This image comes from this tweet:

MS flag flying half-mast at Microsoft UK HQ via @rmdrao on FB. Respect, Microsoft. http://goo.gl/UlIGE #stevejobs

RIP Jobs.

You will be missed.

We all know that the iPod Touch is doing great even though it lacks only the phone functionality of the iPhone. Therefore Microsoft would be silly not to release a newer Zune HD to sit alongside Windows Phone 7 device just like the two Apple products do; or would they?

I’m sure that having Xbox Live, Bing, IE, Office, camera etc all on a device that doesn’t require would be great and I’m sure this is the best thing for Microsoft to do. However there is a down side this. Apple makes both the iPhone and the iPod so they aren’t too bothered about which device sells just so long as something sells. Microsoft have a different strategy though with Windows Phone 7 in that Microsoft will only make the software and will let its partners design and make the hardware (which minimum specification from Microsoft though). Microsoft believe this to be the best way to offers phones as it provides a single mobile OS for a range of different hardware types and designs.

With a Zune HD 2 there is very little need for such a choice of hardware as this is a product likely to be a much smaller deal for the company and consumers. Perhaps two device types would be all that is necessary; a slate design and one with a slide out keyboard. Therefore, it doesn’t make sense for Microsoft to licence Windows Phone 7 OS (without phone functionality) out to partners as there would be little demand for a wide range of devices.

This then leads me to think that Microsoft will again design and have made its own Zune HD 2 hardware. If this is the case then another issue exists. Microsoft will want the Zune HD 2 to be best in class that means the device will need to pack a punch and to do this it might make the device more powerful than some of its partners Windows Phone 7 devices. If this happens partners are likely to get annoyed and not want to sell Windows Phone 7 devices which Microsoft can’t afford to let happen. This is why I believe we won’t see a new Zune HD for at least a year.

Microsoft wants Windows Phone 7 to do well in the market and I think it will. If it does and more handset makers get on board with Windows Phone 7 then I think we can expect to Microsoft release an updated Zune HD. By that point Windows Phone 7 will have proven its economic worth to companies and I think unlikely that if the mobile OS is popular that any company would stop making devices which run the OS.

When thinking about this idea some more it reminded me of what Google did with the Nexus One. The company released their own designed and specified devices to encourage Android device manufactures to design and make higher spec’d hardware. It was feared by some that this approach would alienate some devices markers from making Android phones and Google who provided the OS was competing the devices manufacturers. However, whether through weak sales or other reasons Google does seem to have forced its device makers to create better hardware whilst not losing of them.

Microsoft in turn can force their hardware partners to keep the devices highly spec’d by releasing a powerful Zune HD 2 device. If this device is more powerful than some of the partner devices then people might decide to buy a Zune HD 2 for the Windows Phone 7 OS functionality and buy another phone to actually call people. This should allow Microsoft to indirectly keep its partners innovating and providing cutting edge devices without alienating its own partners.

In short I think Microsoft, as they have long been rumoured to be doing, will release at least one more Zune device and it should more than likely run Windows Phone 7 OS. But, I don’t think we can expect to see it any time soon, Microsoft’s mobile partners just wouldn’t want it in the market and Microsoft is doing all it can to entice its partners to make handsets for Windows Phone 7.

If you are interested in Zune and want to know what I think lies next for the entertainment service in terms of functionality then why not read the article.

The description of the app is:

Windows Live Messenger for iPhone and iPod Touch is the best way to connect with the people that matter most and keep up with the things they are doing across the web. Use your iPhone to instant message your friends list, view and comment on your friends’ photos and status updates from Windows Live, Facebook, and MySpace, and at a glance, see what your Messenger friends are sharing from Flickr, YouTube, and many other social and photo sharing sites. Make sure to visit http://profile.live.com/Services today and setup Windows Live to bring in your social networks. Messenger is simply the best way to connect with your closest friends.
Chat: Instant message with your Windows Live Messenger and Y! Messenger contacts on the go so you’re always connected to the people that matter most. You can even receive IM notifications when your app is closed so you never miss a message.
Social: Windows Live Messenger gives you one place to view the updates your Messenger friends are sharing from social networks like Facebook, Flickr, MySpace and more, helping you cut through the clutter on the go.
Photos: Upload photos right from your phone to share your favorite moments with the people that matter most. Create albums, add captions, and let your friends and family comment on your photos.
Hotmail: Access your Hotmail account without leaving the app to read, reply to, and compose emails. Get email notifications within the application so you know when you have new messages.

