Microsoft, Apple, and device discontinuity

Microsoft argues that the Surface will save you from having to buy a MacBook and an iPad, but its integrated tablet comes at the price of a disjointed user experience.

A major theme at Microsoft's introduction of Surface Pro 3 was a refinement of a message that the company has been pushing for third-party hybrid portable computers since the release of Windows 8. Why deal with the hassle of deciding between a MacBook and iPad or the expense of buying both when you could have the intimacy of a tablet experience and the productivity of a laptop experience in Surface Pro?

The answer to that rhetorical question is influenced by Apple's history and justified by its philosophy. But it also raises challenges to Apple about working with both a MacBook and iPad.

Let's start with why the MacBook and iPad are separate devices and why they remain so. Steve Jobs once confirmed at an industry conference that Apple had begun work on what would become the iPad before it developed the iPhone. After the iPhone had been released, though, and the company looked toward the tablet, it faced a choice. It could have pursued the path it did by scaling up the iPhone's software or brought forward the legacy of Mac apps with some touch APIs.

One might chalk up the choice it made to a fundamental difference between Apple's and Microsoft's historical business models. Apple makes money from devices, after all, and benefits from customers purchasing two (or three in the case of an iPhone) rather than one. However, the company could have created (and still could create) a Yoga-like hinge and a touch screen on the MacBook Air or made the screen detachable and added a bunch of touch APIs to preserve and carry forward legacy Mac applications. It could have called this the MacBook Touch and charged a high premium for it the way it did for the first Retina MacBook.

Casting aside the debate about the touch-screen ergonomics on a notebook, such a device might not have had to contend with the dual personality of Windows' Modern/desktop dichotomy. Windows apps such as Office and the forthcoming version of Photoshop that was shown at the Surface Pro 3 launch have a degree of touch-enablement. However, they are not touch-optimized. Microsoft essentially concedes it's not enough, which is why it is working on a Modern version of Office for Windows. (Indeed, if an app is not "modern" -- and certainly isn't futuristic -- isn't it by default "dated"?)

In other words, Apple surely considered an approach similar to Microsoft's -- a touch-enabled but backward-compatible Mac versus a touch-optimized iPad would have involved a compromised experience, one that Microsoft is working to improve gradually through its own improvements to Windows and -- more importantly -- by encouraging third parties to develop apps that perhaps one day will provide a virtually completely "Modern" experience.

Instead, Apple drew a line in the sand and said the iPad is where we will break compatibility and focus on a new class of apps. This is similar to how it started over from the very successful Apple II with the Lisa and then Mac with the exception that the company was able to reuse much more of the underlying OS foundation.

But despite it heralding the "post-PC era," Apple will continue to have one foot planted in the PC era, and that's the Mac. As it continues to develop it along with its portable iOS products like the iPad, its customers must content with some friction in working with multiple devices in comparison to one in the Surface. I'll dive into those challenges and some things Apple might do to alleviate them in my next column.

Source:

www.cnet.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 11:01 PM in Apple, device discontinuity, laptop experience, MacBook, Microsoft, Microsoft's introduction, not touch-optimized, separate devices, Surface Pro 3, touch-enablement, Windows 8

TIME FOR AN UPGRADE! MICROSOFT STOPS WINDOWS XP SUPPORT, MAKING THE SYSTEM VULNERABLE TO HACKERS

If you’re still using Windows XP, you’re out in the cold. Microsoft has ceased offering support for the outdated software and, according to Microsoft’s research, Windows XP computers are six times more likely to get infected because there will be no more updates to patch holes in the system that can be exploited by hackers.

Granted the operating system is now 12 years old, but this news is leaving many worried about cyberattacks. Microsoft will no longer provide security updates that patch holes in the software so if hackers find bugs in XP, they will be able to exploit them easily. Many are concerned since Windows XP is still widely used on devices that store sensitive data and by computers controlling municipal lights and water.

What’s even more troubling, an estimated 95 percent of bank ATMs operate on XP. “GE Intelligent Platforms, which sells industrial software, discovered 75 percent of its utility customers still use it. Cybersecurity provider Cylance says one of its clients is a major hospital where XP is still on more than 100,000 devices, including computers that hold patient records,” reports CNNMoney.

