8 ms·

Windows Phone 8 live event (10 AM PT)

53 points by octopus 14y ago

ssmoot 14y ago
You'd think a launch would be geared to play to the widest audience. Disappointing that the presentation requires Silverlight to view. Wasn't Silverlight EOLed?
- gebe 14y ago
  There's a Flash (another why) stream as well at the bottom of the page: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/presskits/windowsphone/liveevent2.aspx http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/presskits/windowsphone/l...
rbanffy 14y ago
"Please Install Silverlight to view this content" They'll never learn.
- octopus 14y ago
  Try the alternate stream for Flash (bottom of the page).
- quotemstr 14y ago
  > They'll never learn. I'm with Microsoft. There must be something wrong with the implants: I've been here for years and still don't understand the culture. I don't understand why people use "ask" as a noun instead of "request"; I don't understand why almost every here uses "Microsoft Tag" instead of universal, ubiquitous-in-the-outside-world QR codes; and I don't understand why we still create websites using Silverlight instead of moving to Flash or HTML5. Don't people realize how transparently sycophantic they look when they use a technology that's dead to the outside world? Depending on the day, I feel like either 1) some people are so insulated from the outside world that they believe Silverlight yet lives, 2) they know Silverlight is dead and are terrified of the wrath of LCA coming down upon from for installing non-Microsoft software on their work computers, or 3) they're savvy, but trying to use as much jargon and proprietary stuff as possible in order to project a false image of group cohesion and loyalty come review time.
  - grecy 14y ago
    Maybe it's 4) They are so caught up in bureaucracy and mindless tasks they actually don't even know what Silverlight is, and why it's dying/dead.
  - jmspring 14y ago
    Silverlight is dead? Funny, I believe that is what Netflix uses to stream to the desktop. Also, given the install base of Windows, I am pretty sure most everyday users have it installed. I'm a Mac person myself and only fire up Chrome when I need Flash. I've got silverlight installed across all browsers -- mainly due to netflix. That said, I see "web designers" doing more annoying sites with Flash (mmm...embedded video that auto plays with volume) than I do with Silverlight. Just a thought.
    - stusmall 14y ago
      The install base of silverlight is pretty low, but way higher than I expected. Its hard to get hard reliable numbers but I've seen from 50% all the way up to 70% or so. Its much higher than I expected, but not high enough to count on. I don't get the draw when flash has an install base in the higher end of 90%. Once again its hard to get reliable numbers, but there is no doubt it trounces silverlight. Even java plug-in install base beats silverlight's which is pretty bad. I know netflix and mlb.com use it, but I don't know a lot of others. I'm sure they are there, but it doesn't scream lively tech to me.
      - jlmendezbonini 14y ago
        I realize that Silverlight is not pre-installed with Windows but it I read that some OEMs (Dell for example) do bundle it for their customers. Anyone can verify this?
    - seanmcdirmid 14y ago
      Well, if you try to view the site on a brand new SurfaceRT using Metro IE...could be some problems.
  - 14y ago
- lucb1e 14y ago
  The alternative method plays fine here on Linux Mint with Chrome, opens a stream in movie player.
- mbrubeck 14y ago
  The "Metro" version of IE10 doesn't even support Silverlight... I had to switch to the desktop UI on my Windows 8 device.
- kemoly 14y ago
  How is that different from Apple streaming only to OS X / iOS devices?
steverb 14y ago
I'm surprised they didn't cancel to keep from competing with the hurricane. On the other hand, there's not much other news than the hurricane, so it might be a smart move.
- jbigelow76 14y ago
  Be on the lookout for more stealth Zynga layoffs.
Toshio 14y ago
They are demoing the phone operating system on an HTC device. Yay for Nokia locking themselves into this OS and not even getting that small token of appreciation.
- steverb 14y ago
  I thought they were switching back and forth between the HTC and the Nokia... I wasn't really paying attention, but I'm sure I saw a big yellow phone at some point.
  - gebe 14y ago
    Yeah, Ballmer is presenting all of the brands at the moment. I noticed that he even pocketed the Nokia, I wonder if that was part of the deal ;)
    - r00fus 14y ago
      Quite symbolic. "Hey Nokia - with Elop, you're in our pocket". How's it fell in there?
      - mc32 14y ago
        I think you're reading a bit much into the symbolism there. I mean, if he didn't put it in his pocket, one could have just as well said "Hey Nokia, how does it feel being left out in the cold?"
      - dagw 14y ago
        I read it more like "after playing with all the phones on offer, I'm keeping the Nokia to take home with me"
steverb 14y ago
Syncing music from iTunes to Windows Phone now. That's a nice way to help break the iPhone lock in.
- dvdhsu 14y ago
  Palm used to allow syncing through iTunes as well. Every time Apple updated iTunes, it would lock out the Palm Pre; Palm, then, would issue a software update that re-enabled the functionality: > Since the Palm Pre first became available this summer, Palm has issued several updates to its mobile operating system, causing iTunes software to recognize the phone as an Apple music player, allowing it to synchronize and transfer files between the phone and a personal computer. Apple has repeatedly disabled the syncing feature in subsequent software updates to iTunes. [1] Eventually, "Palm filed a complaint with the USB Implementers Forum", but the forum "rebuffed" Palm's claims. From then on, the Palm Pre could no longer sync with iTunes. I see that Microsoft isn't masquerading their phone as an iPod (or iPhone?) like Palm did, and is instead releasing a separate app on their own (MacSync, according to Wired [2]), so it's harder for Apple to stop them. I would guess that they're directly importing the iTunes files on the disk, but if the idea is so simple, why didn't Palm do the same thing? Why would they risk going through iTunes? The harder it was for Microsoft to implement, the easier it will be for Apple to disable. I wonder what Apple will do now. 1. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/palm-drops-itunes-workaround-for-now/ http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/palm-drops-itunes-w... 2. http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/10/liveblog-microsoft-rolls-out-windows-phone-8/ http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/10/liveblog-microsoft-ro...
  - deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
  - mikestew 14y ago
    Palm got rebuffed because they masqueraded as an Apple product. The USB-IF understandably didn't like that. It won't be "harder for Apple to stop" Microsoft because Apple is unlikely to even try to do so. Apple has a documented method for accessing the iTunes library (RIM and others used it). Even if there were not an approved way to do it, the database is in XML so it should be relatively easy to work with it. Why Palm took the route they did mystifies me. So what will Apple do now, you ask? Nothing, more than likely.
lini 14y ago
I wish Google would add time zone conversions to their search. I had to resort to WA[1] to find out what time is the event in Europe. [1]https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=10+am+PT+to+GMT https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=10+am+PT+to+GMT
- dm8 14y ago
  You can also search, "time in Seattle" (in Google) and it'll show current time at that place. And you can do time difference calculations.
- shadowfiend 14y ago
  You can get the current time in the other time zone (try time in <location/code>), but yeah, an actual conversion would be pretty handy. And seemingly a very simple step from there.
- shrikant 14y ago
  I use http://www.thetimezoneconverter.com/ http://www.thetimezoneconverter.com/ - ridiculously convenient.
  - yskchu 14y ago
    World Time Buddy is another good one: http://www.worldtimebuddy.com http://www.worldtimebuddy.com
malkia 14y ago
Barely visible choice of white letters on yellow background (at least for me, it could be that live is better)
smegel 14y ago
Am I really watching a Silverlight video in Google Chrome? How the hell is this working?!
- ygra 14y ago
  NPAPI. You could do the same in Firefox. Or Safari. Even on a Mac.

