I’ve decided to start a new series on this blog, which I’m calling Perspectives. I realize that I end a lot of posts with “we’ll see where this goes”, but we never get to see, since I’m not going to repeat the same stuff every day until a conclusion is reached. Blogs tend to be so obsessed with the “now”, that we never pay attention to what’s happened in the past, and we forget things that might be important. So, every day, unless I’m way too busy (or not around), I’ll post about whatever I was discussing a year ago, and, as time goes by, two years ago, and so on.
On January 9, 2005, Microsoft AntiSpyware had beaten Spybot Search and Destroy and Ad-Aware in a face-off. I wouldn’t be surprised if AntiSpyware still beats all comers, what with Microsoft money behind it. I haven’t had any antispyware program but Microsoft’s installed since the summer, and I don’t miss the others; sometimes I forget they even exist. Does anyone who runs AntiSpyware believe they actually need the others anymore?
This has been “Perspectives”, I’m Lionel Osbourne.
January 9th, 2006
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Perspectives, AntiSpyware, Security, General |
no comments
I’ve decided to start a new series on this blog, which I’m calling Perspectives. I realize that I end a lot of posts with “we’ll see where this goes”, but we never get to see, since I’m not going to repeat the same stuff every day until a conclusion is reached. Blogs tend to be so obsessed with the “now”, that we never pay attention to what’s happened in the past, and we forget things that might be important. So, every day, unless I’m way too busy (or not around), I’ll post about whatever I was discussing a year ago, and, as time goes by, two years ago, and so on.
On January 8, 2005, there was some discussion as to whether Microsoft AntiSpyware was a play at establishing a monopoly and dominance in another industry. I actually used the word “daft” to describe my feelings, and I still feel the same way. Microsoft is in a position that, if it does nothing, Windows users will suffer and Windows’ reputation will increasingly suffer, as security vulnerabilities mount. Microsoft needed to create Windows Defender (nee’ AntiSpyware) and Windows OneCare Live to protect its operating system monopoly, its web browser monopoly, and its public relations, not to defeat Norton or McAfee.
Did you know that the recent WMF vulnerability, that affected nearly every version of Windows, did not affect OneCare users? In the future, Microsoft can partly defuse criticism and bad situations and point to OneCare and say, “Well, your fault for not using it”.
Also, development continued on MSN Search. It almost seems like the search engine has stalled since it was announced it would become Windows Live Search (the last search engine related post on the MSN Search blog was in October). I’m hoping they’re hiding something big for the Windows Live switchover, otherwise they don’t have the buzz to gain on Google.
Finally, Devin had an interview with Scoble. BusinessBits is now over a year old, and I must admit I’m pleasantly surprised it turned out to be so successful. Devin has been doing a great job, and if you haven’t checked it out, you should. Especially since I’m future-posting this from the past, so you might as well read some new material!
UPDATE: Wow, when I wrote this a week ago, there was still a BusinessBits. Devin has moved onto finer pastures, after getting his sea legs (and a lot of traffic) right here. If someone is interested in doing some business blogging, this is your chance to inherit a very well-trafficked blog. Send me your information, including your qualifications.
This has been “Perspectives”, I’m Lionel Osbourne.
January 8th, 2006
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
AntiSpyware, Perspectives, Security, Search, MSN, General |
one comment
I’ve decided to start a new series on this blog, which I’m calling Perspectives. I realize that I end a lot of posts with “we’ll see where this goes”, but we never get to see, since I’m not going to repeat the same stuff every day until a conclusion is reached. Blogs tend to be so obsessed with the “now”, that we never pay attention to what’s happened in the past, and we forget things that might be important. So, every day, unless I’m way too busy (or not around), I’ll post about whatever I was discussing a year ago, and, as time goes by, two years ago, and so on.
On January 4, 2005, it was all about a bunch of applications Microsoft was developing.
One, MSN Desktop Search, was a huge deal then. Now? Well I haven’t mentioned it in maybe half a year. In late 2004, everyone thought desktop search was the future of computing, that a program like Google Desktop Search would be the most important thing on your desktop, and we were completely wrong. Desktop search has yet to catch on significantly beyond early adopters, and many have realized it is not the be-all-end-all but an operating system feature, and one seldom used enough that we could wait for Vista to get it. Besides, antivirus programs were already slowing down our systems; we didn’t need another massive, memory-intensive program.
On the antivirus and antispyware front, Microsoft was fast developing Microsoft AntiSpyware (now Windows Defender) and A1 (now Windows OneCare Live). I don’t think anyone expected that AntiSpyware and OneCare would be as good as they were when they dropped not long ago. Microsoft is building the rare security suite that doesn’t bloat and ruin your computing experience. When these products release in their final versions, I think the Windows user community will be quite pleased.
Finally, Microsoft was recruiting for AdCenter. Conceptually, AdCenter seems interesting, but we’ll have to wait and see if it is good enough to hurt Google.
