Microsoft is Having an Identity Crisis (and How to Fix It)

Microsoft wants to be the answer for everything in your life. Need to get work done? Looking for some entertainment? Want to communicate more efficiently? Microsoft has an answer. Well, several answers. And that is a bigger problem than anyone realizes.

I'd like to start out with what I think Microsoft is doing right. I think the strategy of unifying the phone, desktop, tablet, and Xbox experiences is a fantastic idea. I love the concept of live tiles and can't wait to see what future developers do with the platform. The commercial recently aired by Microsoft on TV gave me hope that Microsoft could one day pull it all together.



While I commend Microsoft for its recent attempts to bring its branding together and promote one interface across devices, I can confidently say that they have not gone far enough. So much about Microsoft's products and services overlap each other, perform the same functions, and cause general confusion.

First, Microsoft needs to choose a media player, and stick with it. Windows users are undoubtedly confused by the plethora of video apps available to play their files. When playing a .wmv file on Windows 8, the user has the options of the Video app, Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center, and the slowly dying Zune software. These need to be combined into ONE application that does it all. However, this is easier said than done.

 

Each application has their strengths and weaknesses. The Video app works great with touchscreens and is fairly lightweight. Windows Media Player manages libraries and devices well. Zune interfaces with older WP7 and Zune devices while providing a beautiful interface to browse music. Windows Media Center is the master of TV and online content.



Windows 8 Videos App

Windows Media Player

















Zune



Windows Media Center





























There is no good reason to have four programs or apps that all perform the same function. But to merge them all together would be a mess. My proposed answer would be to merge all the programs into a program called Zune. No Zune Media Player, Zune App, Zune whatever. Just Zune. It would become synonymous with media on Windows devices. Why Zune? The name carries identity. It sounds space-y. It doesn't have the words "Video", "Media", or "Player". It is simple and clean. And many people are already familiar with it.

 

The player would have to be able to cleanly manage a library of content with the class of the original Zune interface. It would have to learn to talk to several devices like the new Windows Phone 8 hardware. It would need TV functionality for the hardcore Media Center fans, as well as remote control ability. And it would need to be touch-friendly. I imagine medium-sized album covers with large text in classic Windows 8 style. This is priority #1.

 

 

Secondly, Microsoft needs to get its online storage together. Currently, they offer SkyDrive, SkyDrive Pro, and SharePoint. Know what the difference is? Most people don't. SkyDrive (soon to be OneDrive) is a service for storing files online, as well as software built into Windows 8. It also has standalone apps on different devices. SkyDrive Pro is software for syncing files from an service called SharePoint that allows companies to manage files and collaborate online. While I think it is important to differentiate between standard and professional services, I think both would be better served with one app that does it all. OneDrive should be both a service and an application, that should interface with both standard and business situations. SharePoint as website should utilize OneDrive storage.
 

 

Third, Microsoft needs to keep combining its messaging applications. I applaud them for retiring Windows Live Messenger after acquiring Skype. But now it is time to put Skype and Lync together. In case you did not know, Lync is a corporate application for messaging that includes presentations, screen sharing and control, meetings, and phone calls. Sound familiar? While geared towards professionals, Lync should not be under a different name than Skype. Many people I know run both Lync and Skype side-by-side, and it is strange to get multiple notifications from each program. A proposed solution would be to eliminate the Lync branding and incorporate the business features into Skype, accessed through the Office 365 package. I would even be okay with them calling it Skype Pro.

When Microsoft announced the relabeling of their online mail to Outlook.com, I was excited and disappointed. While the free mail service had a fantastic, professional sounding name, it was bound to be a source of confusion with the desktop Office program. I have to explain to people all the time the difference between Outlook the program and Outlook the service. And I always hear comments such as "oh, that's dumb" or "who thought of that?". This is a complicated issue since branding is already strong for the desktop program, and is gaining traction with the service. I would be interested to hear the community's thoughts on this topic.

Microsoft is slowly making progress in the direction of unifying their app experiences. Which do you think needs to come first? Should these apps merge or not? Let me know in the comments.

 

Developer Jeremy Sinclair Posts List of WP8.1 Features

As stated in the title, a developer has put together a list of all the 8.1 features we can expect with the new update. Which is your favorite?

(photo credit to WPCentral)

Social notifications will now show up in action center by swiping from the top of the screen

Operators can now control data sense limits remotely

Operators can also install certain applications once a SIM card is detected

Along with normal updates, there are now “important” updates.

Options to always download emails and pictures within them

Encrypted and signed e-mail support

Change default SMS app. You can also change which SMS app will show notifications

Enterprise enrolled phones can have their passwords changed and remotely locked

“Type as I swipe through letters”. This means we will be seeing Swype-like functionality.

Geofence monitoring support. Geofence is a boundary around a place of interest to you. Location services can monitor geofences to tell your apps when you’re entering and leaving them. This would be really good for IFTTT

Office Lens support: “Download the Office Lens which scans whiteboards and documents directly in the camera as a Windows Phone Lens.The Office Lens lets you scan whiteboards, documents, and more with your phone’s camera, then optimizes the images so they’re clear and easy to read in your notes.”

The phone will have to update to the latest version before you can restore it to factory settings

Option to update store apps automatically

Option to update store apps when only on Wi-Fi

App Suggestions by location

Manual App Update checks

Video Calling Support? I don’t know if we will be given choices of which VOIP provider to use. Maybe Skype video calling will be built-in?

Password protected Office document support

Trusted app list for NFC that will remove the need for asking whether you want to open a particular app.