53 points by octopus 14y ago

You'd think a launch would be geared to play to the widest audience. Disappointing that the presentation requires Silverlight to view. Wasn't Silverlight EOLed?

gebe 14y ago
There's a Flash (another why) stream as well at the bottom of the page: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/presskits/windowsphone/liveevent2.aspx http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/presskits/windowsphone/l...

rbanffy 14y ago

"Please Install Silverlight to view this content" They'll never learn.

octopus 14y ago
Try the alternate stream for Flash (bottom of the page).
quotemstr 14y ago
> They'll never learn. I'm with Microsoft. There must be something wrong with the implants: I've been here for years and still don't understand the culture. I don't understand why people use "ask" as a noun instead of "request"; I don't understand why almost every here uses "Microsoft Tag" instead of universal, ubiquitous-in-the-outside-world QR codes; and I don't understand why we still create websites using Silverlight instead of moving to Flash or HTML5. Don't people realize how transparently sycophantic they look when they use a technology that's dead to the outside world? Depending on the day, I feel like either 1) some people are so insulated from the outside world that they believe Silverlight yet lives, 2) they know Silverlight is dead and are terrified of the wrath of LCA coming down upon from for installing non-Microsoft software on their work computers, or 3) they're savvy, but trying to use as much jargon and proprietary stuff as possible in order to project a false image of group cohesion and loyalty come review time.
- grecy 14y ago
  Maybe it's 4) They are so caught up in bureaucracy and mindless tasks they actually don't even know what Silverlight is, and why it's dying/dead.
- jmspring 14y ago
  Silverlight is dead? Funny, I believe that is what Netflix uses to stream to the desktop. Also, given the install base of Windows, I am pretty sure most everyday users have it installed. I'm a Mac person myself and only fire up Chrome when I need Flash. I've got silverlight installed across all browsers -- mainly due to netflix. That said, I see "web designers" doing more annoying sites with Flash (mmm...embedded video that auto plays with volume) than I do with Silverlight. Just a thought.
  - stusmall 14y ago
    The install base of silverlight is pretty low, but way higher than I expected. Its hard to get hard reliable numbers but I've seen from 50% all the way up to 70% or so. Its much higher than I expected, but not high enough to count on. I don't get the draw when flash has an install base in the higher end of 90%. Once again its hard to get reliable numbers, but there is no doubt it trounces silverlight. Even java plug-in install base beats silverlight's which is pretty bad. I know netflix and mlb.com use it, but I don't know a lot of others. I'm sure they are there, but it doesn't scream lively tech to me.
    - jlmendezbonini 14y ago
      I realize that Silverlight is not pre-installed with Windows but it I read that some OEMs (Dell for example) do bundle it for their customers. Anyone can verify this?
  - seanmcdirmid 14y ago
    Well, if you try to view the site on a brand new SurfaceRT using Metro IE...could be some problems.
- 14y ago
lucb1e 14y ago
The alternative method plays fine here on Linux Mint with Chrome, opens a stream in movie player.
mbrubeck 14y ago
The "Metro" version of IE10 doesn't even support Silverlight... I had to switch to the desktop UI on my Windows 8 device.
kemoly 14y ago
How is that different from Apple streaming only to OS X / iOS devices?