Not owning an iOS device myself I have to rely on other people’s opinions about it and as far it looks good with a 5 star rating after 22 votes on the app information page. I hope you all enjoy using this app. You can download the app from iTunes.

Update: I have just received the official information about the Messenger App and a new picture from Microsoft. The official information is:

The Messenger iPhone app is free and includes many of the same rich Messenger features that you’d experience on a PC. With the app, users can:

• Instant Message with multiple friends, allowing users to view chat history, use emoticons, send a ‘nudge’ to a friend who isn’t responding, and share links and photos via Instant Message
• The app also includes push notification of new chats, so users can see when they receive a new IM when they’re not already interacting with the app
• Access their Hotmail account without leaving the app to read, reply to, and compose emails
• Receive email notifications within the application so users know when they have new messages
• View the updates your Messenger friends are sharing from social networks like Facebook, Flickr, MySpace and more
• Upload photos right from your phone, allowing you to create albums, add captions, and let your friends and family comment on your photos

The URL for the download from iTunes on your PC is: http://itunes.com/apps/windowslivemessenger

Users can download from their iPhone by searching for “Windows Live Messenger” in the App Store

Here’s a picture of someone trying to contact a friend who isn’t in the Messenger app.

Steve Jobs announced Bing is going to be on the devices saying “we’re adding a third option, which is Bing! Google will stay the default, but now you have another choice, if you like. Each one takes a unique approach to how they search and format results. You decide. Microsoft has done a really nice job on this, it’s an HTML5 presentation, it’s great.” That is praise indeed coming from Jobs.

An interesting tweet has come to my attention from @Ryan, technology critic who most recently co-founded gdgt, who said.

I don’t see Bing being the default as it would contradict what Jobs said but you never know and seeing how Apple seems to really dislike Google now it might just be possible.

I think this is great news for everyone involved and it will be interesting to see how Microsoft compete with Google on the mobile device.

The sister sites are to be name MyAppleLife and MyGoogleLife and I have already started blogging on them, go check them out.

Over the coming weeks you can expect me to scale back the amount of time I spend on MyMicrosoftLife with ultimately me stopping blogging within the next few months. I hope you will continue to follow my blogging in the future.

What has amazed me though is how people are predicting the end for Windows Mobile because of the likes of the iPhone, Android, webOS and Blackberries. The iPhone was launched in 2007, Android 2008 and webOS in 2009, what’s wrong with Microsoft lauching their mobile OS in 2010. Yes Microsoft will be leaving it late but won’t be completely off the mark.

I grant you that the current version of Windows Mobile could well be the one which is the least friendly to consumers, however many other mobile OSs are still adding features which Windows Mobile has had for a long time.

With Windows Mobile 7 Microsoft will have to offer all the functionality, and more, of Windows Mobile (6.5), which will probably mean it will offer more functionality than any other OS on the market. This will be one of the better features of Windows Mobile 7 where it shouldn’t need to play catch-up with its competitors as it should be building on what functionality Windows Mobile already offers.

Microsoft already have a very healthy relationship with many device manufactures and as far as I can it sounds like Microsoft is tightening the constraints on those companies to ensure updates are provided quicker.

If Microsoft are clever they will integrate all their services and products deep within Windows Mobile 7 such as Windows Live, Zune and Office to raise awareness, bring great user experience to mobiles and stop various teams of Microsoft from competing with each other(such as Media Center, Media Player and Zune). Microsoft certainly wont be fined for bundling applications or services when Apple and Google are doing it far more prolifically.

Now to the backend of Windows Mobile 7, I can’t see Microsoft keeping the current set up and just tweaking it because too many people have complaints with it and its needs and overhaul. The problem for Microsoft, and its customers, is that it means they will need to build up a brand new library of applications and I doubt old applications will be able to run in the new mobile OS. In some ways this will be good as a lot of Windows Mobile apps are very ugly. Microsoft will also look at making it very easy for developers to write a program for a vast array of devices.

