Tag Archives: Microsoft - Page 2

The future of development on Windows

Posted by on 2011/06/27 No comments

Thanks to a link on Slashdot (yes, I read that too) I came across an article on Arstechnica about the (possible) future of development on the Windows platform in the future.

After the initial announcement that Microsoft is changing the fundamental way Windows 8 and writing custom applications they went into a ‘information freeze’ and are not giving more info on the subject. The reaction of several bloggers and the speculation that follows isn’t making things better. The Html5 and JavaScript message may not be the all and everything.

However, from the leaked (or released) testing versions so far it seems the situation is a bit more complex but perhaps not as bad as some developers are fearing. The author of the article goes on explaining the history around how longhorn was planned but ultimately dropped to support only existing (at that time) technologies. It can only be that the internal politics inside Microsoft causes so much turmoil and the ‘old’ side won. A lot of newly planned technologies got dropped in the process and the result was Windows XP without all those features promised (like WinFX etc). Then that Windows XP and the hackers story started and further derailed any possibility of new technology getting into the core platform. Even now with Windows 7 the .Net framework and related technologies are really only an ‘add-on’ and not used by the core of the OS. This is (according to the article) where Windows 8 is going to change things again – big time!

If the article proof to be accurate then there may be some hope for Microsoft still. The problem is just that old enemy – themselves, as internal fighting against change might make things more difficult. However, because of the changes in the market recently (last few years) Microsoft might not have the luxury anymore to just play around and ignore the internal politics. They have been surpassed by several competitors (yes, not just Apple) and survival is not guaranteed anymore. Any bugger-ups now can actually cause the company to go the way of the dodo. They better get it right. Perhaps with this thread hanging over their heads they are taking things more seriously and that is why they are not talking openly anymore about internal changes. The only next planned release of a build of the new Windows is scheduled around September so we’ll have to wait and see if/how things have changed.

In the mean while it might be a good thing to continue learn how to use XAML and WPF… (even though WPF is giving me headaches 😉 )

Microsoft vs Apple – stock prices compared over time

Posted by on 2011/06/23 No comments

I came across some interesting information comparing the history of Microsoft and Apple’s stock prices during the years. It contains a number of dates on a scale with major events or milestones for both companies plus what their stock prices were at the time. Apple might have struggled in the beginning but recently they have been soaring to extreme levels while Microsoft’s has been static for most of the last 10 years – despite some good products that were released in those times (Windows 7, Kinect etc.)

I’m not going to draw conclusions about the information – you can judge for yourself. If you are working from Microsoft then you’d probably be a bit worried though.

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Windows 8 and compatibility

Posted by on 2011/06/15 No comments

Yesterday I saw an article on Ars technica about how Microsoft is planning to give Windows 8 a totally new API (Application Programming Interface) that will break compatibility with most existing and past development tools – like Visual Studio. If this proof to be true then I think Microsoft has just signed their own death warrant (from an individual developer point of view). So much for having a usable Operating System (from a developmental view). All the experience we ‘developers’ gained the last decade or so will be basically useless (except HTML and JavaScript).

In a way I can understand why Microsoft would be doing such a thing. They are desperately trying to play catch-up in the market and needs to do more and more radical things just to stay relevant and alive . They have never been strong in creating a development technology and sticking with it. There is too much internal politics and infighting going on. The result is that they are failing faster and faster each time. But don’t count them out yet – Apple was once in that position and jumped back into life. For Microsoft’s sake lets hope they can also do it. Perhaps they must use their billions while they still have some to buy Steve Jobs 😉 – or ask uncle Bill to come out of retirement.

I must admit I really like C# so it would be a sad day if I have to hang up my C# ‘gloves’, so to speak.
Well, if I have to abandon the development knowledge gained the last decade I would rather choose something that will not limit me to Windows and Microsoft only. Ironically it will probably turn out to be something in the line of HTML and JavaScript. Perhaps Microsoft has a good idea there but it won’t help them keeping the skills in ‘their court’ since these are open standard technologies. In the next couple of years things could get really interesting (or chaotic…)