Microsoft on the Threshold of a new name for Windows next week Microsoft is expected to reveal a new moniker for its Windows operating system at an invite-only event next Tuesday. In recent years, under the stewardship of Steve Ballmer, we've seen Windows 7 and Windows 8 names appear on Redmond's flagship product, after the launch of the disastrous Vista brand. But now, with new boss …
"Robbing you of your privacy first..."
That's Google motto, MS would infringe Google copyright on data stealing....
Since when has that stopped Microsoft? Besides, they rob you of your privacy every bit as much as Google. More, in fact, because Windows now ensures that even your searches on your local computer are streamed to Bing, attached to your Microsoft ID so that they can track you and the contents of the files on your local computer.
Google rob you of your privacy, but at least they're somewhat up front about it. Microsoft lie like a fucking rug about it, put millions into bashing Google about it, then do it twice as hard.
That's the nice thing about Google (and by extension Apple iOS cloud services). I know they have all my data, I use their services for the quick search that uses the info they have collected.
Windows and Linux (etc) is for local private, safe and reliable use. I don't want the two mixing (go away Ubuntu searches through Amazon!!!).
"Besides, they rob you of your privacy every bit as much as Google."
No - no they don't. Microsoft always ask first and the default is always not to send data. Unlike the Borg's products such as Chrome - which are spyware by design and by default.
"More, in fact, because Windows now ensures that even your searches on your local computer are streamed to Bing, attached to your Microsoft ID so that they can track you"
Not unless you specifically agree to it. It's off by default.
"and the contents of the files on your local computer.""
No Microsoft products report back on the contents of files on your local computer.
@AC -- "No - no they don't. Microsoft always ask first and the default is always not to send data."
Have you seen the express settings when installing Windows 8.1? The default is to send data to advertisers and Bing. You have to use the customize settings not to. And then if that wasn't bad enough, it is unclear how to use a "local account" on Windows 8.1. Everyone, and I mean everyone, should always use a local account, no exception. I've met more than 5 people who suddenly could not log in to Windows 8 and the common thread was they all have a Microsoft account. Only twice was it related to the WiFi not reconnecting, the rest were using a wired connection. Twice is coincidence, thrice is a trend.
Defaults don't matter when you can't use the fucking thing unless you agree to hand over your data. Such as Hotmail. Let's have a conversation about a French journalist, shall we...?
As for it sending off the contents of my local computer, of yes it fucking does. With every search information about what's on your local computer leaks to Bing.
Microsoft robs you of your privacy at every turn, but likes to play innocent. They aren't.
Throw out your biggest brand name, essentially your identity, great plan!
MS just need to recognise that mobile and desktop are different and reinstate the desktop features from Windows 7. Then they need to tell everyone that it ISN'T Windows 8.
Instead they want to nail a stake in the heart of their business.
or Windows Rondo -- round and round as fashions change and later repeat. Visual effects one year, plain background and capital letters the next, then visual again...
Nothing changes, but there is the Parkinson's Law of programming: software expands to fill the available hardware.
My educated guess is it will simply be called 'Windows' and it will lay the foundations for their Windows in the cloud strategy whereby they charge you ££ a month and you get the latest security updates / patches and the ability to log on from anywhere with your profile / software as it is all hosted in the lovely Microsoft Cloud.
There will be a meatier enterprise version, but that will probably be given a different name
Or how about Windows Yawn... :)
But seriously speaking I think it will be called just Windows as they are abandoning the new Windows every two years plan in favour of more Linux like update schedule/way of updating things. Which is good. That means more patches for the core of the OS and less useless GUI updates. They want to make a new XP, kinda, that will last for years to come. That is my educated guess, anyway.
"in favour of more Linux like update schedule/way of updating things"
Oh god let's hope not. Microsoft's regular update release schedule is one of it's major advantages in corporate environments - versus Linux where updates are released at random - and it's much harder to resource for and schedule patching.
or Windows 'COOL' or Windows 'SNAZZY' or Windows 'DARK WEB' or Windows '180' or Windows 'SEXY BEAST' or Windows 'ELITE' or Windows 'MUTTON DRESSED AS LAMB' or Windows 'LINUX' or Windows 'ONE' or Windows 'LOHAN' or Windows 'ROONEY' or Windows 'EPIC' or Windows 'SWEET' or Windows 'IRRELEVANT' or Windows 'THE DOGS BOLLOCKS' or Windows 'NSA, FBI MEDIA EDITION' or Windows 'PANIC' or Windows 'GLOCK9' or Windows 'ZERO' or Windows 'LABIA' or Windows 'JITTERY SHAREHOLDERS' or Windows 'LOL' or Windows 'PATCHED TO PERFECTION EDITION'.........got to be one of those...right?