Now on to how Microsoft will handle applications, Apple is often criticised for its application approval system and I’ve heard some people having complaints with Android’s deployment of applications on various devices. If Microsoft can get the Marketplace, developer ecosystem and the coding for Windows Mobile 7 correct they could well be on to a winner.

Finally the UI of Windows Mobile 7 will probably be the make or break aspect of the OS, Microsoft have to get it right. However I have less concerns with this than several other aspects of the OS. With Windows 7, the Zune software and Zune HD Microsoft showed in 2009 they can create great interfaces and interfaces for software and hardware which I hope will carry on in 2010 with more than just Windows Mobile 7.

Unfortunately there is just nothing known about Windows Mobile 7 but these are just my ideas on what Microsoft needs to do and I hope that Windows Mobile 7 is very competitive when it comes out. We should be hearing all about it next month at the Mobile World Congress and I am really looking forward to it.

Just bear in mind that if Google, on their first attempt at an operating system, can make a mobile OS which competes with the iPhone, in a little over a year, then there is certainly hope for Windows Mobile yet.

2010: The Year Of Touch

We all know that Microsoft added Windows Touch to Windows 7 to bring touch computing mainstream and it will be this year that we start to see the benefits of Microsoft having added support for touch interface. Increasingly there will be more all-in-one-desktops, notebooks, netbooks and monitors that are touch enabled and because of this more developers will look to add innovative ways to use touch which will increase sales and complete the cycle.

Then, of course, there is the ever present rumour of the Apple tablet, or iSlate, which will bring touch interface to the very front of the consumers’ attention. It seems that some companies are planning to combat the rumour of the iSlate before anything is confirmed with rumours of a Google/HTC partnership for a Chrome OS tablet. It remains to be seen if there will be anything new to touch control added by Apple or if it will just be a large iPhone.

Talking of phones there will be an increasing number of touch only smart phones coming from the likes of HTC and Sony. There will probably be some interesting apps appearing for Android and I hope for Windows Mobile. Although no one seems interested in writing apps for Windows Mobile 6.X maybe 7 will inspire developers to create some, much needed, useful apps for the platform.

Microsoft may have another trick up its sleeve with the Courier concept that I hope will come in to fruition sometime this year and then there is the plan to bring the Microsoft Surface to our homes, not something I expect to see soon but maybe some aspects of the interface will work its way into new platforms.

However by the end of the year we may have already gone beyond touch and have entered the realm of touch-less control when Microsoft release their Project Natal which, to begin with, will only be for Xbox but I would hope an expansion of the technologies involved.

2010: The Year Of The Cloud

I know one of the most popular buzzwords for 2009 was the Cloud but I think 2010 will be the year it really comes to the masses. Microsoft will be launching its Windows Azure platform properly in February followed by Office 2010 and the Office Web Apps which will see Microsoft embrace the Cloud like it has never done before. I am also expecting Windows Live Wave 4 to contain much more Cloud based content with new services, improved storage and ways to access programs online. It is also possible that Windows Mobile 7 will be more cloud orientated, we know there plans to be a high level of social networking incorporated with the mobile OS.

Apple will be looking to take more services to the Cloud or face being left behind as Google forces all tech companies to focus more on the internet. With regards to Google we will see the first browser OS which really can’t be any more Cloud focussed and I expect many more Cloud services and greater integration of those services with its Mobile OS.

2010: The Year Of The Ribbon

Windows 7 uses it in its standard applications, we know that Office 2010 will be featuring it in all the applications and from the leaked screenshots it appears that Windows Live Wave 4 will use the Ribbon interface.

It seems to me that Microsoft are finally beginning to agree to use a more coherent design approach to their applications where the Ribbon interface is used in content creation applications such as Paint, Word and Movie Marker. Those three suits of applications will be the most used from Microsoft and it will be great to have the Ribbon mainstream but I would hope that work on the next versions of Visual Studio and Expression Studio.

Another type of application Microsoft is content browsers such as the Zune Software which seems to be the inspiration for the unreleased version of Windows Live Messenger which could also be described as a content browser. Microsoft seem very keen on the linear interface for their entertainment devices, Zune HD and Xbox, and I would expect that any new entertainment devices would follow a similar approach.

Lets hope Microsoft can continue the good design and interfaces of 2009 in their new products of 2010 and that other software developers will use the Ribbon interface and create new and exciting interfaces.

