Google Apps is probably one of the most (if not the most) recognizable cloud-based platform these days. Universities are starting to use this and replace old email and calendar systems with the help of cloud-solution provider Appirio.
Essentially, Appirio acts as a liaison between Google and the university. (Appirio does work with K-12 schools as well, but there’s a larger focus on higher education as there are more students and faculty/staff with need for email accounts.)
Google provides the applications and charges for the administrative functionality. Most educational institutions subscribe to Gmail and Google Calendar, and collaborative apps (i.e. Google Docs) are more secondary in nature at this point.
Then Appirio steps in to help the university with initial planning, tuning the platform’s architecture,the actual implementation, and training employees about the new capabilities. Ryan Nichols, VP of solution marketing at Appirio, said that a lot of the existing platforms at these schools are “older and brittle…so we have to be more careful about the migration plan.”
One of the reasons why universities are moving to the cloud, particularly with Google Apps, isn’t too revolutionary: the promise of cost reduction. That’s fairly standard at this point.
Nichols also pointed out another reason: students are coming into college with different expectations as they are likely already educated in some sort of cloud collaboration. He also noted what impact this will have on the next generation of the virtual workforce:
One of the things that is really interesting about this shift is the impact this has on the enterprise overtime. We’ve talked about the consumerization of IT and what they’re experiencing in their personal lives is being transmitted to the workforce…
In universities, people are being trained how to work together. That’s at the core of every workplace…They’re going to be able to expect to work in a different way.
As Google Apps is accessible on almost every mobile device, Nichols said, people are going to bring the expectations of working via the cloud to the workforce.
Just as most tech insiders reflected last week at GigaOm’s Structure conference that cloud computing is in its early days still, Appirio is too on this project. However, it is growing rather quickly as at least 10 universities are working with Appirio to adopt Google Apps, including Brown University and New York University.
Nichols acknowledged that “the need is really across the board” when it comes to upgrading this databases and platforms, private schools are making the change in larger numbers as it can be harder for public schools to justify major developments due to budgetary constraints. That goes a bit against the idea that lower costs is one of the driving forces behind cloud adoption, but it still makes sense as cloud usage isn’t as widespread as it will likely be within the next few years.
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certifications enable professionals to target specific technologies and to distinguish themselves by demonstrating in-depth knowledge and expertise in their specialized technologies. more at http://www.certkingdom.com
Monday, June 27, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Microsoft: Cloud computing won't hurt us
New Microsoft Server & Tools chief makes first public appearance
Cloud computing is widely perceived as a threat to Microsoft, because the maker of Windows and Microsoft Office earns the lion's share of its money selling licenses for packaged software.
But Microsoft's new Server & Tools President, in his first public appearance since taking the top spot, said cloud computing is another opportunity Microsoft can exploit just as it did with the birth of the PC.
Microsoft cloud stumbles: Windows Azure turns 1 in 'anemic' market
"If you look at our history, it's always been about taking an inflection point and being the democratizing force behind," said Satya Nadella, who replaced longtime Microsoft executive Bob Muglia as the Server & Tools chief in February this year.
"At a philosophical level, if you say there is a fundamental change in architecture, we have to embrace it and ride it," Nadella continued, during a 20-minute on-stage discussion Wednesday with Eric Savitz of Forbes at the GigaOM Structure Conference.
Microsoft has always been about "low price and high volume," Nadella also said, making the case that the consumption-based economics of cloud computing fits into Microsoft's sweet spot.
"We're not the ones with high license fees," he said. "I look at this as structurally a very beneficial thing for us. But, sure, we have to innovate."
Windows Azure, Microsoft's platform-as-a-service cloud, opened for business more than a year ago but hasn't gained the adoption seen by Amazon's infrastructure-as-a-service offering or Salesforce's PaaS cloud.
Still, Nadella insisted that Amazon's success can help Microsoft, because Amazon hosts Windows Server instances.
"A good chunk of our Windows business, we do through Amazon," he said.
Going forward, application developers could build services that use Azure for computing and Amazon for storage, and even make calls back to the customer's internal data center, he said.
"My approach would be to partner as broadly as possible with anyone who is in this business," Nadella said.
