Microsoft and Its Consumer Focus
August 19, 2022
Blurry or blind? I am not sure. I noted “Microsoft Reportedly Lays Off Team Focused on Winning Back Consumers.” Is the story spot on? I don’t know, but if it is, the write up reveals some interesting information. Here’s an example:
In 2018 the software giant originally detailed its efforts to win back the non-enterprise customers it let down, forming a Modern Life Experiences team to focus on professional consumers (prosumers).
I am not sure what a “Modern Life Experience” is. Maybe the Google outage, the airline baggage theme parks, or living in downtown San Francisco? Also, I have no idea what a Microsoft prosumer is? Maybe a customer? Maybe a power user of outstanding Microsoft software like the auto numbering champion Word?
I noted that Microsoft allegedly has 180,000 employees. So RIFing a mere 200 people amounts to about 0.11 percent of the Microsoft family. What this tells me is that Microsoft was not putting much commitment behind the Modern Life Experiences’ initiative.
But not to worry:
Microsoft’s consumer efforts are now focused on Windows, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams for consumer, Surface, and of course Xbox.
Plus Microsoft has a new senior manager to direct the “consumer” efforts. Guess where this individual worked before the Microsoft gig?
That pinnacle of management excellence Uber. That’s a “life experience” I would not want on my résumé.
Stephen E Arnold, August 19, 2022
Microsoft Outlook: Excellence in Action?
August 12, 2022
I spotted “Microsoft Confirms a New Outlook Bug.” If the information in the cited article is accurate, some lucky Teams users will not be able to use the Microsoft Outlook email application. (Which of the many features is malfunctioning?)
I noted one statement, allegedly offered by a real Microsoftie.
“We do not know why the EmailAddress key is not being set properly.
Now that’s interesting: An open admission of a lack of knowledge, information, and insight. I was disappointed not to see:
- Blame shifted to some of the 1,000 Russian engineers who crated a stir with the SolarWinds’ misstep
- Responsibility aimed at state sponsored actors in such countries as Iran, North Korea, et al
- Mistakes made by an overworked, under skilled intern who was told to use the “good enough for horseshoes approach”
- Google because… well, just Google.
Stephen E Arnold, August 12, 2022
Microsoft and Linux: All Your Base Belong to Us
August 9, 2022
Microsoft has traditionally been concerned about Linux and has never hidden its indigestion — until the original top dogs went to the kennel. Microsoft actually hates all open source software and CEO Steve Ballmer said, ““Linux is a cancer that attaches itself in an intellectual property sense to everything it touches.” Wow! It sounds like someone wants to enforce a monopoly on technology, prevent innovation, and rake in dollars for personal gain. In other words, Ballmer is power and greed at its worst. Open source, on the other hand, inspires innovation and sharing technology. The Lunduke Journal of Technology, run by Bryan Lunduke, details his experience with controlling Microsoft heads and how Bill Gates’s company has slowly decimated Linux: “Microsoft’s Growing Control Of Linux.”
Lunduke recounted he heard Ballmer’s hatred for Linux and even had the CEO’s spittle on his face from an open source rage. Microsoft has slowly gained control over important parts of Linux and open source as whole. This includes: GitHub-the largest host of source code in the world, Linux conferences, Linux organizations-Microsoft is a “Premium Sponsor” of the Open Source Initiative and “Platinum Membership on the Linux Foundation, and hired prominent Linux developers.
Here is what Lunduke heard during a past Linux conference:
“During that keynote, the Microsoft executive (John Gossman) made a few statements worth noting:
‘You do not generally want your developers to understand how the licenses all work. If you’re a larger company, you’re very likely to have a problem of controlling all of the open source activity that’s going on … it can be bad for the company, it can be bad for the community, it can be bad lots of different ways.’
You don’t want developers to understand licenses? Not having corporate control of open source is bad? Not exactly pro-open source statements, eh?”
Microsoft does use Linux for Azure and Ubuntu, two products that make the company’s offerings stronger. This Linux thing will be an interesting challenge. MSFT “owns” GitHub. MSFT wants to sell subscriptions and maybe to what does not matter? Open source may be antithetical to MSFT subscriptions. Open source Linux? How about a subscription to MSFT Linux centric solutions?
Now that’s an idea.
