Windows collapsing under own weight

This recent article from ZDnet discusses a Gartner report purporting the end of the Microsoft Windows operating system.

“Microsoft's Windows juggernaut is collapsing under its own weight, as it tries to support 20 years of applications and becomes more complicated by the minute, according to analyst firm Gartner.”

“Speaking at the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo in Las Vegas…, Gartner analysts Michael Silver and Neil MacDonald asked the audience whether Microsoft needed to radically change its approach to Windows; around half of the managers and executives gathered in the room raised their hands. "Windows is too monolithic," said Silver.”

There is no doubt that in the OS world, MS Windows is a dinosaur.

The Gartner analysts raise an interesting point by highlighting the fact that Windows is saddled by 20 years of legacy code and interoperability standards that may no longer be relevant in a world quickly adopting the cloud computing model.

When does Microsoft reach the tipping point, where they benefit more from starting over then they do by maintaining and updating outdated code?

Now that Google is overtly targeting MS Office for extermination by offering free, web-based apps such as Google docs, Microsoft may be faced with the reality of a need for a serious self-reinvention. Perhaps Microsoft should look in the direction of the Salesforce.com “Platform as a Service” model, as their next sortie in the software wars. Or maybe, just maybe, the gang up in Redmond has a little more up its sleeve with the proposed Yahoo purchase, than everybody has thus far imagined.

Stay tuned…

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39384073,00.htm?r=2

Google to be aggressive in tChina

This article from the Silicon Alley insider, by way of the Wall Street Journal, tells us of Google's plans for the burgeoning Chinese web market. Google has made significant gains on the Chinese search leader Baidu, however Baidu still owns 60% of the market, although Google plans to overtake it within 5 years.

“Google accounted for 26% of China's Internet-search revenue in the fourth quarter, up from 17% a year earlier, according to Beijing research firm Analysys International. Market leader Baidu.com's share of the market rose to 60% from 58%.”

"Many Internet users in China are more familiar with Baidu, which started earlier in the country and which attracts users in significant part by facilitating easy access to free music."

"Eric Schmidt said last year that Google would be the China market leader within five years. At a conference in Boao, China, this week, the president of Google China, Kai-Fu Lee, appeared to agree with Eric--sort of. Certainly, we would like to aspire to be a market leader in five years," Mr. Lee said Monday on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia.

Perhaps this is Google's preferred method of single-handedly combating the encroachment of Chinese Sovereign Wealth funds into the US market :) (http://globaleconomicpulse.blogspot.com/)


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120819705705713365.html?mod=technology_main_whats_news

http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/4/google_we_re_going_to_crush_baidu_in_china_we_think_

EU votes against disconnecting file-sharers

Some snippets from recent European IT news, by way of ZDnet.

"On Thursday the parliament voted through two reports on the cultural industries. Both contained amendments that were directly related to the ongoing argument between the content industry and internet service provider (ISPs)."

"In this conflict, the ISPs are claiming that they should not have to disconnect those users who are persistent filesharers, but the content industry is calling for a "three strikes and you're out" rule in order to protect intellectual property."

"One of the reports urged the European Commission and member states to avoid allowing measures that are in conflict with civil liberties, human rights and the principle of proportionality. The other, which passed with a much thinner majority, specifically called for the Commission to "rethink the issue of intellectual property in order to assure solutions that are equitable for both big and small actors and strike a balance between the respect of intellectual property and the access to cultural events and content"."

""[The European Parliament] underlines that on the battle against digital piracy, the solution should not be to criminalise consumers who do not intend to make profit out of their actions," a parliamentary statement read."

“The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) was quick to react on Thursday, saying that the European Parliament's recommendations on filesharing were "badly drafted [and] rushed through".”

“However, IFPI has welcomed the news from France that filesharers of copyrighted material there may soon be thrown off the internet. The organisation called the French move "the single most important initiative to help win the war on online piracy that we have seen so far".”

It looks like the battle lines are being drawn in Europe in the “IP-holder vs filesharer” battle of legalities.

The news from France is very alarming though. Could you imagine being “banned” from the internet?

One would think that it could be successfully argued in this day and age, that Internet access is indeed a civil liberty.

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39384074,00.htm

Google prevails, US Treasury wins

A recent article from MIT discusses the repercussions of the recent US telecom spectrum auction, and informs us of “What the FCC's Auction Means”.

It appears that Google Inc. is very satisfied with the results of the auction, as its participation in the process ensured open-access conditions for the winning bids.

“Google came away empty handed, but the company succeeded in pushing open-access conditions for the winning bids. These conditions, which affect the part of the spectrum that Verizon now owns, require that the frequencies be accessible to devices and networks from other companies--a requirement that could result in innovative new mobile phones and services, says David Reed, professor at MIT's Media Lab.”

Google Inc. ensured this result by participating vociferously in the process, and by bidding-up the price along the way. Ultimately, Google Inc. did not “win” a license to any piece of the spectrum, but it wins what is most important, without having to fork-over billions of dollars to the US Treasury.

Speaking of the US Treasury, it walks away as perhaps the biggest winner in the entire process. The FCC, on behalf of the US Treasury, re-assigned what we currently know as Channel’s 60-67 (in the 700 megahertz band) to Telecom industry.

For its part in re-assigning this part of the aether, the US Treasury picks up a cool $19.6 billion dollars. The hand-over of the spectrum takes place in February of 2009, and should serve to spur innovation in the industry as a whole.

Google Inc., for one, has already been rumored to have a “G-phone” in the works. You can say that you heard it here first, when they launch into the Telecom space next year. Considering the competitive weapons that Google Inc. has at its disposal:

- A large Gmail user-base
- Google Earth
- Google search
- Adsense & Adwords
- A huge private IP network
- Cloud-computing expertise

It is perhaps only logical then, that the mobile industry would be next.

I, for one, won’t be surprised when Google Inc. launches an IP-based, Adsense supported, communication device in the near-future. Think Skype meets IPhone meets Adsense meets Blackberry. If Google Inc. isn’t thinking in this direction, they need to inquire after my services pronto.

Either way, consumers should be the greatest benefactors.

http://www.technologyreview.com/Biztech/20457/?nlid=958

http://globalitandbusinessnews.blogspot.com/