I have many questions and hopes about what we will see this year and I am looking forward to playing with the new applications and devices that will come out over the year, maybe some of which we will see as early as next week at CES.

When I look at the devices I use on a weekly, mostly daily basis, all but one devices runs on a Microsoft operating system and even if they weren’t they could be. The one device that is not (and nor could it from my understanding) is my Fujifilm camera and I started thinking about this.

Obviously, Microsoft, Apple and Linux all support devices with cameras as shown in the mobile market but why do none of them have their operating systems on dedicated camera devices? As much as I love camera it doesn’t have the nicest or easiest menu system on it and this is probably due to lack of competition within the OS side of the camera market as most people are more concerned with the hardware they are buying and will put up with the operating system. I think there could be big benefits for the camera makers if they had better, more powerful operating systems for their cameras as it could also entice more of the casual photographers to buy cameras rather than just those who were keen on taking pictures.

A camera could immediately become more attractive if it was able to run low powered applications, perhaps ones that the users could edit photos and videos with, rather than find out if the picture they had taken was level by using a spirit level application. But then taking it to the extreme a camera would be very sellable if it was a media player and maybe also a phone, not a phone also having a camera. My issue with high power cameras on phone is that they are let down by the fact there is no optical zoom and often only a limited digital zoom and no real control of the lens etc etc.

So where am I going with this I hear you ask, well I don’t think it would be ridiculous to see cameras over the next few years using a widely available platform, whether that platform exists now or not is beside the point, and I also can see it being a Linux distribution which starts it off them quickly followed by Microsoft and Apple.

I would expect Microsoft to release either a version of Windows Mobile designed for cameras or making yet another platform for the devices. Although seeing as Microsoft have very few partners in the camera market it could be they make their own camera running on their own OS, much like the Zune is doing in the MP3 market. I can see Apple adding to the iPods and iPhone to include a much more powerful camera, one of the most criticised features of the phone at the moment. I think Linux as often happens would make it there first but would quickly be squashed to only a very small market share.

I know I would prefer to have less devices that I always carry around with me and if a really good camera/phone/MP3 Player could be created I know I would love to use it. It is just a shame that there is currently just no good combination of all three devices, but maybe in the next few years we will see a new battleground for the tech giants to fight over.

My understanding of Cloud computer and how it works is limited so I might be way off the mark with this!

We know that the Apple fell and so helped Newton to prove gravity existed but I have started to wonder whether it is possible for the Apple to rise up to the Cloud.

Microsoft are working hard on getting more of their software into the Cloud as that is seen to be the way that technology is moving with everything being hosted for us in giant datacenters and not so much on our own local machines. We can see this very clearly with Windows Azure, where Microsoft are moving Windows to the cloud, but Office is following suite and it wouldn’t be too difficult for Windows Live to only exist online. There are other services based in the cloud such as Live Mesh too that show Microsoft is keen to keep all our information online to be accessed anywhere.

Competitors are also taking things up to the cloud, Google and Amazon being perhaps the two biggest with what they already offer. Google have even announced their Chrome OS; it could just be a browser with an extremely limited connection with the user’s computer so that everything is stored in the cloud. If this approach is taken with the future operating system basically being a browser to hosted applications then I can see one major issue for one company and it is with Apple. It might just be that Apple are working hard on taking their operating system and other services to the cloud but because they hardly ever disclose anything until its ready to be released it is currently not being reported, but I am not so sure they even really want too.

The whole point of Apple is too make very stylish hardware with its own operating system and in doing so making it tricky for people to use their software on any other device. If Apple were to take their OS up to the cloud then it would be accessed via the internet and therefore anyone could have access to it if they had an internet connection.

Apple already allow Windows to be installed on their machines which benefits both Apple and Microsoft, but Apple knows if they didn’t make it easy for people to use Windows they would see less sales of their hardware with their own operating system. With only 4% of the computer operating system market share it is clear to see Windows has the normal OS market controlled and I expect Apple don’t see a way to gain a better market share in the cloud with an operating system.

If Apple don’t offer hosted apps and an operating system to match what will happen to them? They would surely just become a premium hardware manufacturer allowing people an expensive way to the internet and any number of competitors’ online OSes, not a business model I can see working very well.

As I said at the start I might have this all wrong but from what I can tell the future looks very shady for Apple as the company that we know and some love.