Posts by Mage

O2 Trials

Hopefully IoT is found guilty, i.e. that that can't do it profitably.

Solution

Shut down the parasite.

It serves no useful purpose. Even Twitter is more use.

cloud computing will overtake the classic empire of on-premises computing

"actual cloud computing will overtake the classic empire of on-premises computing some time in the early-to-mid 2020s"

So at some point there will be a critical mass outsourced to Cloud.

Even if a 100x more reliable, it WILL fail, (and a wrong patch might propagate in a way than makes malware writers jealous). Then you won't be able to make calls (no billing), buy food (no POS) or get cash (ATMs will be using the Cloud as will the banks anyway).

There will be no silver lining.

Business users

Most have no choice and would rather have better legacy compatibility than telemetry, ill thought out changes, itunes, lack of classic GUI, windows store etc.

MS still don't get it.

> So... What is a sustainable business model for Microsoft?

Sell businesses stable version of windows, with better reverse compatibility. XP, Server 2003, Office 2003 and SQL7 and Visual Studio before .Net were the high points. Chasing the consumer and One Windows for Phones, Tablets, Workstations and TV has killed the quality, security and experience.

Sell ONE version, not the crazy multiple versions. Make difference between Server and Workstation purely a licence key for any server services. NO Workgroup file/Printer sharing. An absolutely stupid idea released same time as MS OS/2 Server!

At the minute Linux is MUCH superior as File Server, Web server, SQL, Email Server, Cluster. Linux and Libre Office is now a good bit better than Windows Workstation & office unless you locked into Exchange Calendars/Schedules on Outlook and Macros.

Frankly even in 2004 Linux couldn't touch MS Client SW for ease of use and stability, it's better now.

Visual Studio.net and .net is a mess.

Forget the consumer market. It's gone for laptops. Maybe even ditch Xbox. It's just a drain on R&D resources for very little or no income.

Business are the only people locked to Legacy Windows applications and few consumers need a laptop (writing, video editing, photography hobbyists is a small market).

They should split in three:

Windows (ONE product, simply licence keys or on high end a dongle for Laptop, Server, Cluster). NO tablets, unless really a laptop with detachable keyboard and Wacom as well as touch. Main emphasis on WIMP interface, touch is useless on a workstation screen or regular size laptop unless it's a single use scenario (Medical tablet, POS, ATM etc)

Tools. These should work on Windows, Linux and MacOS.

Applications. These should work on Windows, Linux and MacOS (that includes stuff like MS SQL which they have on Linux now). They should NOT also work on set boxes, TVs, Phones, Tablet.

They should open source the file formats and network APIs so iOS and Android developers can do mickey mouse apps / Widgets. I've used "Full featured" Spreadsheets on an Android tablet. It's a garbage experience for real work. A simple app that lets you open file and type some small change is limit to practicality.

GUI

Ribbon was / is absolutely stupid

Aero, excessive eye candy, depreciation Win Forms etc in favour of Direct 3D was stupid.

Excessively flat is stupid

MRU Menu items are stupid. Menus need to be unchanging and have everything.

Tiles are stupid.

Forget phones, consoles, gaming. Concentrate on 100% stable, secure, private and backwardly compatible for business laptops/workstations, or else there is no reason to buy Windows at all.

I bet I could double MS income and stop the griping. Almost everyone now hates the stuff, but has to use it. It really used to be better than Mac or Linux. (I used OS8 and OS9 and OSX is just a more Unix style prettier sideways move).

Canonical / Shuttleworth has seen the light and ditched ABSOLUTELY STUPID Unity.

Security

All "wireless" security sensors / cameras are pointless. Only use wired.

Perimeter Access denial is better even than professional alarm gear.

Home DIY "security" gear is mostly junk. Maybe suitable for watching calves in real time.

I've been brought warehouse security recordings where the thieves were less pixels than a 1980s video game.

"Can you enhance it?" says cop1

"Who you would you like it to be?

"Don't tempt us," says cop2

"A disposable film camera tripped by the motion sensor would be better than this. Even HD Video would be useless for this amount of area"

"So it's useless?" asks cop1

"Yes. Better shutters would be more effective."

So in summary

Absolutely nothing of real value. More Google exploitation plans and blue sky thinking.

What they do well is selling advertising. Their best software actually developed rather than bought in is search.

Mad.

This is so ancient. Ever since wireless mice came out. I can see the value of one on a tablet (only one port and on most even a splitter can's charge while using it as USB host). But I can't see the value of a cordless mouse (or keyboard) on a laptop/workstation. Likely too the battery will go flat at a critical time.

Outsource

Can we outsource all the useless Irish Regulators to France/Germany/EU?

Finance- Anglo Irish, Irish Nationwide. They knew.

BCI - Sky

Comreg - Three, Eir

Data Commisioner - Google, Facebook, MS, Etc

FM vs DAB and how "analogue" FM is so superior.

DAB *COULD* be better than FM, if there was about x6 as many fill in relays (coverage in UK poor forget Ireland, it has less than 50%). Problem is that most DAB is 128k MP2, and DAB+ (AAC) is often 64K to give nearly same quality at 1/2 cost.

256K MP2 and 256K MP3 are not much different and pretty good. But does anyone anywhere transmit 256K DAB (MP2)?

I used to rip at 256K MP3. I think I might have done some at 320K, but some players won't play more than 256K. For archive, I think FLAC is the way to go.

Also BT earphones or speakers involve re-encoding. So I use analogue plug earphones and HiFi amp. The speakers / earpieces / ears are analogue.

Interesting

My ancient Sony Z1 connects to mouse, keyboard and HDMI HD screen. But it's just like a big android tablet then. Not very useful compared to Linux / Mac / Windows laptop.

This is the important bit.

"with apps that rescale smartly to landscape format, overlapping windows and window management."

Though really Android apps are mostly too limited or trivial. What would be more use is Android Apps and true desktop apps able to seamlessly share the app settings, bookmarks, dictionaries, data etc when you dock.

I can only see this succeeding for desks that don't need real desktop applications. But ordinary consumers and some business users only use Web, apps/widgets and email anyway.

Niche market.

The point is that only the phone is mobile, the rest is only on one desk.

3D Simulation

Well, pretty.

Anyone got the plans for the Lego Technic version (without an RCX brick, just cogs, buttons and Lego lamps)?

Send Remotes/Robots

Or politicians.