For one, Windows Azure is a pretty big deal. Secondly, XBox Live is a pretty big deal. Third, Bing might be struggling to gain traction but it most certainly works.
So can you point me to a Microsoft web property or service that is as wonky as iCloud at all?
Apologies not needed. That raises a question though.
I was implying that Apple and Microsoft don't do as well building web services. I wouldn't argue that Azure can't scale but the overall approach seems to be a little bit "unfinished".
Let me explain, the only true cloud computing environment that really solves 90% of any companies needs is AWS. Somehow Amazon understands what the developer community needs. I'm really perplexed by Google not getting this right.
Apple doesn't and I don't believe Microsoft does either.
I don't think this is about technical chops. It's something else that I can't put my finger on.
Similar to how I don't understand how Amazon crushed Best Buy so quickly.
Windows Azure is a big enough deal, and working well enough, that Brent Simmons of Black Pixel (and well known indie Mac developer) has been recruited to do tutorials on the Mobile Data Services component for iOS.
It's a different game played by different rules.
Interestingly, I'd like to watch and see how Google does moving into the physical goods space.