’ve got to be kidding me!

Microsoft Corp says Windows 7 will be generally available to ppl around the world on October 22. this DOESNT mean ppl will want to buy it

Reuters: MSFT says Windows 7 will be generally available to customers on October 22. (RT @BreakingNews) “generally available” – what the hell does that mean?

The first tweet is just plain funny – and so incredibly Microsoft’s style.

But my issue is with the second and third tweets – more specifically the term “generally available”.

On the outside it looks like a shady use of words to cover an unknown release date. But in truth, “generally available” means products are being shipped out to the general public.

From my trusty source, Wikipedia:

General availability (GA) is the point where all necessary commercialization activities have been completed and the software has been made available to the general market either via the web or physical media.

Commercialization activities could include but are not limited to the availability of media world wide via dispersed distribution centers, marketing collateral is completed and available in as many languages as deemed necessary for the target market, etc. The time between RTM and GA can be from a week to months in some cases before a generally available release can be declared because of the time needed to complete all commercialization activities required by GA.

So there you have it.

Generally available is a legit term even if it is coming from Microsoft.

Windows 7 will be made available to everyone on October 22.

I know you and the rest of the world will be waiting on bated breath.

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Goodbye IE. Hello Gazelle

July 23rd, 2009 by Erin Posted in Technology | No Comments »

Okay, I’m just going to say it.

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer needs to be put out of its misery.

The Web browser that once ruled the world is now riddled with deep-seeded security problems, making Internet surfing more of a headache than a convenience.

The latest security bombshell came this week when Microsoft published a Security Advisory for an unpatched flaw in the Video ActiveX Control that is used in IE to play video on computers running with Windows XP or Windows Server 2003. Experts believe the security vulnerability – which could allow hackers to access the user’s system remotely - was being exploited in China as long ago as June 11.

As we wait for Microsoft to develop a security update for Windows to fix this vulnerability, I can’t help but think about all of the other security scares we’ve witnessed involving Microsoft and IE.

Remember Conficker? Some experts are even suggesting that this latest exploit involving the Video ActiveX control could be the next Conficker.

I say – Enough is enough!

The time has come for us to move on – finally ditch IE.

Let’s embrace some of the other Web browsers of the world like Google’s Chrome, Mozilla’s Firefox, or Apple’s Safari.

Or, better yet, let’s roll the dice on Microsoft again and embrace its new up and coming Web browser, Gazelle.

Word is this Gazelle is something else – radical even.

Microsoft researcher Helen Wang states Gazelle will act like an operating system by keeping things moving smoothly and ensuring that the computer’s resources are fairly allocated.

“The browser needs to act more like Windows does–making sure that different Web applications are protected from one another–even those running within the same site,” said Wang.

Wang isn’t trying to suggest Windows is going away. Indeed, she said, Gazelle will depend on Windows, acting merely as the middleman for Web pages seeking to access a computer’s resources.

In short, with Gazelle, if one browser tab crashes the whole browser doesn’t get taken with it.

Now before you get pie-eyed for this prototype, keep in mind that Gazelle borrows much of its actual rendering technology from IE itself.

Not exactly a dazzling quality, but still this is one to watch.

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Microsoft And Google Go Toe-To-Toe

July 15th, 2009 by Erin Posted in Software Development, Technology | 1 Comment »

It’s on.

If ever there was a battle brewing between Microsoft and Google – now’s the time.

The big question is – who’s throwing the first punch?

After the Chrome vs. Bing search engine battle, industy insiders have turned their attention to operating systems. More specifically, Google’s Chrome OS.

Google made waves last week with the introduction of its new operating system designed to compete with Microsoft Windows. And that it does, starting with Android, an open-source OS for small devices like smartphones, and Chrome OS, a browser-focused, open-source OS that will run on notebooks (ie Netbooks) and desktops.

In classic Microsoft style, it too announced it had something big up its sleeve: Microsoft Office 2010 which, like Google, will include free, online versions of its four most popular software programs.

These two companies have become bitter enemies over the years, yet oddly enough there are undertones of each within their OS’s.

The picture became clear when Wired ran an interesting piece on the ecosystems surrounding Google and Microsoft’s operating systems:

Microsoft would love for everyone in the world to be using its Internet Explorer browser to search through Bing to find a story from its MSN portal to email via Hotmail or Outlook to a friend. Add in a smartphone running Windows Mobile and an Xbox in the living room for the kids, and you have a Microsoft family. And though it is much joked about, Microsoft is the dominant platform for software developers of all types, whether they are making small business software, massive online role-playing games or photo-editing utilities.

Google’s ecosystem looks different. It starts with a Google Chrome browser (oddly running only on Windows) with a default homepage set to Google News or a customized Google homepage. From there you might go to Gmail and then click on a Word document sent to you as an attachment which Google will quickly — and safely — open for you in its online word processor. But most importantly, Google wants you to search and travel around the web, hitting web pages that run Google-served ads and Google tracking cookies. You might think that Google is a really cool company to give away all this free technology, while never thinking about the persistent and silent data collection Google is undertaking to profile you in order to deliver you to advertisers for a premium.

Now comparisons aside, there’s also a little trash talking going on.

Bill Gates took a public shot at Google last week, comparing Chrome OS to Linux.

“There’s many, many forms of Linux operating systems out there and packaged in different ways and booted in different ways,” Gates said. “In some ways I am surprised people are acting like there’s something new. I mean, you’ve got Android running on Netbooks. It’s got a browser in it.”

Gates also said it was hard to really say much about Chrome OS, since Google has said so little about how it will actually work.

Yes, indeed, the gloves are off.

But something tells me that Microsoft will be the victor here.

I mean, c’mon, who really uses a Netbook?

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iPhone Apps Give Businesses A Boost

July 2nd, 2009 by Erin Posted in Business, Small Business, Stature Projects | No Comments »

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.

Apple iPhones aren’t just for the 20-something hipster. If you have a small business to run, some very essential iPhone business applications make it a better option over the Blackberry.

Here’s why.

First, cheaper iPhone applications. Distimo – a Dutch analyst company – recently found that in April alone prices for the 100 most popular iPhone apps (business applications included) were down $265 to $244, or 7.9%.

Second, there are a ton of new business apps designed to make your life a whole lot easier – at least in the business sense. 

> QuickBooks Online accounting software offers mobile Web-browser features for the iPhone, including the capability to create and send invoices from the device. 

> FileMaker has also announced support for the iPhone, along with the iPod Touch player. Bento for iPhone and iPod Touch is a portable version of the company’s Bento personal database program. The app links together your iPhone contacts and lets you keep track of anything, from business-related sales to digital media. And get this: The program costs only $4.99 over at the Apple App Store.

> There’s also the EuroSmartz Print & Share app for direct printing from an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch. Print & Share lets you print a wide range of file types, e-mail and attachments, Web pages and photos directly from your iPhone of iPod Touch. When used in conjunction with the free WePrint helper software loaded on your laptop or desktop PC, the software will also automatically find your computer’s installed printers and allow the iPhone to select which printer to use. Price tag: $6.99. 

It may be time to ditch that Blackberry – and give the iPhone a serious look. 

I even hear AT&T is ready to start offering no-contract iPhone service - which is perfect for those noncommittal types, like myself.

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