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Why Microsoft wants everyone to have Windows 10

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Microsoft is in what appears to be a huge rush to get everyone to upgrade to Windows 10. They’ve even put a date on when they will quit giving it away for free: July 29, 2016.

Why is that and what’s the rush you ask?

There are a few good reasons to get everyone on the same playing field. It’s easier to issue patches and updates if you don’t have to create and test four (or more) different versions of whatever exploit the bad guys found. You wouldn’t have to worry about anything that was over 10 years old and still using software that has been full of security and performance holes for the last eight. That old, slow hardware that diminishes the customer experience can be retired. These are the reasons that come from the top of my head. There are more and (likely) better reasons than these few.

So how will Windows make money off of this? They’re giving it away for free.

One billion devices. (It’s necessary to do that line with your best Dr. Evil voice impersonation.) Microsoft has set a goal of getting Windows 10 on one billion devices. The fastest route to that goal is giving it away for free. They have a sunset date of July 29, 2016 but it seems logical for them to continue past that date as they haven’t quite reached one quarter of their goal (200,000 at last report). One billion devices delivers enough customers for developers to come back to the Windows Store and start designing those Apps we’ve all become so familiar with. The Windows Store really is pathetic compared to Apple’s iTunes and Android’s Google Play stores. Apple already is on over a billion devices and reported $31 billion dollars in sales per year. In Apps and “services”. That’s not a fair comparison you say? Microsoft is an operating system on a computer, not a phone. True — until now. Microsoft is building Windows 10 as a “universal platform” that works on all your devices from desktop to tablet to phone. It’s designed the App Development kit to enable developers to take advantage of all those different screen sizes in one set of code so that the experience is consistent across all those different devices.

Microsoft is taking a page from the Apple and Google model.

Apple gives away its OS. So does Google (Chrome OS). Apple makes its money from a 30% cut of the pie for every sale in it’s app store. Google primarily sells advertisements (and by extension your tracked data). Microsoft giving away Windows 10 to encourage you to engage in their own subscription model. Office 365 is the current “flagship” with what Microsoft hopes is the Microsoft Store nipping at its heels IF they can get the developers on board. Microsoft has been dabbling with the advertising (like in the free email client Outlook.com), but so far has stayed away from it on most other things. I hope they continue to do so. I will gladly pay for a subscription if it means I can stay “commercial free.”

It ends up being a numbers game.

One billion devices provides incentive for developers to create; users to buy and Microsoft to make money. They take a “hit” on revenue up front, but in the long game they come out ahead as we buy Apps and Office365 and whatever other subscription based product they come up with. It makes sense to me to just continue to offer Windows 10 for free as an upgrade with a small fee for the OS on new devices that would be part of the purchase price (like it is now). Only time will tell what strategy Microsoft will use but it looks like they’re on a path that can keep them relevant and solvent. Even when they’re “giving it away.”

Source Article for my ramblings: http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-windows-10-free-upgrade-2016-1

Microsoft: Say it ain’t so!

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Two troubling articles have surfaced about Microsoft in the past 24 hours. One of the strengths Microsoft had (especially when purchasing new hardware from the Microsoft Store) was that you could get your new hardware without all the “crapware” and “bloatware” that the other hardware vendors put on their devices. They did that as an additional revenue stream. Supposedly it made the hardware “more cost effective.” It is just annoying.

Now it seems that Microsoft signed a deal with TripAdvisor to do exactly the same thing. Preload crap on the device before you buy it. The full article from PC world is here: http://www.pcworld.com/article/3026728/windows/microsoft-will-preload-tripadvisor-onto-windows-10-devices-in-a-bid-for-relevance.html

The second article revolves around privacy and the “InPrivate” browsing mode that IE and Edge browsers have. The idea is that if you’re using the “InPrivate” feature, nothing gets written to the machine (cookies, URLs, etc.). This makes it harder for you to be tracked by the good or bad guys. Apparently the new Edge Browser on Windows 10 is keeping that data in folders that are fairly easy to access (if you know what you’re looking for). Microsoft says they’re working on fixing that. The full article is here: http://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/microsoft-edge-private-browsing-flaw-leaking-your-web-history-report-795607

Web link crashes Safari on your iPhone or Mac

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It works on Android too — and it’s not a good idea to do it on either.

So far it looks like a “harmless” prank. If you visit the site crashsafari.com (please don’t) it will crash the Safari browser on Mac and iOS (phone) devices so hard that you’ll likely require a reboot. It appears to do the same to Chrome on Android devices and PCs.

From the Endgadget article:

“There doesn’t appear to be any malware lurking behind the code, and you should be fine once you restart your browser or device. However, there are concerns that someone could use the crash to compromise your security (some attacks rely on crashes to open vulnerabilities)… or at least, use a URL shortener to hide the link and pull a prank.”

Read the full story here: http://www.engadget.com/2016/01/25/web-link-crashes-safari/

What is the Microsoft Educator Community and how can it help teachers?

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The Guardian recently released an “infomercial page” about the Microsoft Educator Community that does a really good job laying out some free resources for maximizing the Microsoft tools you likely already have in your classroom.

What sets MEC apart?

MEC has some particular advantages as a source of CPD:

  • It is separated from the school’s hierarchy and structure, and so is non-threatening and reassuring.
  • It is owned by the teacher, as a member of the MEC.
  • It is largely delivered by fellow educators, who, the evidence tells us, are the people from whom teachers are most likely to learn.
  • It is highly interactive – a collaborative learning community, not a passive group of learners.
  • It offers a wide choice of starting points – material which is age related, or subject related, or both, for example.
  • It is available anytime, anywhere, can be repeated, slowed down or approached from different directions.
  • It can be accredited with a system of “Microsoft innovative educator” badges.
  • Crucially, it’s free.

