The AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 will launch in March, according to Nokia’s Developer Newsletter, which revealed the release schedule for the LTE Windows Phone despite both carrier and company staying mum about details this week at CES. “[Lumia 900] will become available exclusively through AT&T in March” the coder-targeted newsletter confirmed, far more specific than “the next few months” as Microsoft, Nokia and AT&T have committed to.
It’s obviously in Microsoft’s best interest to give developers as much notice as possible as to the new LTE Lumia’s launch, as that gives them the opportunity to get new US-centric apps ready for its arrival. AT&T, Microsoft and Nokia are expected to spend in the region of $200m to market and promote the smartphone.
Similar to the existing Lumia 800 which has been on sale for some time now, the Lumia 900 has a larger, 4.3-inch display and packs 4G connectivity, as well as an 8-megapixel camera with 720p HD video recording. Different from the Lumia 800, however, is the front-facing camera, though both handsets use Nokia’s milled polycarbonate construction.
(slashgear.com)
Tampilkan postingan dengan label microsoft. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label microsoft. Tampilkan semua postingan
Jumat, 13 Januari 2012
Jumat, 30 Desember 2011
Microsoft vs. Apple: 2012 and Beyond
He was responsible for major advances in six — count ‘em — industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing.
That’s not to say he was fun to be around. I’ve met over a dozen of the Forbes Richest People in America, but as much as I admired Steve Jobs, I never wanted to meet him. He was notorious for his “bad boy” behavior and insulting strangers. His personal life was a mess. He frequently used LSD, seldom bathed, and was, according to his friends and associates, “an obsessive, narcissistic, frequently sociopathic nutcase” who tried to find happiness through Buddhist philosophy and strange eating habits. Not surprisingly, he died young. Sometimes it’s best not to get to know your favorite author, philosopher, or business leader.
But he has a lot to teach us when it comes to business and investing.
The Keynesian Myth
First, he proved that consumers don’t drive the economy; entrepreneurs, business innovators, and visionaries do. Jobs made a point of demanding products that customers didn’t know they wanted–the Mac, the iPhone, the iPad. When asked about doing market research, he replied, “No, because consumers don’t know what they want until we’ve shown them.”
In an age when the media constantly promotes the Keynesian myth that “consumer spending is the largest single driver of the U. S. economy” (to quote the Wall Street Journal), Steve Jobs set the record straight.
“That’s not my approach,” he said. “Henry Ford once said, ‘If I’d asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, “A faster horse!’” It’s entrepreneurship, productive investment, and creative innovation that create a higher standard of living. Consumption is the effect – not the cause – of prosperity. (This is known as Say’s law)
Product First, Profits Follow
Second, the best companies and their leaders are driven ultimately by their desire to make great products or services, not profits. As Steve Jobs says, “the products, not the profits, are the motivation. Everything else is secondary.” He criticized his rival Bill Gates of Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT): “Winning business was more important [to him] than making great products.”
If you compare the stock performance of Apple with Microsoft, it’s a split decision. From 1986 until 2000, Microsoft rose 60 fold, from $1 to $60 a share, while Apple had a 20-fold increase from $2 to $40 a share, with far more volatility.
Since 2000, the race goes to Apple. While Microsoft is about breakeven for the past 12 years, Apple has increased another 10 fold, from $40 to $403 today.
The Future of Microsoft vs. Apple…
Now that Steve Jobs has died and Bill Gates has retired and devoted most of his time to charitable causes, are either stocks worth holding?
Apple is definitely the growth company, with revenues rising 39 percent in the past year, a P/E ratio of 14.5, and a P/E growth rate of 0.62.
Revenues and earnings are likely to rise substantially, given the popularity of iPhones, iPads, iTunes, etc. (This year, my wife got an iPad and I got an iPhone for Christmas.) It pays no dividend, although there is pressure to return some of its $26 billion cash to shareholders.
Microsoft is more a value play, selling for 9.4 times earnings, and PEG ratio of 0.97, and revenues growing 7.3 percent a year. But interestingly profit margins are higher for Microsoft (33 percent versus Apple’s 27 percent). Since 2003, Microsoft has been paying out a growing dividend, now at 20 cents a share (3.1 percent).
Microsoft is definitely a safer bet for conservative investors. If you buy Apple, you are betting that Steve Jobs’s vision of superior and creative new products will continue.
