The Sams Report EP 73: Microsoft Needs To Drink Its Own Kool-Aid

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The Sams Report is a weekly podcast that dives deep into the world of Microsoft. With the company transforming the way it operates and Nadella putting his own touch on all aspects of the organization, the Sams Report breaks down the news and offers insight from insider sources.

On this episode, it’s time to take a serious look at the company’s UWP strategy, April looks to be a big month for company and a couple of new builds of Windows have been released.

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Conversation 16 comments

  • 217

    13 January, 2017 - 10:36 am

    <p>Brad is that a Corsair keyboard? I just ordered a K70.&nbsp;</p>

    • 49

      Premium Member
      13 January, 2017 - 10:43 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#36179">In reply to </a><a href="../../../users/dcdevito">dcdevito</a><a href="#36179">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>It’s a Razer Blackwidow Chroma</p>

      • 217

        13 January, 2017 - 11:02 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#36182">In reply to </a><a href="../../../users/brad-sams">Brad Sams</a><a href="#36182">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>Ah, good choice</p>

  • 8578

    13 January, 2017 - 11:19 am

    <p>A UWP Office doesn’t really provide increased value for customers and a half-assed implementation would just make things worse. The fact that MS is no longer selling "modern-only" devices is the real indication that they recognize that UWP isn’t going to&nbsp;displace Win32. They are just in saving-face mode when it comes to UWP.</p>

  • 2979

    Premium Member
    13 January, 2017 - 12:02 pm

    <p>Much as I would&nbsp;love Microsoft to really push UWP – internally and externally, I can also appreciate why they can’t only provide WUP versions of their apps.</p>
    <p>They have to provide their apps for the platforms their customers uses and, unfortunately, that includes Windows 7 that doesn’t support UWP. If anything, we should blame them for not ALSO providing a UWP version, but I suspect that&nbsp;would come down to a conversation around cost.</p>

    • 3216

      16 January, 2017 - 9:33 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#36201">In reply to </a><a href="../../../users/bdollerup">bdollerup</a><a href="#36201">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Everything that I have seen done in UWP/WUP apps has been really basic.&nbsp; That would tend to indicate that the platform at this point is very shallow.&nbsp; If that is the case, then it’s going to be quite a while before we see any complex apps being migrated.</p>

  • 7112

    13 January, 2017 - 12:11 pm

    <p>WinRT/UWP was fatally flawed from the beginning because it was incompatible with *everything* that came before (WinXP, Win7). Both at the source level and the binary level. Probably the biggest blunder in software history.</p>

  • 9201

    13 January, 2017 - 1:47 pm

    <p>Yep I was well into Metro and C# development for Windows Phone in 2010, several games out on WP7/8. Then at Build 2011, Microsoft announced switch away from .NET, and went ‘All In with JavaScript Metro’ and C++/ Direct X for gaming, (dropping XNA and Silverlight) then came the WP8 runtime, and then UWP.&nbsp; As a developer I could not fathom, or trust,&nbsp;Microsoft direction, Especially in early in 2015,&nbsp;when Microsoft itself was not adopting UWP for its own Applications, dropping Skype Metro etc.&nbsp;</p>
    <p>Developers can see through all this, and see little to no merit in developing UWP, when the legacy win32 desktop Applications are established available&nbsp;for Windows7, without any 30% Store penalty, and we saw Microsoft give up on Mobile, so little purpose to UWP development. Just look at the MS Store, its full of junk.</p>
    <p>All mobile App development is now&nbsp;done in&nbsp;iOS and Android, so W10M needs to run Android Apps, to capture consumers, and then developers may come back to the platform&nbsp;and cosnider&nbsp;UWP development to optimise W10M specific features experience. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

    • 8578

      13 January, 2017 - 2:07 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#36243">In reply to </a><a href="../../../users/Jules_Wombat">Jules_Wombat</a><a href="#36243">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>I agree with most of what you say although I don’t think there’s much to gain by supporting Android Apps on Windows 10 mobile. A device that runs Win32 doesn’t need Android apps any more than it does UWP apps and devices that run Android apps alone are a "dime a dozen".&nbsp;</p>
      <p>The additional evidence of the failure of UWP is the lack of job postings for it. You’re more likely to find a job writing Cobol than UWP apps.</p>

      • 9201

        13 January, 2017 - 6:00 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#36249">In reply to </a><a href="../../../users/skane2600">skane2600</a><a href="#36249">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>Consumers want to run Apps, not Win32 applications on their phones.&nbsp;All those&nbsp;mobile Apps are Android and iOS. You have to go where the consumers are, as that is where the developers have gone. When a consumer has choice, and can see additional feature benefits of the platform, the developer can exploit the features&nbsp; .e.g Cortana integration, Live Tiles, and perhaps Office and Enterprise integration&nbsp; for Business Apps.</p>
        <p>Developers will return to UWP development, but only if it offers compelling features.</p>

        • 8578

          16 January, 2017 - 1:51 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#36337">In reply to </a><a href="../../../users/Jules_Wombat">Jules_Wombat</a><a href="#36337">:</a></em></blockquote>
          <p>Android devices are a commodity. Consumers have never show much interest in Live Tiles and Cortana integration is abstract art to them. MS is already providing Office support for rival platforms. I doubt that most Android users would want to purchase a quasi-Android device from MS when there are plenty of vendors who provide the real thing. It’s time for MS to forget about smartphones and to bring those few new UWP features into Win32 where the majority of their customers can enjoy them.</p>

  • 1561

    Premium Member
    13 January, 2017 - 4:20 pm

    <p>What you said: "Hardware bets are starting to pay serious dividends right now…"</p>
    <p>What Siri heard: "Siri, I started dividends right now?"</p>
    <p>?</p>

  • 1561

    Premium Member
    13 January, 2017 - 4:22 pm

    <p>You also answered a question I had about whether the gimbal would work with Windows phone. Sounds like it will, albeit without the benefit of the app. Thanks!</p>

  • 339

    Premium Member
    13 January, 2017 - 8:41 pm

    <p>Do business oriented desktop PCs come with Bluetooth as standard? I know it is pretty normal for laptops but have never actually seen it on a desktop and so wonder how useful the locking feature would be…&nbsp;</p>

  • 9352

    14 January, 2017 - 5:10 pm

    <p>What microphone are you using for the podcast ?</p>

    • 49

      Premium Member
      14 January, 2017 - 10:42 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#36449">In reply to </a><a href="../../../users/hannubys">hannubys</a><a href="#36449">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Blue Yeti Pro.&nbsp;</p>

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