Monthly Archives: October 2012

About that WP8 SDK

Posted on October 28, 2012 by halberenson

We’re just hours away from what will hopefully be an enlightening and exciting Windows Phone 8 launch. I must admit I’ve mostly been ignoring Windows Phone the last few months . It’s hard to get excited, or even pay attention, when … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Mobile, Windows Phone | Tagged Windows Phone 8, Windows Phone 8 SDK | 6 Comments

Understanding the Microsoft Surface (a sort of Review)

Posted on October 28, 2012 by halberenson

This is a review of the Microsoft Surface, though it won’t be like most other reviews you read. I’m going to focus my effort on positioning the Surface in today’s so-called “post-PC” era. You want unboxing, descriptions of buttons and … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows | 37 Comments

Just keep calling it Metro

Posted on October 27, 2012 by halberenson

I have been trying every which way to avoid calling the new Windows 8 user experience and applications by the code name Microsoft used, Metro. But I’m giving up. I mean “Windows Store Apps”, “Microsoft Design Language”, “New Windows Experience”, … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows | Tagged Metro, Microsoft Design Language, Windows 8, windows store apps | 28 Comments

Today’s the day! Will there be any real news on Windows 8 or Surface?

Posted on October 25, 2012 by halberenson

One of the things that has bothered me the last fifteen years or so is how companies, and Microsoft in particular, have released so much information about products in advance that launch events are merely parties. In the old days … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet | Tagged Windows 8, Windows 8 Launch, WIndows RT, windows store | 8 Comments

Why users hate tracking

Posted on October 24, 2012 by halberenson

Last week I was helping my mother move into a new apartment and needed a wireless phone jack to hook up her fax machine. Of course I used my Acer Iconia Tab W500 to research the available options and find … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Privacy | Tagged Do Not Track, Identity Theft, Internet Advertising, Internet Tracking, Invasion of Privacy, Web Tracking | 4 Comments

“Jane you ignorant slut”

Posted on October 23, 2012 by halberenson

If we weren’t already drowning in articles defending Windows 8, or claiming it was going to be a bigger disaster than even Windows Vista, for the last year this week makes you want to hop on Noah’s Ark. From Ed … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows | Tagged Minutes per Day, MpD, Windows 8, WIndows 8 Failure, Windows 8 Success, Windows 8 Tablets, WIndows RT | 16 Comments

Living with a Windows “RT” Tablet

Posted on October 22, 2012 by halberenson

I just returned from a 17 day trip in which I did the unthinkable, I left my iPad at home. For the last couple of years it has gone everywhere with me. And when I’m not traveling on business the … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows | Tagged Surface, Windows 8, WIndows RT | 1 Comment

WSJ and NYT Readers for Windows 8/RT

Posted on October 20, 2012 by halberenson

Amongst the things I’ve anxiously been waiting to appear in the Windows Store are apps for reading the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. Little did I realize that these were already there, though hiding in an unexpected … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows | Tagged New York Times, News App, NYT, Wall Street Journal, Windows 8, WSJ | 11 Comments

Stop compounding Microsoft’s Windows RT mistakes

Posted on October 19, 2012 by halberenson

Microsoft has created lots of confusion with the introduction of Windows RT, but I think everyone who does understand the difference between Windows RT and Windows 8 is making things worse by the way they are explaining it. Basically the difference is “Windows … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows | Tagged Windows 8, Windows 8 vs Windows RT, WIndows RT | 39 Comments

A Windows Phone “Plan B”

Posted on October 4, 2012 by halberenson

Let me start out by saying this is totally speculative on my part, I have no information that suggests what I’m about to describe exists anywhere in Microsoft’s thinking. Microsoft has a huge amount riding on the launch of Windows … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Mobile, Windows Phone | Tagged Microsoft WIndows Phone, MVNO, Plan B, Skype, WIndows Phone Plan B | 19 Comments