The numbers don't lie and clearly Microsoft Windows 8 and
Windows Phone 8 products aren't doing so well. Being developers, we will really
appreciate if Microsoft can be little more transparent about how these products
are doing. What if I invest too much into
learning a new technology and it doesn't go anywhere? It has happened before.
Do you remember Silverlight and Expression Studio? Expression Blend aside, both
products got killed recently and Microsoft made no effort whatsoever to let us
know in advanced. I personally had invested a big chunk of my recent years in
these two technologies. As a matter of fact, we were prototyping live streaming
using Expression Encoder that is nowhere to found these days.
So, question remains. What is the future of Windows 8 and
Windows Phone 8? While the numbers for both Microsoft Surface Pro and Windows
Phone 8 looks bad, it seems like Microsoft is committed to them.
In its recent earnings
report, Microsoft seems to be committed to both, the Surface and Windows
Phone platforms. Microsoft may already be working on smaller tablets and other phones.
"[W]e also are working closely with OEMs on a new suite
of small touch devices powered by Windows. These devices will have competitive
price points, partly enabled by our latest OEM offerings designed specifically
for these smaller devices, and will be available in the coming months."
“Our diverse business continues to deliver solid financial
results, even as we navigate the evolving device market,” said Peter Klein,
chief financial officer at Microsoft. “Looking ahead, we will continue to
invest in long-term growth opportunities to drive our devices and services
strategy forward and deliver ongoing value to shareholders.”
In other report, Microsoft Windows Store aren't doing well either. As a matter of fact, Microsoft is giving away cash to developers to publish Windows Store apps but Microsoft just doesn't get it. It will not do it.
Microsoft leaders needs to rethink their strategy. They need to start building credibility and they need to stand behind their developers.
Learn how to build Windows Store apps here >