The Street rates Microsoft most innovative company, Apple #2

[SmokeyRobinson]

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I wouldn't worry about it too much. TheStreet got it wrong, while ten others will get it right (or already have.)

The only real innovation MS is capable of these days is copying Apple, but even that practice has become commonplace industry-wide.

Was Windows Phone 7 copying Apple?
Are all of Microsoft's cloud services copying Apple?
Was XBOX copying Apple?
Was XBOX Live copying Apple?
Was Kinect Copying Apple?
Was Surface copying Apple?

You really have a hard time sticking to the topic rather than going on an LTD journey through fallacies.

 

[quagmire]

to me fair the motion control by Wii and iOS both require another device to be used for it.
Kinect does not require you holding anything else. It tracks your movements on its own.

Yep. That is what makes the Kinect innovative.

It doesn't matter if MS was not the first to bring motion control to the market. But, it is MS that innovated motion control though( yes through buying it and not through their own R&D).

It's just like Apple as already stated. They innovate through taking existing technology and producing a great product. The iPhone wasn't the first smartphone or touch-screen device. But, Apple took it and innovated producing a great product.


You don't have to be the first to the market to make the product innovative. It doesn't matter if you were late to the party.

 

[Melrose]

I don't think Apple have been particularly innovative this year...

...I would venture to say Microsoft has been less innovative, although Kinect looks very promising. I think it's a little too early to tell with that, and it's certainly not had a whole lot of press time so far.

And the "Closed system, shame on Apple!" argument is by now so lame it's laughable. Same dumb reasoning w the people that say Walmart kills the little guy then they all go shop at Walmart. If you don't like a product, vote w your wallet or shut up. No offense.

 

[maflynn]

...I would venture to say Microsoft has been less innovative, although Kinect looks very promising. I think it's a little too early to tell with that, and it's certainly not had a whole lot of press time so far.

Looks promising, holy cow this seems to be very popular, and don't forget win7 phones. both (kinect & win7 phones) are quite innovated.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Do you know Kinect was bought by MS? Surely buying an interesting product = innovative.

Going by that logic Apple shouldn't get credit for anything they brought to market that was derived (if not just basically rebranded) from one of their many acquisitions. The clickable scroll wheel, gesture recognition, iTunes, iAds and pretty much all their professional software started off life outside Apple. Hell, even the basis of OS X, NeXT was brought over w/Jobs when he rejoined Apple. And what does the future hold for Apple's purchasing of music streaming, mapping, and semiconductor companies?

Did you know Apple was interested in the tech behind Kinect but the company reportedly walked away from Apple due to the heavy NDAs Apple wanted them to sign? And it's not like Kinect was an established device and MS just rebranded. MS got the raw tech and turned it into a gaming device which, from what I've read, is no small task. They could've just copied the Wii controls, like Sony did, but they took it a step further which is very 'un-MS' IMO. Kinect might flop down the line but I gotta give MS credit for sticking their neck out there on this one.

Then why did nobody else do it before Apple? The iPod Touch was available for 2 1/2 years before the iPad was released. So what stopped everyone else from building a "larger version of the iTouch"?

Two related reasons, IMO. First, other companies tried to make a much more complicated, more complete and stand alone computing device and they couldn't pull it off in an manageable fashion. Either it was too klunky or too big/heavy, or the battery life sucked or the price was too high or there just wasn't a compelling reason to get it over a laptop or netbook. Apple, on the other hand, is very good at the human interface side of things as well as making simple, elegant looking products.

The second reason is that only Apple has access to their walled garden which means they can build on previous successes, add functionality via other Apple products and create hardware/software that starts joining together like pieces to an ever expanding puzzle. Need some apps or books? Just go to the same iTMS you buy your music from. Need to get your audio/video content on your TV? Just buy an TV. Want to find your lost phone and disable it if need be? Just buy MobileMe to get that and a whole lot more (yes, I know that feature is now free w/iOS 4.2 and iPhone 4). Other companies have a very hard time competing with that kind of syngergy (lord I hate that word but it seems appropriate right now) and try to make 'all-in-one' products that can quickly become unwieldy where as Apple can make a complimentary product like the iPad which can remain sleek since it is designed to fit into an existing ecosystem and not be a stand alone product. MS is trying to get some synergy between Windows, Zune, and the Xbox360 but it seems kludgy by comparison and how many people would rather buy a Zune than what Apple is selling?

It also doesn't hurt that Jobs is a masterful salesman that can convince people that they need what Apple offers and do not need anything it doesn't.


Lethal

 

[wirelessmacuser]

What they have done for the computer and gaming industry in the last decade means they more than deserve it over Apple. Anyone denying that is just plain fanboyish.

+1

The Street has a pragmatic and realistic viewpoint. One coming from a group of intelligent and experienced professionals.

They are not emotionally invested in Apple like fanboys and Apple zealots.

 

[Liquorpuki]

That is sort of right. However, GUI and mouse are items that might just items that may never see themselves outside labs if not for Apple. Kinect was being shopped to different buyers. Plus, Wii and iOS already demonstrated that the motion control games can be profitable, so Microsoft isn't heading into can we make motion control profitable segment.

The Kinect sensor technology was developed by PrimeSense. MS took the technology and turned it into a gaming peripheral. Credit their engineers for that.

Just because you invented the photocell doesn't mean you also invented the digital camera

 

[Stella]

...I would venture to say Microsoft has been less innovative, although Kinect looks very promising. I think it's a little too early to tell with that, and it's certainly not had a whole lot of press time so far.

