Category Archives: Microsoft

Can Windows 8’s Metro succeed on the desktop?

Posted on February 25, 2012 by halberenson

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 →

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

Untangling Tango

Posted on February 22, 2012 by halberenson

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 halberenson

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 halberenson

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 halberenson

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 , , , , | 21 Comments

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

Posted on February 12, 2012 by halberenson

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

Windows on ARM (WOA)

Posted on February 9, 2012 by halberenson

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

Surviving on a smaller piece of the pie

Posted on February 6, 2012 by halberenson

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

Forget Mix, Remember TechEd

Posted on January 25, 2012 by halberenson

Now that Microsoft has formally killed it’s Mix conference let’s talk about how it is going to bring Windows Phone 8 and updates on Windows 8 to developers.  First a little on Mix, then a discussion of the difficulties of … Continue reading →

Posted in Computer and Internet, Microsoft, Mobile, Windows, Windows Phone | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Forget Mix, Remember TechEd

Untangling some of the people moves at Microsoft

Posted on January 19, 2012 by halberenson

Yesterday Mary Jo Foley broke the news that the father of Windows NT (and DEC’s RSX-11M and VAX/VMS) Dave Cutler had moved from the Windows Azure team (of which he was one of the founders) to the Xbox team.  Other bloggers … Continue reading →

Posted in Microsoft | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments