2013年6月17日星期一

Microsoft's choices on Windows 8, Xbox One annoy even its fans

Dear Microsoft: It's the customers, stupid.

Part of becoming a successful business is developing products that people want to buy. People want to enjoy the things they own. A robot that does nothing but periodically punch you in the kidneys wouldn't sell.

Yet your recent products resemble that kidney-punching robot more than something a real person would want to buy.

I am a longtime Microsoft user. I'm still happy with my home computer loaded with Windows 7. I think Windows Phone is attractive and useful. The Xbox 360 is robust and elegant.

I can't say the same about your recent developments. It's like you design them to please yourself, rather than your customers.

Take Windows 8. I can understand the basic philosophy behind it - the tablet experience is here to stay, and PCs need to become easier to use and more fun to keep up. I don't blame you for that.

What I do blame you for is the bizarre split-personality for the system. Why do I have to keep switching back and forth between the tiles and the desktop screen to do everything?

Why did you try to have the mouse movements imitate touchscreen swipes? Why do your tablets have to mess with tiny, impossible-to-touch windows?

You've apparently listened to the cries and brought back the Start button in the preview of the update. But it doesn't do anything except switch you back and forth between the tiles and desktop. Do you realize that when people were demanding the Start button, they were also demanding shortcuts in the Start menu?

And then there's the Xbox One. It requires an Internet connection, used games can only be traded at specific dealers, games can be given to friends only once, some games can't be traded at all, no renting, and so on. Plus a start price of $499.

Can you think of anyone outside the Microsoft organization that this would appeal to? Especially considering that Sony's PlayStation 4 doesn't have any of these random restrictions, and it's cheaper.

I know you want to hit all the demographics and make as much money as possible. There's nothing wrong with that.

But you can't lose track of normal human behavior. People aren't demographics. They want to use an intelligently designed system. You might lose some money if you can't get a cut of used-game sales, but isn't that preferable to alienating millions into not buying your console at all?

Come on, Microsoft. You're better than this. It's long past time to remind people why you became such a giant in the tech world.
APP OF THE WEEK: PGA Tour Caddie (iOS)

I've seen a few sports companion apps. PGA Tour Caddie has a killer feature - 500,000 holes based on GPS info from more than 40,000 golf courses around the world.

That includes every course in the Tulsa area from Southern Hills Country Club to Lit'l Links Golf Club.

The app lets you record your shots, customize your club selection and store your information so you can compare your handicap with friends. An in-app upgrade also gives you access to real-world golf tips and drills videos so you can sharpen your game.

After a few days of speculation, Google made it official and spent $1 billion for Waze. Google promised it'll keep it independent.

Don't feel bad if you haven't heard of Waze: It is an up-and-comer. It's a navigation app that stands out from the crowd by crowdsourcing up-to-the-minute traffic information. If there's a bad accident, a grass fire or just someone with a blown-out tire on a tight curve, users can report it and let everyone know.

Waze isn't perfect. I'd like for it to start including the names of businesses and major landmarks. Yet it's plenty useful, and I don't think the asking price was too much.

没有评论:

发表评论