Within the late 1990s, a single technologies firm became so unfathomably
rich and powerful?aand so hellbent on dominating not only its personal business
but a enormous and rapidly increasing new one?athat the U.S. government dragged
the company into court and threatened to break it up over anti-trust
violations.
The case was settled, plus the business, Microsoft, agreed to play nicer.
But it turned out that the globe had practically nothing to be concerned about.
As normally occurs inside the technologies business, what has definitely
destroyed Microsoft's choke hold on the global private computing market more
than the past 15 years hasn't been a legal threat but a industry shift.
Just when it looked like Microsoft's vision of your Computer as the center
in the tech world would bring about the creation of the world's 1st
trillion-dollar firm, the online world came along. And it washed over the Pc
business like a tidal wave swallowing a pond.
In terms of market value, Microsoft's loss of power has long been visible:
The stock continues to be trading at about half the level it hit in the peak of
the tech boom 13 years ago. The effects on the actual Pc market fundamentals
have taken longer to develop, but they are also now crystal clear. Microsoft's
?°Windows monopoly?± hasn't been so much destroyed as rendered irrelevant. That
due to the fact, because of the explosion of Internet-based cloud computing and
smartphones, tablets, and also other mobile gadgets, the as soon as all-powerful
platform of your desktop operating system has now been lowered to little greater
than a device driver. As long as your gadget can connect for the Internet and
run some apps, it doesn't matter what operating method you use.
Three charts actually bring dwelling the challenges that Microsoft along
with other PC-powered giants like Intel, Dell, and Hewlett-Packard face in
adapting to this new Internet-driven world. Very first, appear at worldwide
device shipments. For the two decades by means of 2005, the private computer was
the only game in town, selling about 200 million units a year. But then
smartphones and tablets came along. And now they dwarf the Pc industry.
This shift in individual computing device adoption, meanwhile, has
radically diminished the power from the Windows operating program platform. As
recently as 3 years ago, Microsoft's Windows was nonetheless entirely
dominant?athe platform ran 70% of personal computing devices. Now, thanks to the
rise of Google's Android and Apple's iOS, Windows' worldwide share has been
reduce in half, to about 30 percent. Extra remarkably, Android is now a larger
platform than Windows.
Lastly, and most lately, this chart from analyst Horace Dediu of Asymco
illustrates that the Pc enterprise is no longer just receiving dwarfed by the
explosion of smartphone and tablet sales ... it has now in fact begun to shrink.
Now that people possess a decision of devices, it turns out that a full-blown
personal computer system is generally not probably the most cost-effective,
handy, or simplest strategy to do what a user desires to do. In place of being
the center of the personal computing globe, in other words, the Computer is
becoming a specialized office-productivity device.
The news for Microsoft will not be all poor. The corporation has been
fairly productive at moving from a "unit-driven" sales model to a licensing
model, in which providers pay a fee per user per year in lieu of buying a
perpetual license with each and every new laptop. And Microsoft's Office
franchise is still extraordinarily profitable and dominant, in portion for the
reason that Google, Apple, along with other a lot more Internet-centric
providers have made so small investment in their competitive merchandise.
But only 15 years soon after the government went after Microsoft for
anti-trust violations, the idea that the firm ever had a "monopoly" on something
is hard to even fully grasp. Along with the outlook for Windows, along with the
standard Computer company normally, appears certain to obtain even worse going
forward.
2013年7月21日星期日
2013年7月13日星期六
Most adults always have smartphone close by, 1 in 10 use it during sex
We already know many people are addicted to their smartphones, but a study
released Thursday gives a clearer idea of just how much users can get attached
to their device.
Nearly three in four American smartphone users surveyed said they are within five feet of their devices the majority of the time, according to the 2013 Mobile Consumer Habits study conducted by Harris Interactive for Jumio, a mobile verification and payments company.
More than a third said they use their device at movie theaters and 12% said they even use it while in the shower.
PHOTOS: Top 10 tech gadget fails
But perhaps most unusual is the fact that almost 1 in 10 users, or 9% of respondents, said they have even used their smartphone during sex.
"So it should be no surprise that 12% believe their smartphone gets in the way of their relationships," the press release for the study said.
The number of adults using their smartphones during sex rises to one in five when looking only at the 18 to 34 age group.
“People view their smartphones as an extension of themselves, taking them everywhere they go – even the most unorthodox places -- from the shower to their commute, from the dinner table to the bedroom,” said Marc Barach, chief marketing and strategy officer at Jumio, in a statement.
And for all those wondering, the study does not mention how exactly they are using their devices during sex.
