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Windows Chief Steven Sinofsky Out at Microsoft; Sources Say He Wanted ‘More Control at Microsoft’

Apparently, Microsoft is taking its cues from Cupertino, down to the executive changes. Following Apple’s ousting of iOS head Scott Forstall due to his frequent clashes with other senior members, Microsoft has parted ways with Windows Chief Steven Sinofsky, effective immediately. The change was first reported by AllThingsD’s Ina Fried.

Sinofsky was seen by many inside and out of Microsoft as the future of the company, but that belief has ended. Sources in Redmond say Sinofsky wanted “more control over the direction of Microsoft,” but senior executives were wary of his management style and lack of communication with the senior team, and ultimately decided to part ways immediately. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has sent a note to the team, first published by The Verge:

Over the past few months we have delivered the foundation for a new era for Microsoft. From Office to Bing to Windows Phone and Windows Azure, to Xbox and of course Windows and Surface and everything in between, we’ve unleashed a huge wave of devices and services that people and businesses love. I simply couldn’t be more proud of the effort you have all put in to get us here and to set the foundation for our future. At the Windows launch in New York, at the Windows Phone event in San Francisco, and again at the Build event on Redmond campus, I was struck that while externally many people look at these events as the finish line, they really represent the starting line of a new era.

As we enter this new era, and with the successful launch of Windows 8 and Surface behind us, Steven Sinofsky has decided to leave the company. Steven joined Microsoft in 1989 as a software development engineer and has contributed to the company in many ways from his work as a technical advisor to Bill Gates, to leading the evolution of the Microsoft Office business, to his direction and successful leadership of Windows and Windows Live as well as Surface. I am grateful for the work that Steven has delivered in his time at our company. Effective immediately, Julie Larson-Green will lead Windows engineering. She will be responsible for all product development for Windows and Windows Live, in addition to Surface. Julie has been a stalwart leader of building compelling “experiences” from her time on Internet Explorer, through the evolution of Office and most recently to the re-imagination of Windows. Her unique product and innovation perspective and proven ability to effectively collaborate and drive a cross company agenda will serve us well as she takes on this new leadership role. All of the current Windows engineering teams will report into Julie, and Julie will report to me.

Tami Reller will lead business and marketing strategy for Windows including Surface and partner devices. She will provide broad stewardship to our PC marketing efforts while managing the line business functions for Windows. Her work on Windows since 2007 has been exemplary and her strong talents in working with internal groups and partners will also serve us well. Tami also will report to me.

We are facing a time of great opportunity. What we have accomplished over the past few years is nothing short of amazing, and I know we have more amazing in us. I am excited about our people, I am energized by our ability to change and grow, and I look forward to the success which lies ahead. Thank you for all you do, and please join me in congratulating our new leadership and celebrating all that we have accomplished so far.

Steve

The official press release from Microsoft:

REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 12, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Windows and Windows Live President Steven Sinofsky will be leaving the company and that Julie Larson-Green will be promoted to lead all Windows software and hardware engineering. Tami Reller retains her roles as chief financial officer and chief marketing officer and will assume responsibility for the business of Windows. Both executives will report directly to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

These changes are effective immediately.

“I am grateful for the many years of work that Steven has contributed to the company,” Ballmer said. “The products and services we have delivered to the market in the past few months mark the launch of a new era at Microsoft. We’ve built an incredible foundation with new releases of Microsoft Office, Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, Microsoft Surface, Windows Server 2012 and ‘Halo 4,’ and great integration of services such as Bing, Skype and Xbox across all our products. To continue this success it is imperative that we continue to drive alignment across all Microsoft teams, and have more integrated and rapid development cycles for our offerings.”

“It is impossible to count the blessings I have received over my years at Microsoft. I am humbled by the professionalism and generosity of everyone I have had the good fortune to work with at this awesome company,” Sinofsky said.

Since 1993, Larson-Green has worked on and led some of the most successful products for Microsoft, including the user experiences for early versions of Internet Explorer, and helped drive the thinking behind the refresh of the user experience for Microsoft Office. For Windows 7 and Windows 8 she was responsible for program management, user interface design and research, as well as development of all international releases. She has a master’s degree in software engineering from Seattle University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western Washington University. In her new role she will be responsible for all future Windows product development in addition to future hardware opportunities.

