08.23.10
Posted in Hardware, Microsoft, Windows at 2:37 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: By all indications it appears as though Microsoft/Windows mobile devices will nosedive into an abyss
Over the past two weeks we have come across not a single headline matching “kin” and just two matching “zune”, which is waiting to officially die after the so-called “Zune phone” (KIN or Pink) got cancelled [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. KIN was a legendary failure that reached oblivion within just weeks and the Zune’s operating system has no purpose anymore. It’s a zombie product right now. “Microsoft Gets Little From Zune Media Player,” says this headline from The Street and “Zune Media Player Doesn’t Move Needle on Microsoft’s Stock,” claims another article. The Zune is not advertised, either. For those who wonder why some Microsoft products suddenly make the news sometimes, it’s all PR. Microsoft agents are merely using journalists, pumping gifts and applying pressure in order to shape the news and give the illusion that people should really care. Silverlight is an example of this because it's dying despite the fact that Microsoft PR agents had the press pretend it would succeed. It’s all hypnosis.
“They are trying to appeal to game developers because suddenly it’s Microsoft that suffers a gaming drought.”In spite of the unprecedented failure of KIN (“Microsoft’s Kin Smartphones Could Eclipse Windows Phone 7,” said this old headline from Microsoft Nick before it launched), the ‘Microsoft press’ continues to post its hopeful articles about products that don’t matter anymore. These PR appendages that masquerade as “journalists” ought to be ignored really, but there are just too many of them and those who don’t comply with PR won’t be groomed and thus perish.
Microsoft’s latest PR offensive for phones is centered around “games” — not that Vista Phone 7 [sic] actually has any games, it’s just an ambition that Microsoft has, accompanied by vapourware. These are tons of articles this month about Microsoft looking for game developers for a phones platform which totally lacks applications (Microsoft discarded backward compatibility). It has everything it takes for a recipe to say “disaster” on it. Microsoft is even appointing a “Mobile Gaming GM” for something that hardly exists. Loads of articles about it, like this one for example, contain more fantasy than substance. Are journalists genuinely naive enough to publish this stuff?
“Why Microsoft’s Mobile Gaming Strategy Is a Mistake,” says one sceptic. They are trying to appeal to game developers because suddenly it’s Microsoft that suffers a gaming drought. What a wonderful reversal. Windows is suddenly the (mobile) platform without any games. Linux/Android and Apple are where all the action is at. Windows Mobile (or whatever Microsoft chooses to call it these days) is doomed. And that’s a good thing. █
“In the future, Microsoft wants Windows to run everything, from PCs to phones to cars to appliances. This is a terrifying prospect. If it happens, I’d be far more afraid that machinery everywhere would grind to a halt, planes would fall out of the sky, and civilization would crumble as a result of crummy embedded Windows design than any Y2K problem.”
–Paul Somerson, PC Computing
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Posted in Microsoft, Mono, Novell at 2:03 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: A commenter in mini-MSFT says that his/her “team got a direct message not to use the [Silverlight] technology.” Dynamic languages are also dying at Microsoft due to lack of interest from the public.
ONCE in a couple of weeks we count the occurrences of the term “Silverlight” in the news. It’s getting hard to find anything and Moonlight too is virtually gone by now. Silverlight was mentioned in just one news headline (comparison to Adobe Trash 10.1) in the past two weeks, so it slid into obscurity despite massive PR campaigns, sometimes from Novell. A few days ago someone called Alex told us in IRC: “hey, was reading minimsft’s latest blog’s comments, and stumbled onto this: ‘Anonymous said… Anyone know what the story is with silverlight? My team got a direct message not to use the technology. Received the same message in Windows Live. HTML 5 is P1.’”
For those who don’t know, mini-MSFT is where anonymous Microsoft employees typically comment. So, is Microsoft calling Silverlight off yet, maybe because of HTML5?
Last week and earlier this month we showed that Microsoft is also burying its dynamic languages [1, 2]. Here is more news coverage about it:
Microsoft’s decision to pay the salaries of several Ruby hackers was akin to a lawyer dating the bassist from a cool local band. Thus, it’s sad, but not surprising, to hear about the breakup: With the departure of Jimmy Schementi, Microsoft’s Ruby team is now down to one part-time developer.
These must be depressing times for Microsoft employees who work on projects like Silverlight and the attempts to “embrace and extend” Free/Open Source frameworks. █
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Posted in Apple, Free/Libre Software, GNU/Linux, Google at 1:38 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
“We’ve always been shameless about stealing great ideas.”