While Nadella oversees Windows Server and Windows Azure, Microsoft's cloud ambitions extend much further with Office 365, a hosted version of Exchange, SharePoint, Lync and Microsoft Office. Office 365 is set to launch out of beta next week, while its predecessor, the BPOS service, suffered an outage just before Nadella took the stage.
Office 365 isn't Nadella's responsibility, but he was willing to admit something other Microsoft executives try to avoid discussing: Office Web Apps, the online versions of Word, PowerPoint and Excel, are limited.
"They're pretty good, but they're not as good as the Office client is today," Nadella said of Office Web Apps.
Regarding Azure, Nadella pitched Microsoft's ability to offer both public cloud services and the software necessary to build private clouds. The Windows Azure appliance has allowed customers like Fujitsu and eBay to bring Microsoft cloud technology into their own data centers, he said. Fujitsu, for example, turned to the Azure appliance when it came to putting mainframe applications in a cloud service.
Customers often aren't willing to trust all their applications to a cloud vendor, Nadella noted. While a company might host a website on a cloud service, the same company may keep its core billing system in-house. This is due both to performance and security concerns.
Nadella said the industry needs "great encryption technology for anything that is moving over the wire," adding that: "I think security will remain a big topic for the industry at large. But it's not just a cloud issue. It's an issue for anyone with any type of network."
Cloud computing is widely perceived as a threat to Microsoft, because the maker of Windows and Microsoft Office earns the lion's share of its money selling licenses for packaged software.
But Microsoft's new Server & Tools President, in his first public appearance since taking the top spot, said cloud computing is another opportunity Microsoft can exploit just as it did with the birth of the PC.
Microsoft cloud stumbles: Windows Azure turns 1 in 'anemic' market
"If you look at our history, it's always been about taking an inflection point and being the democratizing force behind," said Satya Nadella, who replaced longtime Microsoft executive Bob Muglia as the Server & Tools chief in February this year.
"At a philosophical level, if you say there is a fundamental change in architecture, we have to embrace it and ride it," Nadella continued, during a 20-minute on-stage discussion Wednesday with Eric Savitz of Forbes at the GigaOM Structure Conference.
Microsoft has always been about "low price and high volume," Nadella also said, making the case that the consumption-based economics of cloud computing fits into Microsoft's sweet spot.
"We're not the ones with high license fees," he said. "I look at this as structurally a very beneficial thing for us. But, sure, we have to innovate."
Windows Azure, Microsoft's platform-as-a-service cloud, opened for business more than a year ago but hasn't gained the adoption seen by Amazon's infrastructure-as-a-service offering or Salesforce's PaaS cloud.
Still, Nadella insisted that Amazon's success can help Microsoft, because Amazon hosts Windows Server instances.
"A good chunk of our Windows business, we do through Amazon," he said.
Going forward, application developers could build services that use Azure for computing and Amazon for storage, and even make calls back to the customer's internal data center, he said.
"My approach would be to partner as broadly as possible with anyone who is in this business," Nadella said.
While Nadella oversees Windows Server and Windows Azure, Microsoft's cloud ambitions extend much further with Office 365, a hosted version of Exchange, SharePoint, Lync and Microsoft Office. Office 365 is set to launch out of beta next week, while its predecessor, the BPOS service, suffered an outage just before Nadella took the stage.
Office 365 isn't Nadella's responsibility, but he was willing to admit something other Microsoft executives try to avoid discussing: Office Web Apps, the online versions of Word, PowerPoint and Excel, are limited.
"They're pretty good, but they're not as good as the Office client is today," Nadella said of Office Web Apps.
Regarding Azure, Nadella pitched Microsoft's ability to offer both public cloud services and the software necessary to build private clouds. The Windows Azure appliance has allowed customers like Fujitsu and eBay to bring Microsoft cloud technology into their own data centers, he said. Fujitsu, for example, turned to the Azure appliance when it came to putting mainframe applications in a cloud service.
Customers often aren't willing to trust all their applications to a cloud vendor, Nadella noted. While a company might host a website on a cloud service, the same company may keep its core billing system in-house. This is due both to performance and security concerns.
Nadella said the industry needs "great encryption technology for anything that is moving over the wire," adding that: "I think security will remain a big topic for the industry at large. But it's not just a cloud issue. It's an issue for anyone with any type of network."
