IT Solutions Blog | Trigon Technology

IT Support | Microsoft Says Tablets Are A Flash In The Pan.

SMH:

As virtually the entire consumer electronics industry throws its weight behind tablet computers, Microsoft's global chief research and strategy officer Craig Mundie said today that he did not know whether the booming new category was here to stay.

Speaking at a lunch held in Sydney by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA), Mundie, who reports directly to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, said he did not know whether tablets like the iPad would "remain with us or not".

I'd probably say the same thing if it's been a decade since Bill Gates proclaimed tablets as the future and Microsoft still has yet to have anything to show for it.

Apple fan or not, you can't deny that Apple is making money hand over fist with their new iPad. People are literally lining up to their retail stores to get their hands on one. The product is in its second iteration and doesn't seem to be slowing down. Mundie should perhaps look into the definition of a "fad".

What would be even better if MS had put any R&D time into tablets of their own. Why not put their Windows Phone 7 OS on a tablet form factor as opposed to cramming Windows 7 on one? Well, Mundie also goes on to say this:

As for desktops, Mundie had a bold prediction: "I believe the successor to the desktop is the room, that instead of thinking that the computer is just something on the desk that you go and sit in front of, [in the] future basically the whole room is the computer and you go in it."

So does that mean Microsoft is skipping the tablet era just like they just about skipped the recent smartphone era? The iPhone and Android hit the scene and Microsoft was late to the party and their recent update troubles are showing why they may not be able to compete. 

Does Mundie's recent quotes indicate they will skip the tablet era? Or at the very least, show up very late to the party as well? Trigon is never late to the party, friends. Rest assured we'll be there to support your tablet infrastructure. 

IT Support | Microsoft And Nokia Sitting In A Tree?

Engadget(image as well):

Nokia's had an outward appearance of spinning its platform wheels on the backs of Symbian and Maemofor far, far too long, but so far, nothing's materialized. This time around, it's said that Microsoft will be the partner announced on the 11th -- and though Nokia's uptake of Windows Phone 7 would be the obvious strategic shift, it's important to note that these companies have actually partnered before with pretty trivial consequences for the market; it's entirely possible they could be ramping up to do that again, sharing apps and services between Windows Phone 7 and Symbian / MeeGo. 

Show of hands; who has a Windows Phone 7? Oh, that's right. 

But seriously, folks. If the recent lack of actual sales numbers from Microsoft are any indication, they could really use the help. MS says they've sold around 2 million units to OEMs, but that doesn't mean 2 million people are actually using the phones themselves. There could still be about 1 million phones sitting on the shelves somewhere.

So that brings us to Nokia. They're still the big cheese oversees and in emerging markets but what have they done for me lately? They have two mobile operation systems in Symbian and Meego. Meego is able to be thrown onto everything from refrigerators to car dashboards but has yet to make an actual impact. Symbian is just flat out long in the tooth. Would Nokia drop one of these OS's in order to fully support Windows Phone 7?

The sticking point mentioned in the Engadget post is that the new CEO of Nokia comes right from Microsoft. If he's quick on his feet, he'll want to start making some cash quick with Nokia and WP7 may be their best bet. 

I think Nokia needs Microsoft just as badly as Microsoft needs Nokia. In the end, the real winner here would be enterprise users. They'd get a host of new phones while still being able to use Microsoft's fantastic Exchange and Office features. Which, by the way, we'd be happy to set-up for your business!

IT Support | Windows Phone 7 "Sells" 1.5 Million Units

ZDNet:

After weeks of avoiding answering questions about how many Windows Phone 7 devices have been sold since their launch in late October, Microsoft execs have decided to release figures.

On December 21, in an article on its Web site for the press, Microsoft officials said that its phone partners have sold “over 1.5 million phones in the first six weeks” they were available.

Sales might have been higher, had phone makers and carriers actually provided sufficient stock. Or if phone makers didn’t have to delay shipping models with various technical glitches. But in any case, that 1.5 million figure is quite a bit higher than various (informed and uninformed) estimates I’ve seen.