Other unusual places where people are using their smartphones include during a dinner date (33%), during a child's school function (32%), at a church or place of worship (19%), and, perhaps most alarming, while driving (55%).
The study was conducted last month by Harris Interactive, which surveyed 1,102 smartphone users.
Nearly three in four American smartphone users surveyed said they are within five feet of their devices the majority of the time, according to the 2013 Mobile Consumer Habits study conducted by Harris Interactive for Jumio, a mobile verification and payments company.
More than a third said they use their device at movie theaters and 12% said they even use it while in the shower.
PHOTOS: Top 10 tech gadget fails
But perhaps most unusual is the fact that almost 1 in 10 users, or 9% of respondents, said they have even used their smartphone during sex.
"So it should be no surprise that 12% believe their smartphone gets in the way of their relationships," the press release for the study said.
The number of adults using their smartphones during sex rises to one in five when looking only at the 18 to 34 age group.
“People view their smartphones as an extension of themselves, taking them everywhere they go – even the most unorthodox places -- from the shower to their commute, from the dinner table to the bedroom,” said Marc Barach, chief marketing and strategy officer at Jumio, in a statement.
And for all those wondering, the study does not mention how exactly they are using their devices during sex.
Other unusual places where people are using their smartphones include during a dinner date (33%), during a child's school function (32%), at a church or place of worship (19%), and, perhaps most alarming, while driving (55%).
The study was conducted last month by Harris Interactive, which surveyed 1,102 smartphone users.
They'll have some time; Microsoft has mentioned
When Microsoft added assistance for the revamped Commence page into Windows
8.1, that eliminated the require for dedicated third-party Begin menus, proper?
Wrong, say developers like Stardock, Classic Shell, and others.
Possibly not surprisingly, the third-party devs say there is still a have to have for their merchandise, although Windows 8.1 might be additional friendly to these used for the classic, or legacy, Get started menu discovered in Windows 7. A lot of have released updates for the Windows eight.1 preview, but none that spoke to PCWorld stated that they've thrown in the towel.
These merchandise fill a will need: to ease the transition to Windows 8 and its unfamiliar Start off web page. In numerous approaches, Windows eight is just Windows 7 having a tablet interface layered on leading of it, but?asorry!?ano Start button. Users upset by the jarringly distinctive Get started web page had no refuge from it aside from third-party options.
"The commence button shortcut to the begin screen that Microsoft is giving with Windows eight.1 does not replace the get started menu within the eyes of our increasing buyer base," Robert McElroy, the promoting and sales manager at Stardock Corp., said in an e-mail. "Customers on the lookout for the functionality in the classic start menu to assist them navigate Windows 8 in a way which has been familiar to them for years will still discover Start8 from Stardock enables that capability seamlessly."
Microsoft, for its portion, has mentioned that Windows 8.1 represents a "heck of a lot of movement, a heck of quite a bit of innovation, along with a heck of a lot of responsiveness, all coming to marketplace in a really extremely speedy timeframe," inside the words of Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer through the company's Develop 2013 conference in June.
Many of the functionality that the third-party applications added for Windows 8 customers, nonetheless, now overlaps with a number of what Microsoft has added for the upcoming Windows 8.1. Start8, Classic Shell, and StartMenu8 all boot straight towards the desktop, meaning that piece on the puzzle, at least, is duplicated by Microsoft. But all 3 also offer you the classic Start off menu, with Classic Shell providing either a "classic" menu, or 1 within the style of either Windows XP or Windows 7. (Classic Shell's version three.six.eight, released in June and compatible with Windows eight.1, was asked to take away its version in the Windows flag, which it calls the "Metro button", at the behest of Microsoft.) For its part, Start8 also offers an solution to shut down from the desktop, which is now in Windows 8.1 too.
Nevertheless, the developer of Classic Shell mentioned that his solution was as viable as ever. "Nobody killed something," he stated, by way of an exchange even though his Facebook web page. "The only function they added that Classic Shell (and others like it) has, could be the instant boot to Desktop."
The query now is regardless of whether or not office mac home and student 2011 Microsoft's Windows 8.1 update, and the functionality it added, supplies yet additional possibilities for developers like Classic Shell to add functions. They'll have some time; Microsoft has mentioned that it's going to hand over Windows 8.1 to OEMs at the finish of August, using a consumer update at some point thereafter. PCWorld asked the developers what their plans are, but the Begin developers are not talking.
"Too early to inform. It is actually still a preview, not even a beta," the Classic Shell developer mentioned. "Even with out it I have my hands full at the moment."