Read the whole article here: http://www.theguardian.com/microsoft-partner-zone/2016/jan/27/what-is-microsoft-educator-community-how-can-help-teachers

Office and OneDrive Updates for iPad Pro, iOS9, and WatchOS 2

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Microsoft has released updates to its Office 2016 Mac suite and OneDrive. The big news for me was that they have enabled the inking tools in OneNote to work with the Apple “pencil.” Now you really have no excuse for not using the best App out there.

Microsoft is taking advantage of the new multitasking features of the iPad Pro by using the Slide Over and Split View functions. (I wonder where Apple got the idea for these features? Microsoft Surface, anyone?!?)

Microsoft upped the ante with Intelligent Search, Wireless Keyboard Support, and two Watch enhancements for Outlook and Translator.

Source: https://blogs.office.com/2015/09/09/office-updates-for-the-ipad-pro-ios-9-and-watchos-2/

More conspiracy theories with Windows 10

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Opinion:

I really wish the conspiracy theorists would go after Google and Apple as hard as they do Microsoft. Microsoft is huge, but the other two are just as big and in many cases doing things far shadier than anything Microsoft has come up with.

In any case, I stumbled upon an article today from Business Insider that was ripe with conspiracy theory claiming that Microsoft was working with its hardware vendors to “kill Windows 7 & 8” and “forces chip makers into supporting Windows 10.” (source: “Microsoft forces chip makers into supporting Windows 10”)

Well, I say they’re right.

Last time I checked, time marched on and we can’t run Windows 7 on a 386 or 486 computer. OK, someone will probably come out of the woodwork now and claim to have done so, but my question is: how many hours did you spend making that work? Was it worth it in the end?

Windows 10 is here. It is streamlined code that runs more efficiently than 7 or 8. The new processors (specifically Intel’s “Skylake”) are more efficient. Why not combine the two and “double down” on processing efficiencies and battery life?

I don’t see anyone “forcing” anyone else here.

Unless you’re unfamiliar with how this whole computer life cycle thing works. If they move on with new silicone and new operating systems, then we have to buy more product. There’s nothing technically wrong with the hardware we have — but if you already have it, you’re not buying. The Bad guys are exploiting more vulnerabilities in operating systems and apps of all sorts and plugging those holes is often easier in the new version instead of trying to patch code that was obviously flawed. We don’t live in a “fix it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry” society. We live in a “throw it away and get new” society. It’s a shame, really.

Reading the whole press release makes a difference.

Microsoft’s Press Release about this very subject “Windows 10 Embracing Silicon Innovation” lays it out:

“In addition to our OEM partners, throughout the design of Windows 10, we’ve been working closely with our silicon partners, including Intel, AMD, NVidia, and Qualcomm, on collaborative engineering to ensure Windows 10 takes full advantage of new silicon features. We continue to partner with these companies on their roadmaps, to achieve breakthroughs in performance, imaging, connectivity, power, graphics, and more as the Windows platform evolves with them.”

I’m reading this as saying that they’re working with the silicon makers to further increase the efficiency of Windows 10 by taking advantage of innovation on the silicon itself.

Of course, this does leave 7 & 8 in the dust.

Just like Win 3.1, Win95 and WinXP were left behind by advances in processors and graphics. SURPRISE! (not really)

I understand that business currently lives in the Windows 7 (and A LOT of WinXP) world. Testing applications and business processes take time — this slows down adoption of new technology. (The Bad Guys love you for this, BTW) It’s looking like business will need to start hiring more “nerds” to increase their testing and adaptation rates. Time marches on faster and faster in each technology year.

Windows 10 is here. “Skylake” is here. Microsoft, Intel and their kind want you to buy more stuff.

Guess what they’re going to do? First, they’re not going to market to you. They’re going for the “kids.” Then they’re going to make the “candy” you already have look like a big pile of manure so you’ll buy their “new and improved candy.” Oh, and they’re not going to make the old “candy” anymore (because you’d probably buy that instead).

I wonder where I’ve seen this strategy before. Hmm.

Logo Apple Generasi Kedua

 

Apple has biggest App Store season ever

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Apple announced that it had its best ever sales this past holiday season. App store and in-app purchases topped 1.1 Billion dollars (cue Dr. Evil’s pinky finger) in a scant two week timeframe ending January 3, 2016.

“The App Store had a holiday season for the record books. We are excited that our customers downloaded and enjoyed so many incredible apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV, spending over $20 billion on the App Store last year alone,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “We’re grateful to all the developers who have created the most innovative and exciting apps in the world for our customers. We can’t wait for what’s to come in 2016.”

Source: http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2016/01/06Record-Breaking-Holiday-Season-for-the-App-Store.html

Microsoft ends IE 8,9, & 10 Support on Jan. 12, 2016

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Microsoft has announced that they will discontinue patches and security updates for everything but the latest version of Internet Explorer (IE 11). They’ve created a new browser (Edge) and they intend to use it. Edge only works with Windows 10, but IE 11 works with Windows 7, 8.1, & 10. I have run into an issue with the IE11 upgrade on a couple of machines whose graphics drivers would not permit the install. The manufacturer had no updated drivers so there was no way to upgrade the browser. Hopefully the graphics drivers will get a refresh and IE11 will be allowed to install — otherwise that’s going to be *very* frustrating for a lot of people.

You’ll still be allowed to use the older version of IE, it’s just not going to get any patches to try to keep the bad guys out and you’re going to be nagged every time you do Windows Updates.

Here’s the official press release: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/WindowsForBusiness/End-of-IE-support?tduid=(e6131b0a2d8fd84c949d3546391d2e20)(266696)(1503186)(skim66960X1514734X59f00d8e5f35e5eb1a1bc2265d8b4311)()