The article goes on to update that the figure is actually 1.5 million units sold to carriers, not actual consumers. So, what does it all mean?

To me, it sounds like the numbers weren't anything to cry home about. But that's fine. Microsoft is in this for the long haul and unfortunately this is a market where numbers are everything. If they don't say any numbers, people think it's a total failure. Which is a total bummer in my book.

We need other OS's in this market. It's even better that the Metro UI is completely unlike anything out there. Who wants to have a handful of OS's that look exactly like iOS and Android? Not me friend, that's for sure. 

While these numbers aren't encouraging to "analysts", it's encouraging to myself, a tech enthusiast. Speaking of tech enthusiasts, Trigon! If you're curious about the best way in enable your company's mobile infrastructure, let us know!

IT Support | Nokia Making Windows Phones, Earth Stops On Axis.

Slashgear:

Like the Verizon iPhone, there are some tech industry rumors that simply refuse to die, and today it’s the turn of Nokia and a potential Windows Phone 7 device that’s getting raked over the coals once more. Notorious insider – and not known for his love of the Finnish cellphone company – Eldar Murtazin claims that Microsoft and Nokia have been holding ongoing talks regarding a Nokia-branded Windows Phone 7 smartphone range.

According to Murtzin, the meetings were at the prompt of newly-instated Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, who is the ex-head of Microsoft Business. He suggests that the first Nokia WP7 devices will reach Europe in Q2 2011, with the “characteristic features” of the Finnish company’s products.

Remember Nokia? Sure you do. They made those small cell phones that everyone had before the Razr. But I bet you're wondering, "what have they done for me lately?". Well, you and me both, friend. You and me both.

I'd answer that, but I still haven't thought of anything. Nokia still makes a ton of money in Europe selling low cost phones to those that haven't gotten the wonder of the iPhone. Mmmm, iPhone. 

Ok, back to Nokia. Their Meego and Symbian platforms haven't exactly caught the states on fire. They've made no allusions to getting on the Android bandwagon, so WP7 could be just the thing to get them back into the game. Who wouldn't want a nicely refined OS to put on your sexy phone hardware? Who!?

All I'm saying is that I haven't been wooed by any current WP7 hardware, and would like to see Nokia take a crack.

IT Support | Windows Phone 7 Officially Official.

CNet:

"Everybody should be able to take a look at a Windows Phone and say, 'I can represent me in this device,'" Ballmer explained.

To that end, there are nine Windows Phone 7 devices that will be available in the U.S., from manufacturers Dell, HTC, Samsung, and LG. "You see phones with keyboards," Ballmer said, gesturing to a row of all nine devices in front of him. "You see phones like the LG phones that can play to TV, you'll see super beautiful screens like the beautiful screen on this Samsung...very large screen as you see on this HTC device right here and of course rugged, for-the-hardest-use-type phones like this Dell device."

Whoa, look at that badboy. A slide-out speaker? Truly, we are living in the future. And amazingly, this future involves a Windows mobile phone.

A few years ago, who would have thought such things? And to that end, who would have thought this Apple fanboy would seriusly desire said Windows Phone? As CNet stated in their headline, "Windows Phone 7 debuts: One phone won't rule them all", it really seems as though Windows wants to compete with Android and just get into peoples hands. 

At this point, the battle for marketshare is still up for grabs. But, I still can't get over how slick the OS looks. The hardware so far doesn't really scream out at me. In fact, I'd love for a vendor to create their demo video WP7 into actual hardware. The hardware at launch seems swell enough, but for an iPhone 4 user to switch to WP7, there needs to be something eye catching. I'm not there quite yet. But great news, Cut and Paste IS coming early next year to WP7.

Rest assured, as a fabulous IT Support company that serves the Philadelphia area, we'll be ready to support your Windows Phone 7 needs!

IT Support | Windows Phone 7 Maybe, Possibly Releasing November 8th, Maybe.