This has been “Perspectives”, I’m Lionel Osbourne.
January 4th, 2006
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Google, AntiSpyware, Perspectives, Desktop Search, Security, MSN, Search, General |
one comment
I’ve decided to start a new series on this blog, which I’m calling Perspectives. I realize that I end a lot of posts with “we’ll see where this goes”, but we never get to see, since I’m not going to repeat the same stuff every day until a conclusion is reached. Blogs tend to be so obsessed with the “now”, that we never pay attention to what’s happened in the past, and we forget things that might be important. So, every day, unless I’m way too busy (or not around), I’ll post about whatever I was discussing a year ago, and, as time goes by, two years ago, and so on.
On January 3, 2005, there wasn’t much news, except that the Open Source blog was starting, and it was never posted on again (anyone want to give it a shot?). There was talk of Firefox, and how it was gaining on Microsoft. Firefox spent the last year gaining lots of market share, although it still has a long way to go to catch IE. The big test will be this year if IE7 can reverse or at least stall the trend, or if Microsoft has a real war on its hands.
This has been “Perspectives”, I’m Lionel Osbourne.
January 3rd, 2006
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Perspectives, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Applications, General |
no comments
I’ve decided to start a new series on this blog, which I’m calling Perspectives. I realize that I end a lot of posts with “we’ll see where this goes”, but we never get to see, since I’m not going to repeat the same stuff every day until a conclusion is reached. Blogs tend to be so obsessed with the “now”, that we never pay attention to what’s happened in the past, and we forget things that might be important. So, every day, unless I’m way too busy (or not around), I’ll post about whatever I was discussing a year ago, and, as time goes by, two years ago, and so on.
On January 2, 2005, besides a flame war between Microsoft and Google employees (which I discuss at InsideGoogle today and I think Google is winning), there was also the fact that Microsoft was promoting on its spyware homepage competitors from a product it was about to release, Microsoft AntiSpyware.
A year later, not only is AntiSpyware a major success embaressing those competitors, but they’ve been removed from the homepage, relegated to low placement on a downloads page, while AntiSpyware is linked prominently all over Microsoft.com. AntiSpyware, which will soon be renamed Windows Defender, has been joined by the equally excellent Windows OneCare, to begin the long trek towards fixing Microsoft’s imageof being poor on security.
This has been “Perspectives”, I’m Lionel Osbourne.
January 2nd, 2006
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Perspectives, AntiSpyware, Google, Security, General |
no comments
I’ve decided to start a new series on this blog, which I’m calling Perspectives. I realize that I end a lot of posts with “we’ll see where this goes”, but we never get to see, since I’m not going to repeat the same stuff every day until a conclusion is reached. Blogs tend to be so obsessed with the “now”, that we never pay attention to what’s happened in the past, and we forget things that might be important. So, every day, unless I’m way too busy (or not around), I’ll post about whatever I was discussing a year ago, and, as time goes by, two years ago, and so on.
On January 1, 2005, I gave a list of predictions for Microsoft, things I thought would be big in 2005.
I thought MSN would have a big year, largely because it finished big in 2004. I was wrong. While MSN Spaces murdered Blogspot, few other MSN services did anything. It seems that, with MSN one of the largest portals on the net, Microsoft didn’t want to mess with it, and is saving the good stuff for Windows Live, which will have the innovative products I thought would be big in 2005. MSN Virtual Earth was released, but it is now Windows Live Local, and was an otherwise bright spot in a lackluster year.
I was right on about security being a big deal. Microsoft, in Windows OneCare and AntiSpyware (soon to be Windows Defender), has released products effective enough that many users would pay for it, although they’ve been free betas so far.
No one could have predicted the Xbox would have as big a year as it did. Microsoft marketed and produced a world class console launch. Its a shame no one could buy it, and no one is stupid enough to say Microsoft already won, but they did a great job in 2005.
Internet Explorer is finally getting interesting. MS surprised me with IE7, and although they have yet to deliver a beta that measures up to Firefox, the final XP version, and better yet, the XP version, look to be major upgrades. I’m still 50/50 on whether they’ll pull it off, but they’re trying, and doing quality work.
Windows was slow this year, MCE was really big, and MCE can be bought in stores. So I was completely right. I even bought an MCE box, and I’d never go back (and never get a Mac without media center capabilities). Microsoft also excited with Vista betas, and the Office 12 beta I’m currently running has the best interface I’ve ever used.
All in all Microsoft did a great job hyping 2006 in 2005, while delivering nothing, or next to nothing. Lets see what happens now that they have to show results.
This has been “Perspectives”, I’m Lionel Osbourne.
January 1st, 2006
Posted by
Nathan Weinberg |
Vista, Xbox 360, Office, XP, Virtual Earth, Perspectives, Local, Live, AntiSpyware, Xbox, Security, MSN, Applications, Windows, Spaces, Media Center, Internet Explorer, General |
one comment