Whitney Grace, August 9, 2022
Microsoft Teams: The Disconnect between Users and Features
August 5, 2022
I have mentioned that “free” Microsoft Teams does not work on my Mac Mini which I use for Facetime, Zoom, and WebEx meetings. The Massachusetts Attorney General knows about my problems first hand. Let’s just say that there were fewer than 30 investigators who recognized that Microsoft and Apple are not exactly in sync.
I read “Microsoft Says It Added More Than 450 New Teams Capabilities in the Past Year.” In the past year, there have been some issues with Windows updates killing printers and a few trivial security gaffes. Hey, who is trying to make a league table of Microsoft software vulnerabilities? Not me.
The write up states:
officials also updated investors on Teams momentum a bit, saying they’ve added more than 450 capabilities over the past year.
Among the technological gems added, according to the write up, were in the words of the write up, “It is unclear what “Teams capabilities” means, but that can cover things across chat, meetings, integrations with Microsoft Viva, and a lot more.”
Okay, unclear. I did a quick search on Swisscows.com for Microsoft Teams features. Here are a few of the precious stones presented to me:
- Adjust filter brightness
- Background blur
- A horizontal participant gallery
- A customer lockbox
- Day view in calendar
- Anonymous meeting join across clouds
And more than 440 more important additions.
My view is very simple. Why not get Teams to work for those who are using Mac Minis? You know. Basic functional reliability. Microsoft Teams, like Zoom, is essentially a telephone call, right? And why not get that printer thing fixed? And security? I think that particular issue is unfixable. Sorry but that’s just my opinion, not a PowerPoint about Microsoft’s security capabilities. PowerPoints are easy. Delivering what customers and users want is much more difficult.
Do the MSFT priorities pursue the trivial, not the substantive?
Stephen E Arnold, August 5, 2022
Google and Kids: The School Push Squeezes Some New Concessions… Allegedly
August 1, 2022
I read “Chrome Use Subject to Restrictions in Dutch Schools over Data Security Concerns.” The write up reports:
Several schools and other educational organizations are having to restrict usage of Google’s software, including its Chrome browser and Chrome OS offerings over security and privacy fears. The Dutch Ministry of Education has ordered the country’s education industry to implement the changes following over fears that Google’s software is in conflict with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other privacy-related regulations in the country.
I am not surprised. I noted that the article presents some familiar wordage; for example:
… The ministers discussed these issues with the representatives of Google, Microsoft, and Zoom, and that these companies assured the ministers that their future versions will be more transparent, and more compatible, with the country’s (and the EU bloc’s) privacy and data protection laws.
I like the “assured the ministers” phrase. It reminds me of “Senator, thank you for the question. I will forward the information to your office. And I am sorry, really, really sorry. We are constantly trying to improve.”
Improve what?
Well, in my opinion it is the collection of fine grained data, actionable intelligence, and insight into what those kiddies are doing. But that’s just my point of view. The giant technology firms just want to do good. No, really.
Do good.
Those assurances sparked an update to the original article and guess what?
… Chrome and Chrome OS are not banned in the education sector of the country, and that schools may continue using them provided that they perform certain actions themselves to strengthen data security and ensure student privacy.
Progress.
Stephen E Arnold, August 1, 2022
Microsoft Windows: Does Windows Rhyme with Woes?
July 29, 2022
Security? Weird interfaces? Fixes that terminate with extreme prejudice printers? Did I ask about security? Oh, yes, I did.
I thought about Windows, the apparently abandoned insiders, the cheerleaders, and the haters. Did I mention the pundits? Oh, yes, I did.
I read “Microsoft’s Windows OS Loses 17% of Its Market Share in the Last 10 Years.” If the write up is accurate, the Softies may have some work to do. Why not charge for extras like Notepad, following the lead of BMW and its subscription for heated seats? The MSFT variation might be for search results that match the user’s search statement?
The write up reports:
According to a StockApps.com data presentation, Windows has lost 17% of its market share in the last decade. The site has presented data showing that the OS’s market share has plunged from 90.96% in 2013 to the current 73.72%. That’s a drop of roughly 2% a year. Meanwhile, alternative OS’ have seen their cumulative stock rise in that period. StockApps’ financial expert Edith Reads has been analyzing the trends in that space. She says, “Windows’ stranglehold over the OS market is shrinking because of increased competition. Today, Microsoft is facing competition from developers of alternative OS’. They have developed software that’s appealing to some computer lovers because they’re open source, faster, safer, and simpler to use.”