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Windows tablet has super-bright outdoor display
Handheld US released an 8.4-inch tablet PC that runs Windows XP Professional on a 1.1GHz Intel Atom Z510 processor. The "Algiz 8" resists shock, dust, and water, has a hot-swappable battery, offers an 1100-nit sunlight-readable display, and operates down to -4 deg.
According to the Rugged PC Review website, which has already published a detailed analysis of the Algiz, the Algiz 8 derives from a design originated by JLT Mobile Computers AB of Sweden. Indeed, the device looks very similar to JLT's JLT8404 and to Roper Mobile Technology's Duros 8404 (right), another tablet that appears to have been based on the same design.
However, the Duros 8404 and original JLT8404 were offered with either a 500GHz AMD Geode LX or a 1.0GHz Intel Celeron M CPU, whereas the newly revised Algiz 8 uses Intel's 1.1GHz Atom Z510. (A test comparing otherwise-similar tablets using these three different processors would make for interesting reading.)
For its part, Handheld claims that use of the Atom CPU has improved "both performance and battery life." The company says the Algiz 8's hot-swappable, 4800mAh battery "lets you continue working all day without recharging," though it doesn't add how many battery swaps are required to achieve this. Handheld also touts a new, optional outdoor-viewable display with an increased brightness rating of more than 1100 nits.
Like its JLT8404 and Duros 8404 cousins, the Algiz 8 is sealed against dust and water to the IP65 standard, and meets MIL-STD-810F standards for resistance to vibration and shock. According to Handheld, the device may be operated from -4 to 122 deg. F (-20 to 50 deg. C), and can withstand four-foot drops onto concrete.
The Algiz 8 is equipped with an 8.4-inch resistive touchscreen display, with 800 x 600 pixel resolution. To the right of the screen, there are membrane keys that toggle power, lock the system, control cursor movement, and may be assigned to various function keys, Handheld says.
The tablet comes with 1GB of DDR memory and a 60GB hard drive, plus a USB port, an RJ45 Ethernet port, and a connector for an optional docking station. Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11a/b/g wireless networking are also standard, while GPS and a GSM cellular modem are listed as options. The Algiz 8 also includes a built-in microphone and stereo speakers, Handheld says.
Features and specifications listed by Handheld for the Algiz 8 include:
* Processor -- 1.1GHz Atom Z510
* Memory -- 1GB of DDR RAM
* Display -- 8.4-inch resistive touchscreen display with 800 x 600 resolution; optional sunlight-viewable version has 1100-nit brightness rating
* Storage -- Shock-mounted 60GB hard disk drive, or optional flash storage
* Networking -- RJ45 Ethernet (speed n/s)
* Wireless:
o GPS (optional)
o GSM cellular modem (optional)
* Other I/O:
o 1 x USB 2.0
o DC input
* Expansion -- Docking connector
* Power supply -- 480mAh battery, or external power from 9VDC to 21VDC
* Operating temperature -- -20 to 50 deg. C (-4 to 122 deg. F)
* Dimensions -- 10.3 x 7.8 x 1.7 inches (261 x 198mm x 44mm)
* Weight -- 4.2 lbs (1.9kg)
A promotional video for the Algiz 8
Source: Handheld
(click to play)
Further information
Handheld says the Algiz 8 runs Windows XP Professional. Since RMT's Duros 8404 was also said to run Windows XP Tablet Edition, Windows XP Embedded, Windows Vista, and Linux, we'd guess these operating systems could also be installed on the device if desired.
According to the Rugged PC Review website, which has already published a detailed analysis of the Algiz, the Algiz 8 derives from a design originated by JLT Mobile Computers AB of Sweden. Indeed, the device looks very similar to JLT's JLT8404 and to Roper Mobile Technology's Duros 8404 (right), another tablet that appears to have been based on the same design.
However, the Duros 8404 and original JLT8404 were offered with either a 500GHz AMD Geode LX or a 1.0GHz Intel Celeron M CPU, whereas the newly revised Algiz 8 uses Intel's 1.1GHz Atom Z510. (A test comparing otherwise-similar tablets using these three different processors would make for interesting reading.)
