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View Full Version : Microsoft might kill Windows brand in favor of a super OS



fulltimer56
07-21-2011, 02:01 PM
http://dvice.com/assets_c/2011/07/microsoft-super-os-thumb-550xauto-66804.jpg (http://dvice.com/archives/2011/07/microsoft-might.php)



Strange things are happening within Microsoft. The software giant is fighting multiple fronts: PCs, smartphones, gaming and soon, tablets. There's just one tiny problem: fragmentation and a lack of total synergy between its Windows 7/8, Windows Phone 7 and Xbox platforms. A brand new OS that unifies all of those could be Microsoft's savior.

According to ThisIsMyNext, Microsoft's Andy Lees ultimately envisions one "single ecosystem" to be deployed across all hardware — meaning one OS that'll work on all smartphones, tablets, PCs, TVs and gaming consoles. Maybe all of this has something to do with that little tip about PCs running Xbox 360 games natively (http://dvice.com/archives/2011/07/windows-8-pcs-m.php)?
The Need for Interconnected Devices

Microsoft's vision isn't new. Companies have been trying to create synergy for years. It's just been easier to develop for each platform separately. Lees says that Microsoft "won't have an ecosystem for PCs, and one for phones, and one for tablets — they'll all come together." He's right. There's no better time to start working on an OS that'll connect everything. We're seeing a shift in how people want to use their gadgets.

People want their gadgets to connect to one another — hassle free. They want to be able to sync their phones to their Xboxes and to their tablets, without needing to go fiddle with some extra piece of software. Functionality and direct synergy needs to be built-in, from the start.

Instead of trying to patch and force existing platforms to play nice with each other, a new OS and suite of devices that run on it from the beginning could be the break Microsoft needs to leap ahead of its competitors.
Microsoft's Preparations Hint at Single Ecosystem

It certainly seems logical. As of late, Microsoft's been pushing redesigns for the UI on Xbox 360 (http://www.wp7connect.com/2011/06/07/e3-new-xbox-experience-is-loaded-with-wp7s-metro-ui/) and Windows 8 (http://dvice.com/archives/2011/06/windows-8-is-li.php) that borrow heavily on Windows Phone 7's live tiles a.k.a. MetroUI. But those elements are only skin deep. The new Xbox 360 dashboard might look similar to the MetroUI, but it doesn't run on Windows.

The most outrageous part about this is that ThisIsMyNext thinks that the new "super OS" will kill off the Windows brand in four years time. The goal, as Lee says is to provide "coherence and consistency" for all devices.
Goodbye Windows?

If (and that's a big IF) Windows does get the axe, it'll supposedly coincide with the end the Xbox 360's 10-year lifecycle and Windows 8's three-year run.

At first thought, it seems preposterous that Microsoft would seriously consider laying the Windows brand to sleep. Windows is a very powerful brand that's been around for over 25 years, it'd be silly to throw it all away. However, we also see the possibility that Apple might kill its OS X brand and replace it with iOS. With OS X Lion (http://dvice.com/archives/2010/10/why-mac-os-x-li.php) bringing so many iOS elements to it, it's believed that iOS will live on where OS X dies.

Microsoft built its brand selling Windows. Maybe it's time for something fresh. Xbox worked. Zune didn't. What's next? I'll tell you a secret. The thought of a completely new OS really has me pumped, and that's a first in a long time. Windows 7 is great, but its still Windows. What I want to see is something completely new and revolutionary like the iPhone and its iOS when it debuted in 2007.

Via ThisIsMyNext (http://thisismynext.com/2011/07/14/microsoft-one-ecosystem-pcs-tablets-phones-tvs-windows-brand-over/)

Duffman_Comics
07-23-2011, 11:39 PM
I can understand this - and I can also appreciate the time line.

The hardware still needs to develop to the point that the smaller devices have the same processing power (if not capacity) as their current bigger brothers.

Anyway, bring it on. Now the troubleshooting, care and repair of a lot more devices than just PC's and Laptops will depend on a thorough knowledge of the (single) OS. Watch for the explosion in virus and malware reports on the devices sporting the new OS.

My 12c.

jordanscott
07-30-2011, 03:58 AM
Awesome.

Now every device from my car, pc, xbox, phone and whatever else can get blue screens and need to be constantly rebooted and re-imaged.

dirtyharry
08-21-2011, 03:56 PM
Great.Im still mad they killed 98 series 2.

fulltimer56
08-23-2011, 04:02 PM
Great.Im still mad they killed 98 series 2.

Any boy, I thought I was behind the times with a Windows XP system in my desktop and laptop???? ;-)

Linda

dirtyharry
08-27-2011, 05:15 PM
I know im a dinosaur

jordanscott
08-27-2011, 10:56 PM
I can see them wanting to do this but their biggest customer base, business and industry, will want nothing to do with this.

Device and lifestyle/entertainment interconnection like this is not high on most businesses wish list.

Could be a big break for Linux, though.

Or maybe AmigaOS will finally see wide usage. That would be nice.

disneyteddies
08-31-2011, 04:01 AM
They're already planning on giving no more help to XP after 2014, then you're on your own.

jordanscott
08-31-2011, 01:05 PM
They're already planning on giving no more help to XP after 2014, then you're on your own.

That's about the only way they'll get some people off it.

My company still has me running an XP laptop but I don't really mind. It's a far more stable and friendly platform compared to Vista (ugh) and 7.

disneyteddies
08-31-2011, 09:28 PM
Not me man...I'm gonna go kicking and screaming...LoL!!!!

And don't even get me started on Vista or Ubuntu....Pbbbbfffttt!