I’m taking a couple weeks off before the busiest part of Microsoft’s 2012 kicks into full gear. But never fear: The Microsoft watching will go on while I’m gone. I’ve asked a few illustrious members of the worldwide Microsoft community to share their insights via guest posts on a variety of topics — from Windows Phone, to Hyper-V. Today’s entry is all about Microsoft’s increasing consumer focus and is authored by Mike Brown.
For a while I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I could tell something different was happening in Redmond.
It started with Windows Phone 7. The mobile team, which was normally very accessible and open, had gone dark. Anyone paying attention knew something big was happening, but just what was it? Granted there were some leaks that gave hints as to how the next mobile platform would work. But there was very little voluntary information coming from Microsoft until they were ready.
The level of secrecy around Windows Phone 7 was like an open book compared to the tight wraps Microsoft has placed on Windows 8. Again, there were inevitable leaks, but the Windows team, the Visual Studio team, everyone remotely involved with Windows 8 again has had tight lips — even to the point that the Build conference did not even have a public agenda before the opening keynote.
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Sunday, May 20, 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Windows 7 In Old Customized PC
Our office just upgraded all our workstations to Windows 7. It was good at the beginning but I feel it is going better and better as I get familiar working knowing where and which is the correct button to click for setting and performing specific task...
After the upgrade to the company, I decided to get my own copy of Windows 7 (ultimate for me, enterprise is what we have in the office) and install it to my 4 year old AMD custom built computer, so I will have the same system in the office at home. I am hoping that this will fast track my familiarization stage with Windows 7. My computer specs:
With my computer specification, I know that Windows 7 will run just fine without so much bloatwares installed so I am keeping it clean as possible. This idea is backed up with Windows 7 systems requirements:
The idea is confirmed! My customized build is "just" fine with it. :)
So your old computers may still work with Windows 7 and be able to perform it's basic function just do not install or remove bloatware and keep it clean.
After the upgrade to the company, I decided to get my own copy of Windows 7 (ultimate for me, enterprise is what we have in the office) and install it to my 4 year old AMD custom built computer, so I will have the same system in the office at home. I am hoping that this will fast track my familiarization stage with Windows 7. My computer specs:
- Processor: AMD X2 Dual Core
- Motherboard: MSI
- RAM: 3GB
- GPU: built-in
- Previous OS: Windows XP SP2
With my computer specification, I know that Windows 7 will run just fine without so much bloatwares installed so I am keeping it clean as possible. This idea is backed up with Windows 7 systems requirements:
- Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
- RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM
- HDD: 16 GB available hard disk space
The idea is confirmed! My customized build is "just" fine with it. :)
So your old computers may still work with Windows 7 and be able to perform it's basic function just do not install or remove bloatware and keep it clean.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Microsoft yanks Office for Mac 2011 upgrade
Computerworld - Microsoft last Friday pulled an Office for Mac 2011 major update from its upgrade servers, acknowledging bugs that have corrupted the Outlook database on some machines.
Office for Mac 2011 Service Pack 2 (SP2) was released April 12. That same day, users who had upgraded began reporting problems on Microsoft's support site, saying that they were unable to run Outlook, the suite's email client.
Last Tuesday, Microsoft confirmed that the SP2 upgrade could in some cases corrupt the Outlook identity database, and offered workarounds to prevent that from happening for those who had not yet installed the service pack, as well as a step-by-step guide to reconstructing the database for those affected by the bug.
Three days later, Microsoft took more drastic action, shutting down the delivery of Office for Mac 2011 SP2 through the company's automatic upgrade service.
Read full story...
Office for Mac 2011 Service Pack 2 (SP2) was released April 12. That same day, users who had upgraded began reporting problems on Microsoft's support site, saying that they were unable to run Outlook, the suite's email client.
Last Tuesday, Microsoft confirmed that the SP2 upgrade could in some cases corrupt the Outlook identity database, and offered workarounds to prevent that from happening for those who had not yet installed the service pack, as well as a step-by-step guide to reconstructing the database for those affected by the bug.
Three days later, Microsoft took more drastic action, shutting down the delivery of Office for Mac 2011 SP2 through the company's automatic upgrade service.
Read full story...
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Microsoft and Intel Teaming Up, Plotting to Take Down Apple
It's probably now a given that Microsoft and Intel are working together to produce top-notch Windows 8 tablets and touch-based Ultrabooks. Both have high standards when it comes to the consumer experience, and are bringing to first-tier device manufacturers their requirements and expectations. But Taiwan-based ODMs are claiming the duo are looking to reduce the iPad's 70-percent global market share down to below 50-percent by the middle of 2013.
What will be their secret weapon? Windows 8, of course. They'll also be coming after Apple on two fronts: tablets and hybrid Ultrabooks that can "fold" into a tablet. While the latter is still in a prototype stage, manufacturers are already lined up to offer Windows 8 tablet by the end of the year including Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Lenovo, Acer, Asustek Computer and Toshiba.
Read full story...