For its part, Handheld claims that use of the Atom CPU has improved "both performance and battery life." The company says the Algiz 8's hot-swappable, 4800mAh battery "lets you continue working all day without recharging," though it doesn't add how many battery swaps are required to achieve this. Handheld also touts a new, optional outdoor-viewable display with an increased brightness rating of more than 1100 nits.
Like its JLT8404 and Duros 8404 cousins, the Algiz 8 is sealed against dust and water to the IP65 standard, and meets MIL-STD-810F standards for resistance to vibration and shock. According to Handheld, the device may be operated from -4 to 122 deg. F (-20 to 50 deg. C), and can withstand four-foot drops onto concrete.
The Algiz 8 is equipped with an 8.4-inch resistive touchscreen display, with 800 x 600 pixel resolution. To the right of the screen, there are membrane keys that toggle power, lock the system, control cursor movement, and may be assigned to various function keys, Handheld says.
The tablet comes with 1GB of DDR memory and a 60GB hard drive, plus a USB port, an RJ45 Ethernet port, and a connector for an optional docking station. Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11a/b/g wireless networking are also standard, while GPS and a GSM cellular modem are listed as options. The Algiz 8 also includes a built-in microphone and stereo speakers, Handheld says.
Features and specifications listed by Handheld for the Algiz 8 include:
* Processor -- 1.1GHz Atom Z510
* Memory -- 1GB of DDR RAM
* Display -- 8.4-inch resistive touchscreen display with 800 x 600 resolution; optional sunlight-viewable version has 1100-nit brightness rating
* Storage -- Shock-mounted 60GB hard disk drive, or optional flash storage
* Networking -- RJ45 Ethernet (speed n/s)
* Wireless:
o GPS (optional)
o GSM cellular modem (optional)
* Other I/O:
o 1 x USB 2.0
o DC input
* Expansion -- Docking connector
* Power supply -- 480mAh battery, or external power from 9VDC to 21VDC
* Operating temperature -- -20 to 50 deg. C (-4 to 122 deg. F)
* Dimensions -- 10.3 x 7.8 x 1.7 inches (261 x 198mm x 44mm)
* Weight -- 4.2 lbs (1.9kg)
A promotional video for the Algiz 8
Source: Handheld
(click to play)
Further information
Handheld says the Algiz 8 runs Windows XP Professional. Since RMT's Duros 8404 was also said to run Windows XP Tablet Edition, Windows XP Embedded, Windows Vista, and Linux, we'd guess these operating systems could also be installed on the device if desired.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Analysts debate cause of slowing PC sales
After record numbers in the fourth quarter of 2010, PC sales slowed considerably in the first quarter of 2011. Analysts are debating whether the primary culprit for this is the rise of the iPad and other tablets, or the fact that a new version of Windows won't be out until at least next year.
Whether the Apple iPad (right) and its competitors are hurting PC sales is, these days, a popular topic for debate. Less debatable is that worldwide PC sales fell 0.3 percent during the first quarter, from last year's 81.6 million during the same quarter to 81.3 million most recently, according to research firm IHS iSuppli.
The dip was made more pronounced by the fact that the quarter followed the "best period ever" for global PC sales, with shipments hitting a quarterly record of 93.1 million units. Three of the top five PC makers reported year-over-year declines, with number-three PC maker Acer -- which has relied heavily on netbook sales -- bearing the brunt of the downturn and suffering what iSuppli calls the most "direct competitive threat from media tablets."
"The increasing momentum of the media-tablet market, led by the iPad, is creating a difficult environment for the PC industry, Matthew Wilkins, an IHS principal analyst, said in a May 24 statement. "IHS believes that the jury is still out on exactly how much tablets are cannibalizing PC sales. However, the rising number of tablet models on the market, along with certain high-profile product launches during the first quarter, caused confusion among consumers as to exactly how to view the tablet platform relative to the PC platform. This contributed to the PC sales decline in the first quarter."
Forrester Research analyst Sarah Rotman Epps -- as well as analysts at the NPD Group -- suggest it's not tablets affecting PC sales so much as Microsoft's Windows release cycle.