(investmentu.com)
That’s not to say he was fun to be around. I’ve met over a dozen of the Forbes Richest People in America, but as much as I admired Steve Jobs, I never wanted to meet him. He was notorious for his “bad boy” behavior and insulting strangers. His personal life was a mess. He frequently used LSD, seldom bathed, and was, according to his friends and associates, “an obsessive, narcissistic, frequently sociopathic nutcase” who tried to find happiness through Buddhist philosophy and strange eating habits. Not surprisingly, he died young. Sometimes it’s best not to get to know your favorite author, philosopher, or business leader.
But he has a lot to teach us when it comes to business and investing.
The Keynesian Myth
First, he proved that consumers don’t drive the economy; entrepreneurs, business innovators, and visionaries do. Jobs made a point of demanding products that customers didn’t know they wanted–the Mac, the iPhone, the iPad. When asked about doing market research, he replied, “No, because consumers don’t know what they want until we’ve shown them.”
In an age when the media constantly promotes the Keynesian myth that “consumer spending is the largest single driver of the U. S. economy” (to quote the Wall Street Journal), Steve Jobs set the record straight.
“That’s not my approach,” he said. “Henry Ford once said, ‘If I’d asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, “A faster horse!’” It’s entrepreneurship, productive investment, and creative innovation that create a higher standard of living. Consumption is the effect – not the cause – of prosperity. (This is known as Say’s law)
Product First, Profits Follow
Second, the best companies and their leaders are driven ultimately by their desire to make great products or services, not profits. As Steve Jobs says, “the products, not the profits, are the motivation. Everything else is secondary.” He criticized his rival Bill Gates of Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT): “Winning business was more important [to him] than making great products.”
If you compare the stock performance of Apple with Microsoft, it’s a split decision. From 1986 until 2000, Microsoft rose 60 fold, from $1 to $60 a share, while Apple had a 20-fold increase from $2 to $40 a share, with far more volatility.
Since 2000, the race goes to Apple. While Microsoft is about breakeven for the past 12 years, Apple has increased another 10 fold, from $40 to $403 today.
The Future of Microsoft vs. Apple…
Now that Steve Jobs has died and Bill Gates has retired and devoted most of his time to charitable causes, are either stocks worth holding?
Apple is definitely the growth company, with revenues rising 39 percent in the past year, a P/E ratio of 14.5, and a P/E growth rate of 0.62.
Revenues and earnings are likely to rise substantially, given the popularity of iPhones, iPads, iTunes, etc. (This year, my wife got an iPad and I got an iPhone for Christmas.) It pays no dividend, although there is pressure to return some of its $26 billion cash to shareholders.
Microsoft is more a value play, selling for 9.4 times earnings, and PEG ratio of 0.97, and revenues growing 7.3 percent a year. But interestingly profit margins are higher for Microsoft (33 percent versus Apple’s 27 percent). Since 2003, Microsoft has been paying out a growing dividend, now at 20 cents a share (3.1 percent).
Microsoft is definitely a safer bet for conservative investors. If you buy Apple, you are betting that Steve Jobs’s vision of superior and creative new products will continue.
(investmentu.com)
Rabu, 21 Desember 2011
Microsoft pulling out of Consumer Electronics Show after 2012
Microsoft Corp., a 20-year stalwart of the annual Consumer Electronics Show, has decided to pull out of the largest trade show of its kind.
The company's chief executive often gave the keynote address, highlighting its own products and broader tech trends. But the company said it would stop doing so after the 2012 CES. It also will no longer have an exhibit.
CES is one of the world's largest trade shows and annually attracts more than 100,000 visitors to Las Vegas from all over the globe. This year the show will have close to 2,700 exhibitors and more than 1.8 million square feet of floor space.
But the show, once a marquee launchpad for some of the biggest new technologies, has struggled to stay in the headlines as big companies increasingly announce new products on their own timeline. In 2011, some observers questioned the show's relevance when no blockbuster new products were announced. Instead, most companies chose to introduce marginally improved televisions, tablets and smartphones that largely resembled existing products.
Apple Inc., arguably the industry's most popular and innovative company, does not participate in the show.
"Our industry moves fast and changes faster," Microsoft said in a statement. "And so the way we communicate with our customers must change in equally speedy ways."
The company said its decision came after it asked itself, "Are we doing something because it's the right thing to do, or because 'it's the way we've always done it'?"
Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer will give the final keynote Jan. 9.
david.sarno@latimes.com
Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times
The company's chief executive often gave the keynote address, highlighting its own products and broader tech trends. But the company said it would stop doing so after the 2012 CES. It also will no longer have an exhibit.
CES is one of the world's largest trade shows and annually attracts more than 100,000 visitors to Las Vegas from all over the globe. This year the show will have close to 2,700 exhibitors and more than 1.8 million square feet of floor space.
