Windows Weekly 299: A Horse-sized Duck

The one where we can't stop talking about Sleipnir

In the latest episode of the Windows Weekly podcast, Leo Laporte, Mary Jo Foley and I break down the Surface Pro launch and debate whether it was a major win for Microsoft or an epic defeat. Plus, we discuss Windows Phone and Microsoft's "Plan B," the ongoing efforts to bring Windows and Windows Phone closer together, whether Xbox 360 is hot or not, IE 10 for Windows 7, and Microsoft's controversial new licensing scheme for retail versions of Office 2013.

Running time: 1:31:45

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Picks

Tip of the week: Increase the font size in Windows Phone 8 

While most Windows Phone users love the typography and design of the Metro user interface in their favorite mobile system, there’s one request I get regularly: How can one resize the onscreen text in Windows Phone 8 to make it more readable? It turns out you can. 

Software pick of the week: Bluestacks for Surface Pro 

I’ve shied away from software emulation for a variety of reasons, but this week’s release of a Surface Pro-optimized version of the free Bluestacks emulator has me rethinking that stance. Plus, you can’t beat the 750,000 mobile apps that are available on Android, many of which may never be ported to Windows 8.  

Enterprise pick of the week: Exchange (2010 and 2013) 

SP3 is out for Exchange 2010. Meanwhile, MS is making changes to the update/servicing model for Exchange 2013. And MS has posted a workaround for the iOS/Exchange bug   

Codename pick of the week: WinFS 

WinFS -- still on Bill Gates' mind as his biggest product regret: http://www.zdnet.com/bill-gates-biggest-microsoft-product-regret-winfs-7000011136/  

Beer pick of the week: Pike Place Kilt Lifter 

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/365/962/?sort=high&start=0

Here's hoping all those MVPs heading to Seattle will drink a few of these scotch ales and lift the covers on a few secrets :) Also: Shout out to Marques Lyons who is running a Consumer Camp event on Sat. at the MS Bellevue store 

Discuss this Article 6

Trappist
on Feb 15, 2013

Sorry to burst the bubble, but mobile Linux, sometimes called Android, already rules them all. Paul laughed at Linux for so many years. And now he is in the 2 % and Linux is the new Windows. Priceless.

pthurrott
on Feb 16, 2013

I love people who think like this. Android is not Linux. It's based on Linux, yes. But it is fundamental to the success of Android that it bears absolutely zero relation to Linux. That is in fact one of the main reasons why people like it. It's not Linux.

Trappist
on Feb 16, 2013

Paul, I love your logic on this. But it makes no sense. Something's being something is not a likeability issue, certainly not one of a Window/MSF fan. Android is "Linux" like any other OS out there running Linux. Ask the experts at Free Software Foundation if you are unsure of the architectural issues.

Android is a marketing name for a Linux-based operating system, just like Ubuntu is, or Tizen (which is architecturally further from a desktop Linux than Android is), or Red Hat, or MeeGO, or what ever.

Clearly, Windows 8 is not Windows since it looks and behaves so differently to Windows 7. I mean obviously. And Windows Phone 8 is not Windows either, or Windows server...

o0MattE0o
on Feb 16, 2013

Are Microsoft going to play nice and allow people from outside USA to buy a Surface Pro???

GreenLoco
on Feb 16, 2013

Maybe this "Blue" OS update is short for "Code Blue" as defined in hospitals ?

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital_emergency_codes#Code_Blue

jeremye
on Feb 16, 2013

I would be cautious using Bluestacks. I tried the Windows 8 beta of it not to long ago and it had a very intrusive rootkit like install that left folders and files all over the place. It also left pieces of this annoying toolbar installed. Many people posted about it on the forums and all they could do was apologize but say they never intend to change it.

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