Software : Opinion: Nadella brings continuity. And that's terrific for the future of Microsoft |
- Opinion: Nadella brings continuity. And that's terrific for the future of Microsoft
- Chromecast is about to be flooded with a lot more apps
- Google Now for Chrome beta brings notifications to Mac, Windows PCs
| Opinion: Nadella brings continuity. And that's terrific for the future of Microsoft Posted:  Contrary to popular belief, Microsoft is doing very well indeed. You've only got to look at the last financial results for that. Revenue of $24.52 billion in a single quarter. This is an immensely strong corporation. That strength has come from its previous two CEOs - one the founder, the other appointed from within. And it's why I believe Satya Nadella is the perfect fit to lead Microsoft into a new era where it fixes the issues it has experienced in the recent past. And, my, there have been issues. Nadella is inheriting a changing and challenged Microsoft. Just think of the problems with Xbox One: that kerfuffle over DRM and the lack of detail in graphics compared to PS4. And then think of Windows 8 and the fact that, 14 months after launch, the app ecosystem is still poor. And that's before we talk about Windows 8's suitability for tablet use. Or the fact 20% of PC operating systems worldwide are still the soon-to-be-defunct Windows XP. Oh, and the small matter of Windows RT, the OS that should die. Nadella is the guy to fix these problems. Despite numerous rumors and the Nokia acquisition, it doesn't seem Microsoft were keen to bring Stephen Elop back into the fold, and in the end the radical change proposed by Ford's CEO Alan Mulally just seemed a step too far. Accelerating to succeedInstead, the board went for continuity in Nadella - a guy who has had recent success in furthering Microsoft's cloud interests as well as building the infrastructure to make it happen. As Bill Gates says: "Satya is a proven leader with hard-core engineering skills, business vision and the ability to bring people together." Nadella clearly believes there's plenty of opportunity for Microsoft too - he says potential prospects are "vast" yet the company must focus clearly and continue to change in order to continue to succeed. He acknowledges that he has a big challenge on his hands to accelerate product delivery to counter the regular updates to the likes of iOS, Android and even OS X while focusing on devices as well as services
We also shouldn't be fooled by the return of Gates to a more regular role. It's surely just a show to investors that the original Microsoft's strengths are still there, but really Gates has always been a supreme influence over Microsoft even since his semi-retirement and has had more than enough to say during his one day a week when he's not flying around the world battling Polio and meeting world leaders. We're looking forward to hearing Nadella deliver the kind of keynote speeches we've heard from Gates and Ballmer in the past - hopefully at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and pushing through to a leaner, faster and more efficient Microsoft. I reckon he'll do just fine. And I've only got one piece of advice for him: Kill Windows RT and get tablets running Windows Phone instead. Like, yesterday.
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| Chromecast is about to be flooded with a lot more apps Posted:  Google's inexpensive means of streaming internet media to TVs may well see a new explosion of content partners now that the search company is unlocking the crucial Chromecast software development kit. The Google Cast Software Development Kit (SDK) is now available to any software developer who wants to stream their apps or websites to the stick. With the software open to all devs, we should see an explosion of compatible movie, TV show and music apps thanks to the Google TV dongle's very nature. Chromecast streams content directly from the user's mobile device or computer, meaning developers don't have to develop specific apps tuned to Chromecast. Instead, they simply update their apps on tablets and smartphones as well as websites to work with the SDK. A torrent of entertainmentThe Chromecast originally came to market with support for only streaming media acquired through the Google Play Store and on Netflix and YouTube. There are now over a dozen apps attending Chromecast's stream-fest, including Vevo, HBO, Pandora and a number of lesser-non titles. But thanks to today's announcement, that number will increase exponentially and likely, very quickly. While some devs may flee Apple TV's gated community, Google could run into some stiff competition against the Roku 3, which has lined up a virtual network of over 1,000 channels. We've got our fingers crossed that the Chromecast really works out for Google and TV, but in the meantime we'll keep track of all the new content you can watch as it becomes available.
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| Google Now for Chrome beta brings notifications to Mac, Windows PCs Posted:  Cutting-edge Chrome beta testers are "living in the now" even more so than usual today thanks to the launch of Google Now for computers. Google's predictive notification center has made its way to the beta version of its browser on Mac, Windows and Chrome OS after having been on mobile devices since 2012. What's the weather like where you live? What are the game scores for the teams you follow? What are the directions to that place you just searched on Google? Whether or not you find it creepy, Google Now for Chrome beta has the answers ahead of time, just like its Android and iOS counterparts. Google Now lives with the taskbarGoogle Now through Chrome lives in the notifications bell that sits at the top of the Mac OS X menu bar or the bottom of a Windows PC taskbar. Clicking it expands a pop-up windows with relevant flight information, sports scores and weather, some of which is relevant depending on your phone's location. The update, rolling out through the beta channel right now, was previously available through Google's even less stable Chrome Canary alpha channel. It's now one step closer to being ready for all Chrome users who are tired of picking up their phone for these anticipatory alerts while at a more powerful, yet sometimes less capable computer workstation.
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