Gates: Microsoft will merge Phone and Windows platforms - Polidicks

[video=youtube;gFDTN25qip8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFDTN25qip8&hd=1[/video] [QUOTE]The code-sharing between the Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 operating systems is just the start of a long-term plan to merge the two into a universal OS, company cofounder and chairman Bill Gates has promised. "We're certainly sharing between Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 – sharing the user interface, sharing some of those development tools, and over time we'll just get to do more and more of that," he said in an in-house video (below). "It's evolving literally into being a single platform." Having such a system dovetails neatly into Microsoft's cloud ambitions, he said, both in terms of storage and personalization across devices. This week's announcements covering the two operating systems, not to mention the Surface launch, shows the direction Redmond is moving into long-term, he explained. He also promised an October surprise on the issue of Windows 8 applications. The shelves of the Windows Store are looking a little sparse in comparison to iOS and Android alternatives, but Redmond has been hiding its light under a bushel – and this will change, Gates said. "People will be pretty amazed about the energy Microsoft's putting behind these new waves of products," he suggested. "We've really saved up in terms of knowing that this was such an important set of innovations ... whether it's great new applications, or ISV engagement, or just plain marketing, this is the big time for us." Bill took time to shill for Microsoft's Surface tablet, describing it as "an unbelievably great product, really amazing," touting its keyboard, kick-stand, and access to "classic software" such as Office. People can't appreciate how incredible it is without trying it out in one of Redmond's retail outlets, he said, promising the UI would win people over, as would "the beauty of the device." Consumers will have to take Bill's word for this, since Microsoft has kept a tight lid on the hardware. But the mix of a keyboard and a touch screen will win people over, he said. The Road Ahead The interview with a distinguished-looking Bill Gates comes across as tightly scripted – because that's likely what it is – but it raises some interesting points about where he (and presumably Microsoft's current day-to-day managers) sees the future for Windows and the company. That said, Gates has been wrong before. His 1995 work The Road Ahead is littered with technological howlers, most notably on the long-term future of the World Wide Web and the future of his antitrust troubles – although, to be fair, the same could be said of an awful lot of predictions that were made back then. The tablet market, and to a lesser extent smartphones, are going to be key to Microsoft's survival in getting user's screen space, Forrester Research principal analyst Frank Gillett has warned. Taking into account the huge growth in the sales of smartphones and tablets compared to the dwindling PC market, Microsoft has only 30 per cent of the end user market at the moment, Gillett argues. "Windows 8 will simply stop the shrinking," he writes, "maintaining Microsoft's share at about 30 per cent through 2016. By 2016, we believe that Microsoft will have about 27 per cent of tablet unit sales, but only about 14 per cent of smartphone sales (and some of us are very skeptical they'll even get to 14 per cent). "The result is the CIOs and individuals face a market over the next five years where Microsoft still dominates PCs, Apple's iPad leads the tablet category, and Google's Android leads in smartphone sales." The question, however, remains: can any of these companies translate market leads in one sector to the others? Microsoft seeks to merge phones and PCs, but is very much in fourth place in the mobile OS market and has little to lose there. iPad and iPhone sales haven't led to Apple gaining much ground in the desktop space, and Google's attempt at its own PC operating system and hardware has had little impact. Gates sees a future in which Microsoft can be the one-stop-shop across all screens, but so do Tim Cook and Larry Page. The turf fight over the coming years could get very interesting.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/22/gates_windows8_phone8_merger/[/url]

[QUOTE]Windows 8 will stop the shrinking[/QUOTE] Except its doing the exact opposite.

Soon, We'll be carrying around our desktops on mobile power strips.

[QUOTE]Gates sees a future in which Microsoft can be the one-stop-shop across all screens, but so do Tim Cook and Larry Page. The turf fight over the coming years could get very interesting.[/QUOTE] :popcorn:

I'm really used to Windows 7 and the past versions, Windows 8 felt way too complicated and unadapted for a PC platform... but I'm sure the next ones will be much better. It'll just take some used to, feels nice to see things moving beyond a simple desktop approach, hopefully it'll improve over the time.

God[I]damn[/I] he's aging.

This was always the plan wasn't it?

//

You're a fucking idiot Bill Gates.

I honestly can't see this going well.

I had a sneaking suspicion. however if it sells poorly, their transition will end with win 8. At least, it better.

DO NOT WANT!

It is tragic how the only things that will keep Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 from being successful are consumers who will never learn anything positive about it because of shoddy marketing. It is sort of like when critics say a movie is amazing and nobody watches it.

What's up with those pink eyes? Is he....IS HE STONED??

[QUOTE=MIPS;38142304]What's up with those pink eyes? Is he....IS HE STONED??[/QUOTE] Fake tan.

