RSSSources: Several Windows Live Projects Halted
By Ed Oswald | Published November 16, 2006, 5:19 PM
Microsoft's Windows Live desktop search project has been shelved "indefinitely," although not much reasoning has been given as to the reason for its demise.
Windows Live enthusiast blog LiveSide.net reported Thursday that the project, as well as several others, have been set aside as a result of a recent unannounced reorganization of the Windows Live and MSN divisions.
The shuffling, according to LiveSide, is focused on bringing consistency and focus to a division that seemed to be producing new services too quickly while not focusing on core services already available. Middle management hurdles were removed, and the number of subdivisions reduced from eight to six.
Windows and Windows Live vice president Steve Sinofsky, who took over the division from the retiring Jim Allchin, is said to have ordered the changes. Many regard Sinofsky for his tough management style, sorely needed for a division that had become increasingly unreliable under Allchin's leadership.
Some supporters of the company's Live platform were disappointed with the cuts, which also included The Live Drive project and a effort to integrate Windows Live services with Windows Media Center.
"While thankfully someone has seen sense to stop churning out Live-branded products everywhere we look, these non-core products are the ones that can differentiate Windows Live from Google and Yahoo," LiveSide's Chris Overd lamented.
A request for comment from Microsoft had not been returned as of press time.
There are too many poor Live services and no indication that the developers know where they are headed or why...
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|The downward spiral continues.
Making the decision to switch platforms after years of being a MS supporter was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but ultimately I'm so glad I did.
Microsoft, either through mismanagement or incompetence, simply cannot deliver the goods. I truly hope they bounce back, but I'm not willing to wait while their more motivated and innovative competitors pass them by.
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|What, so in the meantime you overpay for OSX & proprietary hardware?
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|Forget bouncing back; it looks like they intend to become SCO.
http://www.computerworld...c&articleId=9005171
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|I would have agreed with you a couple months ago, but I don't think it's fair to call Apple hardware overpriced anymore. They've really become a good value, actually.
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|Apple are cheaper if you compare the quality for the money you're paying.
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|Microsoft has no idea on what the word consistency means.
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|Of course they do; they are consistent in presenting an idea of a product to the public and then put its release on hold until they can fix the internal issues while keeping their users hope up.
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|Damn it, I was really looking forward to Live Drive ...that's too bad.
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|Me too, i was hoping they were going to incorporate it with the OneCare Live file back-up files feature.
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|Accidentally posted in wrong spot.
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