Comments on: Bad timing http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F04%2Fbad-timing%2F&seed_title=Bad+timing Random blatherings Tue, 27 Jul 2010 12:35:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Antoniola http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F04%2Fbad-timing%2F&seed_title=Bad+timing/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Antoniola Wed, 07 Jun 2006 15:10:09 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/12#comment-32 To get in on the official beta test group for the UB version of Flip4Mac, register by Thursday night 6/8/06: http://www.flip4mac.com/wmv_beta_register.htm Even though some independent sites have posted the beta version already, it’s best to get the real deal through Telestream. They can keep you in the loop automatically with bug fixes and the latest beta versions. To get in on the official beta test group for the UB version of Flip4Mac, register by Thursday night 6/8/06:
http://www.flip4mac.com/wmv_beta_register.htm
Even though some independent sites have posted the beta version already, it’s best to get the real deal through Telestream. They can keep you in the loop automatically with bug fixes and the latest beta versions.

]]> By: eponymous coward http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F04%2Fbad-timing%2F&seed_title=Bad+timing/comment-page-1/#comment-27 eponymous coward Wed, 07 Jun 2006 02:14:20 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/12#comment-27 Having Telestream port the WMP codecs to QT is probably the best solution possible, under the circumstances, given a lack of commitment from the WMP folks. As for why the WMP folks did what they did- I know for a fact they hired at least one dedicated Mac person....and then set said person to work on other platforms as well and let the Mac stuff languish. Usually, these decisions come down to: - money - customer demand In the first case, the revenue derived from Mac media player is nil, and given that, given that WiMP is probably 3rd in market share on Mac behind QT and Real, and given that Bill and Steve really, REALLY want things like WiMP for PocketPC and cable TV and so on.... well, color me unsurprised. The customer demand part is a bit trickier. Basically, this is when some big account/high powered VIP basically says "No, not having a Mac version that doesn't suck is a total deal breaker. Get Apple on the phone". I suspect the reason why Telestream is now MS"s WiMP solution on the Mac was it's easier to hand them a check every so often than have dedicated development/testing resources for WiMP on Mac, and someone stated "you'd better have SOMETHING for the Mac or we're walking". (There are other Mac products at Microsoft that are developed almost the same way, BTW... while the branding is more explicitly Microsoft's, basically Microsoft outsources the development to an indie Mac developer. Considering the MBU has difficulty at times filling up their open headcounts, this might not be a bad idea.) Having Telestream port the WMP codecs to QT is probably the best solution possible, under the circumstances, given a lack of commitment from the WMP folks.

As for why the WMP folks did what they did- I know for a fact they hired at least one dedicated Mac person….and then set said person to work on other platforms as well and let the Mac stuff languish. Usually, these decisions come down to:

- money
- customer demand

In the first case, the revenue derived from Mac media player is nil, and given that, given that WiMP is probably 3rd in market share on Mac behind QT and Real, and given that Bill and Steve really, REALLY want things like WiMP for PocketPC and cable TV and so on…. well, color me unsurprised.

The customer demand part is a bit trickier. Basically, this is when some big account/high powered VIP basically says “No, not having a Mac version that doesn’t suck is a total deal breaker. Get Apple on the phone”.

I suspect the reason why Telestream is now MS”s WiMP solution on the Mac was it’s easier to hand them a check every so often than have dedicated development/testing resources for WiMP on Mac, and someone stated “you’d better have SOMETHING for the Mac or we’re walking”. (There are other Mac products at Microsoft that are developed almost the same way, BTW… while the branding is more explicitly Microsoft’s, basically Microsoft outsources the development to an indie Mac developer. Considering the MBU has difficulty at times filling up their open headcounts, this might not be a bad idea.)

]]> By: Nik http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F04%2Fbad-timing%2F&seed_title=Bad+timing/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Nik Tue, 06 Jun 2006 22:33:46 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/12#comment-26 priit & Matt, I'm with you on that. in fact, I posted a comment on the last entry, but thought I'd add my voice here too ;) http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/11#comment-23 Regards, Nik priit & Matt,

I’m with you on that. in fact, I posted a comment on the last entry, but thought I’d add my voice here too ;)

http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/11#comment-23

Regards,

Nik

]]> By: priit http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F04%2Fbad-timing%2F&seed_title=Bad+timing/comment-page-1/#comment-25 priit Tue, 06 Jun 2006 20:17:17 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/12#comment-25 Could you probably elaborate what is with that Mac video. Messenger doesn't have it, Skype for Mac does not yet ( and no data when). Is it SO different on these platforms ? Nothing in common, but just name? Could you probably elaborate what is with that Mac video. Messenger doesn’t have it, Skype for Mac does not yet ( and no data when). Is it SO different on these platforms ? Nothing in common, but just name?

