Windows 8 - Deeper Impressions

[CharlotteTheHarlot]

This is actually disturbing, because it hints at the possibility that DotTard maybe.. maybe isn't a paid MS employee!

The prospect that he is shilling to this extend all for free is way more f***ed up than if he would be a paid shill.

Yep, I was thinking the exact same thing. Unless it is a well thought-out disinformation post he is admitting he is not a Softie, yet.

He'll need to edit a couple of comments before his interview though.

[Formfiller]

In case you didn't know, Berlin is the hipster capital of Europe:

http://store.hipstery.com/products/the-berlin-hipster-kit

Berlin Hipsters understand that the larger their vintage spectacles are, the higher their Hipster social ranking will be.

http://travelsofadam.com/hipster-berlin-travel-tips/

Since Microsoft wants to be hip, they are opening in Berlin an massively oversized Microsoft store, designed especially for hipsters!

Screenies:

The "digital eatery":

http://www.microsoft.com/de-de/corporate/microsoft-berlin/galerie.aspx#The-Digital-Eatery

The Microsoft themed Starbucks clone:

The hip boss:

Nothing says "Microsoft" more than walls full of hipster bands.

Boring keynotes are touch-enhanced too!

The future hipster customers are also shown:

Edited August 22, 2013 by Formfiller

[jaclaz]

Hmmm, it seems like that the designer/interior decorator that used to work for Ikea and MacDonald's (and that was fired for LSD use) has found a new job.

jaclaz

[Formfiller]

More hipsters!

Edited August 22, 2013 by Formfiller

[bpalone]

More hipsters!

What is with the "Arm Bands"? Was this a "COOL" event to attend and that was the entry pass key? Or... were they identifying their paid shills? I noticed them in a couple of the pictures.

If this is the future, humanity is doomed. The two older women trying to be COOL and HIP just about made me loose it. But, I think the photos do represent the NuMicrosft's user base.

I agree with jaclaz, about the designer. I think the entire Redmond crew must be on drugs these days.

bpalone

p.s. I don't know if it is just me and my set up, but I didn't have a cursor for this entire message.

[JorgeA]

Just posted this on the Start Menu/Button Replacements thread, but am (sort of) cross-posting here because I want to comment on it and this is the place for that:

Full Pokki Suite Will Be Preloaded on All Lenovo PCs, With Native Windows App Support in Store

Pokki is not my favorite choice of all the Start Menu/Button replacements out there, but this move does show that at least one major PC maker is thinking more broadly than Microsoft has been.

--JorgeA

[Tripredacus]

I wonder how Lenovo plans to get away with it. It isn't allowed for a program like that to be pre-installed on a PC sold into the retail channel. It can only be used with Embedded or Enterprise SKUs.

[JorgeA]

Either Lenovo cut a deal with Microsoft somehow, or they're looking to challenge them on this issue.

Anybody have insight on this?

--JorgeA

[Formfiller]

I've reposted the hipster stuff on Neowin. The DotMaster made quite a revealing statement:

Some guy: "Microsoft was cool in being kind of uncool. Personally the hipster stuff is a turn off for me, and probably a lot of others as well. I personally prefer the old school Microsoft."

DotMatrix: "Blurry blue color schemes and blue screens of death?"

You can find the post under

Neowin Forums
→ Platform (OS) Support
→ Windows Discussion & Support
→ The future of Microsoft!

[Formfiller]

Interesting tidbit:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-22/lenovo-turns-to-a-startup-to-bring-the-start-menu-back-to-windows.html

[.......]

SweetLabs has been distributing the software on its own through its website, and more than 3 million Windows 8 users have downloaded it. The average user opens it 10 times a day, Ng said. The software also includes an app store, which competes with Microsoft's Windows Store.

When details started leaking out before the release of Windows 8 that Microsoft might scrap the iconic Start button and menu, SweetLabs scrabbled to develop an alternative. The startup, which is backed by Intel Capital and Google Ventures, was ready to release Pokki when Windows 8 went on sale in October.

After a speech Ng gave at an Intel Capital conference, he was approached by representatives from Lenovo about working together. SweetLabs is now in talks with other computer makers on similar deals, he said.

Intel is backing Pokki? The deal was made at an Intel location to boot?

Sheesh. The top Windows OEM is pre-installing a third party start menu which is co-backed by Microsoft's longest standing ally.

If that isn't a cluebat about the whole MS tiles project..

And wow, this graphic must piss Microsoft off:

From:

http://blog.pokki.com/2013/08/lenovo-pcs-now-come-with-pokki/

[jaclaz]

And wow, this graphic must p*** Microsoft off:

From:

http://blog.pokki.com/2013/08/lenovo-pcs-now-come-with-pokki/

Not really.

It confirms that the "average user" is a 5 year old kid (or it is considered as so) according to Lenovo and Pokki.

Heck!

That image seems to jump out from a book I had pre-school about a smart, knowledgeable squirrel (with spectacles) that knew everything and provided answers to common children's questions....

jaclaz

[Formfiller]

Not really.

