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I think we can safely say the Information Architects team are no fans of Microsoft but it may be that their recent Trend Map may have some delays on the line if the Yahoo deal goes through. They claim that Microsoft will not be happy as "Passport" has no significance. Well Passport has gone guys and it's now Windows Live ID. You'd think they would have found that from Wikipedia right? Nah, easier to just make it up and ignore the 380 million users logging in over 1.2 billion times a day. Small fry.
Whilst we're on Live, go check out Live Labs guys. Seadragon, Photosynth, Deepfish anyone? On and Windows Live Writer and Popfly and Silverlight.
I got a little tired with the rest of the cheap shots but that's okay as they "included plenty of insider jokes, ironic hints, and sarcasm". Marking Microsoft down as exhausted must be an insider joke about the $52bn :)
I love their maps, I'm just not sure how rooted in reality they are.
Comments
Anonymous
February 03, 2008
The comment has been removedAnonymous
February 03, 2008
SeaDragon/Deepfish/PhotoSynth is all based on acquired technology from the SeaDragon deal. Windows Live Writer was acquired technology. Easy to do when you are the wealthiest software company in the world.Anonymous
February 03, 2008
Wills Feedburner, Picasa, Blogger, YouTube, DoubleClick, Postini ring any bells? http://www.mydigimedia.com/images/WhoOwnsWhat.jpg Next...Anonymous
February 03, 2008
Hey Oliver, thanks for the long well thought out response. Here's mine to yours :) I'm not going to publicly comment on the Yahoo deal in details as it makes no real sense to until the deal is done. The Flickr crowd are already on our backs but the same was true when Flickr bought them. You're entitled to your opinion on the merits or otherwise of the deal and I respect that. I don't disagree with you on the Live/Hotmail branding. I just thought it was disingenuous to get it wrong, even more so when you did it in purpose. I just thought it showed lack of research. Clearly I was wrong. On the brand front, I think this is one for personal opinion and it depends where you sit. if you're Interbrand for example (who I assume put a lot of work in to branding) think the Microsoft brand does have some value. So finally on the defending of companies - yep, that is what we're both doing and in a passionate way. I respect your opinions and glad you respect mine - it'll make for a much more constructive conversation than I usually have with my commentators :) Like I said, it's not right for me to comment on the Yahoo deal. You may disagree but that's the position I will take until there is some degree of certainty. I don't think it's a sign of desperation though and will explain at future point why I think that way. An internet project I am proud of? Yeah, Popfly. And Silverlight. And Windows Live Writer even if some of it is bought in technology. I do remember what you said last year but I don't know why you're reminding me? I'm not trying to buy changes from you rather just pointing out where I feel there are inconsistencies and that changes like the proposed Yahoo deal will always make the map a very tough job. You've done a brilliant job with it and asking for input it to your credit. I'm not surprised nobody has complained about the Microsoft parts to date. People often overlook us :) You did give me something to think about Oliver and I hope I've done likewise. The map is a great asset and using the crowd to make it better, even if you disagree is what this new world is all about. regards SteveAnonymous
February 03, 2008
The comment has been removedAnonymous
February 03, 2008
Oliver gotcha on the brand thing. You're talking more web kudos than financial clout and yep, we have much work to do for sure. we could learn from the Zune and XBOX guys as I have mentioned on the blog before. would love to see you out at MIX08 in Vegas next month. the guys behind that are working hard to address the shortcomings you're pointing out as we evolve (again) from an enterprise company to somewhere between that and an internet company. as you will know from Interbrand days, turning a tanker is hard. SteveAnonymous
February 03, 2008
Personally I'm always suspicious of phrases such as "almost 300 of the most influential and successful websites", since that's so easily parsed as "sites that we and our friends like". On the other hand, I agree about Ballmer...despite being a very smart man with many talents etc. etc., his bull-in-a-China-shop approach to business is exactly what Microsoft doesn't need at a time when it is so widely distrusted and disliked, is under a regulatory microscope in many places, and has competitors who are eager to seize any opportunity to say "Look! He kicked me!".Anonymous
February 03, 2008
Sorry, Steve, but I hope you read Oiver's reply ( http://www.formforce.com/with-or-without-yahoo ). He is so right about MS branding. What is Live ID compared to the possibilities of an open standard like OpenID. As for the other services: There are dozens, if not hundreds of alternative products available (take other mail providers, document editors or the much better integrated Picniq picture editing site). I think it's wrong to say they should have done their homework -- a sucessful brand is one you DON'T have to look up in Wikipedia. At least in my opinion. #1 rule (IMHO) for building a brand: How important and easy to use are my services to my customers? Will he come back to this web app, even if there are alternatives -- or is my subscriber base just built on market dominance or a first-mover advantage?Anonymous
February 03, 2008
hi Jan as you will see above, i did read and had a good open discussion with Oliver. no disrespect but I'm not sure OpenID is any better a brand than Live ID. I'm not sure why you've mixed the fact it's an open standard with branding? added to which Microsoft supports OpenIDAnonymous
February 03, 2008
@ Steve Where did I say anything about Google? I was merely refuting the claim that you are some new harbour of coolness because of acquisitions. Great strawman post though.Anonymous
February 03, 2008
@Wills noted though not sure I claimed we're a harbour of coolness did I? cheers steveAnonymous
February 03, 2008
Fair do's I concede