And according to Greg Rosenberg, a security engineer at Trustwave, point-of-sale systems at about 30 percent of retail stores. Remember Target’s massive security breach? It could happen again.

Those still using the old system are advised to upgrade. Select an operating system that still receives updates from Microsoft, the best option being Windows 8. Microsoft will reportedly continue to support it until 2023.

Microsoft will be adding Windows 8′s missing start button in the next update. The company is also giving away $100 in credits for new PCs.

XP users are already migrating to newer systems. “From early 2013 to 2014, the share of computers using XP dropped from 35 percent to 14 percent, according to cloud security provider Qualys,” reports CNN. That number is expected to drop to 10 percent by the end of April.

Transportation and health care sectors slashed their Windows XP usage a great deal. The Defense, Labor and Home Security departments have been spending millions to upgrade from XP, found a CNNMoney review.

Experts advise even small business owners to invest in an upgrade. “The majority of folks in these industries aren’t technical. They want to serve food, sell widgets and keep doors open,” said Trustwave director Christopher Pogue. “If there are vulnerabilities identified, there’s going to be no defending against it.”

Source:
madamenoire.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 10:10 AM in 12 years old, CNNMoney, computers, cyberattacks, Microsoft, outdated, PCs, software, Windows 8, Windows XP

A Goodbye to Windows XP

We here at Big Shiny Robot would like to give a warm send off to the little operating system that could, Windows XP. As of today (April 8, 2014) Microsoft has ended support for the operating system that kept on chugging. It was the OS that could because it was beloved, even after some fairly large gripes about the changes to the start menu. XP was a fairly stable after some initial service packs and it quickly became the OS of choice for most of the world. It was also the OS that could because of the miserable adoption rate of Windows Vista and the lukewarm embrace of the Windows 8 operating system by businesses.

Windows XP had an incredibly long life cycle as a supported OS by Microsoft mostly due to businesses unwillingness to let it go. Many legacy applications that worked just fine were slow to upgrade or become certified on the Windows 7 platform. Windows 7 is by and large the de facto operating system for companies but that may change with Windows 8.1 and future updates to Windows 8 planned by Microsoft. Although the start menu became larger and included an unwieldy pin list, consumers eventually came around to the XP GUI changes. Microsoft hoped the same would happen with Windows 8 mostly because their research showed that users rarely used the start button in XP any longer. Even with the enhanced search ability of Windows 7, most users still pinned applications to their task bar or accessed applications from shortcuts on their desktop. Microsoft had hoped that creating application launching tiles with live updated data from the applications themselves would win over consumers, but adoption has been slower than they had wanted.

FOR THE USERS STILL ON XP, THE FUTURE HAS MOVED AT AN INCREASINGLY RAPID RATE

Still, Microsoft extended the support for XP to an incredible twelve and a half years hoping people would make the switch to Windows 8.1. Now Microsoft is allowing businesses to purchase OEM copies of Windows 7 and for manufacturers to sell new PC’s with Windows 7 pre-installed. That meant the old OS that kept on chugging up that hill was meant for retirement on the other side. That means no security updates from Microsoft, and that is a harrowing thought for anyone who supports XP or still owns a machine with XP installed on it. Many companies are refusing to update to a newer OS, even with their operations teams pleading the case for upgrades. According to CRN in the UK, the UK government has paid Microsoft nearly £5.5M to extend their support for Windows XP another year.

Others are left in the dust of the digital age and really, can we feel sorry for them? The average expentency of an OS lifetime is 3 years. Apple has updated their OSX operating sytem with large changes on an average of 18 month cycle. Competitive Linux distributions like Ubuntu and Mint OS have made their update cycle even less. With those influences, Microsoft has said they’re committed to making even more frequent updates to Windows. That could mean big things for the future as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has just announced at the Microsoft Build conference that Windows will be free for devices with screens under nine inches. As Microsoft has tried to take a page from Android in having a unified OS on all devices they’ve also committed themselves to a mobile community used to yearly updates to core operating system services and functionality. For the users still on XP, the future has moved at an increasingly rapid rate to the point that their stubbornness or comfort with their system is simply too old to be safe or efficient in the modern “Internet of Things”.