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Windows Phone's many problems: Should Microsoft give up?
Microsoft was resting much of its efforts in Windows Phone on the Nokia Lumia 900, and Nokia’s stake in the project was vital to its future smartphone building success.
Described by one colleague as the “only good phone” to come out of the Microsoft–Nokia joint venture, its flagship phone was hit with a critical bug, the Windows Phone marketshare is slipping, and the Windows brand itself is waning in the wake of Apple’s success.
Fortune described the Lumia 900 as a “sexy, award-winning smartphone is going on sale Sunday at half the price of the iPhone, and it’s launching on a blazing fast 4G network.”
“What’s the catch?” they asked. “Two things: The phone, called the Lumia 900, is made by Nokia — and it’s running Microsoft’s Windows Phone software.”
But since its launch, it has already suffered a data cut-off bug which will put off a vast percent of the consumer market, and business customers especially, where data is the lifeblood of mission-critical operations. It’s struggling with poor market share and hampered by an image problem in the wake of attention towards iOS and Android rivals.
Read full story...
Described by one colleague as the “only good phone” to come out of the Microsoft–Nokia joint venture, its flagship phone was hit with a critical bug, the Windows Phone marketshare is slipping, and the Windows brand itself is waning in the wake of Apple’s success.
Fortune described the Lumia 900 as a “sexy, award-winning smartphone is going on sale Sunday at half the price of the iPhone, and it’s launching on a blazing fast 4G network.”
“What’s the catch?” they asked. “Two things: The phone, called the Lumia 900, is made by Nokia — and it’s running Microsoft’s Windows Phone software.”
But since its launch, it has already suffered a data cut-off bug which will put off a vast percent of the consumer market, and business customers especially, where data is the lifeblood of mission-critical operations. It’s struggling with poor market share and hampered by an image problem in the wake of attention towards iOS and Android rivals.
Read full story...
Friday, April 6, 2012
Indian IT firms are heading for a fall
Computerworld - India's IT firms understand software, but not America.
It is the American character not to back down, and to fight for what is right. Our children are taught this from their earliest ages. Even new arrivals, immigrants or people on work visas are quick to grasp this essential truth.
America's institutions reflect the national character. Our political system encourages sharp and hard contests. Our legal system facilitates a fight, as India's IT companies are now learning.
Three of India's largest IT outsourcing firms, Infosys Technologies, Larsen & Toubro InfoTech and Tata Consultancy Services, are involved in lawsuits filed against them by current and former employees.
The lawsuits are a problem for each of the companies. But taken together, the cases are a major threat to the Indian IT industry in America.
India's IT firms are dependent on American businesses for about half of their revenue. They can't operate in this country without work visas, such as H-1B and L-1 visas.
Thus the allegations by employees of visa misuse and harassment have broad implications and are attracting federal investigators and congressional oversight...
Read full story...
It is the American character not to back down, and to fight for what is right. Our children are taught this from their earliest ages. Even new arrivals, immigrants or people on work visas are quick to grasp this essential truth.
America's institutions reflect the national character. Our political system encourages sharp and hard contests. Our legal system facilitates a fight, as India's IT companies are now learning.
Three of India's largest IT outsourcing firms, Infosys Technologies, Larsen & Toubro InfoTech and Tata Consultancy Services, are involved in lawsuits filed against them by current and former employees.
The lawsuits are a problem for each of the companies. But taken together, the cases are a major threat to the Indian IT industry in America.
India's IT firms are dependent on American businesses for about half of their revenue. They can't operate in this country without work visas, such as H-1B and L-1 visas.
Thus the allegations by employees of visa misuse and harassment have broad implications and are attracting federal investigators and congressional oversight...
Read full story...
Friday, March 30, 2012
IT jobs will grow 22% through 2020, says U.S.
Computerworld - WASHINGTON -- U.S. officials on Thursday said that offshoring will hurt the growth of U.S. programming jobs in this decade, though expansion of healthcare IT and mobile networks will in turn increase demand for software developers, support technicians and systems analysts.
By 2020, employment in all computer occupations is expected to increase by 22%, but some IT fields will fare better than others, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) biennial update of employment projections.
Demand for software developers will be the strongest in this period, with increases ranging from 28% to 32%, depending on the type of software development.
The BLS update imagines what IT employment will look like through 2020.
The agency's forecasts, particularly for technology-related jobs, are often controversial because they can't account for rapid market changes and tech disruptions. But its estimates are often cited in various policy debates on issues ranging from education to immigration.
Read full story...
By 2020, employment in all computer occupations is expected to increase by 22%, but some IT fields will fare better than others, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) biennial update of employment projections.
Demand for software developers will be the strongest in this period, with increases ranging from 28% to 32%, depending on the type of software development.
The BLS update imagines what IT employment will look like through 2020.
The agency's forecasts, particularly for technology-related jobs, are often controversial because they can't account for rapid market changes and tech disruptions. But its estimates are often cited in various policy debates on issues ranging from education to immigration.
Read full story...
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