Watching the video of Chris Pirillo's Dad using Mac OS X for the first time is pretty eye opening. It shows that Apple's process of bringing some of the lessons they learned with iOS back to the Mac is paying off. Keeping power user features around but shrouding them in an easy to use and recognizable iOS like presentation is a delicate balance but one that Apple seems to be doing quite well in, well at least better than Microsoft
John Gruber at DaringFireball
I’m not saying it’s impossible, but if Microsoft does get a demo slot on stage during the iPad 3 keynote, Microsoft would be getting much more out of it than Apple.
In the technology bubble John is spot on, but many normal people1 view the iPad without Word, Excel, and Powerpoint as a entertainment or consumption only device. Even though Apple has demonstrated that the iPad is used to create content with apps like iMovie, Garageband, and the iWork suite most normal people1 haven't heard of those apps. They have heard of Microsoft office though.
I feel that an announcement for Office on the iPad would be mutually beneficial to Microsoft and Apple. Microsoft would finally get their most profitable software brand on the most popular computing platform available today and Apple would get one more bullet point to prove to the world that the iPad can and should replace your traditional computer.
1. (i.e. your mother or grandfather not a tech writer or blogger)↩
26 minutes into the Verge CES 2012 SuperSession video
Nilay Patel-“Who owns the customer relationship when you guys sit down and hash out a phone? It’s you (OEM), it’s the platform provider, it’s the carrier.”
Drew Bamford (HTC)-“Thats just the fact of life in the mobile business right? Everybody owns the customer who wants to own the customer and so there is a fine balance.”
Joshua Topolsky-“Fun for the customer isn’t it, four or five different entities want to own you.”
Aaron Woodman (Microsoft)-“Whats funny about that question is that if you asked a customer most of them would say, at least in the US they would say their mobile operator.”
This just makes John Gruber’s point so much more poetic
Apple: Here is our new phone. It comes in black or white. We will let you sell it.
Apples controls the entire experience with its iPhone customers and no other smartphone OEMs, OS vendors, or carriers can make that claim. They sell the phone, provide support, provide updates, and curate the ecosystem. Maybe its not a coincidence that Apple is making the most money.
Ben Brooks via The Brooks Review
Horace Dediu via Asymco
iOS powered devices generate more revenue than all of Microsoft’s products put together
I bet Ballmer is sweating.
Isn’t Balmer always sweating?
Pat Fox via Office for Mac Blog
Finally, the most common question – yes, we are working hard with Apple to enable versioning, auto save, and full-screen for Office for Mac 2011. I know your next question will be “when?”, and unfortunately I can’t answer that – but it’s likely measured in months not days – just to set expectations.
This is a good sign for the longevity of Office on the Mac. After playing with the iWork suite, Text edit, and other lionized applications that support auto save and versions for only a week I can tell that these features will be a requirement for me to use the app. Auto save changes how I work on my mac so much that an app that doesn't support it is more of a hassle than it is worth. I own Office for Mac 2011 and while it is rarely used, when I do it is invaluable. Hopefully other big software vendors (Adobe) will get their ducks in a row and fully support Lion because I am positive that the cheaper indie developed alternatives will.
Ben Brooks via The Brooks Review
Microsoft isn’t dead yet, nor will it be soon. It is however in the early stages of death and Ballmer isn’t going to the hospital — he’s running to go party some more.
Microsoft needs a swift kick in the ass.
Ben nails it. Microsoft needs to get people who make cool things to make them at Microsoft rather than Google, Facebook, and Apple.
