Every year during CES in Las Vegas I see disappointing product launches(more like announcements) that really don’t mean much or won’t get to market(MS Surface). This year the trend continues with Microsoft (summary of announcements) continuing it’s rant on the Surfaces tabletop which is yet to be released (hopefully in the first half of 2008) and more talks about how they are going into gesture and touch interfaces.
Sync: Can it get more dangerous than this. You can’t have people’s lives dependent on Microsoft. SYNC’s upcoming big feature: 911 calling. Listen to this:
SYNC will soon be able to assist drivers in calling 911 if an accident is detected. Drivers will need a SYNC-paired phone for SYNC 911 Assist to work, and since the SYNC simply uses the driver’s phone, there is no monthly charge for the service.
If you didn’t notice, the second line makes the whole thing a fiasco. Microsoft can’t get stuff to work, even if they make it all themselves (i.e. Zune). Now working with others to make the software run smoothly is something they can’t do either (i.e. vista drivers). So I think it is kind of irresponsible to put people’s lives at stake due to crappy firmware or bad API implementations.
The other thing they are saying is how “proud” they are of Vista. I don’t think anybody should be proud. Their claim: We’ve sold 100 million copies. Or is it more like you’ve shoved them down peoples throats by not giving them operating system choice at the time of purchase. And by choice I even mean getting Vista changed for XP which even with 6 years in, is better than Vista.
Windows Mobile 7 pictures were leaked earlier and they look like iPhone knockoffs. I am not even getting into this.
The difference to note here is that while Microsoft talks about abstract futuristic ideas, Apple releases (remember the quote “Real artist ship”).
The other disappointment is Yahoo with it’s v3.0 of it Yahoo Go! (mobile phone platform) which it’s greatest innovation is an SDK. What happened Jerry…150 to turn the company around? At this point I actually want Terry back, as bad as that can be.
Hopefully will some of the goodies that LG has in store for their supper Netflix device.
If you are actually looking for innovation, please be patient….only one week to go.