But the show, once a marquee launchpad for some of the biggest new technologies, has struggled to stay in the headlines as big companies increasingly announce new products on their own timeline. In 2011, some observers questioned the show's relevance when no blockbuster new products were announced. Instead, most companies chose to introduce marginally improved televisions, tablets and smartphones that largely resembled existing products.
Apple Inc., arguably the industry's most popular and innovative company, does not participate in the show.
"Our industry moves fast and changes faster," Microsoft said in a statement. "And so the way we communicate with our customers must change in equally speedy ways."
The company said its decision came after it asked itself, "Are we doing something because it's the right thing to do, or because 'it's the way we've always done it'?"
Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer will give the final keynote Jan. 9.
david.sarno@latimes.com
Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times
Motorola violated Microsoft patent, rules judge
The International Trade Commission has ruled that Motorola Mobility has violated six of Microsoft's smartphone patents, in a decision claimed as a victory by both companies.
The patent concerned is one of seven Windows Phone and Windows Mobile patents which Microsoft claimed was being infringed. US Patent No. 6,370,566 covers 'generating meeting requests and group scheduling from a mobile device'. Offending handsets include the Droid 2, Droid X, Cliq XT, Devour and Backflip.
In the event, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ruled that the other six patents weren't being violated.
"We are very pleased that the majority of the rulings were favorable to Motorola Mobility," says Scott Offer, senior vice president and general counsel of Motorola Mobility.
"The ALJ’s initial determination may provide clarity on the definition of the Microsoft 566 patent for which a violation was found and will help us avoid infringement of this patent in the US market."
However, the patent that was upheld appears to cover the ability to schedule meeting requests from mobile devices - a pretty basic feature for business users in particular.
"If they're on travel or even just at lunch or in a meeting room, they want to be able to schedule meetings without having to go back to their office. Scheduling meetings is also increasingly popular on some social networks, so it's probably a feature for both enterprise users and consumers," says patent expert Florian Mueller.
"It remains to be seen how Motorola will address this issue as well as any other Android patent issues that will present themselves along the way, with many other cases and dozens of other patents still waiting for a decision."
With Motorola Mobility already in Google's shopping cart, the search giant must be worried. it's buying Motorola Mobility specifically to protect Android vendors from patent lawsuits such as this.
The patent concerned is one of seven Windows Phone and Windows Mobile patents which Microsoft claimed was being infringed. US Patent No. 6,370,566 covers 'generating meeting requests and group scheduling from a mobile device'. Offending handsets include the Droid 2, Droid X, Cliq XT, Devour and Backflip.
In the event, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ruled that the other six patents weren't being violated.
"We are very pleased that the majority of the rulings were favorable to Motorola Mobility," says Scott Offer, senior vice president and general counsel of Motorola Mobility.
"The ALJ’s initial determination may provide clarity on the definition of the Microsoft 566 patent for which a violation was found and will help us avoid infringement of this patent in the US market."
However, the patent that was upheld appears to cover the ability to schedule meeting requests from mobile devices - a pretty basic feature for business users in particular.
"If they're on travel or even just at lunch or in a meeting room, they want to be able to schedule meetings without having to go back to their office. Scheduling meetings is also increasingly popular on some social networks, so it's probably a feature for both enterprise users and consumers," says patent expert Florian Mueller.
"It remains to be seen how Motorola will address this issue as well as any other Android patent issues that will present themselves along the way, with many other cases and dozens of other patents still waiting for a decision."
With Motorola Mobility already in Google's shopping cart, the search giant must be worried. it's buying Motorola Mobility specifically to protect Android vendors from patent lawsuits such as this.
Kamis, 15 Desember 2011
Microsoft Office 365 Vs. Google Apps: Compliance Clash
Microsoft on Wednesday declared that Office 365 is the "first and only major cloud productivity service to comply with leading EU and U.S. standards for data protection and security."
There are, of course, not many "major cloud productivity services." In fact, you'd be hard pressed to come up with "major" contenders beyond Microsoft and Google. There are certainly major companies like IBM and Cisco that offer cloud productivity options, but they aren't really challenging Microsoft Office head-on like Google Apps. Thus Microsoft's dismissal of browser-based apps can be read as a critique of Google, the company that would have you believe Microsoft's hybrid approach, with local and cloud apps, is archaic and inefficient.
"Developing cloud-based productivity tools that meet the needs of European businesses means more than simply building apps in a browser," said Jean-Philippe Courtois, president of Microsoft International, in a statement. "Microsoft has a more complete approach to European data protection and security laws than any other company, and we're proud of the work we've done to ensure the widest range of organizations can move to the cloud with confidence--or choose an equally functional on-premises option."
