>From vapourware to scareware, Microsoft keeps innovating
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft talks a lot about innovation. It innovated the Xbox, several
| years after everyone else; it innovated the Zune, several years after
| everyone else; it innovated the GUI, several years after Apple (okay,
| and Xerox); it innovated Hotmail ... oh, alright, it bought Hotmail.
| Bill Gates famously missed the internet revolution and then innovated
| the web browser, several years after Netscape.
|
| [...]
|
| In the meantime, though, the company that brought us vapourware has
| innovated yet another new product: scareware (oh, okay, a couple ofy
| ears after SCO).
`----
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news/D1173B1AE779A1A1CC2572E6000E30E6
More on vapourware at the bottom. Here are a couple of similar news items:
Linux Foundation Says Infringement Claims Are 'Scare Tactics'
,----[ Quote ]
| Question: How do you respond to the theory that it's all part ofM
| icrosoft's plan to pull the rug out from under Red Hat?
|
| Zemlin: I don't think they're really targeting anyone here. It's
| just really about the FUD.
`----
http://www.itbusinessedge.com/item/?ci=28471
MugYourSelf?
,----[ Quote ]
| Ashley Vance had a story on theregister last week about Microsoft's use of
| an article in Fortune Magazine to communicate a patent threat. Here's his
| summary paragraph:
|
| It would seem that Microsoft now relies on the likes of
| Fortune to perform scoldings. The software maker, as you've no
| doubt heard, placed a terse article with the publication.
|
| [...]
|
| What caught my eye in the comments was a heading "Apologies to Flanders
| and Swann" which, sadly, did not live up to its billing. The one below
| it, however, has much to recommend it:
|
| By Carl
|
| Posted Monday 14th May 2007 21:13 GMT
|
| If Linux is using all this patented Mugrosoft code why are they
| so much better?! Apparently Mugrosoft views Linux as a threat
| since they would not bother unless there really is a viable
| business/GPL model for Linux. The sad fact is Mugrosoft is on
| the way out, Vista is a Blackhole, the security problems are
| interfering with other software releases. The gaming side of
| things is notably unprofitable. Visual Studio and C# are not
| attracting as many developers as python and php unless you
| count corporate shills onboard for all the freebies. Mugrosoft
| Server software is apparently working now but with this kind
| of irresponsible market behavior why would an IT department
| spend the cash to become dependent on the unwieldy and seemingly
| abusive Mugrosoft model of programming and corporate bullying?
`----
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Murphy/?p=874
Related:
,----[ Quote ]
| From nathanm Mon Oct 01 11:42:05 1990
| To: billg; bradsi;
| Subject: SPARC, MIPS & Compaq
| DateL Tue Oct 02, 22:57:14 1990
|
| [...]
|
| The purpose of announcing early like this is to freeze the market at the
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| OEM and ISV level. In this respect it is JUST like the original Windows
| announcement ..
|
| One might worry that this will help Sun because we will just have
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| vaporware, that people will stop buying 486 machines, that we will have
| ^^^^^^^^^
| endorsed RISC but not delivered .. So, Scott, do you really think you
| can fight that avalanche?
`----
http://edge-op.org/iowa/www.iowaconsumercase.org/010807/PLEX_0411_A.pdf
Imaginary Innovations
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft, Intel and Motorola were especially vocal in promoting
| alliances with media brands that, a year later, have fizzled or
| haven't come to fruition at all.
|
| Last year, Microsoft pumped up the crowds about its URGE music
| service, which it created in conjunction with Viacom's MTV. But
| while MTV is just now beginning to promote the service, Microsoft
| seems to have moved on in favor of the Zune Marketplace and the
| potential of satellite TV on Media Center PCs and Xbox 360s.
`----
http://www.forbes.com/2007/01/04/vaporware-ces-gadgets-tech-media-cx_rr_0105vaporware.html?partner=yahootix
http://tinyurl.com/y8fdkr
Vaporware '06: Return of the King
,----[ Quote ]
| 8. The "IPod Killer"
|
| Every time we hear about a new portable audio device, it's touted
| as the magic bullet that will end the iPod's reign once and for
| all.
|
| Oh, you mean that thing? The one with the ugly design and clunky
| user interface? Does it at least work with iTunes?
|
| Microsoft's Zune was supposed to do the trick, but it's sitting
| on the shelves (even the SanDisk Sansa is selling better than Zune)w
| hile the kids are all enjoying their freshly unwrapped, shiny new
| iPods.
|
| Note to everyone: It's a White Wire World. Get over it.
`----
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,72350-1.html?tw=wn_story_page_next1
Microsoft Murders Max
,----[ Quote ]
| Well, it's official at any rate. Contrary to what you've heard, Windows
| Vista will not be shipping with any of the original technologies,
| features, capabilities, or subsystems originally promised (and for
| those of you that really couldn't tell: it's called sarcasm!). First
| it was the real Aero - complete visual control over one's system.
| Amazing graphics, sidebars that were a part of the Windows Core,
| Aero Diamond. Then it was NGSCB and its amazing security features
| - not DRM, but total privacy control; your privacy. Monad. Last
| we heard, it was WinFS, the king-pin feature that was promised
| to change the way you think of data... And now the last one is
| gone: Microsoft Max is dead.
`----
http://neosmart.net/blog/archives/277
Microsoft exec "guarantees" graphical superiority for 360 titles
,----[ Quote ]
| The idea of a "guarantee" of better-looking titles is substantially
| silly, however. Graphics quality is often subjective, and without a
| clear horsepower advantage of one system over the other, it will be
| difficult if not impossible to claim that titles on one system look better
| than those on another.
`----
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061003-7894.html
What Longhorn was supposed to be:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=b9ifQvQCO7Y
Enthusiasts progress with plans to resurrect Windows 'Longhorn'
,----[ Quot ]
| For the record, Microsoft officials never claimed Longhorn, the
| release of Windows now known as Vista, was cancelled. Instead,
| Microsoft execs said they "reset" their plans for Longhorn in 2004
| by decided to cut the Windows File System (WinFS) feature from the
| product and to use the Windows Server 2003 kernel as the core
| platform. But a number of developers and industry watchers have
| said they considered Vista to be a far cry from the operating
| system Microsoft originally demonsrated and described earlier
| this decade.
`----
http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=471
|
|
