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Tag: microsoft
2008-12-31 00:15:01| ScriptLance Projects
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database
server
microsoft
sql
2008-12-30 15:37:59| digg
In a patent application, Redmond argues that you would benefit from metered computing by having a PC with an extended "useful life."
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microsoft
vision
outlines
microsoft outlines
2008-12-30 10:58:40| Gizmodo
Many have said that the future of Microsoft will be in subscription-based software, cloud computing or some combination of the two. Well, let's hope that it doesn't turn out anything like patent application 20080319910. Much of the application is unsurprising, and even somewhat dated. The vision incorporates heavily-subsidized hardware (though not under a timed service contract) that can utilize services on a pay-as-you-go basis. Certain programs and functions cost more than others, and could be unlocked on demand. At first that sounds like a reasonable approach, but it's not just high-performance software that can be rented, it's high performance itself. Described in the patent is a system by which individuals will be forced to rent different levels of computer performance, being shunted into an arbitrarily-slow mode if they choose not to pay. In other words, to play a high-end game, you'd have to rent not just the game, but a sort of unlock for your processor, RAM and video hardware, just so you can fully make use of them. The idea of subsidized, service-fee based computing has potential, but not like this. It'd be hard to imagine Microsoft winning many fans by forcing users to pay to unlock the obvious potential of hardware that is sitting right in front of them. [CNET—Thanks, Mesanice]
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system
microsoft
computing
proposes
2008-12-27 21:30:00| Gizmodo
Cygnus Systems Inc, a small Michigan company, was recently awarded a patent for thumbnail previews of a file, and celebrated by immediately suing the biggest names in town. Cygnus has named Microsoft's Vista, Apple's OSX and Cover Flow, and Google's Chrome as infringing on their thumbnail preview patent filed back in 2001. Plenty of other products would fall under the scope of the patent including all modern web browsers, Adobe's Photoshop, and even web apps like Flickr. This is one of those patents for an idea rather than a product, and might have even been filed with lawsuits in mind. It's telling that they went after the big dogs first, and have no claim that their company has actually been harmed by any patent violation. I don't imagine they'll get very far against the combined legal might of Microsoft, Apple, and Google, anyway. [Ars Technica]
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company
size
google
microsoft
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