Monthly Archives: February 2012

Can Windows 8′s Metro succeed on the desktop?

Posted on February 25, 2012 by

The biggest cloud hanging over Windows 8 is how desktop (and notebook) users will react to the new Metro user experience (which I’ll refer to as MoSh to differentiate the new “Modern Shell” from the app model and Store change).  What … Continue reading →

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Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows | Tagged , , , | 36 Comments

Untangling Tango

Posted on February 22, 2012 by

There have been a couple of rumors recently that I wanted to comment on. The first is the confusing signals about Windows Phone Tango. The one that had me head-scratching was that Tango would co-exist with Windows Phone 8. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Mobile, Windows Phone | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Why a locked down Metro/WinRT model makes such a big difference to security

Posted on February 15, 2012 by

Secunia is reporting that 78% of end-point (individual computers for all those not in the security business) vulnerabilities are attributable to third-party software.  That’s everything from browser plug-ins like Flash and Java, to Adobe Reader, to Quicken or any other desktop … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Security, Windows | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Dear Developer, excuse me while I slap you silly

Posted on February 15, 2012 by

Today I’m going to abandon my usual balanced friendly analysis approach and play devil’s advocate, because I think there is an audience that needs a wakeup call.    No it’s not developers of consumer apps, I think they’ve already gotten it.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows | Tagged , , , , , | 76 Comments

Silverlight is dead, long live XAML

Posted on February 13, 2012 by

Although I’ve half-written blog entries on this before, I’ve scrapped them because at the time I would have been speaking out of turn.  Then I thought Microsoft had said enough that everyone got it and a blog entry would be pointless.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft | Tagged , , , , | 20 Comments

Windows 8 is not all about Tablets, it’s about the future

Posted on February 12, 2012 by

What we know about Windows 8, mostly driven by the Developer Preview but also by various comments from Microsoft, is quite polarizing.  The most controversial aspects are around the move to the new Metro app model and user experience.  Many … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows | Tagged , , , | 97 Comments

Updating my Desktop Apps on ARM entry

Posted on February 9, 2012 by

I noted that one of my predictions, an edition for Tablets (SoC-based systems) appears to be true while failing to mention that my prediction that Microsoft would support desktop apps on ARM was (Office 15 aside) wrong.  I don’t know … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet | 1 Comment

Windows on ARM (WOA)

Posted on February 9, 2012 by

I was going to hold off on further Windows 8 comments until the Consumer Preview shipped, but since Steven Sinofsky posted detailed information on Windows 8′s ARM support today I thought I’d make a few remarks. The most important clarification … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

A perspective on Big Data, NoSQL, and Relational Databases

Posted on February 9, 2012 by

Other than a brief comment on Map-Reduce back in 2008 I’ve avoided commenting on the topics of NoSQL or Big Data.  That’s for two reasons.  First, I really didn’t have much of an opinion because second, I intentionally have stayed … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Database | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Surviving on a smaller piece of the pie

Posted on February 6, 2012 by

I always cringe at the phrase “post-PC era”, primarily because it has such a poor definition.  Does it mean that desktop-devices no longer matter?  Does it mean that devices with keyboards no longer matter?  Does it mean that people will … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft | Tagged , , | 2 Comments