Stay honest and deal with it, and educate user on the consequence of their action

Education can always be done when assist to remove the scareware... rather than 'it's user that authorize it to install, thus it's not in apple policy to remove'

If it's a malware and user has brought their macs in, fix it and educate them on it, even charge extra since there's extra time and education needed, that's a better way in my opinion.

Don't ask, don't tell to protect the image is stupid when leaks, anonymity happens all the time... Stay honest and deal with it in the bud.

And honestly, how bad is this going to tarnish Apple reputation? Please... Apple, do you really think you are perfect is everyway? 

http://www.osnews.com/story/24766/Apple_Enacts_Don_t_Ask_Don_t_Tell_-Policy_for_Mac_Malware

What if Microsoft really has a plan for Skype

As the news broke today that Microsoft is close to buying Skype for $8.5 billion, my first reaction is ‘Are you crazy Microsoft? That’s a lot of bs!!!’ and ‘Haven’t you learnt from the aQuantive acquisition or the almost fatal Yahoo!!!’ and like many skeptic, I blogged on facebook about the stupidity of the deal and so forth…

But as I travelled home today and ponder on it… Could I really know better than Microsoft? A few scenario plays out… Either

1) Skype and its investor really can SELL!!!

OR

2) Microsoft team really don’t know how to negotiate a deal!!!

OR

3) Microsoft REALLY do have a plan to get those 663 million Skype user to come onboard some bigger ecosystem play and get them to pay X amount for a premium experience

It is arrogant of me to think that I know better than Microsoft (Steve B). We have seen failed acquisition from Microsoft over the years over super large deals and it’s a known fact that those deals always carry with it lots of baggage and integration is always hard, staff attrition as a result of duplicate jobs… and I always think that Microsoft would learn or have learn or know what they are getting themselves into. I am pretty sure they do at the time of every deal / negotiation. Retrospect is a powerful friend and regardless whether one can argue whether those past acquisition were a success or failure depending on point of view and point in time, I am sure with $8 billion on the table, they know why it’s there.

In this Skype case, I have to safely assume that it’s 3) that has caught Microsoft attention. I did up a quick diagram on what I can recall the different entities that Microsoft has and if you based on the assumption that Microsoft is no stupid company, then we perhaps why 8 billion may not necessary be a bad deal IF they can integrate well into other existing software + services.

*Fact is out of those 663 million users, some are actually paying Skype for credits to make calls to land lines

The question I should ask is HOW COULD MICROSOFT GET THOSE 663 MILLION USERS TO PAY A YEARLY LOW FEE OF X AMOUNT FOR A BETTER EXPERIENCE? (after integration work of course, give it 6-9 months) 

Existing free services like Windows Live (5 gig skydrive…) and Live mail remains free and Ad supported… But should the integration gone well, Microsoft could go the freemium model and offer ad free, feature rich, yearly subscription model.

Assuming there is no attrition from the existing Skype user after 6-9 months, it is plausible to imagine say, $20 a year fee for a whole suite of service + software feature that will be enabled with my subscription. Another premium tier for more set of features… tapping into Xbox, Zune, Windows Next, Windows Phone, Microsoft Auto, Windows Live, across Desktop, Living Room, Car, Mobile, Tablet. It could be very HUGE!!!

Not forgetting of course how the Skype technology can be integration into Enterprise solutions which I won’t get involved at this article.

There are of course the duplicate set of technology or talents as a result of this acquisition but those will be sorted out like all acquisition. Putting those aside, and just looking at the potential for charging user a small fee a year for extra suite of services, I would pay if it’s reasonable. THE BIG IF of course is how the integrated experience will play out across all the devices and services and how fast Microsoft can integrate their backend / user account and all those transition stuff…

Microsoft knows they have to get the whole ecosystem right. Microsoft has always been in the ecosystem play but they have never fought a tougher battle than now with Apple and Google and all the cloud stuff going on… Microsoft have to unite all its software + services and make a big push to win user back!!! And they know it. Windows.Next is integral part of that strategy and how they can really nail it this time. We will know when they most likely preview the next Windows in the September PDC 2011… It’s a make it or break it year for Microsoft in 2012.

Quick Rant - I looked at videos from Microsoft + Asus and laugh...

Microsoft and ASUS show off all the stylish stylus action you can have on an Eee Slate (video)

Sometimes, i don't get Microsoft. How can one expect a touch interface yet, with all the heavy pc-type app to be running on it... the interaction is not touch friendly (finger based) and with a stylus, maybe... and then here you are advertising it trying to be all things to all men, pc-based app running on a tablet (i question the battery life)... keyboard provided, great... i get it - there's a market for this and true enough, i might see one in Singapore (ha ha) but with expectation from android / iPad setting the expectation bar for tablet sooo high... a generic os running on a tablet is NOT going to be a STOP GAP measure till Windows Next is out...

I know you know that msft, but doing this type of things ONLY TARNISH your brand among consumer. Cos nothing is going to work really well on it. You apps will be heavy, the interface is mouse / keyboard type... Yeah it's cool i can run photoshop on it but if the interface / experience of it on a stylus / touch is not going to work, i might as well bring a mouse / keyboard... wait a minute. It's a laptop.

A probably stop gap measure to me would be to release some tablet based service pack and sit in between the pc app and windows 7. the service pack would have things like redirecting the ui api into something for friendly (assuming the developer are following documented apis), allowing only # number of apps running concurrently in the windows, provide a touch app switching mechanism, provide transitional state / loading which the apps are processing… developer don’t need to change their app but your service pack should do some magic on it… That to me is the stop gap measure before Windows Next comes out. Till then… this type of video is only going to be more joke and bad reputation for Microsoft. Sorry, I ain’t buying despite how good Windows 7 is.

Testing a post from Windows Live Writer Beta

Installed Wave 4 today… trying out the stuff now.

So far I am loving the new messenger particularly the strong focus on photos (mouse over and it will transition nicely)… but videos aren’t showing well, seems like a beta issue.

http://bit.ly/b866Ct to download the auto / manual version. My advice, go Manual as the auto will install some Bing Bar and family safety stuff which may not be necessary

Is microsoft tablet / mobile strategy really that blindsighted?

Looking at computex and the numbers of windows 7 / windows ce 7 devices... I wonder if microsft is really that blindsighted OR they actually have a strategy moving forward...

Could it be that microsoft has a two prone approach to its tablet / mobile strategy? What do I mean...

1) windows 7 for all its glory has no touch sense in it. Out of the box it just won't cut it - BUT it might be an approach if tablet running that platform is meant as a media creation devices / strategy. Imagining easily porting or just install stuff like office / Photoshop or others onto a tablet running win 7 + some kind of UI add on pack to enhance the touch interface (example magnify glass type of control for those traditional windows all...)

2) while windows ce 7 is the managed code enviroment running sliverlight type of app, the type of app that windows phone 7 will share with. That's more a media consumption strategy devices. And manufacturer can innovate on the UI more freely like some of the mock ups we seen on computex 2010.

If those two strategy comes together, there is a glimpse of hope that it might work very well.

Microsoft has to be very clear on the development story + platform story with win 7 / win phone 7 / ce 7... Else it will only attrition more dev / user away from that ecosystem.

Oh, and all silverlight apps runs across all windows platform!!! How great that would be. Serious developer who wants more control goes the traditional route while the more indie type can try managed code with silverlight...

If only...