Microsoft Shows Flashes of a Google, Apple Mind-Set with Tablet Prototype
Microsoft Shows Flashes of a Google, Apple Mind-Set with Tablet Prototype
Late on Sept. 22, a report from Gizmodo showed off what the blog claims is Microsoft's
tablet prototype. Dubbed Courier, it features a day-planner-like look, it works
with a stylus and, according to the publication, it sports dual 7-inch screens.
There's little debating that this is exciting news for those who were expecting
something big in the tablet space.
But it also underscores what I think is an interesting trend: Microsoft is
becoming more like Google and Apple. The software company that once ruled the
industry is now finding unique, innovative ways to not only mimic what the
competition is doing, but in some cases, improve upon it. That's a new vision
for Microsoft. It's a new way of doing business. And, ironically, it might just
help the company achieve even greater success.
Courier
Microsoft's Courier prototype is the latest example of Microsoft trying to
do more than provide software to consumers and the enterprise. It's also
Microsoft's latest example of taking a few pages out of Apple's book.
Granted, Apple
has yet to even announce the highly anticipated tablet that has been the
subject of so many rumors over the past few months. But the very fact that
Microsoft is even getting into the PC business is shocking. For years, the
company has offered peripherals, but that was where it stopped. It allowed
companies like Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Acer to sell the computers.
It worked. And it helped Microsoft make billions. But if Microsoft releases
Courier, the company will be doing what it hasn't done: release a neat, "next-gen"
product that Apple might also be releasing in the near future. Cool hardware is
Apple's niche. Now, it looks like it could be Microsoft's niche too.
Windows Mobile
The Apple focus doesn't quite end with Courier. Microsoft's
Windows Mobile 6.5 and Windows Mobile 7 promise to take on Apple's iPhone
far more effectively than the platform has up to this point. According to
Microsoft, Windows Mobile 6.5 will improve upon certain areas of Windows Mobile
6, but it will be Windows Mobile 7 that will be the company's next big release
in the marketplace. That operating system promises to have some of the features
that make consumers desire the iPhone. So far, though, Microsoft has stayed
relatively tight-lipped about exactly what the software will offer.
Regardless, we do know that it will be Microsoft's attempt at taking down the
iPhone. It will be supplemented with Windows Marketplace for Mobile,
a mobile app store that will launch later this year.
Seeking Signs of Fundamental Change
At a developer conference earlier in 2009, Microsoft
told those in attendance that offering apps for free or 99 cents wasn't what
the company was looking for. It wants developers to charge "what the apps
were really worth." This was a shot at Apple, which has enjoyed strong support
for its App Store by offering so many free or cheap apps.
Microsoft's App Store will launch later this year with an obvious mission: to do
what Apple does, but do it a little better.
Windows 7
The same can be said for Microsoft's focus with Windows 7. Although the
company is in a dominating position in the operating system market, Apple has
done a fine job of delivering an experience that Windows Vista can't quite
match. Mac OS X is extremely user-friendly. It boots up in no time. And for the
most part it works quite well. Windows Vista suffers from issues that limit
many of those functions on the PC.
But with the release of Windows 7, all that will change. Windows 7 now looks
quite similar to Mac OS X. It operates with readily available icons, like Mac
OS X. And the software's taskbar makes it much easier to sift through open
windows than on Mac OS X. I don't think it's outrageous to say Microsoft was
inspired by Apple's software. Once again, Microsoft saw its target, examined it
and did what it could to improve it to benefit the user.
Bing
We can also find similarity to Google in Microsoft's strategy in the search
engine space. Although Bing's market share is nowhere near Google's, Microsoft
has done a fine job of delivering an experience that's both similar to Google
and more innovative than the leader.
Bing has the simple search page with a prominent search box, making it
intuitive for people to input a query. Its search results are similar to Google's.
But where
Bing improves upon Google Search is in all the extras, like social search
feature Bing & Ping, and visual search. In both cases, Microsoft once again
took what the competition was doing and improved upon it. So far, it has worked-the
company has captured about 10 percent market share in the space.
Bottom line
So what does all this mean? Perhaps it means that Microsoft has changed.
Years ago, Microsoft did what it wanted and expected everyone to follow. Today,
the company is more aware of the competition, realizes what those companies are
doing right and is doing everything it can to improve upon that. As a result,
Windows 7 is highly anticipated, Bing is gaining ground and there's a
possibility that Microsoft's Courier could be a hardware success.
It's an exciting time for Microsoft. And ironically, Microsoft might have the
competition to thank for it.