Possibly not surprisingly, the third-party devs say there is still a have to have for their merchandise, although Windows 8.1 might be additional friendly to these used for the classic, or legacy, Get started menu discovered in Windows 7. A lot of have released updates for the Windows eight.1 preview, but none that spoke to PCWorld stated that they've thrown in the towel.
These merchandise fill a will need: to ease the transition to Windows 8 and its unfamiliar Start off web page. In numerous approaches, Windows eight is just Windows 7 having a tablet interface layered on leading of it, but?asorry!?ano Start button. Users upset by the jarringly distinctive Get started web page had no refuge from it aside from third-party options.
"The commence button shortcut to the begin screen that Microsoft is giving with Windows eight.1 does not replace the get started menu within the eyes of our increasing buyer base," Robert McElroy, the promoting and sales manager at Stardock Corp., said in an e-mail. "Customers on the lookout for the functionality in the classic start menu to assist them navigate Windows 8 in a way which has been familiar to them for years will still discover Start8 from Stardock enables that capability seamlessly."
Microsoft, for its portion, has mentioned that Windows 8.1 represents a "heck of a lot of movement, a heck of quite a bit of innovation, along with a heck of a lot of responsiveness, all coming to marketplace in a really extremely speedy timeframe," inside the words of Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer through the company's Develop 2013 conference in June.
Many of the functionality that the third-party applications added for Windows 8 customers, nonetheless, now overlaps with a number of what Microsoft has added for the upcoming Windows 8.1. Start8, Classic Shell, and StartMenu8 all boot straight towards the desktop, meaning that piece on the puzzle, at least, is duplicated by Microsoft. But all 3 also offer you the classic Start off menu, with Classic Shell providing either a "classic" menu, or 1 within the style of either Windows XP or Windows 7. (Classic Shell's version three.six.eight, released in June and compatible with Windows eight.1, was asked to take away its version in the Windows flag, which it calls the "Metro button", at the behest of Microsoft.) For its part, Start8 also offers an solution to shut down from the desktop, which is now in Windows 8.1 too.
Nevertheless, the developer of Classic Shell mentioned that his solution was as viable as ever. "Nobody killed something," he stated, by way of an exchange even though his Facebook web page. "The only function they added that Classic Shell (and others like it) has, could be the instant boot to Desktop."
The query now is regardless of whether or not office mac home and student 2011 Microsoft's Windows 8.1 update, and the functionality it added, supplies yet additional possibilities for developers like Classic Shell to add functions. They'll have some time; Microsoft has mentioned that it's going to hand over Windows 8.1 to OEMs at the finish of August, using a consumer update at some point thereafter. PCWorld asked the developers what their plans are, but the Begin developers are not talking.
"Too early to inform. It is actually still a preview, not even a beta," the Classic Shell developer mentioned. "Even with out it I have my hands full at the moment."
2013年7月8日星期一
Review: 'NCAA Football 14' steps up its game
It appears Electronic Arts' college football franchise has recovered from last year's on-field stumbles.
The latest installment, NCAA Football 14, represents a major upgrade from its predecessor, delivering a more realistic game of football while maintaining its depth.
NCAA Football has always had an inconsistent run on this generation of home video game consoles. After several rough seasons, the franchise finally seemed to turn it around with 2010's NCAA Football 11 and the follow-up in 2011. However, last year's title failed to introduce major changes and neglected to address bugs leading to player frustration and accidental comedy (such as replays starring only the football and invisible players).
NCAA Football 14 fixes most of this with an overhaul of action on the gridiron, modeled in part by EA's pro football equivalent, Madden NFL. It starts with simple gestures, such as watching ballcarriers naturally shift directions trying to elude defenders with simple moves of the left thumbstick. When a ballcarrier trips, he'll fight to regain balance or lunge forward for the extra yard or two.
The intelligence of computer-controlled team on both sides of the ball has improved, too. Throw in double coverage and the secondary will make players pay through turnovers. Offenses will try to keep players off balance by running without huddles, or smartly mixing up play calls.
The most exciting change is the use of option offenses, which now seem easier to execute. When running a Read Option, Spread Option or other variation, players will see an icon that shows whether the defender is gunning for the quarterback or running back. Even when a player makes the right choice, they must still nail down timing to gain the most benefit.
The latest installment, NCAA Football 14, represents a major upgrade from its predecessor, delivering a more realistic game of football while maintaining its depth.
NCAA Football has always had an inconsistent run on this generation of home video game consoles. After several rough seasons, the franchise finally seemed to turn it around with 2010's NCAA Football 11 and the follow-up in 2011. However, last year's title failed to introduce major changes and neglected to address bugs leading to player frustration and accidental comedy (such as replays starring only the football and invisible players).
