Windows 8 - Cloud backups and deep Live integration

[Mike225]

"Want to work on products that your friends and family use every day? Windows Live designs and runs some of the largest web applications in the world. We are Cloud Directory Platform, and our services are used by Windows Live, Office, Windows Mobile, Xbox, Bing, and MSN-branded properties. We are the backend of Windows Live providing identity (LiveID), contacts (ABCH), and social graph (SUP) for individuals and Microsoft services and applications. For the most part, you would know these as Messenger and Hotmail, as well as the entire Windows Live suite. We are seeking a highly motivated individual to come join our team and pour passion and talent into building some of the most used services on the planet. We are a growing team with a strategic and highly visible charter helping to build and operate some of Microsoft’s most strategic Internet assets. Our service supports hundreds of millions of users, who exchange billions of instant messages, photos and email each day, and store billions of contact relationships in our service. We live the life of “software and a service” every day, at high scale and you will play a pivotal role as we integrate our online services with Windows 8."

http://windows8news.com/2010/11/08/windows-8-client-backup-cloud-powered-windows-azure/

I really like the idea of incorporating Live into the OS and letting the cloud take off. If it prompted users for a Live account on first boot like Mobile OSs do, then cloud integration would be much simpler IMO.

*Provided computers go more personally oriented like mobile phones.

 

[roadbloc]

So far, so good?

 

[velocityg4]

Hopefully MS doesn't try to shove these features down peoples throats. I have zero interest in either.

I would be much more interested in multi-touch integration, dropping the registry with a seamless classic mode for legacy apps (by seamless I mean like Classic mode for OS 9 not the XP Mode that is like running an emulator), faster LAN speeds (file sharing between XP computers was usually pretty quick on my network, sometimes I can only hit 500kbps on my gigabit LAN transferring large video files between two RAID 0 arrays), drop drive letters and require hardware vendors to not include any junkware with computers or they pay full OEM rates for licenses (newegg OEM pricing). This includes third party duplication of the built in functions (wireless monitors &c) or anything else that is additional to the basics you would get by installing Windows, drivers and updates on a home built PC.

 

[0098386]

I hope we'll be able to deactivate cloud features. I use Live, it can be quite snazzy at times. Live Writer and Messenger are pretty damn good (once you strip Messenger of its adverts).

Cloud? I don't want that. I don't want that on Windows or Mac - I like to know exactly where my files are and have full control over them.

 

[Mike225]

Hopefully MS doesn't try to shove these features down peoples throats. I have zero interest in either.

I would be much more interested in multi-touch integration, dropping the registry with a seamless classic mode for legacy apps (by seamless I mean like Classic mode for OS 9 not the XP Mode that is like running an emulator), faster LAN speeds (file sharing between XP computers was usually pretty quick on my network, sometimes I can only hit 500kbps on my gigabit LAN transferring large video files between two RAID 0 arrays), drop drive letters and require hardware vendors to not include any junkware with computers or they pay full OEM rates for licenses (newegg OEM pricing). This includes third party duplication of the built in functions (wireless monitors &c) or anything else that is additional to the basics you would get by installing Windows, drivers and updates on a home built PC.

They need a way to make it seamless, yet optional and still accessible. I think easy synchronization between W8 and the web would be nice especially with documents that could be easily uploaded and edited over the internet and pulled back onto local storage. I dont want to have to open my browser to upload a file or download an edited file, but I also don't want online file edits to overwrite local files.

I dont think the registry needs to go. I havent heard a good argument as to why and havent had a problem with it in 15 years. Overall if they come up with a good solution fine, if not I could care less.

OEM Bloatware needs to go for sure. It's a huge reason Windows often gets bad rep with people.

 

[Melrose]

I can see where they're trying to push the industry further down the road it's already on, but I've never been a fan of cloud backup. Storage really is cheap enough, and I don't trust my information - however dumb it might actually be - with someone else.

I have no interest in cloud backup, and if it winds up being integrated into the system, it's one more reason why I won't use Windows.

Still, Win8 is a ways off yet.

 

[Mike225]

I can see where they're trying to push the industry further down the road it's already on, but I've never been a fan of cloud backup. Storage really is cheap enough, and I don't trust my information - however dumb it might actually be - with someone else.

I have no interest in cloud backup, and if it winds up being integrated into the system, it's one more reason why I won't use Windows.

Still, Win8 is a ways off yet.

Cloud backup doesn't seen too important when considering a one device, stationary setup, but when the world keeps going mobile, cloud makes more sense. I want my documents on the internet (maybe not all) and accessible from anywhere. I can see where you are coming from though.

 

[Ttownbeast]

Seems like they are taking cues from Ubuntu on the whole cloud computing concept if you ask me.

 

[chaosbunny]

That "cloud" thing sucks big time if you ask me. I don't want Microsoft, Apple, Google or anybody to have total control of my data. The disadvantages outweight the small comfortable advantages of just not having to copy some files to another device by far. We could say goodbye to anything that's left of personal data security. I hope people notice this and don't use this attempt to give up our privacy to big corporations.

 

[maflynn]

Seems like they are taking cues from Ubuntu on the whole cloud computing concept if you ask me.

I don't who's taking their cues from who because both cannonical and MS have been focused on the cloud for a little while. MS as been working on their azure platform.

I hope we'll be able to deactivate cloud features.

Agreed, I mostly do not want to keep my data on someone elses servers trusting in that they do backups and protect the data for intrusion. For my needs, I have little interest in the cloud, be it from Microsoft, Apple or Ubuntu.

 

[zhenya]

The cloud is coming, like it or not. Honestly, for anyone who owns more than 1 device, it makes a ton of sense. Why should I have to manually manage what files and settings are on which device? Eventually, we won't have to.

Any serious cloud provider makes encryption standard, and only the user holds the key. Without the key, it's virtually impossible to access that data (ie. the government is getting involved to crack the encryption - in which case, they'd just come to your house and confiscate your computer - much easier). So data security isn't really an issue. Backups? By virtue of being in the cloud, the data is already backed up, as you also keep the data on your own devices. Site backups at the data-center and/or multiple-site replication are merely one more level of security. In any case, data is certainly more secure at a professionally run data center than in your basement.

 

[chaosbunny]

Any serious cloud provider makes encryption standard, and only the user holds the key. Without the key, it's virtually impossible to access that data (ie. the government is getting involved to crack the encryption - in which case, they'd just come to your house and confiscate your computer - much easier). So data security isn't really an issue. Backups? By virtue of being in the cloud, the data is already backed up, as you also keep the data on your own devices. Site backups at the data-center and/or multiple-site replication are merely one more level of security. In any case, data is certainly more secure at a professionally run data center than in your basement.

Yes, and as a bonus the easter bunny and santa claus will come to your place to bring candy.

 

[SlovakApple]

...Cloud? I don't want that. I don't want that on Windows or Mac - I like to know exactly where my files are and have full control over them...

Exactly what I think of it too. Or at least have the possibility to turn all the stuff off and go completely "off line".

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I use Window's cloud services now - the Windows Live stuff - and if that's all it is for Windows 8, I'll be disappointed. But if it's more, I'll have reservations with giving MS all my data.

We'll see how they approach it.