"So many consumers bought new PCs when Windows 7 came out, and without a new version of Windows this year, there isnt the same catalyst to buy," Rotman Epps explained in a May 17 blog post. "Forresters data shows that 34 percent of U.S. online consumers report having bought a PC in the past 12 months, and an additional 25 percent bought one 12 to 24 months ago. Tablet owners are actually more likely than U.S. online consumers in general to have recently bought a PC: 44 percent in the past 12 months and 28 percent in the 12 months before that."
Stephen Baker, NPD's vice president of industry analysis, has also argued that the threat to the netbook-slinging Acers of the market isn't tablets.
"The conventional wisdom that says tablet sales are eating into low-priced notebooks is most assuredly incorrect," Baker said in a May 10 report. "The over-$500 segment of the [Microsoft] Windows consumer notebooks market is where PC sales have been impacted the most, with a 25 percent decline from October 2010 to March 2011."
Cannibalization of netbooks, he added, "is actually down by 50 percent among more recent iPad buyers, when compared to early adopter buyers."
Both Baker and Rotman Epps added that, with consumers growing accustomed to truly innovative tablet designs, PC makers would need to push the envelope past what Baker called "good-enough computing."
According to Rotman Epps, one way that market leader HP is looking to do just that is through advances such as ePrinting, which, makes it easier to print from a device, and with CoolSense technology, which automatically senses whether the device is being used on a desk or the user's lap and accordingly adjusts its temperature.
During the quarter, HP retained its title as the top PC vendor, though it posted a 2.1 percent decrease year-over-year. Second-place Dell similarly was down by 1.8 percent, but neither came close to the hit suffered by Acer, with its 20.4 percent fall, from 11.6 million units during the first quarter of 2010 to 9.2 million units during the 2011 first quarter.
Lenovo, following in fourth place, enjoyed a 15.4 percent jump, and fifth-place Toshiba also posted growth of 2.6 percent.
IHS expects growth to return to the market later in the year, and for yearly sales to finish at 373 million units, up from 2010's 345 million. While this would represent a growth of 8 percent, it's still down from the 14 percent growth with which the market concluded 2010.
Whether the Apple iPad (right) and its competitors are hurting PC sales is, these days, a popular topic for debate. Less debatable is that worldwide PC sales fell 0.3 percent during the first quarter, from last year's 81.6 million during the same quarter to 81.3 million most recently, according to research firm IHS iSuppli.
The dip was made more pronounced by the fact that the quarter followed the "best period ever" for global PC sales, with shipments hitting a quarterly record of 93.1 million units. Three of the top five PC makers reported year-over-year declines, with number-three PC maker Acer -- which has relied heavily on netbook sales -- bearing the brunt of the downturn and suffering what iSuppli calls the most "direct competitive threat from media tablets."
"The increasing momentum of the media-tablet market, led by the iPad, is creating a difficult environment for the PC industry, Matthew Wilkins, an IHS principal analyst, said in a May 24 statement. "IHS believes that the jury is still out on exactly how much tablets are cannibalizing PC sales. However, the rising number of tablet models on the market, along with certain high-profile product launches during the first quarter, caused confusion among consumers as to exactly how to view the tablet platform relative to the PC platform. This contributed to the PC sales decline in the first quarter."
Forrester Research analyst Sarah Rotman Epps -- as well as analysts at the NPD Group -- suggest it's not tablets affecting PC sales so much as Microsoft's Windows release cycle.
"So many consumers bought new PCs when Windows 7 came out, and without a new version of Windows this year, there isnt the same catalyst to buy," Rotman Epps explained in a May 17 blog post. "Forresters data shows that 34 percent of U.S. online consumers report having bought a PC in the past 12 months, and an additional 25 percent bought one 12 to 24 months ago. Tablet owners are actually more likely than U.S. online consumers in general to have recently bought a PC: 44 percent in the past 12 months and 28 percent in the 12 months before that."
Stephen Baker, NPD's vice president of industry analysis, has also argued that the threat to the netbook-slinging Acers of the market isn't tablets.
"The conventional wisdom that says tablet sales are eating into low-priced notebooks is most assuredly incorrect," Baker said in a May 10 report. "The over-$500 segment of the [Microsoft] Windows consumer notebooks market is where PC sales have been impacted the most, with a 25 percent decline from October 2010 to March 2011."