Yep, Linux is trotted out. Plus there is the Chrome operating system which runs on Google’s browser, which is recycled by Microsoft! Yep, Microsoft is doing the Chrome thing. Internet Explorer died on a long, long journey. Now its is Chrome plus Edge or, as I prefer, Kredge.
What’s the fix? How can a dinobaby residing in rural Kentucky have an answer. When I did some menial work for a Softie-related outfit, no one knew what I was talking about. I remember when I mentioned Kolmogorov and my uncle Vladimir Arnold. I can see the blank faces in the audience now.
Net net: Do I have a suggestion? Heck no. I like MSFT just the way it is. It’s scrumptious. Bring on Windows 12, the second version after the “last” version of Windows was announced in 2015. Consistency? You kidding me?
Stephen E Arnold, July 29, 2022
Softie Follies: Update Signals and Waveforms
July 22, 2022
Sine waves go up. Sine waves go down. Sometimes, the tidy signal becomes chaotic. I wonder how many at Microsoft remember images like this:
The wave is nice, tidy, simple, peaks fully realized, etc.
Now what about this wave form:
Looking a little chaotic, right?
I read about two Microsoft announcements, and the result is a burst of the chaotic in my limited mental apparatus.
The first write up reports that Microsoft is shifting from updating in the most annoying way possible to a slightly less wacky method. “Goodbye Endless Updates? Report Says Microsoft Is Moving Back To The Old Schedule & Windows 12 Is Coming” states:
Back in 2015, a Microsoft employee revealed that Windows 10 would be the last OS they launch but Windows 11 is a thing now and, according to this report, Windows 12 is coming as well. After a few years where Microsoft tried to turn their OS into “Windows as a service”, deploying countless updates instead of a big release every few years, now the company seems to be changing course.
Will there be some spicy chaos added to the Windows whatever? Of course. The write up explains:
Starting with Windows 11 version 22H2 (Sun Valley 2), Microsoft is kicking off a new “Moments” engineering effort which is designed to allow the company to rollout new features and experiences at key points throughout the year, outside of major OS releases. I hear the company intends to ship new features to the in-market version of Windows every few months, up to four times a year, starting in 2023,” reports WindowsCentral.
I thought that Microsoft said in 2015 Windows 10 was the last version of Windows. Obviously my memory is faulty, chaotic like the seemingly randomized fluctuations in Microsoft’s tactics to achieve global domination.
The second write up hits a bit closer to home. “Microsoft Patch Tuesday Update Has Broken Another Really Important Software” explains:
It seems some updates that came as part of this month’s Patch Tuesday broke MS Access runtime applications. Multiple users have reported having this issue to Microsoft, saying MS Access 2016(opens in new tab) and MS Access 2013 are having issues, post KB5002112 and KB5002121 updates. Microsoft has since acknowledged the existence of the problem, with Shane Groff, software design engineer, noting(opens in new tab), “The Access product team is investigating this issue. Thank you for the report, we will update soon.”
I think this means that Microsoft’s wizards cannot fix problems in a reliable way. But there is another twist to the story. The cited article asserts:
Right now, there is no official workaround, or a way to bypass the issue, so the only way to address the problem is to uninstall the patches. That, however, also means exposing the system to multiple known vulnerabilities…
I think this means that an outfit relying on Microsoft Access has a nifty set of options:
- Stop anything requiring Microsoft Access
- Uninstall the outstanding update and create some opportunities for bad actors
- Get rid of the crazy, often unstable and sometimes sluggish Access and embrace a more 21st century solution.
You may have some other ideas; for example, selling the business and taking a long-postponed vacation, thinking about the relationship between stress and heart failure, calling Microsoft’s ever helpful customer support team for intellectual inputs, or some other super duper fix.
Several observations:
- Microsoft appears to be unqualified to perform strategic and tactical functions their customers deserve and want; for instance, functioning systems and secure software
- Microsoft pushed out Windows 11 before the oven timer binged (no pun intended, of course). The half-baked software cookies are just not too appealing and could make some companies wary of what bad actors can and will do
- Microsoft wants to “manage” a big game company which has a wonderful legacy of treating employees in a professional manner when Microsoft cannot manage its own update coding.
Net net: I think this graph captures the outputs of the Softies and its apologists:
Stephen E Arnold, July 19, 2022
Microsoft Security Team Helps Android Users. What about Microsoft Users? Meh?
