Tools Toys and Technology

About the Tools You Use and the Toys That Make Life Interesting

Tools Toys and Technology - About the Tools You Use and the Toys That Make Life Interesting

TTT Anniversary Issue

Copyright © 2012 Richard Beaty

Boy, this year has gone fast for me. The first issue of TTT appeared in the January 2011 issue of Two’s News. That makes this the anniversary issue.

I just re-read the first issue and took note of this comment I made:

I’m not totally sure where we’re headed with this series, but things are happening so fast in this area, that I’m sure we’ll have no problem coming up with topics that will interest you.

I hope the “interest you” part of that statement was true. The “things happening so fast” and “have no problem coming up with topics” parts were definitely true.

Looking back, we started off January 2012 discussing Streaming TV, covering in a four-part series everything from hardware and equipment to sources of programming. Then came a discussion of tablets, the introduction of Microsoft Surface, password security, and the “cloud.” Finally, the release of the long anticipated (or dreaded, depending on your point of view) release of Windows 8 topped off the year.

In every case, there have been additional developments in the areas we covered, so it seems appropriate on this 1-year anniversary to revisit the issues and bring you up to date.

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Windows 8 is Here

Copyright © 2012 Richard Beaty

Last month’s big thing was the formal introduction of Windows 8. It’s been around awhile now in Consumer Preview form, so quite a few people have gotten their hands on it and formed opinions. And there seems to be no middle ground in those opinions. Some people love it; some hate it. Personally, I am kind of in that lonely middle ground. In this issue of T3, I’ll tell you why.

What’s Different?

Well, how about EVERYTHING. That’s part of why everyone is so emotional about Windows 8. It is a complete departure from everything that has characterized the operating system since the introduction of Windows 95.

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Microsoft’s Head of “Windows”, Sinofsky … Gone

Well, the end of an era… Steven Sinofsky was President of the Windows Division of Microsoft for just short of 3 1/2 years. He presided over the popular Windows 7 product, only to depart suddenly with the formal release of Windows 8. His departure was supposedly his decision, but as Windows 8 has not been a resounding success so far, one has to wonder. There were also apparently, some “management style” issues involved.

At any rate, will the “Start Menu” return to the Windows 8 desktop environment now? I’d say it’s a possibility.

Netflix Launches New Windows 8 App

With the eminent formal availability of Windows 8 (October 26), the big “IF” that has everyone questioning its viability for mobile devices is the limited number of available apps vs. established competitors like Apple and Android.

One big hole in the entertainment app category has been the absence of a Netflix app. That hole has just been filled. A touchscreen optimized app for Netflix has just been added to the Windows Store. While it will work on any computer running Windows 8, it is clearly targeted at Windows 8 mobile devices with touch screens (tablets and hybrid tablet/notebooks).

I suspect the disparity in the number of apps for Windows 8 vs. the established mobile competitors will shrink rapidly once the new devices start to hit the streets. When Windows 8 devices become prevalent and numerous, app developers will find this market too lucrative to ignore for long.