Cannibalization of netbooks, he added, "is actually down by 50 percent among more recent iPad buyers, when compared to early adopter buyers."
Both Baker and Rotman Epps added that, with consumers growing accustomed to truly innovative tablet designs, PC makers would need to push the envelope past what Baker called "good-enough computing."
According to Rotman Epps, one way that market leader HP is looking to do just that is through advances such as ePrinting, which, makes it easier to print from a device, and with CoolSense technology, which automatically senses whether the device is being used on a desk or the user's lap and accordingly adjusts its temperature.
During the quarter, HP retained its title as the top PC vendor, though it posted a 2.1 percent decrease year-over-year. Second-place Dell similarly was down by 1.8 percent, but neither came close to the hit suffered by Acer, with its 20.4 percent fall, from 11.6 million units during the first quarter of 2010 to 9.2 million units during the 2011 first quarter.
Lenovo, following in fourth place, enjoyed a 15.4 percent jump, and fifth-place Toshiba also posted growth of 2.6 percent.
IHS expects growth to return to the market later in the year, and for yearly sales to finish at 373 million units, up from 2010's 345 million. While this would represent a growth of 8 percent, it's still down from the 14 percent growth with which the market concluded 2010.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Microsoft clamping down on 'Windows 8' tablet specs?
Microsoft seems keen to keep its manufacturing partners on a tight leash when it comes to tablets, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal. Redmond would like five chipmakers to pair initially with a single tablet manufacturer, the story claims.
The June 1 article, based on discussions with unnamed "people familiar with the matter," suggests that Microsoft wants five chipmakers to each pair with a single tablet manufacturer. The chip makers include Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, Nvidia, Texas Instruments and Qualcomm, who would eventually be allowed to expand beyond that single partner.
Although the Journal didn't specify, these strictures would presumably be irrelevant to today's crop of x86-based Windows 7 tablets, and instead take effect for the future ARM-based versions of Windows observers are currently calling "Windows 8."
Last month, Renee James, general manager of Intel's software and services group, was quoted as saying Windows 8 would come in alternative versions for four different ARM SoCs. "Each one is a unique stack," she was said by The Register to have charged.
Quoted by the Journal, Microsoft's response to the June 1 report was much the same as it had been to James quote last month: "We are continuing the engineering work with our silicon partners as part of the technology preview we talked about in January, and continue to talk regularly with hardware partners around the world as part of our development process."
As shown last January: A pre-release version of Windows running on ARM
Source: Gizmodo
Microsoft learned some painful lessons in fragmentation from its experiences with Windows Mobile, its previous mobile device franchise.
When it came to Windows Phone 7, its Windows Mobile replacement, Microsoft kept its hardware partners to a strict set of minimum hardware requirements, including a five megapixel camera and 1GHz processor. All Windows Phone devices also share a touch screen and three primary hardware buttons. With that foundation in place, some hardware manufacturers then decided on some additional hardware tweaks to make their devices stand out in the marketplace -- for example, the Dell Venue Pro offers a physical QWERTY keyboard.
Those strict hardware requirements, coupled with Microsofts determination to push out software updates to all devices on a regular basis, were likely meant to signal Redmonds determination to push back hard against Google Android and Apples iOS, which currently rule the consumer mobile device space.
Microsoft is prepping the next version of Windows to work better on the tablet form factor. CEO Steve Ballmer remarked in a speech to the Microsoft Developer Forum in Tokyo that "Windows 8" would appear on "slates, tablets, PCs, a variety of different form factors." Microsoft later attempted to roll back his comments, characterizing them as "a misstatement."center>
A prospective Windows 8 welcome screen
Source: Within Windows(Click to enlarge)
A ribbon-equipped explorer for Windows 8?
Source: Within Windows(Click to enlarge)
However, Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live division, took to the stage at this Januarys Consumer Electronics Show to describe how the next version of Windows will support SoC (system-on-a-chip) architecture, in particular the ARM-based systems so popular in mobile devices. In April, bloggers Rafael Rivera and Paul Thurrott dissected various features of what they called an early next-Windows build on Riveras Within Windows blog, including elements seemingly geared for a mobile, touch-ready form-factor.