And the "Closed system, shame on Apple!" argument is by now so lame it's laughable. Same dumb reasoning w the people that say Walmart kills the little guy then they all go shop at Walmart. If you don't like a product, vote w your wallet or shut up. No offense.

I think you are out of touch in regards to Kinetic (1) No, Kinetic has proved itself already (2)Kinetic has had a lot of press coverage. (3) Kinetic has been already hacked and been applied to non gaming applications.

Kinetic will be applied to much other applications in the future, not to mention gaming. microsoft have hit the jack pot with kinetic and its variations will have quite an impact.

This is a discussion forum and to be told to shut up by someone because something isn't important to them is extremely lame, not to mention close minded.

I have voted with my money: I jailed broke my Touch so that I could install my own applications, without the need to give apple $99 on a yearly basis! These apps are specific to my needs and not relevant to the App Store.

 

[karsten]

I don't see MS doing anything innovative. a GUI ribbon? wow. 7 borders on innovative, but i'd rather say its polished and refined, not really innovative. but in some respects a polished product is innovative so who knows.

 

[roadbloc]

Then why did nobody else do it before Apple? The iPod Touch was available for 2 1/2 years before the iPad was released. So what stopped everyone else from building a "larger version of the iTouch"?

Tablets existed before. They had Windows CE on them which ergonomically were really bad. With the powered maturity of iOS, there was no reason why Apple couldn't give the tablet Market a go.

That however, does not change the fact it is a giant iPod touch. It was only called the iPod touch to guarantee it's success by using the iPod brand. There is no reason why the itouch could have been called or now renamed to the iPad nano.

 

[Liquorpuki]

That however, does not change the fact it is a giant iPod touch. It was only called the iPod touch to guarantee it's success by using the iPod brand. There is no reason why the itouch could have been called or now renamed to the iPad nano.

Then what would the ipod nano be called? iPad nanonano? lol

 

[BaldiMac]

+1

The Street has a pragmatic and realistic viewpoint. One coming from a group of intelligent and experienced professionals.

They are not emotionally invested in Apple like fanboys and Apple zealots.

That's a joke based on nothing more than the fact that you agree with their conclusion. Maybe not emotionally invested. Just financially invested. That's so much better. Jim Cramer has admitted publicly to manipulating Apple stock through his media outlets.

 

[KnightWRX]

to me fair the motion control by Wii and iOS both require another device to be used for it.
Kinect does not require you holding anything else. It tracks your movements on its own.

Kind of like the Playstation EyeToy... released circa 2003 and is actually an invention from 1999. Sorry, not a Microsoft innovation at all. Microsoft just perfected it.

Eye of Judgement for Playstation 3 actually uses the Eye technology in a much more innovative way. Not for "motion control", but by scanning the cards into the game, giving you a much more immersive "Magic: The Gathering" experience.

Kinect was better marketed than the Sony counterparts. Just like Apple better marketed the iPad. There were tablets before the iPad that used tablet optimized GUIs. Archos has been making them with Android for quite some time, Nokia had some success in Europe with their Maemo offerings (the n810 being somewhat of a success).

A lot of what is billed as innovative these days is just marketing innovation. Companies marketing the technologies of yesteryear at the right time to the right people to make a success. These guys, Apple, Microsoft, they very much stand on the shoulders of giants. They are good at selling stuff, not really at inventing stuff.

Yep. That is what makes the Kinect innovative.

It doesn't matter if MS was not the first to bring motion control to the market. But, it is MS that innovated motion control though( yes through buying it and not through their own R&D).

Please, put in a little research people.

 

[Melrose]

I think you are out of touch in regards to Kinetic (1) No, Kinetic has proved itself already (2)Kinetic has had a lot of press coverage. (3) Kinetic has been already hacked and been applied to non gaming applications.

This is a discussion forum and to be told to shut up by someone because something isn't important to them is extremely lame, not to mention close minded.

Goodness gracious don't OD on crabby pills. I was speaking in general, your comment just brought it to mind.

Although, I will say that Kinetic has only grabbed a measure of headlines in certain circles. In your circles, yes it apparently has. In mine, not so much. I guess if I don't read the same blogs you do makes me out of touch. I can live with that though

I applaud MS for making genuine efforts and strides in forwarding technology; the lack of coverage of certain products at the end of the day has little to do with the product itself. The media has proven itself very bias, so you can hardly point to coverage as a measure of either success or ingenuity. And I really do like the look of WinPhone7.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Goodness gracious don't OD on crabby pills. I was speaking in general, your comment just brought it to mind.

Although, I will say that Kinetic has only grabbed a measure of headlines in certain circles. In your circles, yes it apparently has. In mine, not so much. I guess if I don't read the same blogs you do makes me out of touch. I can live with that though

I guess you shy away from major news sites as well 'cause pretty much all of them (CNN, Yahoo News, Newsweek, Time, MSNBC, Washington Post, BBC, LA Times, etc.,) have articles talking about everything from the successful sales numbers on Kinect to how hackers have repurposed the device. It's not near iPhone levels of public awareness but it's not stuck in the realm of gamers & geeks either.


Lethal

 

[Melrose]

I guess you shy away from major news sites as well 'cause pretty much all of them (CNN, Yahoo News, Newsweek, Time, MSNBC, Washington Post, BBC, LA Times, etc.,) have articles talking about everything from the successful sales numbers on Kinect to how hackers have repurposed the device. It's not near iPhone levels of public awareness but it's not stuck in the realm of gamers & geeks either.


Lethal

Wow. I read CNN and BBC every day too.