Microsoft Highlights Major Product Releases From FY19 Q3
- Paul Thurrott
- Apr 24, 2019
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25
As part of its earnings announcement today, Microsoft has also documented the major product releases it made in the quarter. This isn’t the first time it’s done so, I’m told, but it’s the first time I’ve noticed it. And it’s an interesting rundown of how Microsoft, as it puts it, is “accelerating innovation across [its] businesses while expanding [its] market opportunities.”
You can check out the Microsoft document, called Microsoft Quarterly Highlights, Product Releases, and Enhancements Q3 FY19, on the Microsoft earnings website. Here, I’d like to quickly document the releases that impact consumers and individuals only, since I know that Microsoft’s abandoning of the consumer market is such a big theme these days.
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Office 365. Microsoft is highlighting the addition of Office to the Mac App Store, which is indeed a big story, plus two very specific Office app features: Insert data from a picture into Excel and 3D embedded animations on Mac.
Microsoft Teams. Microsoft’s most successful recent Office application received a number of new features in the quarter, including a more customizable experience on mobile, new Firstline worker capabilities, Office 365 ProPlus availability, Data Loss Prevention, and more.
Windows. Nothing specifically for consumers, but Microsoft did finally roll out the new revenue share model for developers in the Microsoft Store, which could result in more and better Windows 10 apps.
Gaming. Microsoft launched Crackdown 3, added new games to Xbox Game Pass, introduced Xbox Game Studios, launched the Mixer Embers virtual currency, and announced the Xbox Live SDK for Android and iOS.
Bing. Bing’s text-to-speech, speech-to-text, visual search, and intelligent answers capabilities were all improved in the quarter.
And … that’s it. By comparison, Microsoft also launched dozens of features across Windows, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, LinkedIn, Azure, AI, IoT, and even Quantum Computing in the quarter. There were dozens of Azure announcements alone.
Conversation 25 comments
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skane2600
<p>It doesn't sound like there's anything new for any Windows customer, consumer or business.</p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#423078">In reply to VancouverNinja:</a></em></blockquote><p>I was talking about Windows, not new hardware although I might not have been clear. My point was why would Paul say that within the Windows category there was nothing new specifically for consumers when he didn't identify anything that applied to business users either. </p><p><br></p><p>I have to say though that I'm not entirely on board with the designation of non-enterprise customers as "consumers". I don't consider a standard PC or laptop a consumer device even it it is used at home.</p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#423252">In reply to rmlounsbury:</a></em></blockquote><p>But the revenue sharing change isn't about new Windows features which is what I was talking about. I think the revenue sharing change is too little, too late. MS should actually consider paying small developers to create apps to compensate for the lack of a market for them.</p>
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jedwards87
<blockquote><em><a href="#423073">In reply to locust infested orchard inc:</a></em></blockquote><p>Apple is doing just fine. Also Apple is slow to make a move. The feel they need to have a polished product instead of throwing stuff against the wall like what Google does. I imagine they have quite a few things working that you know nothing about.</p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#423097">In reply to JG1170:</a></em></blockquote><p>I don't see why you believe the "upcoming generation" (whatever that means) need a dumbed-down Windows. My teenagers had no problem using Windows when they were kids through today. It's funny you mention "tiny targets". I only encounter them when browsing on a smartphone. But many sophisticated programs if "tabletized" would require multiple pages to access all the functionality if using only bear-paw sized targets.</p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#423358">In reply to solomonrex:</a></em></blockquote><p>I think a more probable prediction would be "Windows S and Windows ARM will inevitably have fewer <em>users</em>". I don't know why a system that has been used by millions for years successfully is "too complex". Too complex for who?</p><p><br></p><p>Ironically the dueling control panels problem was created by MS in an attempt to simplify things in Windows 8.</p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#423782">In reply to JG1170:</a></em></blockquote><p>That iOS and android are coming to laptops is still just speculation, but unless they make major changes they'll just be mobile OS's on a bigger screen which seems to miss the point. </p><p><br></p><p>Sure kids who have used mobile devices exclusively aren't going to know how to use a PC just as a kids who used a PC exclusively aren't going to know how to use a smartphone. With the possible exception of simple touch, all computer action idioms are learned, not intuitive whether double-clicking or swiping. </p>
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skane2600
<blockquote><em><a href="#423878">In reply to JG1170:</a></em></blockquote><p>Collectively your statements don't add up. Kids with no PC experience might not be accustomed to a double-click but would be minimally challenged by it if they have superior motor skills as you suggest. Adults were never "wired" to handle double-clicks, they just learned how to perform them and kids can easily learn them too. Of course it's a bit of a red herring since you can set up Windows to open a file or run a program with a single click if you want to operate that way.</p><p><br></p><p>I think we are getting ahead of ourselves with regard to Fuchsia. It isn't even a released product yet so it's too early to know what sort of programs or apps will be supported. </p><p><br></p><p>As far as firing up Windows is concerned, those of us who use PCs don't keep them turned off until we want to run a specific program as I imagine you don't keep your Android smartphone turned off until you want to run a specific Android app.</p><p><br></p>
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dontbe evil
<p>but but nobody wants windows, office, surface, xbox, azure, bing … /s</p>