[QUOTE=ZestyLemons;38140352]I honestly can't see this going well.[/QUOTE] the route intel and other semiconductor companies are going you'll get a cellphone powerful enough to your desktop in 4 years due time. However, there will be an issue of efficiency (performance and power), stability for all the architectures (32bit,64bit,arm,ect), portability, and further push away from a mouse and keyboard.

[QUOTE=laserguided;38140150]Except its doing the exact opposite.[/QUOTE] and yet microsoft surface preorders sold out. you just can't say that an os will fail because you hate metro.

Bad decision IMO. Microsoft has a lot of markets cornered; especially businesses and PC gamers. They also have a fair chunk of casual computer users. Building the new OS around the mobile device is just going to alienate users without making a huge dent against android or iOS.

But...who even wants them merged? It's convenient sure, but you end up with a universal operating system that isn't really suited for either platform.

[QUOTE=Bassplaya7;38143302]Bad decision IMO. Microsoft has a lot of markets cornered; especially businesses and PC gamers. They also have a fair chunk of casual computer users. Building the new OS around the mobile device is just going to alienate users without making a huge dent against android or iOS.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=No_Excuses;38143367]But...who even wants them merged? It's convenient sure, but you end up with a universal operating system that isn't really suited for either platform.[/QUOTE] ms is going for 'one device for all' thing here, or at least one os. they have been ignoring the casual market - people who use ipads and etc. windows 8 is their solution. while it's true that they were making 8 with smaller screens in mind, they sure as hell didn't just ditch normal users - [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Features_new_to_Windows_8"]there's all sorts of new features[/URL], and not just metro.

[QUOTE=Ezhik;38143386]ms is going for 'one device for all' thing here, or at least one os. they have been ignoring the casual market - people who use ipads and etc. windows 8 is their solution. while it's true that they were making 8 with smaller screens in mind, they sure as hell didn't just ditch normal users - [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Features_new_to_Windows_8"]there's all sorts of new features[/URL], and not just metro.[/QUOTE] Yeah, it might work for Apple because their core demographic wants simple looking GUIs that work across different platforms. Windows needs to focus on PCs if they're going for a universal OS.

[QUOTE=Bassplaya7;38143421]Yeah, it might work for Apple because their core demographic wants simple looking GUIs that work across different platforms. Windows needs to focus on PCs if they're going for a universal OS.[/QUOTE] obviously if ms is doing this, there's demand. ms can't just do desktop operating systems forever.

[QUOTE=Ezhik;38143458]obviously if ms is doing this, there's demand. ms can't just do desktop operating systems forever.[/QUOTE] There's obviously demand because Apple is successfully doing it, I just think that they're ignoring some of their key demographics - mostly, businesses.

[QUOTE=Bassplaya7;38143498]There's obviously demand because Apple is successfully doing it, I just think that they're ignoring some of their key demographics - mostly, businesses.[/QUOTE] they are not ignoring them there are plenty of new features for businesses - windows to go, hyperv, better security

No no no no no. I just can't say no enough. I'm already being forced off of XP onto Win 7. I don't want to be forced onto an even shittier OS afterwards.

remote access on both windows and phone select folder(s)/file(s) and right click. "Send to phone" etc. All of your devices synchronizing with each other would be fascinating. [QUOTE=Ereunity;38143698]No no no no no. I just can't say no enough. I'm already being forced off of XP onto Win 7. I don't want to be forced onto an even shittier OS afterwards.[/QUOTE] w7 [U]is[/U] shit tons better than xp are you mentally insane? :v: You have to be thinking of Vista, which IS shit.

[QUOTE=Ereunity;38143698]No no no no no. I just can't say no enough. I'm already being forced off of XP onto Win 7. I don't want to be forced onto an even shittier OS afterwards.[/QUOTE] [URL="http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/3832-35-windows-sucks-hard-truth"]meanwhile in 2002[/URL]

[QUOTE=Ereunity;38143698]No no no no no. I just can't say no enough. I'm already being forced off of XP onto Win 7. I don't want to be forced onto an even shittier OS afterwards.[/QUOTE] You are completely oblivious if you think XP had any significant merits over 7. It's less secure in all fields. It is less optimized. It's searching systems are terrible by comparison. It's 64 bit support is borderline nonexistent. I could go on for pages.

People act like they have to buy W8, and that they have to use the Start Menu every 2 seconds. You just put your shortcuts on your desktop and bam. That is it.

[QUOTE=Ereunity;38143698]No no no no no. I just can't say no enough. I'm already being forced off of XP onto Win 7. I don't want to be forced onto an even shittier OS afterwards.[/QUOTE] Windows 7 is an upgrade to XP, and Windows 8, regardless of what anyone thinks of Metro, has multiple superior aspects over 7. Stop using 10 year old software, and get out of that little cave