Window Blinds.
After all MS is:
Blind to customer needs. Why is there no way to translate their data formats into open standards?
Blind to NSA spying. How could Stuxnet be written without their help?
Blind to security holes. Why are patches only put out only once a week, rather than when ready?
Blind to quality. If it doesn't make them money they don't care.
Patches are rolled out once a month. Because system administrators asked so - outside your bedroom or basement, rolling out patches to large production system is a complex task which needs planning and tests to minimize downtime - especially if you have contractual SLA or the like.
Stuxnet was made to spy and destroy Iranian nuclear enrichment plants - it was very different than spying your own citizens or allies. Or do you mean that Turing & C. work on defeating German encryption during WWII was bad because it actually allowed to spy Nazis? There was no need of MS help to write Stuxnet - but even if it did, it did the right thing.
Office does support ODT.since 2007 SP2. Maybe it's time you update your version of Office... it doesn't look you're a customer, or probably the kind of customer who needs "open standard" to become an ex customer, and if so you're exactly the kind of customer no company cares of, really, if you ever run a business you would know what a "bad customer" is, and you're not going to spend money for its "needs".
Quality does make money - and MS software is high quality, whatever you think. Try to use something more up to date than WIndows 95, you'll appreciate it.
"Office does support ODT.since 2007 SP2"
Holy crap. How did I miss that? Maybe because I was too busy actually getting work done with Star/Open/Libre Office rather than fudge around with Microsoft's fucked up ribbon menu? Really? That's their claim to fame? A menu that takes up so much screen real estate that not only can't you find what you want (because they've moved it) that you don't have any space to do your work.
"MS software is high quality"
You're confusing "dressed up" with "quality". I wouldn't go so far as "lipstick on a pig", but you get the idea.
@John Tserkezis - "A menu that takes up so much screen real estate that not only can't you find what you want (because they've moved it) that you don't have any space to do your work."
Sounds like the little "Collapse the Ribbon" arrow has escaped you over the years. I can see how that could be very frustrating. It's in the upper right corner -- looks like a little up arrow. It's also one of the 5 options on the context menu if you right-click on the ribbon.
By the way, I too use LO and OOo, along with MS Office - whichever one is best for the job at hand.
I rember my first encounter with Office 2007 about 6 years go. I was working on a new project to migrate a database to RAC, and had to open a document in Word. What was the first thing I wanted to do with this document? I actually wanted to print it for some reason. Utterally baffled by the ribbon (where is "file/print"?), I asked the system admin how to print. He didn't know either but said the old DOS shortcut key of CTRL/P still worked.
Big productivity booster. I also figured out that other DOS shortcuts (CTRL/S for save, CTRL/O for open) also worked too. Better yet, they are almost universal for all programs, wether it is Windows, Mac, or Linux. They are so universal that they have become programmed in my muscle memory like CTRL/C and CTRL/V for copy and paste.
Now though, they have installed the steaming pile of shit known as Outlook 2010 on my workstation. I actually whish for 2007!
"because I was too busy actually getting work done with Star/Open/Libre Office "
Everytime I try (and believe me, I' have tried so many times), I get frustrated trying to do the most basic things, its clunkiness and random crashes... it's like Office 2000 with less polish. Last time I got so frustrated, I installed an old copy of office 2003... At least it didn't crash. My current workplace has a large deployment of Open Office and the general feelings we (IT) get from the users, is to remove it as it causes more problems than it solves.
"Microsoft's fucked up ribbon menu"
I love the ribbon; once you get used to it, it saves a lot of time... Everytime I go back to an office suite (of any company including MS Office) which doesn't have the ribbon, I get frustrated that I have to struggle to find the most basic commands / operations. It sounds like we both struggle to be out of (what has become) our comfort zone. Don't think it's MS's fault we are resistant to change.
"A menu that takes up so much screen real estate that not only can't you find what you want (because they've moved it) that you don't have any space to do your work."
How small is your monitor? Did you know you can auto hide the ribbon?
@channel - "Why are patches only put out only once a week, rather than when ready?"
You couldn't be more wrong. But that's ok.
