I’ve been meaning to comment on an article I read a few weeks ago that made a fascinating statement about Microsoft’s new cross-platform strategy. It’s written by Andrew Cunningham at the always-excellent arstechnica.com, and it’s titled “You win, Microsoft: How I accidentally went back to Microsoft Word.” The piece is generally good, and makes mostly […]
Is Windows 10 Continuum the Key to Microsoft’s Smartphone Strategy? (Updated)
July 10, 2015 by 3 Comments
Update 7/14/2015: As Windows Central reports, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (speaking at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference) seems to agree with my position here: When I think about our Windows Phone, I want it to stand for something like Continuum. The bottom line is, Nadella is no idiot, and Microsoft’s strategy is indeed deep and compelling. Read the […]
Configuring Default Tabs in Microsoft Edge Browser
June 18, 2015 by 1 Comment
So far, as of Windows 10 build 10130, Microsoft’s new Edge browser is a frustrating mix of the excellent with the deficient. I’m enjoying the browser’s speed, simplicity, and touch support, but bemoaning the lack of password saving and syncing and extensions. One basic feature that I thought was lacking, the ability to set default tabs […]
Microsoft: “Use the Phone That’s In Your Pocket”
May 26, 2015 by Leave a Comment
This video previewing Microsoft’s upcoming Phone Companion app for Windows 10 seems to summarize Microsoft’s strategy when it comes to smartphones. At about the 3:10 mark, Joe Belfiore (Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President, Operating Systems Group) says: Today, people have this expectation that they’ll be able to take whatever device they have and have all of their […]
Fugoo Tough Bluetooth Speaker Review
May 6, 2015 by 1 Comment
I don’t know about you, but music is instrumental to my productivity (pun intended). It picks me up, calms me down, keeps me focused. I dislike complete silence in general, making my home office a potentially oppressive and patently unproductive environment without some good jams playing in the background. I don’t like wearing headphones for […]
No, Microsoft Isn’t Giving Up on Smartphones (Updated)
April 29, 2015 by 1 Comment
Update 5/26/2015: So, Microsoft has made it official that Cortana will be available on Android and iOS. Does that change this equation? After all, Cortana was one of the value-added technologies that would have made Windows 10 Mobile unique on smartphones. My guess is that, in the and, Microsoft’s positions on phones, and maybe even […]
Is Microsoft Giving Up on Smartphones? (Updated)
April 27, 2015 by 1 Comment
Update: Paul Thurrot reported this morning (4/28/2015) that Microsoft “will most likely announce this week that it will enable customers to run Android apps on their Windows 10 phones, tablets and PCs.” That’s pretty strong language, and Thurrot has connections. I doubt that he’d state it so firmly, and write such a strongly-worded post in […]
Microsoft Lumia 640 No-Contract T-Mobile Version: $89?!? (Updated: Removed?)
April 23, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Update 2: Well, Microsoft has removed the listing for the Lumia 640 from the Microsoft Store. Check back to see that what means. Update: After I posted this on Twitter, T-Mobile replied with what could be taken as confirmation: So, the Microsoft Store has the upcoming Lumia 640 listed at $89 for the no-contract T-Mobile […]
Stuck in Windows (on Phone) Limbo
April 22, 2015 by Leave a Comment
In what would have seemed a shocking development to me a year ago, I’m carrying an iPhone 6 as my daily driver. I’ve written about this before: after using Windows Phone and iOS for a few months each, I’ve lost my taste for Android. No offense intended to any Android fans, but my Nexus 5 […]
90 Days Later, My Microsoft Lumia 830 RM-985 Still Doesn’t Support Lumia Camera 5
April 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment
I try to be a patient person. It’s difficult for me–I want something, I have a hard time waiting for it. When it comes to promises that companies make about their products, I try doubly hard to be patient–nobody’s perfect, things don’t always work out as planned, I’ve been known to be late myself, etc. […]