What the Windows ecosystem needs isn't a focus on UI, what it needs is a new set of APIs that obliterate older software and removes this insistence on backwards compatibility. I think that such a move could potentially be leveraged by Microsoft towards a massive development gold rush for new applications.
WinRT on ARM seems to be what you want. The Windows 8 store will certainly cause a gold rush as well.
But are you honestly arguing for forced obsolescence here? The most agile app developers would have a chance at a quick buck. The Windows team could kick out ugly code. And then?
I am most definitely arguing for forced obsolescence. The prime motivating factor being the fact that it is perfectly acceptable and "normal" to go through all of the hoops and ladders of inoculating your computer against viruses. And then when those programs fail, users have to go to take their computer to get their digital machine to be cleaned out as though it was a poorly built car in need of maintenance.
I'm not advocating that the API is cleaned out merely on the technical level, I'm advocating (with a lack of clarity on my behalf) that Microsoft needs to encourage an ecosystem of development creativity. Instead, we get a UI that is abstractly "optimized" for usage but is far removed from providing a pleasant experience for their users.
Apple is adding optional sandboxing to their system without intentionally breaking backwards compatibility in their APIs. Why wouldn't this work for Microsoft?
Re-vamping the API and removing the insistence on backwards compatibility are just the start. The bigger picture is that Microsoft needs to influence a revolution with their OS by allowing developers to bring human culture into the OS, much the same way Apple does. What I mean by "culture" is a melding of art and technology: it's cool to use a Macbook Pro (AND you can get shit done with it), but it's merely utilitarian to use any of the faceless PC laptops out there. Microsoft seems to think that they can accomplish a such change by applying different makeup to their OS, or by mimicking the Apple store. No, the real change will come when the tool makers can bridge the gap between the need to get something done and getting something done beautifully. This is a task that is beyond the larger development shops but is well within reach of the smaller developers. Perhaps Microsoft has a bias towards enabling larger developers, but this is clearly 80s/90s thinking.
At best what they've done since Windows XP is change the rat maze for their users by forcing them into a different cognitive "map" of how their PC is to function (ever try using the ironically named "ribbon" in Office?).
Shame on the news media for not asking meaningful questions to people who make claims on either side of the US political spectrum. I feel as though a culture of timidity to ask questions that lead to clarifying answers is turning into a culture that politicizes the truth.
The important point in posts such as these is that execution matters, not the tool you use. If the tool you decide to develop with fits, then use it. If you find out later it doesn't work, then switch. Sure, the tool you use can affect your execution, but that only means you have to understand how you want to execute before even selecting a tool.
I think it would be a big mistake to read such a post and come to the conclusion that Rails is somehow superior to node.js.
I'm surprised that you think the smelling analogy is valid. There is nothing really at stake with letting the aroma from my kitchen waft onto the street aside from maybe what's in the meal I've prepared.
Personal information is a different matter. It's perfectly reasonable to take issue with Google for taking people's data without their knowledge about it.
Personal information becomes public when it's not properly secured and then broadcasted out into the world... even if the user doesn't understand it's happening.
I agree that it's not a perfect analogy, but it is quite a bit closer than being robbed, as the the OP suggested.
Very cool video. I am clueless when it comes to music and music theory, so the interface seems a bit overwhelming to me. However, I'm sure there are people that could master this and make something worthwhile.
Btw, I've been finding a lot more music from independent artists. For example:
I think one of the guys from Crystal Fighters is from my home town.
On the other hand, Deadmau5 is not really an "independent artist" (though I think most of his releases are on his own label) – he's probably the single most popular electro-house producer in the world right now.
Don't worry, you're not the only one. I've played music for years and write music in my spare time and still found this interface to be overwhelming :)
I've been making electronic music using all sorts of software for 15 years and this seems really confusing. I think he could improve it considerably by reducing the visual complexity when zoomed out[1]. He could also create tools for making sub-modules at the patch level, but I get the feeling that this environment is going to remain pretty high-level and such things may not be so useful (as they are in Max/MSP, Reaktor, et al).
Sure being an "MCP" in the HN circle is absolutely meaningless and doesn't warrant the title "programming prodigy", but that's not the point of this article. The point is that this was a girl who came from a third world country where women are not treated as well as men are in the West, and made it to the Redmond campus based on her own ambition and drive to do something for herself.
