Tim Marman's Loosely Coupled

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• A look at Apple and Microsoft strategies

  I've been thinking about some of the interesting strategic decisions that Microsoft has made lately. I already discussed their curious IP licensing strategy , and their choices with Zune and Windows Media Player have me similarly baffled. In many ways, these moves have been something I expect more from Apple than Microsoft. Apple has always been known for delivering closed systems, controlling the experience from end to end. Apple software runs on an Apple OS on Apple hardware. Conversely, Microsoft has thrived largely because it has recognized the value in delivering not just products, but platforms. Office and Windows are both successful not just because of what they do as a product, but because they leave room for third party developers. It is those developers, not just Microsoft itself, that really enable a true ecosystem. Even the Xbox 360 has been a platform, not just for the media content providers, but now for the independent game developers. Given their history, it should come... Posted Jan 01 2007, 02:42 PM by Tim with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Rants, Gadgets, Things that amuse me, Music, Innovation, Business, Microsoft, Apple, Audio

• Trying to Cancel Office Live

  I signed up for the Office Live beta earlier this year in Feb. I never actually used it much - it didn't add much value for me over Sharepoint and I preferred hosting my own site considering there were somewhat private things on there. Now that the beta test is over, my account was transferred over to an Office Live Essentials package priced at $19.99 a month. Obviously, since I'm not using the service, I decided to cancel such to avoid this monthly fee. Unfortunately, there is no way to just close the account. Instead, you have to fill out a web form which gets sent to Office Live Customer Support. A little over a week after I submitted the form (granted this was a holiday week), the fun started. The first response came from Obo, who told me I couldn't cancel because I didn't provide an alternate email address. Tim, are there issues that made you want to cancel your subscription with Microsoft Office Live Beta? If there are, please let us know and we will be more than willing to assist... Posted Nov 28 2006, 07:48 AM by Tim with | with 20 comment(s) Filed under: Rants, Things that bother me, Things that amuse me, Business, Microsoft

• Gartner sends a cease and desist to remove a link

  Scoble passes along that James Governor, an analyst for RedMonk, received a C&D from Gartner for a link . Wow. I obviously haven't seen the letter, but I'm trying to imagine what possible legal recourse they have to linking to a publicly visible URL. Obviously there's no copyright infringement and there are standards you have to adhere to protect something as a trade secret. (Hint: putting something on a publicly visible server is not enough). Oh, and someone should tell Gartner that you can "redact" all the links you want but the Internet is forever . Here's the link - maybe I'll get my first C&D too. This is even worse than C&D'ing someone who is trying to help you . Tags: Gartner , RedMonk , CeaseAndDesist , Stupidity Posted Jul 11 2006, 01:15 PM by Tim with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: Technology, Intellectual Property, Rants, Things that bother me, Things that amuse me, Copyright, Business

• The Lost Mac Ads

  Perhaps in light of the Apple ads that don't make sense , Best Week Ever unveiled the Lost Mac ads this week featuring Christian Finnegan and Nick Kroll. PC: "Right, but a podcast about your favorite hoodies and independent films won't help you pay for that vacation." Mac: "No, that's what my trust fund is for. But that's a pretty sweet idea for a podcast." And if Microsoft is going to continue to use really long names for software programs, it should take some lessons from this PC. Tags: Apple , Mac , OSX , Microsoft , Windows , Advertising , Apple Ads , Ads , Get A Mac , Best Week Ever Posted Jul 09 2006, 07:47 AM by Tim with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Technology, Rants, Gadgets, Things that amuse me, Business