GOODBYE OLD FRIEND, MOST OF US WILL NOT MISS YOU BUT WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT TIMES.

All of that doesn’t matter to those that are happy with their computer and Windows XP. They’re left to wonder if they’ll be able to stay secure or if they’ll be forced to update. In the end, if they do decide to change but only ant to upgrade their operating system. What then are the options for anyone unwilling to toast to Windows XP’s retirement? Users could opt for a distribution of Linux that can run on older hardware. While newer versions of the more popular distributions of Linux have actually struggled to keep pace with the speed of Windows 8.1, many distributions such as Puppy Linux or Ubuntu Lite run great on old hardware. Those Linux distributions are continuously updated with security and feature improvements and they’ll run faster on older hardware than Windows XP could ever hope to have run. Others will think it’s time to jump into a new OS so they may as well try Apple.

The truth to that argument though, is that users who have refused to update are going to have to settle for slower or smaller machines such as a 21.5 inch all in one iMac or the underpowered Macbook Air starting at a thousand dollars. To those users who are on a budget, they’ll find the new Apple OS familiar with features similar to Windows XP but with the benefit of the very useful Dock, Launch Pad, Spotlight and Mission Control. The OS though, is feeling a bit aged and the Mavericks refresh last fall didn’t help that situation at all. Other options for those on a budget may be a tablet or a Chrome Book. Users who are more used to being connected will probably opt for anything other than a Chrome Book despite its enhanced system security features.

With most of the Windows XP issue being an issue for those that aren’t tech savvy, many tech users have friends and family who are still using Windows XP. Those users were comfortable and had moved on from Internet Explorer to Chrome or Firefox so their internet traffic is probably safe, but without security support, will those friends and family soon be calling? Having to throw out a beloved old pair of shoes is tough because they fit just right and have seen you through many miles. The same could be said for Windows XP and peoples attachment to it. Everything has it’s time to go though, and April 8, 2014 was Windows XP’s time. Goodbye old friend, most of us will not miss you but we thank you for all the great times.

Image from blog.backupbob.com

Source:

www.bigshinyrobot.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 12:57 AM in Big Shiny, CRN, Goodbye, Microsoft, Robot, shortcuts, UK, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows XP

Microsoft shores up Hotmail policies after Windows 8 leaks

Will look in accounts, under some circumstances

WEBMAIL SERVICE PROVIDER Microsoft has attempted to clarify the circumstances in which it will look into a Hotmail account and possibly disclose information about its users.

The firm released information about this because it was revealed earlier that a Microsoft employee leaked its software to someone using a Hotmail account, and that Microsoft found out about this by examining his inbox.

Microsoft explained this will happen in some circumstances, and that is just a fact.

In a blog post on Technet, Microsoft deputy general counsel and VP of legal and corporate affairs John Frank said that privacy is important, until something that could be considered worthy of inspection by a court comes along.

"In this case, we took extraordinary actions based on the specific circumstances. We received information that indicated an employee was providing stolen intellectual property, including code relating to our activation process, to a third party who, in turn, had a history of trafficking for profit in this type of material," said Frank.

"In order to protect our customers and the security and integrity of our products, we conducted an investigation over many months with law enforcement agencies in multiple countries. This included the issuance of a court order for the search of a home relating to evidence of the criminal acts involved. The investigation repeatedly identified clear evidence that the third party involved intended to sell Microsoft IP and had done so in the past."

No court was needed in this case because, he said, "Courts do not, however, issue orders authorising someone to search themselves."

"So even when we believe we have probable cause, there's not an applicable court process for an investigation such as this one relating to the information stored on servers located on our own premises," he added. "As part of the investigation, we undertook a limited review of this third party's Microsoft operated accounts."

Frank implied that all of this is fine and dandy and said that it is written in black and white in Microsoft's terms of service. However, he said that he could see how some people might have concerns about the firm's reach. Because of this Microsoft is making some changes.

The first change looks like no change at all. "We will not conduct a search of customer email and other services unless the circumstances would justify a court order, if one were available," said Frank.

The other points are related to due diligence. Microsoft will stick to standards "applicable to obtaining a court order" and will first carry out an inspection of content with legal, as opposed to investigative, personnel. Investigations will only progress if the legal team decides that there is enough evidence to request a court order.