> and made it to the Redmond campus based on her own ambition and drive to do something for herself.
Sorry but no. Again, I don't want to belittle her accomplishments - it's certainly a feat for any girl or boy her age to be even able to put a very simple application together, but she came from a very wealthy Pakistani family. Saying that she made it to Redmond out of her own ambition and drive is spitting in the face of all her not so privileged compatriots who are struggling to do the same.
I know privileged and smart 30 year olds for whom getting a real job or moving out of the house would be a major major accomplishment. This girl was 10.
Writing off her accomplishments due to privilege is unfair.
Agreed. Even here in the good old Bay Area there are quite a few trust fund kids with zero work ethic, little motivation and no desire to ever work because their parents will let them ride the money indefinitely. Very sad.
One day you will come back to the comments you made here and find yourself embarrassed for sounding like such a little person. I hope you're better than this and we are just misunderstanding you.
I believe he's pointing out, accurately, that wealthy families in Pakistan can be just as privileged as middle-class Americans. He's saying it's unfair to use this girl as an example of those actually living in under-privileged poverty conditions in Pakistan.
It's a fair objection, though rather emotionally contentious given the context.
Pakistani women are still not as privileged as men. Even if you were to compare a wealthy Pakistani family to some sort of American class (which would be very hard, since you would be ignoring both cultures), she would still be notable for being a 9 year old girl who became a MCP.
I think the point that it's more about the notions of the wealthy family than of the girl. Wealth allows families to transcend or disregard social norms. In this case it is clear that her family chose to raise her a particular way, and give her particular opportunities that, as you point out, would not be available to most Pakistani women.
This is precisely the point raised above, that this story is primarily about the opportunity provided by the family. But you are right, it's important to note that her family was evidently both wealthy and progressive.
Probably because he/she recognizes that any such discussion will not lead to any possibly productive output and instead be a pointless match of tilting at windmills.
For what it's worth, I'm getting the same vibe from you. Your first contribution to this thread was basically taking a big steaming dump over this young lady's accomplishments. Why would you do that? It didn't add anything to the discussion, and instead makes you look like a colossal jerk. If this were not HN, I'd think you were just plain trolling.
__Probably because he/she recognizes that any such discussion will not lead to any possibly productive output and instead be a pointless match of tilting at windmills.__
Yet he/she takes the effort to right that down? I love it when people take part in a discussion, then, when a reply is on it's way they say "let's not discuss this more". If it's not worth discussing why bother dropping such useless statements? Ever considering not enter the discussion in the first place? It's not rocket science.
__For what it's worth, I'm getting the same vibe from you. Your first contribution to this thread was basically taking a big steaming dump over this young lady's accomplishments. Why would you do that? It didn't add anything to the discussion, and instead makes you look like a colossal jerk. If this were not HN, I'd think you were just plain trolling.__
I strongly disagree. andreadallera didn't took 'a big steaming dump' over this young lady's achievements. He/she simply question them. I have no idea if this young lady accomplished much or not, but how is questioning the same as denying?
>Yet he/she takes the effort to right that down? I love it when people take part in a discussion, then, when a reply is on it's way they say "let's not discuss this more". If it's not worth discussing why bother dropping such useless statements? Ever considering not enter the discussion in the first place? It's not rocket science.
Because you realized you made a mistake by entering the discussion in the first place. It's like trying to argue evolution with a creationist who you don't know is a creationist when you start talking. You find out, and then you go "Oh man, this is gonna go nowhere fast. I'm off."
>He/she simply question them.
Common fucking decency would imply that a thread discussing the death of someone is not the proper place to question their accomplishments in life.
An MCP at 9 years old is a big deal. I know it might have been easy for some of you geniuses in here, but this girl was 9.
Don't forget that that same prime minister was brutally assassinated when she tried to return to her country. And she was kicked out forcibly, had to live in exile for many years. A remarkable woman. The movie "Bhutto" about her life is well worth seeing.
If you're asking about Trello - then I see one big difference - Trello has way simpler interface - to the point I could send my boss and colleagues invites and they immediately knew how to use it - whereas even my most geeky friends had problems figuring out how to use Wave (I did too.).
They seem completely different to me. GWave is a collaboration/communication tool. Asana is a project management/planning tool. In theory you could do PM with GWave but it would be a bit of a stretch.
