Compromise

John Gruber posted about a MS article on Windows 8’s new “no compromises” design. While Steven Sinofsky goes to great lengths to reinforce the point of “no compromises” the fact is they are making compromises - you have to compromise something.

Microsoft may continue to tout “no compromises” but who said compromising was a bad thing? You want to see what no compromises looks like? Then look to the new Windows Explorer 8. That is “no compromises”.

Windows 8 UI Fragmentation

Microsoft is trying to shoehorn Windows 8 into every type of computing device. The video released yesterday shows the new UI…err rather UI shell for touch capable devices. Shortly thereafter, John Gruber posted why he thinks it is fundamentally flawed. I agree.

Windows 8 is going to be a fragmented experience across all these devices. On tablets people will mainly use the touch UI, on business desktops (if they ever upgrade) they will turn off the touch UI and just use the traditional UI, on home PCs people will probably switch to what they are familiar with. This causes a lot of problems – for everyone. 

Microsoft only has to develop one OS, but that OS has two interfaces? Are most things going to be in the touch UI? Do I have to switch out of the touch UI and go to control panel for more advanced settings? What is the development priority of those interfaces now? Will Office move to touch enabled UIs? How will all the app switching and gestures work with those who have just a keyboard and mouse? The complexity goes on and on.

Developers now have another type of Program (what Microsoft calls Applications) to develop for. Well, if the touch UI is only used on tablets then what is the market for that? Are touch UI programs more like widgets or full blown Programs? Will Excel gain a touch based UI like IE? Which program type do I develop for if they both coexist? Do I have one app that has a touch UI and a classic UI with more features?

Users now decide which UI to use. If I’m on a desktop or a laptop I’m going to guess that the touch UI will be cool to play with but will get really old fast. People will eventually move back to the UI they are familiar with - because it is still an option. Tablet (Slate?) users will be more keen on the touch UI because they don’t have a keyboard and mouse and the classic UI is hard to use with just a finger (which is why Microsoft created a touch UI). But they only get touch programs which are HTML and Javascript - underpowered and less features than their classic counterparts. Touch users end up with a more widget-like experience – which is frustrating.

So this whole one OS for all devices seems to me to be a terrible idea. I’m pretty sure it came directly from Balmer. It sounds good to a sales guy like Balmer but in practice it only causes more confusion and fragmentation for everyone involved.

You can’t have your cake and eat it too. I thought we’ve all learned that lesson. I guess Microsoft still has that lesson to check off on their feature list.

NokiaSoft

As expected Nokia and Microsoft are forming a strategic alliance in an attempt to become relevant in the smartphone market again. Here is some corporate speak:

Nokia expects 2011 and 2012 to be transition years, as the company invests to build the planned winning ecosystem with Microsoft. After the transition, Nokia targets longer-term: (1) Devices & Services net sales to grow faster than the market. (2) Devices & Services non-IFRS operating margin to be 10% or more.

None of that really means much except that they believe this will be a successful partnership around 2013 (which is forever from now). They sure have their work cut out for them but they are good for each other. Two years is forever in this market. Two years ago we had the iPhone 3G and Android was only four months old and only on T-Mobile’s G1 Phone.

With both Google and Apple beginning to really push services this year it will be really hard for Nokia/Microsoft to play catch up (again). Good luck to them.

HP ships their Win 7 Slate for $799

It has a USB port, headphone jacks, keyboard button (including the always useful Alt + Ctrl + Delete key). Interestingly the right side is also home to a slide-out Windows license.

These are the sort of decisions (Ctrl + Alt + Delete) and required Windows license sticker that really just go to show that MS still thinks of tablets as PCs. Oh, and the fact that it is running stock Windows 7. They don’t get it.

Microsoft Announces Windows Phone 7

Microsoft’s press release announcing the availability of Windows Phone 7

The goal for Microsoft’s latest smartphone is an ambitious one: to deliver a phone that truly integrates the things people really want to do, puts those things right in front of them, and either lets them get finished quickly or immerses them in the experience they were seeking. - Microsoft Press Release

The leading paragraph in the release is meaningless. The language is so vague that this could have been the text from an announcement of Windows CE 2.

By comparison here is Apple’s leading paragraph announcing the original iPhone

Apple® today introduced iPhone, combining three products—a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod® with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, searching and maps—into one small and lightweight handheld device. iPhone introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and pioneering new software, letting users control iPhone with just their fingers. iPhone also ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, which completely redefines what users can do on their mobile phones. - Apple iPhone Press Release

They talk about what it does (phone, iPod, internet), how it works (using fingers), and how powerful the device is to accomplish specific tasks (email, web browsing, searching, maps, etc). 

Microsoft can’t connect to users. Apple does. Microsoft’s biggest problem is culture. Their language, reactions, products, and mindset all come from a culture that has been guiding them toward consumer irrelevance.