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What the Tech 141: Sayonara, Sinofsky

The one where Paul tells a story about Steven Sinofsky
Nov. 15, 2012 Paul Thurrott

This week on What The Tech: Microsoft’s Steven Sinofsky leaves Microsoft and Paul explains why it may not be such a bad thing. Halo 4 and Call of Duty: Black Ops II have  been released. Andrew and Paul also look at what Windows Phone 8 devices Verizon will be getting. And for the first time, text messaging is declining. Has text messaging reached it’s peak?

Running time: 2:02:04

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Discuss this Article 10

thereal_entheos
on Nov 15, 2012

I love this show, even better than Windows Weekly, but this episode is by far the best one. Paul in a way represents Windows professionals and power users, and how MS treated him thru one S.S. (coincidental initials?) was BS and the colorful language was so aprapo. The Surface is even easier to ignore now.

drnoelG
on Nov 15, 2012

This was a great show, I now appreciate Paul's new book so much more. I also understand why MJF sometimes mentioned she was persona-non-grata at Microsoft. I also saw Windows Weekly and even though I hate to say this, I think Iyaz was not a good host this time around. I like Iyaz on TNT and KH, even WW when he subs, but today he missed the mark. Today was a show to really go in depth and let Paul and MJF talk about their experiences, and even though we somewhat got this for roughly 50 minutes, I didn't find Iyaz engaging and in fact he seemed a little hesitant to keep the topic going I think Tom Merritt would have been better. Sigh. Anyways, I hope next week is better.

Callbutton
on Nov 15, 2012

I applaud Paul for keeping the conversation on track and on topic, with his offsider continually interrupting the narrative flow and digressing at every opportunity...

whiplash55
on Nov 15, 2012

Great episode, never new the extent of SS petty behavior. Seems like just yesterday many people including (I think) Paul were calling him a genius after the release of Windows 7 and calling for him to become the next CEO. Now it looks like he seriously damaged Microsoft by killing a possibly superior mobile platform that could have released a year ago.

AlcorZA
on Nov 16, 2012

Paul, I managed to catch up with watching this episode early this morning before work.

I'm rather shocked that Sinofsky comes across as such a villain, but I guess in a company like that where innovation is key to the success of the business you can't have someone stifling that, despite their own genius.

I guess to paraphrase an adage: "No one man is bigger than the sum of Microsoft's parts". He cannot singularly be the only dog in the yard there, and trying to be the biggest baddest dog of all is obviously going to cause raptures. Not surprising he left.

That said, I can't believe how they were cutting you and Raphael off! I mean you guys are doing great work to educate the world about their products and services - and doing it in a way that is beneficial to them. Sometimes I think the arrogance of companies get in the way of their ability to realize what's good for them.

I'm sure an example of this is how Apple's stock price has dropped over the last month or two.

Is there anyone out there who has the engineering pedigree and vision to take on the Windows division? In your conversation with Andrew you didn't seem to think Julie Larson-Green was going to be that person... so perhaps she's a stop-gap measure?

RyanUK
on Nov 16, 2012

Always enjoy the show. Great to hear stories about Microsoft and SS sounds like a prat

Maelstrom
on Nov 16, 2012

Well, I'm late to the party because regretfully I'm not able to make that Blip's flash player work on IE on my HTC Titan (I like to Watch you guys on the go) and was actually forced me to Watch it on IE10 on my PC.

Anyway, I've especially like that part about Sinofsky; it's been very insightful.
And coincidently, here is an article from Harvard Business Review about leadership in relation to Sinofsky's management style (so to speak) that you may find interesting (or not) especially in light to what Paul's discussed in that podcast:

http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/11/was_steven_sinofsky_a_brillian.htmlutm_s...

henador
on Nov 16, 2012

I completely disagree with the idea that the Windows group is some sort of "bad guy" at MSFT because they say "no" many times to including software from other internal groups. Those other groups try to throw piles of code over the fence all the time - and, if accepted, the Windows group has to support it essentially forever.

In addition, the implication that Windows Phone did everything right and Windows did not in the WinRT part is simply wrong. One significant example: with VS2012 I can develop a complete XAML+Direct3D app in C++. With the WinPhone8 SDK, you can't access XAML from C++, so you have to split your app into a C# shell and a C++ runtime component, with all its associated design implications. There's no respectable excuse for that.

Win Factor
on Nov 17, 2012

Paul, you do a great job. This was a good episode and I'm glad to hear a bit more of the real inside information. You're always thoughtful and informative and I do believe quite balanced.

Companies seem to have DNA that isn't easily changed. With Microsoft, it's them trying to be Apple yet still not really getting it. Take the Surface - elements of brilliance put together in a messy, confusing way - a way that is likely to fail. Yet the potential was there, they just can't close the deal. A great keyboard and snap, yet a crappy power connector. Take Windows 8 - elements of brilliance with a crappy execution - a mess of features and not really a target for excellence. An OS that is ok at a lot of things but a master of none.

Rolfski
on Nov 17, 2012

The show covered an interesting look behind the scenes, although I have a bit of a hard time with the way Steven Sinofsky is almost portrayed like an evil villain.

There must be more to this story so I found this article in defense of Sinofsky: http://microsoft-news.com/steven-sinofsky-defended/
Although I disagree with the attack on Paul in this article, it is an interesting read nonetheless, giving it some counter perspective about the why of Sinofsky being such a "jerk". Btw. Never knew he had a relationship with his lieutenant Julie for a while.

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