]]> By: Matt http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F04%2Fbad-timing%2F&seed_title=Bad+timing/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Matt Mon, 05 Jun 2006 13:21:13 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/12#comment-22 Hi, Thanks a lot for this blog. I understand a lot of think now about the MacBU (thx to Davis W. too). Ok for WMP:Mac. Now what about Mac Messenger ? :-) Why can't we have Wizz, full support for personnal emoticon, audio and video, etc. ? :-) (well, don't want Winks) because we don't now why Mac Messenger is worse than Windows MSN Messenger... Btw, can we see a screenshot of the new Mac Office ? We can see screenshots of the new Win Office at microsoft.com but no Mac screenshot (the new toolbar rocks). Hi,

Thanks a lot for this blog. I understand a lot of think now about the MacBU (thx to Davis W. too).

Ok for WMP:Mac. Now what about Mac Messenger ? :-)

Why can’t we have Wizz, full support for personnal emoticon, audio and video, etc. ? :-) (well, don’t want Winks) because we don’t now why Mac Messenger is worse than Windows MSN Messenger…

Btw, can we see a screenshot of the new Mac Office ? We can see screenshots of the new Win Office at microsoft.com but no Mac screenshot (the new toolbar rocks).

]]> By: jcwelch http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F04%2Fbad-timing%2F&seed_title=Bad+timing/comment-page-1/#comment-21 jcwelch Mon, 05 Jun 2006 11:48:27 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/12#comment-21 Well, part of it was also that the WM team let you guys twist in the wind on this. I never saw anything from *them* claiming ownership of WiMP:Mac. I think it would be a great idea if you guys could get some better branding Well, part of it was also that the WM team let you guys twist in the wind on this. I never saw anything from *them* claiming ownership of WiMP:Mac.

I think it would be a great idea if you guys could get some better branding

]]> By: Pip http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F04%2Fbad-timing%2F&seed_title=Bad+timing/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Pip Mon, 05 Jun 2006 06:35:39 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/12#comment-20 It seems that Microsoft's web pages could be another source of confusion. Pretty much every one of Microsoft's teams has its own discrete web presence (the Xbox guys obviously get their own site, the Money guys also, etc.), but the MBU doesn't have only its products on Mactopia. Also, the MBU is *the* Mac face of Microsoft--most consumers (but hopefully not tech journalists) would naturally assume that every Mac app put out by Microsoft was done by "the Mac unit". And if only that were true...I'm sure you guys wouldn't have shipped something as bad as WMP 10 ;-). It seems that Microsoft’s web pages could be another source of confusion. Pretty much every one of Microsoft’s teams has its own discrete web presence (the Xbox guys obviously get their own site, the Money guys also, etc.), but the MBU doesn’t have only its products on Mactopia. Also, the MBU is *the* Mac face of Microsoft–most consumers (but hopefully not tech journalists) would naturally assume that every Mac app put out by Microsoft was done by “the Mac unit”. And if only that were true…I’m sure you guys wouldn’t have shipped something as bad as WMP 10 ;-) .

]]> By: Schwieb http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F04%2Fbad-timing%2F&seed_title=Bad+timing/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Schwieb Mon, 05 Jun 2006 06:27:49 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/12#comment-19 Well, 1) the MacBU doesn't have the source code and 2) we're really busy working on the products that we do make. As for disavowing it, that's the aspect I was pondering in the main post -- should we "label" products as MacBU or not? And as I said, I'm not in marketing, public relations, or upper management, so I'm not qualified to disavow it myself. Well, 1) the MacBU doesn’t have the source code and 2) we’re really busy working on the products that we do make. As for disavowing it, that’s the aspect I was pondering in the main post — should we “label” products as MacBU or not? And as I said, I’m not in marketing, public relations, or upper management, so I’m not qualified to disavow it myself.

]]> By: Ian http://www.schwieb.com/feeder/?FeederAction=clicked&feed=Articles+%28RSS2%29&seed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schwieb.com%2Fblog%2F2006%2F06%2F04%2Fbad-timing%2F&seed_title=Bad+timing/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Ian Mon, 05 Jun 2006 06:04:17 +0000 http://www.schwieb.com/blog/archives/12#comment-18 Thank you for the clarification. And I'm really not trying to be an a-hole here but if you and the MacBU are 'Mac folks' why didn't anyone try to fix it? Or at the least immediately disavow it was a BU program. Thank you for the clarification.

And I’m really not trying to be an a-hole here but if you and the MacBU are ‘Mac folks’ why didn’t anyone try to fix it? Or at the least immediately disavow it was a BU program.

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