Informal Brain » Shawn Smith

Microsoft vs Apple (Cool Shootout)

Shawn Smith — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:20:01 +0000

The Microsoft crew did a nice job today at Mix showing off their new tools, but they just can’t seem to find the “cool” factor for their presentations. First never up-stage your technology with your shirt… I will let the pictures below tell the rest of the story.

You decide….

Filed under: apple, windows phone 7 Tagged: apple

Windows Phone 7 Development @ Mix

Shawn Smith — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:06:08 +0000

Just finished watching the keynote. I must admit Microsoft looks like they have really thought through the entire integrated platform on this one. They are finally demoing applications which run across the PC, Phone and XBox. That is a really great story and will give Apple a run for their money related to the ObjectiveC nature of the iPhone Platform.

Watch it here. http://live.visitmix.com/MIX10/Sessions/KEY01

Filed under: microsoft, windows phone 7

The Panic Team’s Status Board as a Collaboration Tool

Shawn Smith — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:04:51 +0000

The Panic Guys build an amazing project status board using CSS/HTML and display a bunch of internal stats about each project. They reported that it provided an amazing degree of collaboration they never had before because all the information was always in view and held each team accountable. Some of the the most important numbers are at the top where the support queue depths are displayed at all times. The middle shows project due dates and currently assigned members. The bottom shows key metrics and bus schedules when it is time to go home. A very nice idea!

[From Panic Blog » The Panic Status Board]

Filed under: 365 Tagged: collaboration

Apple Plans To Run iPhone OS On New Platforms; Any Guesses?

Shawn Smith — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:47:20 +0000

I only have one…. Apple TV.

I bet a dollar we will see an iPhone OS driven Apple TV platform within the next year. It is logical to consolidate to OSX (full Mac) and iPhone OS for their embedded products eliminating the Apple TV OS variant.

You could also bet we would then see the custom UI evolve on the Apple TV to be more like an iPad, and also support all the applications including Games on the Hi-Def TV.

[From Apple Plans To Run iPhone OS On New Platforms; Any Guesses? - Tech Trader Daily - Barrons.com]

Filed under: apple, iPhone Tagged: apple, apple tv, AppleTV, iPhone, osx, TV

It’s Official: Google Can Sell Power Like a Utility

Shawn Smith — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:51:15 +0000

Wired Top Stories

via It’s Official: Google Can Sell Power Like a Utility.

It’s official. Google is on its way to being Enron…

Filed under: 365

I hate to say it, but Microsoft has been doing some great things lately….

Shawn Smith — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:06:14 +0000

I must admit I have not been a big fan of Microsoft for some time now. They just haven’t been creating much innovation in my mind.

But in the past couple of months I have seen some real innovation out of the software giant:

Take Windows 7 Phone:

“A phone is just not a PC. It’s a smaller, more intimate device.”

[From The Official Microsoft Blog – News and Perspectives from Microsoft : Weekend Reading for Feb 20/21: Windows Phone 7 Series called, and the world said…..]

Take the Unified Access Gateway:

A really nice multi function smart proxy, SSL VPN concentrator and the connection point for Direct Access. The best feature is Direct Access which lets your remote PCs act like part of your domain even when a user is not logged into the console. Have you ever dreamed of pushing software updates to a phone sitting on a remote worker’s desk over the internet? Now you can…

Take the Outlook Social Connector:

Done right, the Outlook Social connector might just change the way we share and discover information in the enterprise. Think of a way to quickly discover details about that person who was CC’d on that email you just received, or learn more about that person who just joined your project team. Cool…

Take Exchange 2010:

Real high availability solutions packaged in a way which make them easy to deploy without a bunch of complex configuration, and to top it all off it works across data centers too! Whoa?

Filed under: 365 Tagged: microsoft, uag, windows

Tried the Outlook Social Connector Beta …

Shawn Smith — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:45:05 +0000

Tried the Outlook Social Connector Beta today with Linked In. Very nice functionality. I will be interested to see what they do with the new SharePoint Social Connector add-in. Waiting…

Filed under: 365 Tagged: Outlook Social Connector

SIRI: a glimpse at the future of digital assistants

Shawn Smith — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:48:52 +0000

SIRI enhances mobile search with intelligent links to web services APIs. It provides context based on user preferences and location to bring you targeted search and help performing day to day tasks.

See the link below where Mr. Scoble provides a short interview with the founders:

building43

via A new personal assistant on your mobile phone.

Filed under: 365

eBook prices increase? The power of a monopoly…

Shawn Smith — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:40:39 +0000

Typically when competition is created in the market prices tend to decrease, but in this case Amazon had such a stranglehold on the market that monopolistic forces were at play. In a strange move Apple’s introduction of the iPad increases eBook prices. I suspect this will only be a temporary effect until Apple begins to also squeeze the publishers to lower costs.

Amazon and publisher Macmillan finalized their agreement for higher-priced e-books over the weekend. The deal is expected to serve as a template for other publishers, and the new prices should take effect in March, when Apple’s iPad goes on sale.

[From AppleInsider | Higher Amazon e-book prices expected to coincide with iPad launch]

Filed under: 365 Tagged: amazon, apple, tablet

Google Chrome for OSX finally brings the blue!

Shawn Smith — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 07:05:14 +0000

Finally, OSX has lost the grey top and we have blue! It looks so much better…

Thanks Chrome team!

UPDATE: Unfortunately, the change was short lived. Back to drab gray :*(

Posted in 365 Tagged: chrome