Microsoft is detailing the design and workings of several of the core Windows 8 Metro applications. They’ve covered People, Mail, and Calendar so far – more sure to come. I’m quite interested in the rather… Lacklustre Music and Video applications. Another interesting one details Windows 8’s multimedia frameworks.
I *really* hate the whole ‘cloud’-centric philosophy!
–The loon
Sometimes, it makes sense. Like on Android, I love having my contacts stored in the cloud (with a local copy, of course). When I get a new phone or tablet, all of that shit syncs over immediately and I’m good to go.
Speaking of contacts, I wonder if the People app will have any Google Voice integration. Otherwise, it’s gonna be pretty much useless for me.
The best thing about Android’s cloud-stored contacts is that you don’t have to “type” it out on a shitty little wannabe miniature or touchscreen “keyboard”–you can just log in on Google’s Web site on a *real* computer with a full-fledged keyboard and mouse combo and start adding contacts. The phone automatically syncing to this same contacts database is a nice side effect, and new phones capable of being set to sync to this same, complete database are just nice little extras. It could be done just as well by exporting/saving all of your contacts to a file and then simply loading them onto your new phone. The whole “cloud” thing is really not completely necessary; it just adds a few cool conveniences.
On the other hand, if someone were to hack into your Google account, you’re fucked, because all of the data stored in all of your contacts (and purchased Android apps plus tied phone number, and your Google Voice phone number if you have one plus any numbers you have attached to it, and all of your e-mail messages, and your Google Talk history, and your documents if you use Google Docs… the list goes on and on) is right on the Internet, all in one account. Not only can intruders change your contact entries at will, they can get any of their (and your) personal info you added and start harassing or spamming or whatever.
Sure, I’m confident that my password is “good enough” and that it’s long and complex enough to not worry about being hacked… but for one thing, how many other people’s accounts are? And given enough time, desire and dedication as well as unknown security flaws, who’s to say that even more strongly protected accounts won’t be hacked?
The convenience is nice, but the possibilities are scary.
Well, it would be a pain, like getting your credit card stolen, but not exactly a traumatic event. It wouldn’t be that much different if they stole my phone and I had all that crap stored locally on it. IMO, it’s a risk, but the benefits are more than worth it. Not like I keep anything super sensitive in the cloud anyway. If they want to read my email, fine
And its something that dawned on me the other day. The way that Windows 8 will be updated is a lot different than how Windows normally is.
With Windows as-is, you’re pretty much stuck with what you have at RTM.
With Windows 8, even the core functionality are just apps which implement WinRT contracts. Microsoft has indicated that the core apps will be updated continuously, even after Windows RTMs. This is a significant and marked change over previous Windows releases.
Whereas I was really kind of worried about the state of some apps in the Release Preview, this actually reassures me quite a bit. If they keep a steady stream of updates coming in, then we have apps which will get dramatically better over time.
The other interesting thing is that everyting the core apps do, can be done in other apps. If you don’t like Mail, you can implement your own client. Mozilla is free to offer a Metro thunderbird with POP3 and Unified Inboxes if it so wishes.
If someone thinks the Calendar sucks, fine, a company will fill that niche and write their own. This is Windows, there’s never ever been just one app.
Its different from say, Windows Phone 7 (as is today) where you can’t really replace core functionality.
I tried deleting them all but metro would still hang around like a bad smell. Bugger this, wouldn’t even download 8 off pirate bay. Can’t remember a more annoying OS and it’s just a slightly updated 7 underneath…you’d think MS would have a hard time messing that up,LOL.
Ah yes, the adored Win7 – aka Vista SE.
Just watch, people might yet love Win9 / Metro 2.0…
I am trying my best to hold off excitement for Nokia Windows 8 tablet that’s smaller than the iPad form factor. The whole linked article shows Microsoft is understanding software makes mobile devices go with battery life being right at the top of the list.
I’m slowly being weened off of iOS.