01.11.10
Microsoft Demoted in IT Leaders League, Ranked Second-Worst Polluter/Environmental Hazard
Summary: Microsoft’s products are too inferior for industry giants like Google and Apple to be too worried about; Greenpeace slams Microsoft again
THE previous post showed that Microsoft is using partners to challenge Google’s dominance as a search engine and is also using questionable tactics to harm Google's Linux phones (this includes FUD). Some time ago we shewed that Apple and Microsoft might be joining forces against Google/Android. As the Mac Observer wrote it down a few days ago:
Apple Officially Writes Off Microsoft, Moves Sights to Google
[..]
I wrote off Microsoft long ago. Except the Mac Business Unit – I think Office for Mac is a great product. Seriously, though, under Steve Ballmer’s leadership, Microsoft has largely floundered, moving from one blundered catch up project to another.
It’s becoming a trend this month.
From IDG: “World Domination Boils Down to Apple vs. Google”
And from NewsWeek: “Forget Microsoft vs. Google. This Decade, It’s an Apple-Google Slugfest.”
Some people would argue that Windows Mobile is out is the picture/race, which means that now it’s a case of BSD/Apple versus Linux/Android. Apple is also stepping in Google’s advertising space and there is a positive spin to it:
Google Loves Apple’s Quattro Deal
[..]
Google’s logic here is straightforward: If other big companies are buying mobile ad networks, then Washington can’t possibly be upset with us for buying AdMob.
Lastly, regarding Apple and Microsoft, TG Daily was spreading some environmental messages against Apple while leaving Microsoft in the clear last year. It is becoming quite different this year. From the news this time around (annual CES protests):
• Nintendo and Microsoft Ranked Dead Last in Greenpeace Rankings
• Nintendo, Microsoft Last Place on Greenpeace Report
• Apple has Microsoft beat — as far as Greenpeace is concerned
Greenpeace, the well-known environmental organization that speaks out against nuclear power and climate change, has revised its “Guide to Greener Electronics,” a ranking of 18 major electronics companies based on how eco-friendly they are in their practices. While it didn’t top the list, Apple came out the big winner, jumping 4 places higher on the list to fifth place — that’s 11 places higher than Microsoft, which bottomed out the ranks, beating only Nintendo.
• Greenpeace: Nintendo, Microsoft Least Green Electronics Makers
Nintendo continues its reign as the least environmentally friendly electronics manufacturer, according to Greenpeace, but Microsoft is approaching that dubious honor as well after dropping two places and becoming the second-worst in this year’s “Guide to Greener Electronics.”
For more information that is relevant, see the following:
Bill Gates was accused by his former employee of global warming denial, so the attitude above makes some sense. █
Needs Sunlight said,
January 11, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Maybe the title “Apple Officially Writes Off Microsoft, Moves Sights to Google” really does indicate that Steve Jobs is back, after several years of absence. Apple really has to clean house though because while he was gone, the company really picked up a lot of Microsoft’s insiders. Take the Apple Store’s blurb about OS X 10.6, “Snow Leopard”. It’s mostly a sales pitch for the abortive attempt at a mail and calendar service known as MS Exchange. The gist of the text is ‘buy OS X so you can run MS Exchange instead of a mail or calendar service’:
364 characters and 53 words, whereof 158 (or about 40%) of the characters and 19 (about 36%) of the words dedicated to selling the MS product that reduces Apple’s, and everyone else’s, ability to operate. (Not that MS products work well with Exchange either, it’s just that when MS Exchange fails to work and there is another brand involved, it the other brand always gets the blame. ) The center of the text is the most cognitively significant allowing the plug to do the most damage to Apple’s brand.
I’m hoping this next year sees Apple cleaning house and re-orienting back to the open source / open standards path that brought it success. This digression has seen that success level off somewhat and it wouldn’t take more than firing a few Microsofters to get back on track.