Category Archives: Computer and Internet

Media Center, DVD Playback, and Microsoft’s Media Strategy

Posted on May 5, 2012 by halberenson

There is quite a bit of noise in the system after Microsoft’s announcement this week that Windows Media Center would be a separate add-on to Windows 8, and even more noise regarding the decision to remove DVD playback from Windows … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Home Entertainment, Microsoft, Windows | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Looking for the Microsoft Nook

Posted on May 1, 2012 by halberenson

Microsoft has always had a thing for electronic books, but turning that into a successful venture?  That’s a whole other story.  Microsoft entered the electronic book reader business 12 years ago with the release of Microsoft Reader 1.0 as part … Continue reading →

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

Windows Phone 7.5 will top out at 100,000 apps

Posted on April 27, 2012 by halberenson

Two phone ecosystems, two very different phone experiences.  That’s what the current Smartphone market really looks like.  Apple’s IOS and Google’s Android (fragmented as it is).  Apple ships out updates to its iPhone user base at regular intervals and has, … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows Phone | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Will existing phones be upgradeable to Windows Phone 8?

Posted on April 22, 2012 by halberenson

I’m not going to make some great revelation, as if I know the answer to this question.  I have not asked my sources, and if anyone with irrefutable knowledge of the answer told me then I wouldn’t pass it on.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows Phone | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Fewer Windows 8 Editions, thankfully

Posted on April 18, 2012 by halberenson

Well, one of the shoes I mentioned has dropped and I pretty much got this prediction right.  We are down to the logical number of editions for Windows.  The “new” one for ARM-based systems, mainstream Windows, Pro, and Enterprise.  The one … Continue reading →

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

Third party mobile phone pricing

Posted on April 10, 2012 by halberenson

A post about the price of the HTC Titan II price being dropped drove me to this little piece.  The price has NOT been dropped, Wal-Mart is simply offering the Titan II for $50 less than the official AT&T pricing.  So … Continue reading →

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

More on Apps for Windows Phone

Posted on April 9, 2012 by halberenson

My post last Friday elicited some comments that I wanted to address, and I felt that a new post was more appropriate than just replying to the comments.  Some found it amusing that I picked Starbucks and United as examples … Continue reading →

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

Is Microsoft courting the wrong developers for Windows Phone?

Posted on April 5, 2012 by halberenson

The Wall Street Journal has yet another article on Microsoft’s efforts to woo developers to the Windows Phone platform.  The example they use to show how difficult this has been for Microsoft is Fooducate.  Fooducate?  While getting the long tail of … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Mobile, Windows Phone | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

The Corruption of “Release Candidate”

Posted on April 3, 2012 by halberenson

With various news reports that a “Release Candidate” or RC of Windows 8 is due in May or June it is useful to reflect on how that term has been corrupted over the years, particularly by Microsoft’s Windows team. Once … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Windows | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Strike 3 for AT&T?

Posted on March 26, 2012 by halberenson

In my entry on AT&T’s Unlimited Plan debacle I discussed why despite AT&T’s customer unfriendly policies I was probably going to stick with them.  Now I’m having second thoughts on that conclusion, because of AT&T’s refusal to ship Windows Phone updates … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Mobile, Windows Phone | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments