BREAKING: Sinofsky out at Microsoft.

[scaramonga]

I've been using it just fine. Loving the new apps and Start Screen. Just the facelift Windows needed. It's brought development back to the platform that consumers can enjoy.

Frankly, I'd rather watch paint dry.

[MorganX]

Sorry, but nope. Julie Larson-Green was also one of the folks behind some of the big changes here. She did a lot of work for Office. She was one of the folks that led the way for the Ribbon UI elements. She also is one of the primary people handling design for Windows.

So what you're hoping for and the scenario you are proposing? Not in line with reality.

Well she did a great job with Office. Office 2013 is superb. Let's face it, even with the annoying compromises in Windows 8, there's NO WAY windows could exist on phones and tablets with the Explorer UI/UX. Just not possible, that's why it failed on tablets.

Transitioning from the Explorer UI/UX to Metro/Modern is no easy task. I think after the initial shock wears off, people will realize what a task it was, and they did a pretty good job. As long as they keep updating apps and OS, it will be fine. For tablets it's great, it's when you transition back and forth that it's irritating and they really should unify Search. I mean really. They can't leave search the way it is.

[Dot Matrix]

Frankly, I'd rather watch paint dry.

Then go watch it dry? Frankly, you can't have a consumer OS that is falling by the wayside with consumers. Just not how things work. Windows 8 apps brought the band back together - sort to speak. You're never going to see these apps in Win32 form, and some of these are now considered essential.

[Shane Nokes]

This is majorly bad news for MS, he was last competent high ranking senior executive. Ballmer must be over the moon that he's secured his job for years as one by one the "thinkers" left.

1. Actually he wasn't the last, in fact nowhere near the last.

2. Actually that would be the opposite of securing his job. I don't think that term means what you think it means.

It's not unusual for people to leave after completing projects. I've done it myself in search of new things. Doesn't mean I think what I've done "sucks".

Indeed. That's usually how it works in the business world. You usually stay on until a project is complete and all the last loose ends are tied up, then you make the announcement to move on.

Well she did a great job with Office. Office 2013 is superb. Let's face it, even with the annoying compromises in Windows 8, there's NO WAY windows could exist on phones and tablets with the Explorer UI/UX. Just not possible, that's why it failed on tablets.

Transitioning from the Explorer UI/UX to Metro/Modern is no easy task. I think after the initial shock wears off, people will realize what a task it was, and they did a pretty good job. As long as they keep updating apps and OS, it will be fine. For tablets it's great, it's when you transition back and forth that it's irritating and they really should unify Search. I mean really. They can't leave search the way it is.

Why can't they leave search the way it is? It's an extra click of a button (or press of a finger) to switch what you are searching. It helps keep search nice and clean.

I don't want to wade through tons of files that have the word 'add user' located somewhere in the file to find something about adding users that is in the settings area.

[The Evil Overlord]

Does this mean that the next Version of windows will have simpler methods for users who like to customise log on sounds without installing third party programs like we used to with XP?

[Dot Matrix]

Does this mean that the next Version of windows will have simpler methods for users who like to customise log on sounds without installing third party programs like we used to with XP?

Hate to say it, but log on sounds are so 1995... Don't miss them at all.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

I say, good luck to him, wherever he goes or with whatever he decides to do. The man worked at Microsoft for many years, and frankly, I have nothing but respect for both him and his decision. (Although shocking when I first read about it) (Y)

[Dot Matrix]

Here it is. I do believe someone called this on the front page:

SOURCE: Sinofsky's Out At Microsoft Because He Wanted Steve Ballmer's Job

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/why-steven-sinofsky-left-microsoft-2012-11#ixzz2C4CPh81D

[remixedcat]

hmmm shocked to see him go he seemed like he was pushing MS into a new direction and would have done a better job at leading than sweaty ballmer

[PGHammer]

Well she did a great job with Office. Office 2013 is superb. Let's face it, even with the annoying compromises in Windows 8, there's NO WAY windows could exist on phones and tablets with the Explorer UI/UX. Just not possible, that's why it failed on tablets.

Transitioning from the Explorer UI/UX to Metro/Modern is no easy task. I think after the initial shock wears off, people will realize what a task it was, and they did a pretty good job. As long as they keep updating apps and OS, it will be fine. For tablets it's great, it's when you transition back and forth that it's irritating and they really should unify Search. I mean really. They can't leave search the way it is.

At last - someone actually gets it. (Sounds sarcastic, but not only am I as serious as TIA (also known as tachycardia - a rather nasty form of irrythmic heartbeat that can be, and has been, fatal - among the more famous victims was Len Bias), it's something I've been trying to point that out since the Consumer Preview of Windows 8.)

Also, for all the detraction that has been aimed at the Modern UI, take a look at the sales numbers, now that it's out there and competing heads-up with Android (I'm referring specifically to Surface) and even the iPad. Here's a product with no history, and an alien UI - and it's selling solidly. (So much for WindowsRT being a failure.)

Here's the other side of the push with ModernUI (or as the late Paul Harvey would put it - the rest of the story). WindowsRT owners (and Surface owners in particular) will also likely give Windows 8 (WindowsRT's big brother) a second look - if they haven't gone and upgraded already. WindowsRT could actually drive sales of Windows 8. (Naturally, the reverse can be expected to happen as well.) Either way, Microsoft wins.

The Windows8/ModernUI App Store - The rubber well and truly meets the road here - the challenge for *developers* is to design apps that work on multiple form-factors (for now, I'm excluding smartphones running Windows Phone 8); those that pull it off will gain recognition and (for paid apps) sales and revenues. Until now, app development has been largely stovepiped - even within a category; WinRT is the first platform to broaden the base of small/casual app development targeting in a truly meaningful way. Yes - pulling this off would be, in fact, monstrous for Microsoft; after all, it hadn't been done before. However, it would be a bigger win for developers than even for Microsoft.

Office 2013 - for Office 2010 customers, this is largely an evolutionary, not revolutionary, upgrade - and that is *despite* the addition of SkyDrive Pro, touch support, etc. The improvements to Office (and the applications thereof) are all about mostly little things (reduction of RAM footprint, making the applications themselves friendlier to multitasking, reduced need for add-ins, etc.); however, as has pretty much been the case with every version of Office since 2003, it becomes yet another no-brainer upgrade from the previous version. (As I said I would, I'm running the RTM of Office 2013 today.)

[rfirth]

He threatened to quit if he didn't get the nod [to be named Ballmer's successor as CEO]. Ballmer, who has previously indicated he plans to keep running Microsoft until he retires in 2017 or 2018, called his bluff

Apparently Sinofsky wasn't bluffing...

[Calum Veteran]

I don't think Sinofsky liked the way Windows 8 turned out. I don't think he likes the design at all.

This comment of his on one of his Facebook posts indicates you might be wrong about that: "This is my first quad hd. I am really liking it especially because the Windows 8 experience scales so well... the apps like Bing look amazing and make it so easy to immerse yourself in the news." But maybe he was just saying that because he worked at the company at that point :) Maybe we'll find out, when we see what Sinofsky does next. I would love it if he started working at Apple, but I doubt that would happen.

[firey]

Well, since MS decided to go the 8 route, I've lost interest in them, unfortunately it wasn't some metro people leaving, instead of him. However have to see what the future holds, hopefully it contains less metro, and more desktop, but have to wait and see.

[Dot Matrix]

hopefully it contains less metro, and more desktop, but have to wait and see.

But when desktops and mobile devices are merging, you can't have that. Metro will be carrying the hardware forward from this point on. The desktop is just becoming to archaic to use and develop for, when you have new technologies that can't play with it.

[firey]

But when desktops and mobile devices are merging, you can't have that. Metro will be carrying the hardware forward from this point on. The desktop is just becoming to archaic to use and develop for, when you have new technologies that can't play with it.

But desktops and mobile devices don't HAVE to merge. Desktops are desktops, plain and simple. Mobile != Desktop, and it should never be. I'd take a desktop over any device (including a laptop (essentially they are the same)) any day.

[Colin McGregor]

Windows 8 happened. Apparently Microsoft isn't anywhere near as suicidal as some of Neowin's most vocal Metro apologists would have us believe. Sinofsky blew it big time, and now he's gone.

I'm looking forward to what Windows 9 will be like. Hopefully a major course correction.

as long as they keep metro and make sure the start button stays gone Windows 9 will be a success as well.

[Dot Matrix]

But desktops and mobile devices don't HAVE to merge. Desktops are desktops, plain and simple. Mobile != Desktop, and it should never be. I'd take a desktop over any device (including a laptop (essentially they are the same)) any day.

But when you have devices that can fill both roles (transformers, laptops) you have a conundrum. You're also taking a look at touch AiO's and HTPCs where the desktop drags down the UX, and you're looking at a pretty significant chuck of the PC market that is asking for a change in the way Windows operates.

Eitherway, Windows 8 and Metro represent the way forward. It's brought back development to the platform, and has re-invigorated consumer interest. Microsoft can't simply abandon that, and return to a dead paradigm.

[Melfster]

I really think Ballmer needs to resign this would fix a lot of Microsoft's problems. They also to re-org their top management and bring in new people.

[firey]

But when you have devices that can fill both roles (transformers, laptops) you have a conundrum. You're also taking a look at touch AiO's and HTPCs where the desktop drags down the UX, and you're looking at a pretty significant chuck of the PC market that is asking for a change in the way Windows operates.

But that doesn't mean it's right for everyone. As stated, give me a desktop over a laptop, tablet, etc any day. I want dual screens, with a solid CPU, and the strength of a Desktop GPU and Hardware. I don't want to trade that off for mobility that I don't need.

Just because some people use AiO and Touch PC's doesn't mean everyone, and doesn't mean that it has to be the focus.

[Colin McGregor]

But that doesn't mean it's right for everyone. As stated, give me a desktop over a laptop, tablet, etc any day. I want dual screens, with a solid CPU, and the strength of a Desktop GPU and Hardware. I don't want to trade that off for mobility that I don't need.

Just because some people use AiO and Touch PC's doesn't mean everyone, and doesn't mean that it has to be the focus.

touch isn't the focus. I don't get how for years people use a computer and think they are pros then an OS comes around that works just as good touch as it does mouse and all of a sudden people go braindead and forget how to use a mouse.

[firey]

touch isn't the focus. I don't get how for years people use a computer and think they are pros then an OS comes around that works just as good touch as it does mouse and all of a sudden people go braindead and forget how to use a mouse.

Read what I was talking about. And don't for one minute tell me that Metro wasn't designed with touch in mind. If you honestly think that, then you sir, are the one that is braindead.

[Colin McGregor]

Read what I was talking about. And don't for one minute tell me that Metro wasn't designed with touch in mind. If you honestly think that, then you sir, are the one that is braindead.

adding touch of course was in mind but MS isn't stupid enough to make a strictly touch OS with such a huge market. There is nothing touch does that you cant do with a mouse. People just love to cry and its sad that a supposed tech site like neowin has so many people that can't grasp something as easy as windows 8.

[firey]

adding touch of course was in mind but MS isn't stupid enough to make a strictly touch OS with such a huge market. There is nothing touch does that you cant do with a mouse. People just love to cry and its sad that a supposed tech site like neowin has so many people that can't grasp something as easy as windows 8.

Many touch screens (atleast on desktops) use internal (sometimes external) usb devices to emulate the touch (essentially a built in mouse) so yes.. it would have to use mouse regardless. It's not about grasping it, it's not about the functionality.. it's about the experience. It's about how you feel using something, I hate using Mac OS just because I don't like the operation, same goes for 8 and Metro. I don't like how it feels, and I can guarantee others feel as I do.

[Colin McGregor]

Many touch screens (atleast on desktops) use internal (sometimes external) usb devices to emulate the touch (essentially a built in mouse) so yes.. it would have to use mouse regardless. It's not about grasping it, it's not about the functionality.. it's about the experience. It's about how you feel using something, I hate using Mac OS just because I don't like the operation, same goes for 8 and Metro. I don't like how it feels, and I can guarantee others feel as I do.

then use Windows 7 or Install Linux and help them get to 0.5% userbase. Im sure they would like that.

[123456789A]

I just received word that Microsoft is hiring Linus Torvalds to head the Windows X project.