“Leading Windows engineering is an incredible challenge and opportunity, and as I looked at the technical and business skills required to continue our Windows trajectory — great communication skills, a proven ability to work across product groups, strong design, deep technical expertise, and a history of anticipating and meeting customer needs — it was clear to me that Julie is the best possible person for this job, and I’m excited to have her in this role,” Ballmer said.

Reller joined Windows in 2007 from the Microsoft Dynamics Division where she held a number of leadership positions. She began her career in technology at Great Plains Software in 1984 while still in college, and was the company’s chief financial officer at the time the company was acquired by Microsoft in 2001. She has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Minnesota State University Moorhead and an MBA from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif. In her expanded role she will assume the lead in driving business and marketing strategy for Windows devices, including Surface and partner devices, in addition to her current marketing and finance responsibilities.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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CENews
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Current News: Only The Biggest, Only The Best

Micah Singleton founded Current Editorials last year with the goal of “bringing to light some of today’s most creative and intriguing tech writers”. So far, the sole focus of our site has been to publish timely, long-form editorial content of the highest quality. We believe that opinions matter, which is why we chose to launch Current Editorials with a focus on editorials.

But we have decided that it is time to start growing our site. We plan to do this by expanding our talented staff of editorial writers, and by starting to publish a new type of content: News. Current Editorials will begin publishing News on a semi-regular basis in an effort to grow our readership, and to keep our readers as well informed as they can be. If you visited yesterday, you have already been treated to our first two news stories.

However, I should note that Current Editorials is not a news site, nor are we becoming one; our main goal is still to publish high-quality, long-form technology editorials. Micah and I will be heading up our news coverage, which will focus on only the biggest, and only the best stories. Stories that are relevant and truly news-worthy.

We are very excited about the future of Current Editorials, and we look forward to continuing to bring you fantastic editorial content and news coverage!

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CES: The Best of The Best, Before it Actually Starts

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was scheduled to start today, and run until the 13th. I’m guessing that memo didn’t get sent out. News has been pouring out of Las Vegas over the last four days, with major announcements from Vizio, Nokia, and AT&T, among others. We at Current Editorials figured there is enough coverage, so in an attempt to lighten the load on your RSS readers, over the next few days we will be bringing you some of our favorite pieces from around the tech inter-web, in one easy to find place (that’s here). Here’s some of the best so far.

Nokia Lumina 900 – Nokia.com

With a 4.3-inch AMOLED ClearBlack display, 4G LTE, and a 1.4GHz processor, this is the first true WP7 high-end device.

 AT&T launches six LTE devices – Cnet

Five Android phones. One Android tablet. All with LTE. Pricing starting under $50 and topping out at $300. Verizon, watch out.

Nikon releases the D4 – TheVerge

It’s packing a 16.2MP sensor, and native ISO of up to 12,800. It’s also $6,000. But if you are looking for a high-end DSLR, this is the best.

Thermador Freedom Induction Cooktop - TheVerge

If you have $5,000, and a voracious need for high-tech cooking, this is your gadget. It’s absolutely ridiculous. In a good way.

Vizio unleashes a PC Line – Engadget

Vizio decided to enter the PC business, and take on everybody. At once. From 27″ All-in-one’s to 14-inch ‘thin + light’ laptop’s (even another tablet!), the TV maker seems ready to make a dent in the PC market. Only time will tell how big that dent will be.

Sony Z100, the Android-powered Walkman – TechCrunch

Never one to give up, Sony is still pushing their Walkman line, hoping to grab the non-Android, iPhone, iPod users. Which means your grandparents. Maybe.

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Carrier IQ
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Carrier IQ: What You Need to Know

Article first published as Carrier IQ: What You Need to Know on Technorati.

Let’s cut to the chase; Carrier IQ is a piece of software that may be tracking data on your smartphone. Key logging (tracking the keys that you press on your smartphone), reading your SMS, and tracking the personal data that you submit. These are some of the things that have been uncovered in a piece of software that is installed on over 141 million devices.