steverb 14y ago

I'm surprised they didn't cancel to keep from competing with the hurricane. On the other hand, there's not much other news than the hurricane, so it might be a smart move.

jbigelow76 14y ago
Be on the lookout for more stealth Zynga layoffs.

Toshio 14y ago

They are demoing the phone operating system on an HTC device. Yay for Nokia locking themselves into this OS and not even getting that small token of appreciation.

steverb 14y ago
I thought they were switching back and forth between the HTC and the Nokia... I wasn't really paying attention, but I'm sure I saw a big yellow phone at some point.
- gebe 14y ago
  Yeah, Ballmer is presenting all of the brands at the moment. I noticed that he even pocketed the Nokia, I wonder if that was part of the deal ;)
  - r00fus 14y ago
    Quite symbolic. "Hey Nokia - with Elop, you're in our pocket". How's it fell in there?
    - mc32 14y ago
      I think you're reading a bit much into the symbolism there. I mean, if he didn't put it in his pocket, one could have just as well said "Hey Nokia, how does it feel being left out in the cold?"
    - dagw 14y ago
      I read it more like "after playing with all the phones on offer, I'm keeping the Nokia to take home with me"

steverb 14y ago

Syncing music from iTunes to Windows Phone now. That's a nice way to help break the iPhone lock in.

dvdhsu 14y ago
Palm used to allow syncing through iTunes as well. Every time Apple updated iTunes, it would lock out the Palm Pre; Palm, then, would issue a software update that re-enabled the functionality: > Since the Palm Pre first became available this summer, Palm has issued several updates to its mobile operating system, causing iTunes software to recognize the phone as an Apple music player, allowing it to synchronize and transfer files between the phone and a personal computer. Apple has repeatedly disabled the syncing feature in subsequent software updates to iTunes. [1] Eventually, "Palm filed a complaint with the USB Implementers Forum", but the forum "rebuffed" Palm's claims. From then on, the Palm Pre could no longer sync with iTunes. I see that Microsoft isn't masquerading their phone as an iPod (or iPhone?) like Palm did, and is instead releasing a separate app on their own (MacSync, according to Wired [2]), so it's harder for Apple to stop them. I would guess that they're directly importing the iTunes files on the disk, but if the idea is so simple, why didn't Palm do the same thing? Why would they risk going through iTunes? The harder it was for Microsoft to implement, the easier it will be for Apple to disable. I wonder what Apple will do now. 1. http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/palm-drops-itunes-workaround-for-now/ http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/palm-drops-itunes-w... 2. http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/10/liveblog-microsoft-rolls-out-windows-phone-8/ http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/10/liveblog-microsoft-ro...
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- mikestew 14y ago
  Palm got rebuffed because they masqueraded as an Apple product. The USB-IF understandably didn't like that. It won't be "harder for Apple to stop" Microsoft because Apple is unlikely to even try to do so. Apple has a documented method for accessing the iTunes library (RIM and others used it). Even if there were not an approved way to do it, the database is in XML so it should be relatively easy to work with it. Why Palm took the route they did mystifies me. So what will Apple do now, you ask? Nothing, more than likely.

lini 14y ago

I wish Google would add time zone conversions to their search. I had to resort to WA[1] to find out what time is the event in Europe. [1]https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=10+am+PT+to+GMT https://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=10+am+PT+to+GMT

dm8 14y ago
You can also search, "time in Seattle" (in Google) and it'll show current time at that place. And you can do time difference calculations.
shadowfiend 14y ago
You can get the current time in the other time zone (try time in <location/code>), but yeah, an actual conversion would be pretty handy. And seemingly a very simple step from there.
shrikant 14y ago
I use http://www.thetimezoneconverter.com/ http://www.thetimezoneconverter.com/ - ridiculously convenient.
- yskchu 14y ago
  World Time Buddy is another good one: http://www.worldtimebuddy.com http://www.worldtimebuddy.com

malkia 14y ago

Barely visible choice of white letters on yellow background (at least for me, it could be that live is better)

smegel 14y ago

Am I really watching a Silverlight video in Google Chrome? How the hell is this working?!

ygra 14y ago
NPAPI. You could do the same in Firefox. Or Safari. Even on a Mac.