There is something called Patch Tuesday. It's on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. Unless it's also on the 4th Tuesday of the month.
One thing it is not is weekly.
And there are also daily and other patches. Which are released daily and at other times. Sometimes those times correspond with when the patch is ready. Daily updates usually include malware definition updates for MS security products.
So, the answer to your question is: you don't have the slightest clue what you are talking about. Now go back to fondling your shiny iToy and let the adults figure out what to call the next version of Wiindows.
"Why is there no way to translate their data formats into open standards?"
Erm - you mean like Microsoft Office - which has the best ODF implementation on the market for instance? Although if it didn't the answer would be - because hardly anyone uses most data open standards - and there is very little demand - so why should they bother?
"Blind to NSA spying. How could Stuxnet be written without their help?"
Do the Linux kernel authors help to write Linux exploits and worms then? You are clearly an idiot.
"Why are patches only put out only once a week, rather than when ready?"
Because planned, scheduled and well tested development cycles generally product much higher quality code, and scheduled patching release cycles make it far easier to schedule evaluation, testing and deployment of patches.
"If it doesn't make them money they don't care."
And so they shouldn't as a corporate with responsibilities to their shareholders.
1, 2, 3, 3.1, 3.11, 3.11 for workgroups, 95, 95 OSR2, 98, 98 Second Edition, XP, Millenium Edition, 2000, Vista, Server 2003, Server 2008, Windows 7, Server 2012, Windows 8, Server 2012R2, Windows 8.1 (possibly not in that order).
Damn, it could be ANYTHING. Going from history:
There's a good chance it's going to have a number. There's half a chance it'll be consecutive and half not. There's a small chance it'll have a point number. There's a fair chance it'll carry some moniker or tag on the end of it, even with a number.
I'll go for "Windows 9.0 for Metro Server Groups". Think I covered most angles there.
I'm struggling now........Er...Windows.......'JIHAD, MEDIA CENTRE EDITION'?........Windows 'LICKER'? Anyway, i'll look forward to downloading a corrupted copy of it (complete with key) from 'Pirate Ass' or whatever its called.....ooh just thought of another, Windows 'DEATH STAR'
Seriously? What planet do you live on?
Windows 8 didn't matter. Anyone with a brain knew that it never mattered (except to idiots in comment threads) because Windows 7 was huge and most really big enterprises only just finished migrating to it.
9 matters a bit. 10 matters a lot. That's two iterative versions' room to get it right. And "such a shithole" - yeah, Apple would love to be in a shithole that big.
Wait, is it the year of linux on the desktop? Again?
@Dogged
Windows 8 did matter, there were Billions spent on it preparing for the future. We might laugh about every second version being the good version but I am sure that MS did not on this occasion.
If you were a MS Shareholder how would you feel. Short term outlook, pretty damned misreable.
You are correct that Business is not looking at W8 and effectively most have just finished their migration to W7, myself included. But W9 is coming out sooner than expected and W10 is still a wet dream..
Personally I would not like to be responsable for the W9 strategy, can you imagine how hot some of the boardroom meetings must have been recently. Especially when MS have put a HUGE effort into the "W8 - one system to rule them all project".. Let's not even mention RT huh....
We have about 3 to 5 years before business will move again and meanwhile MS Shareholders are going to become very impatient. What is going to be sold in the next 3 to 5 years, pipedreams and a renewed TIFKAM or a rehashed W7.... That''s not what I call a very bright looking mid term.
I truly regret that MS don't have a real competitor in this market because I would have bet my house on their competitor gaining huge ground after these recent fiascos.
""I truly regret that MS don't have a real competitor in this market because I would have bet my house on their competitor gaining huge ground after these recent fiascos.""!
The biggest fiascos have been in the closest you can get to competition right now - Linux - which has had 2 major screws ups just in the last couple of moths with Open SSL and BASH - people are migrating in legions to Windows Server for Web hosting - it's now the market share leader!
"3-5 years? One word - Android."
LOL - not likely. Android is a really shitty stack of the most insecure and clunky middleware in existence - Java - and the hardest to use and one of the highest vulnerability count OSs in existence in Linux, topped by the world's least secure browser in Chrome.. Not surprisingly every Android release is hacked to shreds before it even hits the shops. You have to have bolt on extra software like 'Knox' to even try and approach the security of products like Blackberry and Windows Phone - and even then it doesn't come close. No corporate wants that sort of mess as a primary OS.
'Windows Vanden Plas'
Oh fuck yes! The imagery that brings up is just perfect! Have an upvote.
Steven R
PS: You'd need to be aware of car history for that - Vanden Plas was a trim level used by British Leyland brands back in the day to make their cars appear more important/luxurious/fancy than they actually were, using things like chrome grilles, extra features (includes cabin heater!), quad headlights etc to cover the fact that their cars were plain fucking awful.
Do an image search for Austin Allegro, follow it up with a search for Allegro Vanden Plas, but don't drink coffee as the results load, you'll spit it out with no small degree of incredulity at the idea of an Allegro trying to look like a Rolls Royce.
Okay. I knew something was up and circumstances indicated to me that their was a change in OS naming scheme in the works but wow. I had to look up my notes on that. It wouldn't surprise me if this new name will reflect the "ONE" OS for all things or even utilize the familiar "X" from Win XP or "X BOX ONE". Then again if this is MS's coming out of the closet with their Cloud OS who knows...
Personally the name I use in my own head space is "Blockdows".
Edit. They've also used "Azure". Hmmm...everything is so cloudy...
That is after all its biggest selling point.
But in reality I'm guessing it'll be even more cloud, even more mobile, even more touch, even more search-for-everything, even more OS-as-a-service, and it'll have one of those 5 random-letters-but-pronounceable web2.0 car model names which doesn't mean anything, like "ilocy", "citan" or "xcent".
but I fear it will be the first stage in erecting a walled garden, with the ultimate aim of grabbing a 30% slice of the price any software sold to run on PCs. That is why Gabe Newell is spending so much time and money on developing a Linux based Valve games machine. Is he right? Time will tell.
Yep, but it seems to me the Steam Machines lost quite a bit of... er, steam, when the failure of Windows 8 became so obvious that Monkey Boy Ballmer had to leave Microsoft. I think Microsoft now is a bit more humble about destroying the entire PC eco-system (although I don't doubt that's still the ultimate goal).
Considering the heritage of quality operating systems it has to build uppon such as BOB, ME, Vista and not least 8 I have a couple of thoughtful ideas.
Windows Uncle..... Seeing as bob's your ...
Windows Door..... As it might see even more people looking for the exit unless it's actually good.
Windows Patio..... Might want to add extra heaters.
Windows !8..... For obvious reasions.
Windows Start..... You asked for it and we grudgingly put it back.
Windows Bus..... It's not the interface formerly not known as metro we promise.
While they could just give up and call it Microsoft OS/86 9.0, but that's extremely unlikely.
Since the name Android is taken, if the interface formerly known as Metro is emphasized, there's always Zombie. But in reality, of course, they'll try and call it something positive.
And it's true that "Windows" is getting old. Now that you can even get a decent GUI for free with Linux, and any GUI has applications running in their little windows, a name is needed to emphasize the unique beneficial features one gets from Microsoft.
And what could those be?
Well, the fact that a lot of third-party software is written for it. So they could call it "Standard".
Or maybe they could license the brand name "Akzidenz Grotesk"?
I think it will simply hang on to the coat tails of Office and be called Windows 365 with a subscription model based on the old Standard, Pro etc versions.
Standard - base model with enough unnecessary services, DLLs and EXEs to keep Windows as the main security target for malware vendors (After all, if the anti-malware bloat companies went out of business, people would realise they didn't need to upgrade OSes every year). Cloudy Word and outlook included.
Professional - As above with Excel, Accel and Powerpoint included. Able to join an AD domain.(Volume licences will require separate subs to Windows and Office because if you can afford a volume licence, you canafford to pay extra)
Premium - As above. Able to use a local account and not a Micrsoft ID. Powerpoint removed for people's sanity.
Ultimate - Linux Mint ;)
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1. Windows 7 look and feel, so much so that it's indistinguishable, either in the front, or the back end.
2. Complete disabling of any cloud interaction.
3. Removal of Bing.
4. The ability to switch off all stupid pictures, such as their view of what you want the desktop to look like.
5. No-one who hasn't been an engineer to have any say in UI.
6. Removal of all "gesture" UI stuff.
7. Rollback of everything that's happened UI since a month before Windows 8 beta was released.
8. Complete removal of Microsoft signin for install,
9. Removal of the App Store.
10. return of the start button, removal of the metro thing, return of control panel, and all the other stupid design decisions made.
11. The sacking of anyone who was a leading light since a year before windows 8.
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