Carriers like Verizon, and companies like RIM and Nokia, have claimed that the software is not present on their devices, but these claims have been deemed false by those with knowledge of the software. RIM claims that the software is not ‘pre-installed’ on any of their devices, passing the blame to the carriers. In Nokia’s case, they claim that the software isn’t compatible, which has also been proven false. HTC claims that carriers make them install the software on their devices.

The capabilities of Carrier IQ was first brought up by security researcher Trevor Eckhart last month. Eckhart initially discovered the software on Android.  chpwn, a noted iPhone hacker, has uncovered the software on iOS, albeit slightly understated. Senator Al Franken has sent a letter to Carrier IQ, giving them a December 14th deadline to answer questions about how the service works, and gets data from users.

Speaking to The Verge, Carrier IQ says it will have an independent security company conduct independent investigations into whether the claims are true.

This story is long from finished. It will get bigger, as these things usually do, and more scathing details will be uncovered. And from the looks of it, this isn’t just one manufacturer, or one carrier; it’s everyone.

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Family watching TV
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TV: Time to Get Rid of Channels We Don’t Watch

Article first published as TV: Time to Get Rid of Channels We Don’t Watch on Technorati.
The way we access television channels needs to be rebuilt. Yes, we can access shows through streaming services such as Roku, Boxee, Google and Apple TV systems, even the forever-young Xbox 360, along with a plethora of smart TVs and Blu-Rays, but our primary method of accessing channels, cable and satellite providers, needs to be re-imagined.
Currently, we get channels through cable and satellite providers in bundles — your basic package includes channels like Fox, NBC, and CBS, all the way up to premium packages with  HBO and Showtime. Each bundle comes at a certain monthly price, and more than likely will include channels that you don’t watch.
Take for instance, DirecTV. They charge $46.99, before additional fees, for its Choice package, which includes 150 channels,40 of which are in HD, and an HD-DVR. This is actually a promotional price for the package, which retails at $60.99 without HD channels (add $10) and the DVR service (add $7), bringing the total you will pay monthly after the promotion expires in one year (read the fine print) to $77 a month. Now for that $77 a month, you may get channels that you will never watch, like BYU TV, The Cooking Channel, or NASA’s always invigorating programming.

 

Now, if you could replace these channels with ones that you would actually watch, this would be a major win for the consumer. This is where the long rumored àla carte package would come in. The pick and pay idea has been floated and batted around since early 2006, when FCC chairman Kevin Martin supported the concept in an article published by USA Today. An FCC report showed that the new system could save customers as much as 13% on their cable bills. A Bill was even introduced in 2007 to allow customers to pick the channels that they pay for, but the idea was rebuffed by companies like Disney, NBC, and Fox, along with cable providers Comcast and Time Warner. The bill only received 10 cosponsors.

The companies state that if the FCC allowed channels to be sold à la carte, it would be horrible for customers and prices would go up. In a 2008 FCC filing, executives of ESPN, Disney/ABC, MTV Networks, NBC Universal, Turner Broadcasting and Fox said,

“The perverse result of your proposal is the most successful and most watched programs and networks — typically those that invest the most in quality programming — would be penalized for their popularity to the detriment of consumers.” The executives went on to say, “If your plan is ever adopted, consumers will be outraged.”

If it is so horrible, then why is it already being done? Rogers, a Canadian cable company is testing the alternate system through March 2012, offering their variant of the pay and pick plan. But, this change wasn’t due to  a company listening to customer complaints — it was ordered by the Canadian Government. The very act that American cable providers claimed would be catastrophic to customers, is currently being implemented in Canada.  And Rogers isn’t the only Canadian cable company to test the service. Vidéotron, BCE, and Optik TV, run by Telus all offer a variant of the system.

The Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission demanded that customers be given an option to choose the channels that they would like to purchase, in addition to bundles. CTRC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein said, “We heard it loud and clear from consumers … You do not offer consumers the choice they want and deserve. They see it on the Internet, they see it on mobile, and they say, ‘Why can’t I have it here when I buy programming from cable or satellite?”