Investigations will be closely guarded, Microsoft said, and the use of any data retrieved from customers' accounts will be limited to the purposes for which it was plundered.

With a nod to openness, Microsoft said it will publish the details of any of these investigations in its transparency report.

"The privacy of our customers is incredibly important to us," added Frank. "That is why we are building on our current practices and adding to them to further strengthen our processes and increase transparency."

Microsoft told The INQUIRER today in a statement, "We take protection of our intellectual property very seriously, including cooperating with law enforcement agencies who are investigating potential criminal actions by our employees or others." µ

News Source: www.theinquirer.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 6:13 AM in blog post, Courts, email, Hotmail policies, Microsoft, Microsoft IP, Microsoft shores, standards, Technet, Windows 8

Ex-Microsofter arrested over Windows 8 trade secret theft

Alex Kibkalo is accused of sharing enterprise secrets

UNITED STATES law enforcement authorities have arrested a man on suspicion of pinching Windows 8 software from Microsoft and sharing it.

The chap arrested was Alex Kibkalo, an ex-Microsoft employee. The Seattle PI newspaper said that he is accused of stealing trade secrets while still in the employ of the Redmond machine, and showing them off.

Kibkalo was a seven year veteran at the firm when allegedly he began taking trade secrets home with him. He is accused of snatching elements of Windows 8 and sharing them with a French blogger, who remains unnamed so far.

The ex-Microsoft staffer is accused of taking the lead on the leaks, and allegedly began discussing the possibility of sharing Windows software in the summer of 2012. The Seattle PI said that he mooted sharing enterprise software and that this was cautiously accepted by the blogger.

"I would leak enterprise today probably," Kibkalo allegedly said, according to charging papers. "Hmm," the blogger replied. "Are you sure you want to do that? Lol."

The blogger raised the point that leaking the software would be illegal, and the accused leaker allegedly acknowledged that.

Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing investigators suspected Kibkalo and were able to trace the French blogger to a Hotmail account. There they read that the source had previously and successfully shared Windows 7 code, and was planning to access a Redmond building and take over a server.

The Seattle PI reported that Microsoft suspects Kibkalo also leaked internal documents. He allegedly started leaking materials after receiving a poor performance review. µ

News Source: www.theinquirer.net

Posted by Editorial Team on 5:49 AM in Alex Kibkalo, arrested, Ex-Microsofter, French blogger, Seattle PI, secret theft, software, United State, Windows 7, Windows 8

Mozilla kills ‘Metro’ Windows 8 Firefox plans, claims interest has been ‘pretty flat’

Firefox-maker Mozilla announced yesterday that it’s ending work on the “Metro” version of its browser (the former name Microsoft used for its Windows 8 tablet interface) — mainly, because nobody seems to be interested.

“In the months since, as the team built and tested and refined the product, we’ve been watching Metro’s adoption,” wrote Firefox VP Johnathan Nightingale in a blog post yesterday. “From what we can see, it’s pretty flat. On any given day we have, for instance, millions of people testing pre-release versions of Firefox desktop, but we’ve never seen more than 1000 active daily users in the Metro environment.”

To be clear, you can still run Firefox in the traditional desktop environment in Windows 8. Mozilla is simply killing the touchscreen version of its browser for the Windows 8 app store.

The announcement is a major blow to Microsoft’s vision for Windows 8, which desperately needs killer software in its app store — or at the very least, apps that take advantage of Windows 8′s touchscreen focus. Google, for example, has a Windows 8 mode in its Chrome browser, which makes it function like a full-screen Windows 8 app.

While Mozilla could have released an untested version of its Firefox Metro app, Nightingale points out that’s not how the company rolls. “If we release a product, we maintain it through end of life,” he wrote. “When I talk about the need to pick our battles, this feels like a bad one to pick: significant investment and low impact.”

For now, Mozilla will keep the Metro code on ice, just in case there’s a massive demand for a purely Windows 8 version of Firefox. Judging from what I’m seeing so far, though, that will take a while.

News Source: venturebeat.com

Posted by Editorial Team on 6:28 AM in blog post, claims interest, Firefox plans, Firefox VP, Johnathan Nightingale, Metro, Microsoft used, Mozilla kills, pretty flat, Windows 8