Microsoft's claim might be best boiled down to something like, "Office 365 is more compliant than Google Apps."
There's some truth in that, but also some posturing.
Microsoft says that it will abide by not only European Union model clauses, rules that certify compliance with the European Commission's Data Protection Directive and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the U.S., but also by local data regulations in the 27 EU member states.
Google hasn't fully embraced the model clauses, let alone all the unique member state rules. One reason might be that the model clauses require data processors to make their data processing facilities available to client or government auditors. Given how many clients Google has, the company might be wary of offering data center tours on demand for reasons of security and practicality.
Microsoft says that it's the first major cloud-based productivity service to be certified under ISO/IEC 27001, a data security management benchmark. Google Apps isn't ISO/IEC 27001 certified at the moment but it is certified under the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)--despite Microsoft's claim to the contrary--and certain FISMA requirements can be mapped to ISO/IEC 27001 requirements. So by complying with FISMA, Google Apps is more or less in line with the expectations set forth in ISO/IEC 27001.
Microsoft also cites the online services it has developed for Office 365 that provide safeguards necessary for HIPAA compliance. Yet HIPAA regulates the use of information services in organizations rather than in the service providers themselves. So it's not as if Office 365 is HIPAA compliant and Google Apps isn't. Both companies provide resources to help their customers use their services under HIPAA.
Microsoft says it believes it’s the only cloud productivity service that includes a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA) to customers covered by HIPAA. The BAA establishes contractual requirements between the customer and Microsoft related to the customer’s HIPAA obligations.
Google points out that compliance isn't everything, an assertion affirmed by the number of companies that have complied with security rules and still suffered data breaches.
"Certifications help communicate certain assurances to customers, but they only tell part of the story," a Google spokesperson said in an email. "Most were not developed with cloud infrastructure in mind. Google Apps has secured several important certifications while developing our own security technology specific to cloud computing."
Indeed, compliance might not be everything, but it's significant enough that it can be used to attempt to thwart the competition.
(informationweek.com)
There are, of course, not many "major cloud productivity services." In fact, you'd be hard pressed to come up with "major" contenders beyond Microsoft and Google. There are certainly major companies like IBM and Cisco that offer cloud productivity options, but they aren't really challenging Microsoft Office head-on like Google Apps. Thus Microsoft's dismissal of browser-based apps can be read as a critique of Google, the company that would have you believe Microsoft's hybrid approach, with local and cloud apps, is archaic and inefficient.
"Developing cloud-based productivity tools that meet the needs of European businesses means more than simply building apps in a browser," said Jean-Philippe Courtois, president of Microsoft International, in a statement. "Microsoft has a more complete approach to European data protection and security laws than any other company, and we're proud of the work we've done to ensure the widest range of organizations can move to the cloud with confidence--or choose an equally functional on-premises option."
Microsoft's claim might be best boiled down to something like, "Office 365 is more compliant than Google Apps."
There's some truth in that, but also some posturing.
Microsoft says that it will abide by not only European Union model clauses, rules that certify compliance with the European Commission's Data Protection Directive and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the U.S., but also by local data regulations in the 27 EU member states.
Google hasn't fully embraced the model clauses, let alone all the unique member state rules. One reason might be that the model clauses require data processors to make their data processing facilities available to client or government auditors. Given how many clients Google has, the company might be wary of offering data center tours on demand for reasons of security and practicality.
Microsoft says that it's the first major cloud-based productivity service to be certified under ISO/IEC 27001, a data security management benchmark. Google Apps isn't ISO/IEC 27001 certified at the moment but it is certified under the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA)--despite Microsoft's claim to the contrary--and certain FISMA requirements can be mapped to ISO/IEC 27001 requirements. So by complying with FISMA, Google Apps is more or less in line with the expectations set forth in ISO/IEC 27001.
Microsoft also cites the online services it has developed for Office 365 that provide safeguards necessary for HIPAA compliance. Yet HIPAA regulates the use of information services in organizations rather than in the service providers themselves. So it's not as if Office 365 is HIPAA compliant and Google Apps isn't. Both companies provide resources to help their customers use their services under HIPAA.
Microsoft says it believes it’s the only cloud productivity service that includes a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA) to customers covered by HIPAA. The BAA establishes contractual requirements between the customer and Microsoft related to the customer’s HIPAA obligations.
Google points out that compliance isn't everything, an assertion affirmed by the number of companies that have complied with security rules and still suffered data breaches.
