In the latest episode of the Windows Weekly podcast, Leo and I are joined by special guest Mary Jo Foley and discuss the Windows 8 schedule, Microsoft's pursuit of Android patent licensees, Facebook and Skype, PCs and simplicity, Small Business Server 2011 Essentials, new improvements to Hotmail, Word Web App co-authoring, Xbox brand consolidation, the death of Zune Originals, and Verizon Wireless move to tiered data plans.
Running time: 1:50:25
Download Audio
Download Video (High)
Download Video (Low)
Picks and tips
Windows Weekly tip of the week: Windows users should drop Dropbox and use Windows Live Mesh with rare exceptions. Live Mesh is superior in some important ways and better integrated with Windows.
Also: Follow-up to last week. I mentioned that Firefox and Chrome lagged IE in businesses because of a lack of basic policy support. This is true of Firefox, but it turns out Chrome does have business-oriented deployment and management tools.
Windows 7 app pick: Ninite Updater. It's like Automatic Updates ... but for all of your apps. $9.99 a year.
Windows Phone 7 app pick: The Onion. The web's funniest e-zine goes mobile in fine form.
Mobile pick: Bing for iPad 1.1. Now with Lasso. "Simply lasso a word or phrase with your finger to do a search instead of copying and pasting into the search box. Search the way it was meant for the iPad."
Audible pick of the week: Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson, narrated by Mike Chamberlain. Forget the zombie apocalypse. Once we have robots everywhere, the robot uprising is going to be the real problem!