How many of you believe that Microsoft is using Windows Live to steal other company's ideas for Windows 8?

Hello allm

I'm rather curious about this ever since I began to think of it this way. I was talking to somebody earlier today, and we got into the discussion of the new login and Windows Live deep integration that Microsoft is planning for Windows 8 (which I can't wait to get my hands on both the client and server versions of the OS). Well anyway, my friend tends to follow the belief that the integration of Sky drive with the OS and all of the other stuff is in a way stealing the ideas of Apple and their ideas for integration due to all of the stuff that iCloud does. I mean, the question is which one came first? And do you guys agree?

You could say that Apple stole the iCloud Idea from Google then. Cloud Computing is nothing new, and cannot be patented, so no I do not believe that MS is stealing other companies ideas.

Well, both Apple and Microsoft stold the graphics user interface.
They both swiped it from Xerox at the Palo Alto Research center

The mouse, and the concept of how we use our computers today, and supsequent devices, was neither of their ideas.

Get the movie Triumph of the Nerds or Pirates of Silicone Valley at your local library and watch them

Edit: Also read the Road Ahead by Bill Gates and Programmers at Work

That is very interesting indeed. I'll have to refer her to this thread.

Microsoft is really the alter ego of Skynet.

Bent on world domination.

Microsoft existed long before Skynet
If it wasnt for Microsoft Skynet probably would not have existed.

How does one eliminate ones competition?
Buy them out and shut them down.
Sound familiar?

buy them out, shut them down, and blow everything else up ;)

Scene in Pirates of Silicon Valley:



Bill admitting he stole from Apple:

I actually agree with cryptodan on this.

... we got into the discussion of the new login and Windows Live deep integration that Microsoft is planning for Windows 8 ... I mean, the question is which one came first? And do you guys agree?

(My 'facts' may be a bit off, but...)

One of the stupid things that I remember MS reps saying (in court); "Nobody owns the idea factory." Even before MS asserted that IE was a core part of the Windows OS (and it was not, at that point in time) the MS strategy has been gone something like this;

1) incorporate as many non-MS technologies (or legally useable similar versions) as possible (e.g. XML)

2) force independent software and hardware manufacturers to make substantial commitments (read as 'barrier to entry') before allowing them access to source code for the purpose of creating drivers which will work with the Windows OS.
(this policy led to few available drivers for Vista as the independents balked)

3) ruthless efficiency, a fanatical devotion to the pope, nice red uniforms...

I have a large amount of contempt for the "Games For Windows Live" service, and refuse to update it as I use an older version that allows me basic DRM functionality. I have to admit that Windows 7 was several positive steps forward, despite its flaws - which I won't annoy you with now.

I cannot speculate about who owned what technologies first, but I won't be at all surprised by MS' future legal battles.

I would suggest, however, that by integrating everything under the sun, MS is making itself vulnerable to competition. Compare the big, clunky, and obtrusive Yahoo! client with Pidgin, and you'll see what I mean.

[Full Disclosure: I like Pidgin!]

A bit of an aside
When patent laws and copywriter laws were introduced the concept of writing being used as a tool was unknown and not envisioned.
I believe they way it works is that patent holders have 17 years of exclusive use to their idea.I think copyright holders have 75 years after the death of the holder of the copyright
For a patent I believe the thought was after a reasonable length of time society at large should be able to benefit from an invention.
This may be why you see drug prices so high.Drug companies need to recover their investments before the patent expires. Soon after generics quickly start competing.
If the same laws applied to software think how much faster the industry could grow by allowing others to expand on the original concepts.

Animal

You got that clip in Pirates of Silicon valley where Bill bought DOS from a Seattle firm for 50 grand?
And sold IBM an operating system that he did not yet have?

That decision changed computing forever!

Microsoft is really the alter ego of Skynet.

Bent on world domination.

every one is believe me

" because they can "

If I remember correctly, Mr. Gates left IBM with DOS and a idea of personal computers for everybody. IBM though he was crazy and the rest is history.