June 19, 2012
by sjvn01
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Microflops: Microsoft Surface RT and 8 tablets

Here’s the best part of Microsoft’s lame attempt to surprise us with a significant announcement:

Windows Embedded, Drone Edition
IPad for Xbox
Clippy for Metro
Minesweeper 2013
Windows Vista 8 Metro Edition
Microsoft Works for Blackberry 10
Vista, Second Edition

Those are among the names that the bored tech press came up with for Microsoft’s new product on Twitter while we were waiting for Microsoft to get its act together and make its announcement.

In the Los Angles-based event, Steve Ballmer announced Microsoft is selling a Windows RT and Windows 8 tablets, the re-branded Microsoft Surface. It’s a 10.6-inch—about an inch bigger than an iPad–tablet with a keyboard and touchpad on its built-in cover.

That sounds cool, but I really wonder just how sturdy it can be in real life. In addition, I’ve seen hybrid laptop and tablet before and I’m still waiting for one that actually delivers. One thing I will note to its credit is that Microsoft promises that it will work with both a stylus, for fine detail work, and with your finger when you’re trying to use the Windows 8 klutzy Metro’s interface.

Microflops: Microsoft Surface RT and 8 tablets. More >

June 19, 2012
by sjvn01
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Microsoft supports Linux desktop

No, that’s not my prediction for Microsoft’s mysterious Monday announcement. No, it’s what Microsoft is already doing with last week’s unexpected release of Skype 4 for Linux. Microsoft–Microsoft!–of all companies has just shipped its first mass-market, end-user Linux desktop program.

It really wasn’t surprising that Microsoft saw the light of Linux on servers when they started supporting major Linux distributions — CentOS, openSUSE, SUSE Linux, and Ubuntu — on Windows Azure. Ballmer and the rest of Microsoft’s brass may not like it one darn bit, but they know that people want Linux servers on the cloud so they had to give it to them.

In fact, Microsoft itself is using Linux for its services. Ironically enough, Microsoft has moved Skype from its peer-to-peer (P2P) architecture to one built around… wait for it: Linux servers.

Microsoft supports Linux desktop. More >

June 18, 2012
by sjvn01
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It’s the end of books as you knew them: E-books out-sell hardbound for the 1st time

If you follow the book trade, you knew this was coming. E-books, no matter whether you read them on an Amazon Kindle, a Barnes & Noble Nook, or your iPad are selling like crazy. We may complain about their high prices and even take eBook publishers to court for their prices and hardware lock-in, but we love our e-books. In fact, we love them so much that for the first time adult eBook sales were higher than adult hardcover sales.

It wasn’t even close. The Association of American Publishers reported that in the first quarter of 2012, adult eBook sales were up to $282.3 million while adult hardcover sales came to only $229.6 million. In last year’s first quarter, hardcover sales accounted for $223 million in sales while eBooks logged $220.4 million.

So where are the eBook buyers coming from? The answer is trade and mass-market paperbacks.

It’s the end of books as you knew them: E-books out-sell hardbound for the 1st time. More >

June 14, 2012
by sjvn01
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Australian retailer charges customers IE 7 “Tax”

If you’re shopping for electronics online at Australian retailer Kogan, an Oz equivalent of the U.S.’ Best Buy with the horribly out of date Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) 7 browser brace yourself for a nasty surprise. Kogan will charge you an extra 6.8% sales “tax” on your purchase.

In a blog post, the company explains, “The way we’ve been able to keep our prices so low is by using technology to make our business efficient and streamlined. One of the things stopping that is our web team having to spend a lot of time making our new website look normal on IE7. This is an extremely old browser, so from today, anyone buying from the site who uses IE7 will be lumped with a 6.8% surcharge – that’s 0.1% for each month IE7 has been on the market.

While I’m sure this is primarily a sales stunt, there is some truth to Kogan’s problem.

Australian retailer charges customers IE 7 “Tax.” More >

June 14, 2012
by sjvn01
0 comments

Microsoft unexpectedly ships a new version of Skype for Linux

You could have knocked me over with a feather. The last thing I expected was to see a new version of Skype, the popular Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) program, arrive for Linux. But, just in time for Skype’s new in-your-face advertising program, Skype 4.0 for Linux has arrived.

Microsoft unexpectedly ships a new version of Skype for Linux. More >

June 13, 2012
by sjvn01
0 comments

Skype jumps the shark: Seven alternative VoIP services

Hundreds of millions of people use Skype for its free voice over IP (VoIP) services every day. Indeed, Skype claims that in March 2012, 35-million people were all talking at the same time on the service. But, how many of them are going to stick with it when Microsoft, Skype’s owner, sticks ads in your face?

Microsoft announced that “While on a 1:1 audio call, users will see content that could spark additional topics of conversation that are relevant to Skype users and highlight unique and local brand experiences. So, you should think of Conversation Ads as a way for Skype to generate fun interactivity between your circle of friends and family and the brands you care about.” Oh yeah, I always like having an ad pop-up when I’m talking to a friend or co-worker.

Skype jumps the shark: Seven alternative VoIP services. More >

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