Sinofsky is appearing at this weeks D: All Things Digital Conference (run by The Wall Street Journal's parent company, ironically), where he could reveal some additional Windows-on-a-tablet details.
Microsofts partners seemed willing to play ball when it came to Windows Phones hardware requirements. But will they do the same with tablets?
The Wall Street Journal quotes Acer Corporate President Jim Wong as saying he's concerned about Microsoft's restrictions."The industry does not belong to Microsoft, and it does not belong to Intel," Wong reportedly said at Computex June 1. "It belongs to all participants. They cannot make the decision for all of us. That is the problem."
The June 1 article, based on discussions with unnamed "people familiar with the matter," suggests that Microsoft wants five chipmakers to each pair with a single tablet manufacturer. The chip makers include Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, Nvidia, Texas Instruments and Qualcomm, who would eventually be allowed to expand beyond that single partner.
Although the Journal didn't specify, these strictures would presumably be irrelevant to today's crop of x86-based Windows 7 tablets, and instead take effect for the future ARM-based versions of Windows observers are currently calling "Windows 8."
Last month, Renee James, general manager of Intel's software and services group, was quoted as saying Windows 8 would come in alternative versions for four different ARM SoCs. "Each one is a unique stack," she was said by The Register to have charged.
Quoted by the Journal, Microsoft's response to the June 1 report was much the same as it had been to James quote last month: "We are continuing the engineering work with our silicon partners as part of the technology preview we talked about in January, and continue to talk regularly with hardware partners around the world as part of our development process."
As shown last January: A pre-release version of Windows running on ARM
Source: Gizmodo
Microsoft learned some painful lessons in fragmentation from its experiences with Windows Mobile, its previous mobile device franchise.
When it came to Windows Phone 7, its Windows Mobile replacement, Microsoft kept its hardware partners to a strict set of minimum hardware requirements, including a five megapixel camera and 1GHz processor. All Windows Phone devices also share a touch screen and three primary hardware buttons. With that foundation in place, some hardware manufacturers then decided on some additional hardware tweaks to make their devices stand out in the marketplace -- for example, the Dell Venue Pro offers a physical QWERTY keyboard.
Those strict hardware requirements, coupled with Microsofts determination to push out software updates to all devices on a regular basis, were likely meant to signal Redmonds determination to push back hard against Google Android and Apples iOS, which currently rule the consumer mobile device space.
Microsoft is prepping the next version of Windows to work better on the tablet form factor. CEO Steve Ballmer remarked in a speech to the Microsoft Developer Forum in Tokyo that "Windows 8" would appear on "slates, tablets, PCs, a variety of different form factors." Microsoft later attempted to roll back his comments, characterizing them as "a misstatement."center>
A prospective Windows 8 welcome screen
Source: Within Windows(Click to enlarge)
A ribbon-equipped explorer for Windows 8?
Source: Within Windows(Click to enlarge)
However, Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live division, took to the stage at this Januarys Consumer Electronics Show to describe how the next version of Windows will support SoC (system-on-a-chip) architecture, in particular the ARM-based systems so popular in mobile devices. In April, bloggers Rafael Rivera and Paul Thurrott dissected various features of what they called an early next-Windows build on Riveras Within Windows blog, including elements seemingly geared for a mobile, touch-ready form-factor.
Sinofsky is appearing at this weeks D: All Things Digital Conference (run by The Wall Street Journal's parent company, ironically), where he could reveal some additional Windows-on-a-tablet details.
Microsofts partners seemed willing to play ball when it came to Windows Phones hardware requirements. But will they do the same with tablets?
The Wall Street Journal quotes Acer Corporate President Jim Wong as saying he's concerned about Microsoft's restrictions."The industry does not belong to Microsoft, and it does not belong to Intel," Wong reportedly said at Computex June 1. "It belongs to all participants. They cannot make the decision for all of us. That is the problem."
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Windows 7 migration: Tips and tricks
Guide covers all the bases of migrating to Windows 7, from expert tips to vendor tools to make it easier.
If you’re like most IT executives, you’re either planning a large-scale migration to Windows 7 or already on your way.
Many enterprises skipped Windows Vista, hoping for something better to come along. They got it in the form of Windows 7. Early adopters have already moved to the updated operating system, with many others planning to follow in 2011 and 2012.
