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 […]
Adobe Shows That Microsoft is Cool Again (Update: Behind the Scenes)
October 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I don’t know how much of this is concept and how much is shipping today in the new Adobe Creative Cloud, but the following video reinforces my conviction that Microsoft is doing some very cool and very powerful things. The title of this video is “Adobe Illustrator on MS Surface,” but I see a whole lot […]
Dell Venue 8 Pro 32GB for $199 at Amazon
September 27, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I’ve been using a Dell Venue 8 Pro for a few months now, and I love it as an adjunct device to my Microsoft Surface Pro 3. It’s great for those times when I want to relax with a smaller Windows machine or use a less expensive device in dangerous circumstances (e.g., eating a sloppy […]
Surface Pro 3 Sales Going Strong?
September 24, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Microsoft hasn’t released official sales numbers for the Surface Pro 3, and maybe never will with any precision, and so we’re left with analyzing various other tidbits of information to determine just how well it’s doing. AdDuplex, provider of metrics for Windows Store apps (i.e., modern UI apps) has released its September 2014 numbers, and […]
Yes, Samsung Really Can Make a Classy Ad
September 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Let’s be honest here: Samsung has made some really bad ads. And, they’re often way too focused on slamming the competition; as a marketer, I’ve always thought it best to focus on yourself and let your competitors fend for themselves (unless you’re T-Mobile and your CEO is John Legere, in which case all bets are […]
Forbes Agrees That the Surface Pro 3 Is a Very Good Tablet
September 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Reviews of Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 have generally been positive, at least as far as how well it functions as a quasi-notebook. The praise has been less forthcoming, however, when reviewers have considered the Surface Pro 3 as a tablet. I’ve disagreed with them, finding Microsoft’s hybrid to make for an excellent–I’d say, superior–tablet, at […]
Surface Pro 3 Sales: At Least Better Inventory Management
September 15, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Microsoft’s $900 million dollar write-off, taken due to unsold Surface RT inventory in their Q4 2013 quarterly results, generated quite a bit of noise about the product’s success (or lack thereof). As of early this summer, it was estimated that Microsoft had lost around $1.7 billion in total on the Surface program, not accounting for costs […]
Actiontec ScreenBeam Pro Miracast Receiver Review
September 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I’ve been using Google’s Chromecast since its release on July, 2013 for sending video and mirroring the screen to my HDTVs from my various Android devices. It’s relatively simple to configure, and it generally works. When I switched to Windows 8.1 on my Dell Venue 8 Pro and my Microsoft Surface Pro 3, I was […]
The Motley Fool Misunderstands Microsoft’s Strategy
August 27, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Microsoft just can’t catch a break. Consider The Motley Fool, writing about Microsoft’s decision to release an Office for iPad: For perspective, Microsoft recently broke down and allowed Microsoft Office on the iPad. For years that was one of its largest selling points for its Surface line of tablets. These are two fascinating sentences. First, […]
Surface Pro 3 and “Lapability”: It’s All About Flexibility
August 25, 2014 by Leave a Comment
When Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3 was first introduced, much was made by reviewers (and those who’ve never used the machine) about it’s “lapability,” or how well it can be used (or can’t be) on one’s lap compared to a traditional clamshell notebook. Indeed, it appears that Microsoft invented the term to use when describing a positive feature of their […]