Zune discontinued....

[kelnet]

Thanks for the explanation.
I can see how security would be an issue, but if the US Air Force is going to use it, it must be pretty secure.

http://www.physorg.com/news184520608.html

(link removed)

 

[getbent]

Interesting. I think Google Docs is an example of taking last century thinking and just porting it to the cloud. The promise of cloud computing is the concept of 'always open, document-less existence'... the ability to access any work you've done with a multitude of devices for different purposes in appliance fashion (best tool for the job)...

but, it is effectively without documents as we currently know them... kelnet, think along the lines of wikipedia, the tdpri, blogs... places where the calculations and formatting are within a thing that is already open and available.

As for security, cloud security is much much better than current last century concepts...

The Google docs strategy is a very very short term attack on the Office suite concept... but, it is almost a step back in terms of user experience and probably won't be much 'stickier' than, say, red hat... too clunky, old interfaces, old paradigm... it just won't last in what is coming.

 

[iblastoff]

Zune died because it was an inadequate "me too" product that parroted the iPod without any of the supporting infrastructure. Zunes by themselves are OK, but iPod/iPhone is part of a much larger ecosystem of products and capabilities that Microsoft didn't grasp.

All their money is made on legacy products Windows/Office and somewhat XBox, but Microsoft's track record on new product releases is frankly sad. They seem to be struggling to make products from 2005.

completely agreed. microsoft has basically lost all touch with the consumer base while apple has taken over every single consumer market.

did you see their ridiculous marketing attempt at trying to advertise bing search engine on twitter by getting people to retweet it via the guise of $1 donations towards japans tsunami fund? so much backlash happened after that and they stopped the campaign and directly donated $100k instead. they can't even donate money without looking like idiots.

 

[Slow Reflexes]

Thanks for the explanation.
I can see how security would be an issue, but if the US Air Force is going to use it, it must be pretty secure..

Oh, crap... that is even scarier than Windows based nuclear subs.

 

[bradpdx]

Interesting. I think Google Docs is an example of taking last century thinking and just porting it to the cloud.
but, it is effectively without documents as we currently know them...

The Google docs strategy is a very very short term attack on the Office suite concept... but, it is almost a step back in terms of user experience and probably won't be much 'stickier' than, say, red hat... too clunky, old interfaces, old paradigm... it just won't last in what is coming.

Totally agree. Google Docs is a bit of ephemera, a look-alike model of MS Office that demonstrates that data and functionality can be delivered directly from "the cloud", but that wears its mid-90's clothes uncomfortably. Eventually the entire "office suite" will fade away and be replaced by something more resembling a container that exposes what you need at the moment - no more Word & Excel, just functions you need. Files? What stinkin' files?

New mobile devices like the iPad demonstrate that even with reduced sheer computational power, users can have a great and productive experience once old notions of "computer" are stripped away.

As I type this in a browser, I have to get back to work using MS Office and marvel at the Byzantine feature sets it has acquired - so many things to not use, where do I start? Still useful as long as coworkers still understand it, but looking every bit its considerable age.

My kids will not need MS anything to get through college. Game over.

 

[Mark Moore]

Windows Phone 7 has Zune built in. If it's in your phone, no need for a standalone device.

In theory.

I don't want a phone that does all that stuff, and I don't want a media player that surfs the web (although my new Zune HD does). I like my old Zune 80 because it does what it does, and IMO it does it very well.

 

[getbent]

Windows Phone 7 has Zune built in. If it's in your phone, no need for a standalone device.

In theory.

I don't want a phone that does all that stuff, and I don't want a media player that surfs the web (although my new Zune HD does). I like my old Zune 80 because it does what it does, and IMO it does it very well.

the features can be overwhelming for folks. The only thing I'd suggest is leave a little room in the back 40 for growth.... when you change your mind, you'll change it all at once.

(think of the scene in Field of Dreams when the little girl chokes and the uncle can suddenly see the ball field.) The whole post pc era is going to be really interesting and fun...

 

[iblastoff]

Totally agree. Google Docs is a bit of ephemera, a look-alike model of MS Office that demonstrates that data and functionality can be delivered directly from "the cloud", but that wears its mid-90's clothes uncomfortably. Eventually the entire "office suite" will fade away and be replaced by something more resembling a container that exposes what you need at the moment - no more Word & Excel, just functions you need. Files? What stinkin' files?

New mobile devices like the iPad demonstrate that even with reduced sheer computational power, users can have a great and productive experience once old notions of "computer" are stripped away.

As I type this in a browser, I have to get back to work using MS Office and marvel at the Byzantine feature sets it has acquired - so many things to not use, where do I start? Still useful as long as coworkers still understand it, but looking every bit its considerable age.

