thisistheverge: This is my next: Windows 8 David Pierce plans to make a drastic change. My MacBook Air and my iPad are basically my fifth and sixth limbs. I rarely go anywhere without them, I use each for hours every day, and in general I’m really happy with both of them. Come October 26th, though, I’m ditching them both. I don’t know yet if I’m buying a Microsoft Surface or a Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet or an Asus Transformer Book, or something else entirely. But I’m buying a Windows 8 device as my only computer, and I can’t wait. Interested to see if I feel the same way.  After my time with the beta, I have no doubt it would be with a surface (or at least some kind of tablet), not a traditional laptop or desktop.  I do like the idea of it all though. Having said that, I have absolutely no plans to throw my MBA in any closets anytime soon.
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thisistheverge:

This is my next: Windows 8

David Pierce plans to make a drastic change.

My MacBook Air and my iPad are basically my fifth and sixth limbs. I rarely go anywhere without them, I use each for hours every day, and in general I’m really happy with both of them.
Come October 26th, though, I’m ditching them both. I don’t know yet if I’m buying a Microsoft Surface or a Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet or an Asus Transformer Book, or something else entirely. But I’m buying a Windows 8 device as my only computer, and I can’t wait.

Interested to see if I feel the same way.  After my time with the beta, I have no doubt it would be with a surface (or at least some kind of tablet), not a traditional laptop or desktop.  I do like the idea of it all though.

Having said that, I have absolutely no plans to throw my MBA in any closets anytime soon.

Microsoft May Be Making A Few Billion A Year Off Of Android. Yes, Microsoft.

parislemon:

If this is accurate, Samsung is on pace to pay Microsoft upwards of $2 billion to use Android this year. That’s Microsoft, not Google.

HTC, which barely made money last quarter after profit fell 57%, may be paying Microsoft around $500 million to use Android this year. That’s Microsoft, not Google.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is paying $1 billion to Nokia each year to ensure they keep using Windows Phone. This is the same Windows Phone operating system that Microsoft charges a fee for OEMs to use. Including Nokia.

Aside from Apple, the entire smartphone ecosystem is very fucked up.

Those who control the patents, control the money.  Unfortunate.

Working on something bigger on The Surface, but heres some quick hits:

- Love the hardware design.  Obviously its hard to judge without any hands on, but the thing looks slick.  I don’t mind the edges, ports, or kickstand.  Its not trying to be a slick, seemless slab like the iPad.  And thats a good thing.

- Keyboard cases are cool.  I am assuming the trackpad means it’ll have mouse input, which is huge for productivity.  

-Microsoft is going all in here.  The have been a software licensing company, and they just starting competing with all thier customers on that front.  They must have no faith in those hardware manufacurers to make something that really takes advantage of Windows 8.  Its riskey, but if they go down, it’ll be swinging.

- No pricing worries me.  The fact that they will only say it’ll be “competitive” worries me more.  The RT version has to be cheaper then the iPad.  I don’t care if you can make an argument that its got more features, ports, etc; you are not as cool as Apple right now, Microsoft.  And that is more important then you may think.

- Your late to the game, but you better work your ass off to get apps.  Especially for the RT version.

-The naming sucks.  Why call it “Microsoft Sufrace for Windows RT” when you could just call it “Surface RT”?  Simplify.

I keep saying it; Microsoft could be on the verge of becoming cool.  There is a lot to shake out still, but Surface could be a real turning point.

Source: boxinggnome.com

Bryan Bishop writing for The Verge on Microsoft SmartGlass:

Microsoft refers to SmartGlass as a platform, and that’s really what it appears to be building here. If the content providers jump on board — Paramount and HBO both helped create the demos we saw, and we were told Microsoft’s other brand partners will be taking advantage as well — the system could become the interactive, digital video-equivalent of DVD special features. Not just for a single movie, either, but for allyour video content.

SmartGlass feels like the future.  I almost never watch TV without my iPad in hand, but I usually don’t do much more then surf twitter or look up something online.  It may take a while for content producers to find what really works with the tech, but when they do, it really could push the TV experience into the future.  Everyone is speculating on what Apple may do in the living-room, but Microsoft is putting together a pretty damn compelling package right now.  

Source: theverge.com

via The Verge:

By Google’s math, customers would pay $9.99 a month for unlimited data — to subsidize the reduce cost, the company would forgo the commission it earned from T-Mobile for referring Android buyers to its online store. Google figured that its own services — Gmail, search, and so on — would consume about 15MB a month, a figure likely estimated to be far lower in 2006 than it is today.

Think about how huge this would be if Google (or Microsoft) pursued something like this today.  Especially for families with 3+ phones, phone data can be a huge expense.  I’m sure it would cost more then their commission to make something like this happen now, but if Google or Microsoft had some specialized devices (maybe locked down to use specific partner services) paired with a data package like that, it could be an interesting way to buy some market share.  

I personally would never buy into that and hate the idea, but I’m sure a number of consumers would jump all over that.

Source: theverge.com