Saturday, February 16, 2013

Software : Twitter to shut down Posterous blogging service on April 30

Software : Twitter to shut down Posterous blogging service on April 30

Twitter to shut down Posterous blogging service on April 30

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Twitter to shut down Posterous blogging service on April 30

Posterous, the simple blogging and note-sharing service bought by Twitter last year, will shut down at the end of April, the company has confirmed.

The tool, which allowed users to post blogs to 'Spaces' via email but became more about private photo and note sharing as it evolved, was snapped up by Twitter for an undisclosed fee in March 2012.

At the time Twitter had vowed to allow the Posterous team to continue working autonomously, as it attempted to build a challenge to the almighty Tumblr, but that challenge did not materialise.

Posterous founder and CEO Sachin Agarwal confirmed Twitter's decision to shutter the service and its mobile apps in a statement posted on the company blog.

Acqui-hire complete

He said the Posterous team will now be focussing on its work on other Twitter projects, which pretty much confirms that the original purchase was nothing more than a talent raid.

Agarwal wrote: "Posterous launched in 2008. Our mission was to make it easier to share photos and connect with your social networks. Since joining Twitter almost one year ago, we've been able to continue that journey, building features to help you discover and share what's happening in the world – on an even larger scale.

"On April 30, we will turn off posterous.com and our mobile apps in order to focus 100% of our efforts on Twitter. This means that as of April 30, Posterous Spaces will no longer be available either to view or to edit.

"Right now and over the next couple months until April 30th, you can download all of your Posterous Spaces including your photos, videos, and documents."

The post on the company blog goes on to detail how users can back up all of the items they're shared on Posterous pages. So long, Posterous. We hardly knew ye.

Microsoft confirms Office 2013 licenses cannot be transferred

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Microsoft confirms Office 2013 licenses cannot be transferred

Microsoft has confirmed that Office 2013 owners cannot transfer their license to another PC once it has been installed.

In a departure from Microsoft's Office 2010 stance, those who purchase a license (for all versions) for the new Windows 8 productivity suite, will not be able to reinstall elsewhere, even if their PC is stolen.

In an emailed response to a query from Computerworld asking whether this was indeed the case, a Microsoft representative simply replied "correct."

Asked in a follow up email whether end users could transfer the license in the event that their PC is lost, stolen or damaged, the PR firm representing Microsoft responded with a curt "no comment.

Similar restrictions had existed for the cheaper versions of Office 2010, but not for all commercial versions of the software, as is the case with Office 2013.

Move to Office 365

The move is being seen as a way for Microsoft to encourage sign-ups for its cloud-based Office 365 Premium subscription suite.

"We've been very clear in all of our communications that customers seeking transferability should get Office 365 and that Office 2013 is licensed to one device," the Microsoft spokesperson added.

Office 365 Premium does allow the software to be installed on up to five machines, so it is indeed more "transferable," but that's not really the point.

Office 365 requires a monthly £7.99 (USD$9.99, AUD$12.99) subscription or an annual £79.99 (USD$99.99, AUD$119.99) fee, so in reality it's still like buying Office once a year.

Kicking users while they're down

For loyal Office customers who are unlucky enough to have their laptop stolen or suffer hardware failure, having to buy Office again for their new PC will undoubtedly be an added boot in the nether regions.

Surely, Microsoft would be wise to revise this policy and not punish those who've opted to pay for their products?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Skype Video Messages absent from Windows platforms until end of April

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Skype Video Messages absent from Windows platforms until end of April

Microsoft will hold off on adding the new Skype Video Message feature to Windows-based apps until the end of April, the company has reportedly confirmed.

The new feature, which rolled out in beta on iOS, Android and Mac on Friday, allows users to record and send visual voicemail messages up to three minutes in length on their phones, tablets or computers.

Given that Microsoft paid a pretty penny to acquire Skype, it was with some surprise that Windows Phone, Windows 8 and Windows RT apps were omitted.

Microsoft said on Friday that feature would arrive eventually, and now CITEworld has received confirmation from Skype that the feature will be in play on Windows by the time May rolls around.

Android and iOS guinea pigs?

The report claimed: "This afternoon, Skype confirmed to CITEworld that Windows users would get the ability to send video messages by the end of April."

The someone baffling decision to delay a Windows launch in favour of rival Apple and Google platforms may be due to Microsoft continuing to allow Skype to have some level of autonomy since the acquisition.

It could also be that Microsoft is allowing other platforms to be used as beta guinea pigs, while the feature is perfected in time for a launch on Windows.

The Skype spokesperson told CITEworld: "We ask you to be patient with us as we fine-tune the product ahead of its official launch."

Skype Video Message users who can access the feature are able to send 20 clips before it becomes a Skype Premium subscription feature.
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