–Steve Jobs
Summary: X.Org Server at risk of being under control by Apple, which continues to do distasteful things
MANY PEOPLE still remember what Apple did to KHTML. When it comes to Free software, Apple is primarily an exploiter. Last night we had a long discussion about this. Basically, there is danger that Apple will be pulling similar tricks against X, which a lot of Apple’s competition (and Microsoft’s competition) depends on heavily. “Apple Looks To Take Over X Server 1.9 Release Management,” says Phoronix. From the somewhat alarming post:
With yesterday’s successful release of X.Org Server 1.9 on time by Intel’s Keith Packard, most of the developers will now begin working towards X.Org Server 1.10. Like the past few X.Org Server releases, Keith Packard will go on to continue being the release manager for this new series. In the past there’s been the input-expert Peter Hutterer of Red Hat to handle the stable release management duties for the point releases, but he will not be handling it for the 1.9.x series and it looks like Apple may be taking over
We have already written about Apple’s parasitic approach when it comes to Free/Open Source software [1, 2]. But there are additional problems. For those who require a reminder, Apple too is becoming or has already become a monopoly abuser. Here is a very recent article:
Report: EU joining FTC Apple probe
[...]
The inclusion of the EU regulators means the investigation could now stretch “another four to six months” before the FTC reaches any official conclusions, according to the Post’s sources.
In other news, Apple’s sweat shops are hiring.
Apple’s China contractor plans to hire 400,000
Foxconn Technology Group, the Chinese contract manufacturer for Apple Inc. and other U.S. tech companies, reportedly plans to hire 400,000 new workers and move some operations closer to where they live.
Just don’t expect Apple to pay those people decently. The high margins will be used to make people like Steve Jobs richer while under-age workers commit to labour for 15 hours a day making cheap hardware. Apple then adds some revered logo to this hardware and triples the price, only to pocket the difference. But hey, Apple is at least exploiting some ‘free’ code (as in gratis, to Apple at least) in these devices which sweat shops manufacture in Asia. When it comes to Android, a lot of the profit at least goes to Asian companies (which unfortunately pay Microsoft for Linux sometimes). █
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Posted in Finance, Microsoft at 1:15 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: A look at the sides of Microsoft which too few people are aware of — the ones without cash cows (Microsoft is said to have already lost more than $6 billion online, for example)
From a purely financial point of view, Microsoft is not a good company. One of its revenue sources appears to be extorting Linux vendors (thanks to Novell which initiated this), but some of its main revenue sources are the ‘cash cows’, Windows and Office which are both declining as cash cows [1, 2, 3, 4]. “Microsoft (MSFT) Approaches New Downside Target of $24.64,” says this report and the company’s current value is actually $24.22 (52-week range is $22.73-$31.58).
It is being pointed out again that “Microsoft’s lost eight years online: More than $6 billion down the tubes” and as another site puts it:
Microsoft lost more than $6 billion in operating losses on revenue over the last eight years according to Larry Dignan, ZDNet Analyst.
In fiscal 2010 ending June 30, Microsoft reported an operating loss of $2.35 billion on revenue of $2.2 billion for its online services division . Microsoft’s online services division has been building out data centers for Azure. Microsoft noted in its annual report:
Cost of revenue increased $700 million or 82%, primarily driven by increased online traffic acquisition, data center and equipment, and headcount-related costs. Research and development expenses increased $153 million or 17%, primarily due to increased headcount-related expenses.
As Microsoft’s cash cows suffer a decline (in sale numbers or margins), the company will lose its ability to operate and more layoffs will be required. More on Microsoft’s financial performance later, including downgrades of the stock. █
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Posted in America, Asia, Microsoft, Office Suites at 12:51 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
No lessons learned about independence
Summary: Washington D.C. is letting Microsoft indoctrinate its population and in Singapore too Microsoft interferes with foreign affairs
THREE months ago we showed that Microsoft finally conquered D.C. with its ‘American EDGI‘ programme, whereby states are being exploited. Microsoft has been using gullible or corruptible governments to spread its monopoly (not just in the United States, take Singapore for example) through indoctrination of the most vulnerable people.
Microsoft is still exploiting local governments to assist with harm to society and this new article shows just what type of thing officials put their weight behind:
Now, thanks to Microsoft’s Elevate America program, she’s a whiz at Microsoft Word and Excel.
This is sometimes sponsored by taxpayers, but it should not be ‘free’ (gratis), either. Microsoft should be forced to pay for this injustice. Why has D.C. liaised with Microsoft to reinforce Microsoft’s monopoly? Isn’t it enough that Microsoft already hires AstroTurfers in D.C.? What ever happened to independence? █
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