Windows XP is set to sunset in 2014, so large enterprises will be ramping up their implementations this year to get the new operating system in place before then.
Recently, Microsoft claimed that 350 million licenses of Windows 7 had been sold in the product’s first 18 months. But Windows XP still makes up more than half of all operating systems in use worldwide.
Any migration, particularly on a large scale, requires thoughtful planning. In this free PDF guide, Network World has collected some of the IT industry’s best practices. We list tips for migrating Windows applications. We name 11 tools you could use to get started. And we pass along information from Microsoft about desktop virtualization and how to calculate ROI.
If you’re like most IT executives, you’re either planning a large-scale migration to Windows 7 or already on your way.
Many enterprises skipped Windows Vista, hoping for something better to come along. They got it in the form of Windows 7. Early adopters have already moved to the updated operating system, with many others planning to follow in 2011 and 2012.
Windows XP is set to sunset in 2014, so large enterprises will be ramping up their implementations this year to get the new operating system in place before then.
Recently, Microsoft claimed that 350 million licenses of Windows 7 had been sold in the product’s first 18 months. But Windows XP still makes up more than half of all operating systems in use worldwide.
Any migration, particularly on a large scale, requires thoughtful planning. In this free PDF guide, Network World has collected some of the IT industry’s best practices. We list tips for migrating Windows applications. We name 11 tools you could use to get started. And we pass along information from Microsoft about desktop virtualization and how to calculate ROI.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Amazon Tablet to Have Free Streaming Video
Amazon's rumored tablet possibly due out this year will come with free streaming video service and be priced at around $399, according to a report from investment firm Detwiler Fenton.
"It is particularly interesting to note that AMZN is expected to include its movie service for free for an unspecified amount of time to buyers of the device," states the report, spotted Tuesday by CNET. "This is the same movie service AMZN already offers for free to its Prime customers."
The Amazon tablet will reportedly feature a 10-inch color screen and "have a more robust applications processor" than the chip expected to power color Kindle ereaders that Amazon will also reportedly launch by the end of 2011, according to Detwiler Fenton.
The Detwiler Fenton report also corroborates some details reported earlier about the rumored Amazon tablet. It's said to be due out before the end of the year and is codenamed Hollywood.
Reports from Taiwan in early May indicated that Amazon is ordering enough tablet components from Taiwanese manufacturers to assemble up to 800,000 units a month and plans to slash prices for its Kindles when it releases the tablet sometime in the second half of 2011.
Established tiers in the tablet market could shake out more fully in the coming months.
Detwiler Fenton expects low-priced color ereaders to fill a "low-end tablet niche" situated well below the most expensive devices, particularly Apple's iPad. In the middle will be sub-$400 tablets like the rumored Hollywood tablet, the investment house predicted, as pricing pressure builds on companies like Motorola and Research in Motion which make tablets that are similar in price to Apple's but not nearly as popular.
"It is particularly interesting to note that AMZN is expected to include its movie service for free for an unspecified amount of time to buyers of the device," states the report, spotted Tuesday by CNET. "This is the same movie service AMZN already offers for free to its Prime customers."
The Amazon tablet will reportedly feature a 10-inch color screen and "have a more robust applications processor" than the chip expected to power color Kindle ereaders that Amazon will also reportedly launch by the end of 2011, according to Detwiler Fenton.
The Detwiler Fenton report also corroborates some details reported earlier about the rumored Amazon tablet. It's said to be due out before the end of the year and is codenamed Hollywood.
Reports from Taiwan in early May indicated that Amazon is ordering enough tablet components from Taiwanese manufacturers to assemble up to 800,000 units a month and plans to slash prices for its Kindles when it releases the tablet sometime in the second half of 2011.
Established tiers in the tablet market could shake out more fully in the coming months.
Detwiler Fenton expects low-priced color ereaders to fill a "low-end tablet niche" situated well below the most expensive devices, particularly Apple's iPad. In the middle will be sub-$400 tablets like the rumored Hollywood tablet, the investment house predicted, as pricing pressure builds on companies like Motorola and Research in Motion which make tablets that are similar in price to Apple's but not nearly as popular.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)