09.10.08
Eye on Microsoft: From Failures to High-Tier Departures
Failing Products
It’s no secret that the Zune has become synonymous with failure and it demonstrates Microsoft’s inability to expand to new markets and become profitable in them. Steve Ballmer recently commented on the XBox and Zune, calling them “funny products” because Microsoft has not yet figured out how to make money off them. That’s just what he said on the record.
Microsoft has just made another poor attempt at reviving the Zune franchise, but according to some, it’s time for Microsoft to give up and stop wasting money.
The Zune is another matter. Apple’s lead is too large. The Zune is not a product which is terribly different from its competition.
Microsoft can simply say it does not want to take a bath on the Zune while it is taking a more intelligent risk with Xbox profitability.
Kill the Zune. Save some money.
More information about the Zune (starting more with more recent reports) can be found in:
- Zune Guy calls Microsoft ‘liars,’ says Zune situation is ‘f***ing bulls**t’
- Zune Guy Rant Against Microsoft and Zune no Longer Available
- Zune absent from Microsoft exec’s speech
- The beginning of the end for the Microsoft Zune
- Zuneral this Saturday!
- GameStop to Stop Zune Sales
- From Vista to Zune: Why Microsoft Can’t Sell to Consumers
- Zune Sales Still In the Toilet
- Microsoft May Build a Copyright Cop Into Every Zune
- Microsoft says Zune executive will leave company [article removed]
- Dancing Ballmer subjected to Zune dance therapy
- A Legitimate Reason to Hate the Zune (And Microsoft Too)
Another Microsoft failure is actually Windows. Yes, the latest version continues to be a failure and Roughly Drafted explains how Microsoft got there.
Microsoft senior vice president Bill Veghte called the campaign “telling the story of Windows,” a product that, as he wrote, “enables a billion people around the globe to do more with their lives daily.”
Wait, Windows enables users to do more than what, not having an operating system? More than if they had not paid for a commercial operating system? More than if they were using another operating system?
This is the kind of meaningless corporate speech that Microsoft has been gushing for years. In reality, the “story of Windows” is really not something Microsoft can afford to tell.
The truer story is being told by Daniel and it’s quite entertaining to see through (and past) the screen of smoke and mirrors.
Windows Security Crisis
There are 8 more reasons for Microsoft software to produce zombie PCs.
Microsoft packed eight fixes in its four security bulletins released for Patch Tuesday, addressing numerous imaging and other critical errors that could all leave Windows users vulnerable to a remote attack by a malicious hacker.
There are many zombie PCs out there on the Internet (around 320 million), but GNU/Linux, which is said to be a leading platform in Web and mail servers according to this Science Daily article, is trying to resolve the issue by defending Windows.
They recently unveiled a unique new program called the “Korset” to stop [Windows] malware on Linux, the operating system used by the majority of web and email servers worldwide.
Microsoft Squeezes the Goose
At times of financial stress [1, 2, 3] it’s hardly surprising that Microsoft passes more of its burden onto innocent customers, who were spoiled to the point of believing that Windows is free (gratis). To paraphrase Bill Gates, Microsoft was planning “to collect some time in the next decade,” so there are new types of nags even in a 7-year-old operating system.
Microsoft warns about Windows anti-piracy checks
[…]
Under its Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) notifications program this September, Windows will automatically activate these notifications urging users to check for validity of their installed operating system.
Microsoft Seniors Quit the Company
Two departures stand out. The first is the head of Microsoft Romania, who is now being replaced.
Starting October 15, 2008 Calin Tatomir, former IT private consultant director will take over the lead of Microsoft Romania, the company informs on Monday (8 Sept). He will replace Silviu Hotaran, Microsoft Romania head between 1996-2004 and June 2007 until now.
There are also some shuffles down south in Australia where a chief executive left.
Fleming, who takes up his new post on September 29, replaces Andrew Howard, who was acting chief executive after former chief Ian Reinecke left in April.
Where will those who depart actually end up? As we’ve shown earlier, this can be complicated.
Silver Dark
It’s lights out for Silverlight, at least for Microsoft’s partner, NBC.
“NBC just finished broadcasting the Olympics online with Microsoft’s Silverlight video technology, but the network and the NFL are turning back to Adobe’s Flash for live streaming of Sunday Night Football this fall, and started tonight with the season opener between the NY Giants and the Washington Redskins,” Michael Learmonth reports for Silicon Alley Insider.
Whether that’s an isolated choice of somewhat of a pattern, well… it remains to be seen. █
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.