My 2 cents on Microsoft's gaff.
I look back on a bunch of their past work, such as the Courier tablet prototype that was in development before the iPad, and I see two factions in the Microsoft decision making process.
The CourierYou get some fairly good TECHNICAL thought from time to time. The Courier was a very good idea, in my opinion, that never made it to market for one reason. It didn't cover enterprise. Microsoft designers didn't even think about it. My understanding the MS Xbox design crew did the work and the MS Windows team that came together in clash of outlooks.
CNet ArticleI think this is another clash of outlooks within Microsoft. The 'total client control/experience' crew that wants, ironically, a degree of control similar to what Apple does through the App store. But even Apple doesn't go as far as MS WANTS to go with their 'total Windows experience' concept.' The design teams who make some interesting products, such as the Courier, run into this group. (Steve Ballmer is part of this crew, and folks like J Allard, who made the Xbox and Xbox 360 successes, isn't. )
What we are seeing here with the Xbox One, is the continued 'total market' domination the Windows intergration group has pushed from Windows 95 on, a total control of what the user does, uses and gets. The next two versions of windows will be just as bad I'm sure. I see less and less 'openness' in Windows unless the marketplace pushes them back to something more relaxed. Hopefully, the run up to release will show that this is NOT a bright idea and the 'total control' crowd will blink and back away from this. I doubt it.. but I hope they do.
I enjoy Halo.. but I'm not putting 'Hal' into my den/bedroom/wherever, and I am NOT letting them use video footage of me in my ratty PT shorts and mangled 'Undead U' tshirt for their use without my permission.
