Well I was going to just do a post analyzing Window's "Mango" but things got a bit wild out there, so it turned into a roundup of some late breaking geekery!
First Google's Mobile Payments Platform. Big? Well, yes, Google is doing it, and this follows the Google finger-in-every-pie strategy. However this ties right into Android, could let them get a leap on other companies (while pissing off some startups), and works well with the ecosystem. A few things:
- I suspect this was one reason they wanted Groupon – they could tie it into this.
- I think this was accelerated so as to give them a leap on competition – which may mean they're still hiring.
- This puts them further into the financial area – which is often more restrictive legally.
- Everyone else will accelerate their efforts.
- Their big competitor is Square.
- If you do apps, line up to learn more about this.
Next up, Windows Phone Mango is revealed. My impressions:
- First of all, a lot of this is catch-up. Let's be honest.
- However this is really good catch-up. Microsoft is definitely learning from others.
- It's a bit late, but Microsoft may, hopefully for them, get momentum.
- It's a very integrated, Apple-like, friendly, frankly "non-Microsoftish" OS. I think this indicates Microsoft is shifting away from their usual . . . well, whatever that was.
- I think this is part of Microsoft pretty much retooling.
- If you program you need to know about this – because there will be development based on it.
- I really see no reason why Nokia had to be involved, but oh well.
So, some big news in the tech field. Let's keep watching . . .
– Steven Savage