"Certifications help communicate certain assurances to customers, but they only tell part of the story," a Google spokesperson said in an email. "Most were not developed with cloud infrastructure in mind. Google Apps has secured several important certifications while developing our own security technology specific to cloud computing."
Indeed, compliance might not be everything, but it's significant enough that it can be used to attempt to thwart the competition.
(informationweek.com)
Selasa, 13 Desember 2011
Microsoft releases OneNote as first Office app for iPad
Already out there as an iPhone app, the latest 1.3 update to OneNote turns it into a full-fledged iPad app able to take advantage of the tablet's full-screen real estate.
Though it's part of certain versions of Microsoft Office, OneNote is probably the least understood application in the midst of Word, Excel, Outlook, and Access.
As its name implies, it's basically a note taker and todo list, but one designed to capture free-form notes and ideas as text, images, tables, bullet points, and other types of content. You can also link to or embed video and audio clips and draw illustrations in your notebooks.
You can easily move each piece of content around the screen to organize it. OneNote can also tie in with Outlook, so you can e-mail information and link meeting notes and todo items between the two applications.
You can do all that and more in the full desktop version. The iPad version is much more limited.
Wtth the OneNote IOS app, you can type notes, create bullet and checkbox lists, and insert photos from the photo library or by snapping a new picture.
You can create multiple notebooks and easily organize them. You can also e-mail a notebook. But you can't insert objects other than photos or move and manipulate your content the way you can on the desktop application.
Still, OneNote for the iPad can come in handy for viewing notebooks created on your desktop. OneNote for Windows lets you save each notebook on the Web through your SkyDrive account. Your iPad or iPhone will then automatically retrieve new and updated content by syncing with SkyDrive in the background.
From there, you can open any synced notebooks to view them on your tablet or phone. Though your notebooks don't retain their original layout on the moble device, you can easily read them and make changes to the text, though not to the images.
As described in a Microsoft blog, the new version of OneNote supports both the iPad and iPad 2, is available in different languages, and easily syncs over a Wi-Fi connection.
Microsoft is reportedly prepping a mobile version of its Office suite
for the iPad, according to sources, though the company hasn't confirmed those reports.
As Microsoft's first effort, OneNote for the iPad is a promising idea, but the current version feels incomplete, especially compared with its desktop counterpart. I'd like to see Microsoft try to enhance the app in the next round to give it at least a few of the features that distinguish the desktop version.
The basic free app lets you create and store up to 500 individual notes. Those of you who need more will have to shell out $4.99 for unlimited use on your iPhone and $14.99 for unlimited use on the iPad.
(cnet.com)
Though it's part of certain versions of Microsoft Office, OneNote is probably the least understood application in the midst of Word, Excel, Outlook, and Access.
As its name implies, it's basically a note taker and todo list, but one designed to capture free-form notes and ideas as text, images, tables, bullet points, and other types of content. You can also link to or embed video and audio clips and draw illustrations in your notebooks.
You can easily move each piece of content around the screen to organize it. OneNote can also tie in with Outlook, so you can e-mail information and link meeting notes and todo items between the two applications.
You can do all that and more in the full desktop version. The iPad version is much more limited.
Wtth the OneNote IOS app, you can type notes, create bullet and checkbox lists, and insert photos from the photo library or by snapping a new picture.
You can create multiple notebooks and easily organize them. You can also e-mail a notebook. But you can't insert objects other than photos or move and manipulate your content the way you can on the desktop application.
Still, OneNote for the iPad can come in handy for viewing notebooks created on your desktop. OneNote for Windows lets you save each notebook on the Web through your SkyDrive account. Your iPad or iPhone will then automatically retrieve new and updated content by syncing with SkyDrive in the background.
From there, you can open any synced notebooks to view them on your tablet or phone. Though your notebooks don't retain their original layout on the moble device, you can easily read them and make changes to the text, though not to the images.
As described in a Microsoft blog, the new version of OneNote supports both the iPad and iPad 2, is available in different languages, and easily syncs over a Wi-Fi connection.
Microsoft is reportedly prepping a mobile version of its Office suite
for the iPad, according to sources, though the company hasn't confirmed those reports.
As Microsoft's first effort, OneNote for the iPad is a promising idea, but the current version feels incomplete, especially compared with its desktop counterpart. I'd like to see Microsoft try to enhance the app in the next round to give it at least a few of the features that distinguish the desktop version.
The basic free app lets you create and store up to 500 individual notes. Those of you who need more will have to shell out $4.99 for unlimited use on your iPhone and $14.99 for unlimited use on the iPad.
(cnet.com)
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