July 13, 2022
Two items caught my attention this morning (July 4, 2022).
The first is “ALERT! Microsoft warns of dangerous Android malware on your phone that intercepts OTP, SMS too.” Locating this story might be tricky. I noted it on DailyHunt, an information service in India. The url displayed for me is in this link. Your mileage may vary. Yeah, the modern Internet. The article reports:
Toll fraud malware, a subcategory of billing fraud in which malicious applications subscribe users to premium services without their knowledge or consent, is one of the most prevalent types of Android malware.
What’s the fix? Here’s a helpful suggestion:
A rule of thumb is to avoid installing Android applications from untrusted sources (side loading) and always follow up with device updates.
The second was “Android Toll Fraud malware can subscribe users to premium services without consent.” Once again, the link to my source is this information highway signpost. Good luck because this may be similar to the now long gone Burma Shave signs. The article informed me that:
The toll fraud malware… purchases subscription on behalf of the user in a way that the overall process isn’t perceivable.
So what’s the fix?
One of the easiest ways to protect yourself from this malware is by download the latest version of available software update on your smartphone. Apart from that, avoid installing Android applications from untrusted sources. In addition to that, avoid granting SMS permissions, notification listener access, or accessibility access to any applications without a strong understanding of why the application needs it.
Helpful indeed.
Here’s a quick question: What about Microsoft security for its products and services? Meh. What’s important is a little bit of negative PR for the fun loving Googlers.
Stephen E Arnold, July 13, 2022
Microsoft and the Next Fix Problem
July 11, 2022
I spotted a now routine story about a bug in Microsoft’s software. The story “Windows 11’s ‘Resolved’ Outlook Search Bug Resurfaces: When’s the Next Fix?” reveals a key insight into the software giant’s technical method.
I noted this statement in the article about an issue with search functionality in the Outlook email program, one of the original landscape apps which are pretty much orthogonal to the mobile phone’s display:
When doing a search in Outlook on Windows 11 PCs, the email program sometimes fails to provide results relevant to recent messages…
Yep, search. Microsoft. Not working.
But the important facet of the story appears in the story headline; specifically, “When’s the next fix?”
The Microsoft softies have experienced many issues with search and retrieval. Unlike Elizabeth Barrett Browning, I shall not count the ways. However, I will point out that there is now a fatalism about Microsoft. Stuff goes wrong. Microsoft attempts to fix the problem. Then the problem comes back
Whether it is the outstanding security systems or the brilliance of Word’s fascinating approach to automatic numbering, fixes beget more fixes.
So here we are: Unfixable code, persistent issues, and a giant theme park of opportunities for people to make bad decisions, waste time, and hunt for security flaws.
Yep, next fix. Working11ood. Which time is the charm? Third, fourth, nth? Is there a macro for excellence? Wait, let’s roll that macro thing back.
Stephen E Arnold, July 11, 2022
What Microsoft Wants: Identity System and Data for Good Purposes Of Course
June 28, 2022
Microsoft wants its new Verified ID program to move beyond social media platforms. According to Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. in the article, “Microsoft Wants Everything To Come With Its Verified Check Mark,” Microsoft wants Verified ID to validate more personal information and it is starting with verifying credentials.
Verified ID would allow people to get digital credentials that prove where they graduated, their jobs, where they bank, and if they are in good health. Microsoft says Verified ID would be good for people who need to quickly share their personal information, such as job applications. Verified ID uses blockchain-based decentralized identity standards. Microsoft plans to release its Entry Verified ID, its official name, in August. The name for Microsoft’s identity product line is Entra.
Ankur Patel is a Microsoft principal program manager for digital identity and he believes Entry Verified ID will be mainstream in three years:
“In the first year, it’s likely that Verified ID will be used by organizations in tandem with existing verification methods, both digital and analog, with a portion of their users, according to Patel. Wider adoption will depend, in part, on making sure that the service itself hasn’t “done harm,” he acknowledged.
One potential risk is that individuals might inadvertently share sensitive information with the wrong parties using the system, Patel said. ‘In the physical world, when you’re presenting these kinds of things, you’re careful — you don’t just give your birth certificate to anybody,’ he said. Microsoft is aiming to limit the issues in its own digital wallets with features meant to protect against this type of accidental exposure, Patel said.”
Microsoft wants to verify everyone’s information, but what about guaranteeing that its own products are real?
Whitney Grace, June 28, 2022
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