If the test is successful in Canada, expectations for a similar system in the U.S. will gain traction, as the media companies’ argument erodes. It remains to be seen if consumers will make enough noise to attract the eye of Washington, as the change will not be a voluntary one by the cable companies. Lets hope that rumored Apple TV does something to shake up the industry, as Joshua Topolsky intimated. If not, we will have to rely on something that is not very reliable — the Government.

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Steve Jobs 1955-2011
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The Visionary: A man that changed the world

Thomas Edison. J.P. Morgan. Steve Jobs. These are people that changed the world dramatically for the better. Steve Jobs is undoubtedly in this group. Steve changed the way we think and communicate, much like Thomas Edison. As J.P Morgan saved the American dream twice, Steve has kept the perception of American innovation alive in the minds of millions. Steve created the biggest company in the world from a garage. Steve redefined and revitalized a crumbling music industry. Steve created an entire industry, that did not exist before 2009. In China, when asked about America, the first thing that children will mention is the iPhone. Not sports figures, not actors or actresses, the iPhone.

Steve changed the way we think. When you have a question that you need answered, you go to your phone. When you want to hear a song, you look it up on iTunes. And above all this, when you need to do anything, or use anything that revolves around a computer, Steve had a hand in it. The inventor of the personal computer, Steve Jobs permanently changed the entire world. The simplistic approach to all his endeavors, from bringing computers to consumers, to shrinking that computer to fit in your pocket, and allowing you to talk to the world. Steve is crucial to your life, whether you know it or not.

This is not a time to ponder the future of Apple. This is a time to reflect on a man who’s ease and elegance creating devices that we didn’t know we wanted or needed, is gone. Visionaries aren’t fully appreciated until they are gone. We will see and feel the affects that Steve had for years to come.  The brilliance of a man is realizing his gift, and using it for the better. Steve Jobs accomplished that to the fullest.

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NFC
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NFC: It’s Time

The way you make purchases is changing. With Bank of America preparing to start charging $5 a month for customers to use their debit card, and the promise of more banks to follow suit, the opening for NFC is here. Near Field Communications will allow customers make purchases with their mobile devices. Many know of Google Wallet, but Isis — a joint venture between U.S. carriers Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile — will be Google’s main competition.

Isis, the brainchild of three of the big four mobile companies (we will get to Sprint later), is slated to be a firmly established brand. With handset makers such as Samsung, HTC, Motorola, RIM, LG, and Sony Ericsson, committed to building NFC-enabled devices with Isis’ technology, competition is guaranteed, but success is not. Isis has not been released on any device yet. Those outside of the tech space have never heard of Isis. Most have never heard of NFC.

Scot Mulloy, Chief Technology Officer of Isis, said that “working together with the device makers and our founding mobile carriers, Isis can provide the consumer choice and scale necessary for widespread adoption of mobile commerce.”

Google Wallet is currently available on only one phone, the Nexus S 4G from Sprint. But this means little to Google. Google Wallet works on over 300,000 MasterCard PayPass locations, not to mention a worldwide license with Visa’s PayWave service. With Android as its platform, Google could just make Wallet a standard application on new iterations of the operating system. Of course, the three carriers would fight — and likely try to block it — but it may be a case of too little, too late. Google is expected to announce Ice Cream Sandwich, the new Android variation in the next few weeks.

Back in May, when Google Wallet was announced, Google VP of Commerce Stephanie Tilenius said, “in terms of iPhone, RIM, Microsoft – we will partner with everyone.” This, of course, depends on how willing Apple and Microsoft are to adding another Google product to their operating systems. Apple has also been rumored for months to be working on its own NFC service. But if accomplished, Google will have a stranglehold on the mobile payment market. Apple – and to a lesser extent Microsoft — as you may know, do not let carriers alter their devices, unlike Android, which is routinely altered to a carrier’s preference.

While Isis has been rounding up carriers and manufacturers, Google has been rounding up retail businesses. Merchants such as, Foot Locker, CVS/pharmacy, American Eagle Outfitters, Jamba Juice, RadioShack, and Toys “R” Us currently accept Google Wallet. Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Subway, and Walgreens are coming in the near future.

