racoma.com.phJ. Angelo Racoma on technology, economics, writing, problogging, and getting things done

It’s the post-PC era, as the late Steve Jobs has called it. tablets and smartphones have far overtaken desktops and notebooks in terms of growth. And given the varied price points at which consumers can acquire mobile phones and tablet PCs (what with the cheap China-made Android tablets), computers are becoming cheaper and cheaper. But Microsoft is focusing on a post-post-PC era. Microsoft has already hinted that its upcoming Windows 8 operating system will run on both mobile and desktop platforms.

Will Microsoft merge its mobile and desktop operating systems with Windows 8? Microsoft has reassigned its chief of the Windows Mobile 7 division to a secret project under CEO Steve Ballmer. But whether this means they’re surrendering in the smartphone market, or they’re planning a resurgence through a unified OS, we will know by 2012, when Windows 8 launches.

In a striking case of irony, analysts say Microsoft will earn more from Google’s Android operating system than it will from sales of Window Phone 7 smartphones.

As with most technology companies, Microsoft is fiercely protective over its technologies and patents. That’s why the company had been filing lawsuits against other manufacturers and technology firms that are found to be infringing on its patents and intellectual property. Some settle for licensing deals, like HTC. And here’s where Microsoft gets a lot of money from Android.

According to analysts, Microsoft will get $5 from each purchase of an Android-powered HTC smartphone. With 30 million units of HTC smartphones sold since, this amounts to $150 million in royalties to Microsoft. Still, HTC is said to have had a good deal, since other manufacturers are being charged $7.50 to $12.50 per unit for MS technologies used in their smartphones.

Microsoft is willing to give away free Developer Tools to ensure that their Windows 7 Mobile gets as much apps as possible. This, and many more, was announced today at MIX 11.

So what can the developers actually do with these tools? What can they access?

• Application multitasking for background processing, audio and file transfer, and fast application switching
• Deeper phone integration so apps can, for example, take better advantage of the versatility of Live Tiles
• Access to the camera and Motion Sensor library so developers can build apps that incorporate device hardware and build augmented reality experiences

The tools will be available in May 2011.

[Article via: Press Release | Image via: Wikimedia Commons (CC by-SA 3.0)]

Is it fair if Microsoft sues US companies who imports and sells products or services from other companies outside the country who use “pirated” versions of Windows?

The proposal is still under discussion, but it’s already getting negative reactions:

If a company overseas uses a pirated version of Excel, let’s say, keeping track of how many parts it has shipped or whatever, and then sends some parts to General Motors or any large company to incorporate into the finished product, Microsoft can sue *not the overseas supplier* but General Motors, for unfair competition. So can the state’s Attorney General.

How will this affect local companies in the Philippines? If your company’s using even just one pirated Windows OS, it will basically mean that your US buyer may stop doing business with you. It will go down to two options: buy the right amount of Windows licenses or use Opensource/Free Software OS like GNU/Linux.

The choice is yours.

[Article via: TechDirt | Image via: Steve Jervetson]

Microsoft Philippines is running a promo entitled Microsoft Hardware Christmas Photo Contest via distributor MSI-ECS. You can win PhP 15,000, PhP 10,000 or PhP 5,000 simply by submitting a photo of yourself in a Christmas-themed scene with any new Microsoft hardware. This includes mice, keyboards, webcams, and the like.

Simply send your photos to asingzon (at) msi-ecs.com.ph up to December 31, 2010. Note that items must be purchased at participating retailers:

* Octagon (SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, Festival Mall, Park Square, SM MOA, Alabang Town Center, Cebu branches)
* Silicon Valley / Digital Alley (SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, Digital Alley Greenbelt)