It confirms that the "average user" is a 5 year old kid (or it is considered as so) according to Lenovo and Pokki.

Kiddie or not. The squirrel is literally tearing metro out from Windows, on a computer from the biggest Windows OEM. Lenovo probably approved the graphic.

It's pretty much a "FU" message to Microsoft from their biggest partners (Lenovo obviously, and Pokki is heavily backed by Intel).

http://venturebeat.com/2011/09/29/sweetlabs-raises-13m-for-desktop-apps-interface/

SweetLabs raises $13M for desktop apps interface

Intel Capital led the round. The investment fits with Intel’s strategic goals, since SweetLabs aims to reinvigorate the PC for the age of apps. Existing investors Google Ventures and Bessemer Venture Partners also participated. Darrius Thompson, chief executive, said that the PC is the largest platform for applications, but it is the most underserved when it comes to apps.

http://blog.pokki.com/2013/07/tweeki-the-free-twitter-desktop-app-is-back/

Last November Tweeki, our “beautiful, mobile-like desktop client for Twitter” (PC World), reached Twitter’s API user limit and we were forced to suspend free access to new users. Today, we’re launching a new and improved Tweeki app - Tweeki 2.0 – that will be free for the first 100,000 users thanks in large part to a partnership with Intel.

Edited August 23, 2013 by Formfiller

[jaclaz]

Kiddie or not. The squirrel is literally tearing metro out from Windows, on a computer from the biggest Windows OEM. Lenovo probably approved the graphic.

Sure, but it is a kind of "simplified" message evidently aimed to "simpler" minds, for an adult public, it would have been something more similar to these, IMHO:

http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-man-tearing-off-his-shirt-image29182678

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-60250054/stock-photo-good-morning-woman-in-bedroom-beside-window.html?src=p-84162844-1

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18n6zocjlt5w6jpg/original.jpg

jaclaz

[Formfiller]

Kiddie or not. The squirrel is literally tearing metro out from Windows, on a computer from the biggest Windows OEM. Lenovo probably approved the graphic.

Sure, but it is a kind of "simplified" message evidently aimed to "simpler" minds, for an adult public, it would have been something more similar to these, IMHO:

http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-man-tearing-off-his-shirt-image29182678

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-60250054/stock-photo-good-morning-woman-in-bedroom-beside-window.html?src=p-84162844-1

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18n6zocjlt5w6jpg/original.jpg

jaclaz

You apparently not aware that the squirrel is in all their marketing materials:

http://blog.pokki.com/

It's also in their logo:

And the graphic on the start button is a nut!

The whole corporate design is "cute". The company is even called "SweetLabs". The software itself doesn't look silly though.

The despite the cutey presentation, the message of the graphic is more than telling, considering who backs Pokki. Microsoft got punched big here.

Edited August 23, 2013 by Formfiller

[jaclaz]

A nonscoop, but have a look at what these guys are up to (FUD^2!):

http://www.xpmigrations.com/

Some interesting, well phrased, and authoritatively supported statements:

Did you know? Microsoft has announced the end-of-support for the Windows XP operating system, launched in 2001. The deadline to safely migrate up and away from Windows XP is April 8, 2014. On April 9, 2014 – you are on your own to fight off the zombies and other lurking threats.

Even USA Today has recognized that the XP migration matter is the top information technology issue today. Click here to read this insightful analysis.

I mean, EVEN USA today!

The article is here:

and is nothing but a repost from minyanville.com:

http://www.minyanville.com/sectors/technology/articles/Catalysts-for-Google-Inc-Apple-Inc/8/9/2013/id/51230#ixzz2bTffBBaR?refresh=1

I mean, Carol Kopp at minyanville.com said that, wow!

The original article has however (unlike the re-post on USA today) the link to ZDnet story about the non-profit that made the switch (or is making it):

http://www.zdnet.com/how-a-windows-xp-migration-became-a-journey-of-discovery-7000019039/

This article has interesting insights, here are a couple ones:

However, initial attempts using Microsoft System Center Configuration Manger produced incomplete results (SCCM).

"I needed to know who used what and where. That sounds quite a simple thing on the face of it but to actually garner that information — with Windows as it stands — I couldn't report on it. We had SCCM. It did software metering but it wasn't perfect for us. It missed quite a lot of stuff," Wakefield said.

The Trust decided it needed specialist software to create an inventory and track usage and, after a trial, opted for Centrix Software's WorkSpace iQ system.

"It was quite clear at the start that what software we had out there was quite unmanaged. We didn't know who was using what. We didn't know whether it was compatible," Wakefield said.

"What we did in the process was contacting the users and contacting the suppliers and getting the software and testing it on Windows 7. We had a user acceptance testing process where the user would come in and use it as they would during the day and then sign off that, 'Yes, that works on Windows 7', and we'd tick it off the list.

"The list we originally started with was about 1,000 pieces of software and we brought that down to just under 300 in actual use."

I am officially proposing Mr.Wakefield for the 2013 Captain Obvious Award.

jaclaz

Edited August 23, 2013 by jaclaz