Wide-spread adoption of NFC technology seemed a few years away, but with banks implementing a monthly fee for debit-card use, it could come much quicker than we expected. Isis has the carriers and the manufacturers, but that may not matter. Google is Google, and they will implement their service.

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Microsoft’s resurgence to prominence

Originally published on ReadWriteWeb

The last two months in the tech world have been abnormal to say the least. Steve Jobs resigned, Google bought Motorola, Microsoft showed off Windows 8 and now uses ARM, Google now uses Intel, the AT&T and T-Mobile merger is on the brink of falling apart, HP stopped making mobile products after spending over $1 Billion dollars last year to start making mobile products, and Microsoft took a page out of 2013 in the Apple product roadmap, announcing an OS that works on desktops and tablets. Out of all these stories, Windows 8 may indirectly have the most impact over the next 5 years. Read on for more.

Remember those analysts who said Windows Phone will surpass Android by 2015, and everyone said they were crazy? They may be right. This may have been the smartest move made by Microsoft since putting Office on a Mac. It may have been designed this way, or not, but Microsoft just threw a big wrench in Apple and Google’s product roadmap. It may even cause delays for the giants. Let’s start with Apple.

Apple has been moving toward one OS since the release of the iPhone. With the release of OS X Lion, and every new iteration of iOS, we see bits and pieces of a coordinated attempt to bring users into one OS. With Lion, it became pretty clear that Apple would like a touch-based OS to run on all of its devices. This dream may have been pushed back.

Apple has been taking the slow and steady approach, with every release adding new features to OS X that closely resemble or mimic iOS designs and capabilities. Many believe that the merger would happen in 2013, with iOS 7 and OS Cougar, or whatever feline they decide to name it after. But that would mean that Microsoft, with over two years of developer input would have a substantial head start in the game. Not that Apple cares — but as they saw with Final Cut — professionals that use Macs will need time to get used to it, time that Apple doesn’t like to give out. Professional users, which make up a large majority of Mac users, like stability, and stability takes time. Whenever the developer version gets released — a few months before the full product launch as usual — Apple will have to have something substantial that Windows 8 doesn’t already carry (yes, it’s that impressive) for the hundreds of millions of users that it is sure to have. Apple will surely meet that criteria, but Apple likes to release features over time, as we have seen with the iPhone (copy & paste, Wi-Fi syncing, etc.). Maybe, for the first time this will change. Apple usually takes a good idea and drastically improves on it, when it can, while making it easier to use. With the early glimpses of Windows 8, drastic improvements may be necessary to maintain its dominance.

Android may be in more trouble than anyone. With developers not making as much money on Android as iOS, horrible tablet sales, and the widespread forking of the OS by Amazon, Barnes & Noble,  and a host of Chinese companies, Google may have to rethink its open source policy for future OS releases. Windows Phone provides an economically sound alternative to developers instead of Android. Windows 8 blows Honeycomb tablets out of the water, and it’s on a device that it wasn’t made for. Users like simplicity and compatibility; Windows 8 provides both. Microsoft may have accomplished something that only Apple has been able to do so far; bring in people who would have never used a tablet, to purchase their device. When you can tell people that using your tablet is the same as using their computer at home, you have some serious potential.

Apple and Google may have been taken aback by the quality and design of Windows 8, but rest assured they will respond accordingly. Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich will be released in the next few months, with a promise to unite the tablet and phone OS. iOS 5 includes most major features that Android fanboys and jailbreakers have been clamoring for, plus new features like iCloud and a reported Nuance-powered voice command system. But Microsoft has done some astounding work. Maybe HP knew something we didn’t. Microsoft will release Windows 8 in late 2012, with an App Store, à la Apple, with over a year’s worth of developer input. Apple and Google’s Mobile OS will have many improvements by then, but the race will be on. A couple of months ago I wrote an article, stating RIM and Microsoft needed each other to become the third power in the mobile world. Microsoft doesn’t need anyone. They have done it all by themselves.

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