My kids will not need MS anything to get through college. Game over.

i don't think the ipad demonstrates productivity at all. its mainly a consuming device with the ability to enter data albeit poorly. have you ever tried to type up a report or something on the ipad? definitely not fun. what you probably want to refer to is a netbook.

 

[getbent]

i don't think the ipad demonstrates productivity at all. its mainly a consuming device with the ability to enter data albeit poorly. have you ever tried to type up a report or something on the ipad? definitely not fun. what you probably want to refer to is a netbook.

oh my.

 

[e-merlin]

Glad I didn't buy one. I had Betamax early on...

 

[Twangasaurus]

Get a Cowon X7, an audiophiles wet dream. Hands down the best audio device I have ever bought. I used iTunes once and god damn I regretted it. It's impossible to get rid of once you've installed it and gone through a few updates, it's like a virus. Even after I uninstalled the useless thing I was still deleting registry keys and random files found in the strangest of places that it had created months later that the uninstall hadn't gotten rid of.

 

[Tdot]

I was going to post something about this yesterday but figured it would just turn into bickering about Steve Jobs again.

I've never used a Zune or had any interest, but enough (well not quite enough) people seemed to like them. It's disappointing to see them give up after all the hoopla Ballmer made about it being the iPod killer. Six years later, the iPod killer is dead, joining Dells iPod killer- the Jukebox . It would be nice to see MS develop something new instead of out-of-touch copycat "Apple killer" products.

I used iTunes once and god damn I regretted it. It's impossible to get rid of once you've installed it and gone through a few updates, it's like a virus. Even after I uninstalled the useless thing I was still deleting registry keys and random files found in the strangest of places that it had created months later that the uninstall hadn't gotten rid of.

You can thank Microsoft for that nonsense, it's part of Windows, not iTunes.

 

[Sleph]

the same should happen to all microsoft products.....

 

[J-man]

the same should happen to all microsoft products.....

No, it shouldn't.

 

[Justinvs]

(think of the scene in Field of Dreams when the little girl chokes and the uncle can suddenly see the ball field.) The whole post pc era is going to be really interesting and fun...

Unless you live in an area where wifi is nonexistent or spotty at best. I have an idea the cloud for people in rural areas is going to be more like a really fine mist!

Justin

 

[getbent]

Unless you live in an area where wifi is nonexistent or spotty at best. I have an idea the cloud for people in rural areas is going to be more like a really fine mist!

Justin

Justin,

Believe me in the early 90's when I moved to the (still) wilds of western colorado, the cloud was TOUGH to get to.... today, it is one of the most connected areas around...

There are some interesting companies doing wireless and phone stuff with fancy weather balloons in the Dakotas... I think there will be some advances in that technology that will eventually build out to where you are....

It may require the kind of effort we gave to old reddi kilowatt and the rural electrification cooperative in the 60's, but I think it will get done...

I think you'll get good access in rural areas... Our cabin in Northern NM had nothing a couple of years ago and a bunch of us got together and worked it out and we have wireless access now (good too) but, it takes some guys who see the value to get it done...

 

[J-man]

Randy, what are your thoughts on the future of the PC? Has it had its day in the sun?

 

[iblastoff]

Randy, what are your thoughts on the future of the PC? Has it had its day in the sun?

depends on what audience you're talking about. for people who actually use computers in their job (graphic designers, audio, video etc etc) no tiny little 10" screen tablet is going to replace a desktop computer.

for the casual person who just uses the internet to surf/email/chat/watch youtube etc, most high end smartphones are good enough to do that already.

 

[Zillinois]

Zune died because it was an inadequate "me too" product that parroted the iPod without any of the supporting infrastructure. Zunes by themselves are OK, but iPod/iPhone is part of a much larger ecosystem of products and capabilities that Microsoft didn't grasp.

All their money is made on legacy products Windows/Office and somewhat XBox, but Microsoft's track record on new product releases is frankly sad. They seem to be struggling to make products from 2005.

Yet somehow still profitable. Go Figure.

 

[Justinvs]

Justin,

Believe me in the early 90's when I moved to the (still) wilds of western colorado, the cloud was TOUGH to get to.... today, it is one of the most connected areas around...

There are some interesting companies doing wireless and phone stuff with fancy weather balloons in the Dakotas... I think there will be some advances in that technology that will eventually build out to where you are....

It may require the kind of effort we gave to old reddi kilowatt and the rural electrification cooperative in the 60's, but I think it will get done...

I think you'll get good access in rural areas... Our cabin in Northern NM had nothing a couple of years ago and a bunch of us got together and worked it out and we have wireless access now (good too) but, it takes some guys who see the value to get it done...

They are laying fiber-optic this year to replace the oold land lines, and thee is always talk of a cell tower, but of course our biggest limiting factor is the terrain. Hell, I just switched over to high-speed last year from dial-up! <G>