In-call speech commands. You’ll be able to say “Call XXXXXX”.

Double-Tap to unlock your phone

Lock Notification

Quiet Hours

Double Tap to Power Off

Notification if charger isn’t of adequate power

Screenshot button combination is now Power + Volume Up (Since the newer phones will have the start button on screen)

Chkdsk for SD Cards essentially

Apps on SD Cards are only allowed from ONE originating phone. If it detects that apps from another phone are installed on the SD Card, then it will ask to delete those first

Voice Narrator for Accessibility

The Search button will be the new way to open Speech instead of the Start button

New Email sync options with accordance to usage patterns (i.e. If you get a lot of mail on particular days and if you don’t check mail every day).

Change the size and amount of tiles on your start screen.

Wallet supports tickets and membership cards

App Syncing

Backups now include application data

Screen Reader functionality

Screen Recording functionality

Inner Circle of contacts. Up to 40 contacts can be in the inner circle.

You can favorite photos by tapping a heart icon

Virtual SmartCard support

http://sinclairinat0r.com/2014/02/15/more-features-to-look-forward-to-in-windows-phone-8-1/

What You Didn't Know About the Nokia Lumia Icon (929)

Hot on the heels of the Lumia 928 and 925, the Nokia Lumia Icon stands to be the best Windows Phone in existence. This brand new device features top-of-the-line specs, a fantastic camera, and excellent audio recording.

 

 

As seen in the above photo by Slash Gear,  the phone has a sharp appearance, if not a little understated. With a 5" screen, it takes advantage of the full three live tiles on its large display.

 

• 5 inch, 1080p FHD OLED ClearBlack screen
• Qualcomm 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 Quad core processor
• 20MP PureView Camera with Zeiss f/2.4 lens, dual LED flash, OIS
• 32gb Storage
• 2420 mAh battery
• WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, compass, GPS, FM radio

However, there are some less known features that make the phone especially different than the competition. Did you know about these?

• Quad Microphones for audio cancelling during video calls
• Wireless charging with compatible accessories
• Use the screen with gloves on
• WiFi n/ac with 5GHz support
• Use to shield you from the sun on hot days

No matter how you use the Lumia Icon, it's bound to be a great phone. Check out the audio chops in the following video against the Galaxy S4.

Windows Phone 8.1 to Bring New Notification Center, called Action Center

One of the most common complaints about Windows Phone is its obvious lack of a notification center. Toast messages disappear after being missed by a user. So if a notification goes off, and you don't check it immediately, it is gone forever. The next Windows Phone update hopes to address that.

 

As seen in this photo by The Verge, the next version of Windows Phone will include a notification center with quick access to familiar buttons. You can toggle Wi-Fi, bluetooth, airplane mode, or driving mode from this screen. It will likely be a quick swipe down from the top of the screen. It may also be pinnable as a tile on the start screen.

Notably, it includes options to clear all notifications or edit notification settings, in order to manage which apps send you toasts. Notifications are grouped nicely by app in order to create a structured interface. Less notably, it appears that the battery percentage has finally come to Windows Phone 8! Opening the notification center will show you the percentage below the bar indicator, next to the time.

 

What would you like to see in the RTM version? Comment below!

Windows 8 Start Menu

Where's my WINDOWS 8 Start Menu?

Windows 7 start menu

The start menu is possibly the most iconic piece of Windows that people have come to be familiar with. It launches applications, runs comprehensive searches, and links to important places like the Control Panel and Folders. Without it, would Windows still be Windows?

Some say no, and I can't blame them. The start menu, as pictured in Windows 7, is easy to navigate, easily accessible from the desktop, and convinient to use. However, as seen with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, it looks like the traditional start menu we know may just be gone forever.

Even Chaitanya Sareen, a program manager lead for Microsoft, understands that this chage could be "disruptive" but continues on to explain how the new start screen is better for everyone.

"The environment around Windows has changed immensely since we first introduced the Start menu, and we want to make sure we’re still delivering an experience that is both relevant and tuned to the dynamic computing world we live in today. The evolution of the Start menu is inextricably linked with the development of several other related, but disparate concepts, such as application launching, application switching, system notifications, and gadgets."

Windows 8 sheds the start menu icon in the Consumer Preview

But beta testers are lashing out against what they feel was a very poor design choice by Microsoft. They point out how the new start menu is not mouse-friendly, and does not flow well with the familiar desktop mode. Many users simply claim that they will stay on Windows 7.

Sareen makes an effort to address some of these concerns in her post. "Are we going to do anything to make the mouse more efficient in scrolling through your programs in Start? (Yes, we'll improve that experience, and show you much more in the beta.) Some of you have talked about it feeling less efficient to cycle through your recent programs compared to using the taskbar (and we'll have more to say about that in future posts)."

Only time will tell whether the new, touch-friendly start screen will satisfy desktop users. For the time being, there are at least some other alternatives.

Sources

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/10/03/evolving-the-start-menu.aspx
http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-pick/how-to-get-a-windows-7-start-menu-in-windows-8-20110914/

WINDOWS 8 Consumer Preview Available

The Windows 8 Consumer Preview is now available! Go check it out at the source link!

1) Click the blue "Get it now" button on the source page.

2) Enter a valid email address and select your country. Check the checkbox and click the blue "Download Windows 8 Consumer Preview" button.

3) When the download box opens up, click "Run" and then "Yes" when the security box prompts you.

4) Hit "Next", and write down the product key which you will need later.

The download will start.

Sources

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview