XML appeared in 1996, was refined during 1997, and was standardised in 1998. I remember a lot of excitement about it at the time, from managers who imagined it would solve all their data portability problems. I was conscious of some of this enthusiasm before I really looked at the format. When I did, I… Continue reading Spare us humans from XML
Tag: microsoft
Live Passport Net
Microsoft plans to drop Windows Live branding — Microsoft are apparently renaming their Windows Live user account system to "Microsoft Account". They've changed the name of this service a few times over the years. I first found myself with a Microsoft account in 1998 when Microsoft bought Firefly, an early music-discovery social network, and took… Continue reading Live Passport Net
Operating system updates
Google have released a version of their Chrome web browser for Android, and it seems to be rather good—but it only runs on the very latest version of Android, version 4. Which is a bit of an annoyance, because hardly anybody has that version. Glancing at the 12 most popular Android phones on the Expansys… Continue reading Operating system updates
I had been thinking of praising SkyDrive too
Then I tried to log in to it just now, and Eloquent. Perhaps it has a bit more in common with the typical ASP site of the 90s than I'd thought.
Windows 8: Mixed metaphors
I haven't yet paid much attention to the Windows 8 Developer Previews, but having found Windows Phone 7 so likeable I thought I should take a look. It's very disorientating. It's as if two different agencies are at work in designing it, one pushing for radical simplification in the mould of WP7 and the other… Continue reading Windows 8: Mixed metaphors
How come Windows Phone 7 isn’t a big hit?
I’ve read some speculation recently about why Windows Phone 7 hasn’t been more successful. (For example, here by Charlie Kindel and here by MG Siegler.) But they don’t seem to mention the Obvious Reason. The Obvious Reason Above, left: an exciting, vibrant, joyful-looking phone with appealing pictures on the front. Above, right: a grey object… Continue reading How come Windows Phone 7 isn’t a big hit?
The Breakfast Post 