NCAA Football 14 fixes most of this with an overhaul of action on the gridiron, modeled in part by EA's pro football equivalent, Madden NFL. It starts with simple gestures, such as watching ballcarriers naturally shift directions trying to elude defenders with simple moves of the left thumbstick. When a ballcarrier trips, he'll fight to regain balance or lunge forward for the extra yard or two.
The intelligence of computer-controlled team on both sides of the ball has improved, too. Throw in double coverage and the secondary will make players pay through turnovers. Offenses will try to keep players off balance by running without huddles, or smartly mixing up play calls.
The most exciting change is the use of option offenses, which now seem easier to execute. When running a Read Option, Spread Option or other variation, players will see an icon that shows whether the defender is gunning for the quarterback or running back. Even when a player makes the right choice, they must still nail down timing to gain the most benefit.
Ballmer’s information since it has actually been
Microsoft will hand around its most up-to-date edition of the working
program, Windows eight.one, to OEMs in late August, Microsoft’s Windows
promoting chief advised its associates on Monday early morning.
Speaking at its Throughout the world Companion Meeting (WPC), Tami Reller, corporate vp and chief marketing officer for Home windows, stated that Microsoft would make the RTM (launch to producing) version of Windows eight.one to OEMs by late August. Microsoft didn't say when Windows eight.one could well be released to customers in its closing variety, but heritage implies that Microsoft should really no less than be on track to ship by October.
Microsoft’s WPC, as its title implies, is Microsoft’s opportunity to talk its roadmaps to its companions; Microsoft began its spouse program about twenty years back. According to main government Steve Ballmer, ninety percent of your revenue Microsoft realizes “in some way, form or form” is produced by the companions Ballmer addressed currently as a part of a three.5-hour keynote tackle.
In aggregate, those companions had “quite a very good calendar year,” Ballmer explained, with all of its partners expanding 6.5 percent over final year, on foundation profits of $650 billion.
Ballmer’s information, because it has actually been, was that Microsoft has reinvented alone as being a units and services organization, rather then merely a software business. “Windows has generally been much more a device than the usual piece of software package; it defined a class of gadget called the Laptop,” he claimed, regardless of whether they be, tablets, all-in-ones, convertibles, and a lot more.
Ballmer said that Microsoft’s companions might be shown how Microsoft has improved from the cloud, particularly how Microsoft straddles the general public and personal cloud; “big info,” like how Microsoft strategies to share Bing search knowledge with builders and supply public facts to private clouds while using the Azure Info Marketplace; how Microsoft’s social initiatives straddle many different products and solutions; and mobile, particularly how Microsoft supports its individual products and solutions from by itself and some others.
http://www.windows7retailbox.com/microsoft-windows-7-professional-3264-bit-full-retail-pack-p-3527.html
Speaking at its Throughout the world Companion Meeting (WPC), Tami Reller, corporate vp and chief marketing officer for Home windows, stated that Microsoft would make the RTM (launch to producing) version of Windows eight.one to OEMs by late August. Microsoft didn't say when Windows eight.one could well be released to customers in its closing variety, but heritage implies that Microsoft should really no less than be on track to ship by October.
Microsoft’s WPC, as its title implies, is Microsoft’s opportunity to talk its roadmaps to its companions; Microsoft began its spouse program about twenty years back. According to main government Steve Ballmer, ninety percent of your revenue Microsoft realizes “in some way, form or form” is produced by the companions Ballmer addressed currently as a part of a three.5-hour keynote tackle.
In aggregate, those companions had “quite a very good calendar year,” Ballmer explained, with all of its partners expanding 6.5 percent over final year, on foundation profits of $650 billion.
Ballmer’s information, because it has actually been, was that Microsoft has reinvented alone as being a units and services organization, rather then merely a software business. “Windows has generally been much more a device than the usual piece of software package; it defined a class of gadget called the Laptop,” he claimed, regardless of whether they be, tablets, all-in-ones, convertibles, and a lot more.
Ballmer said that Microsoft’s companions might be shown how Microsoft has improved from the cloud, particularly how Microsoft straddles the general public and personal cloud; “big info,” like how Microsoft strategies to share Bing search knowledge with builders and supply public facts to private clouds while using the Azure Info Marketplace; how Microsoft’s social initiatives straddle many different products and solutions; and mobile, particularly how Microsoft supports its individual products and solutions from by itself and some others.
http://www.windows7retailbox.com/microsoft-windows-7-professional-3264-bit-full-retail-pack-p-3527.html
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