Rescue teams this week uncovered the body of your faithful WIR reporter, buried under more that 50 feet of snow. A note found next to the body read: “Supplies failing. iPhone battery nearly dead. Still, must put out Week in Review.”
News of the mobile: SDK edition
New goodies in the mobile developer basket for both major camps this week. The folks at Google have issued unto the masses the Android 3.0 SDK preview, which includes a platform build. The 3.0 drop will be the one that the new generation of Android tablets will be deployed with. It includes goodies — like 3D acceleration — intended to enrich the experience of tablet users. I’m sure there will be lots of information about at it Google I/O, which opens up for general signups on February 7, although pre-invites have already gone out to previous attendees.
Meanwhile, the third beta of iOS 4.3 has appeared. We’ll probably see two or three more betas before the gold master goes out, if past performance is any judge. The latest version of iOS continues the theme of AirPlay, Apple TV and iPad tweaks that have been present in the first two betas. The Apple WWDC is sometime in June, but no word yet on when, or even when sign-ups will occur, as usual. This makes life oh-so fun for those of us who would like to go, as it essentially places the whole month of June on hold.
Last one out at Microsoft, please shut off the lights
For a company that was the hot place to work just a few years ago, Microsoft seems to be experiencing some major brain-drain at the top end of the pay grade. This week, Scott Prevost, who was the principal development manager for Bing, jumped ship to eBay. He joins a veritable Who’s Who of senior Microsoft talent that has left La Vida Redmond recently.
It’s common to see turnover at the highest ranks of any large company. It’s just statistics at work in most cases. But there’s been more than even a statistical blip could explain at Microsoft lately. It’s hard not to imagine that a lot of the shine may have left the Microsoft apple as they struggle on a number of fronts, including financially (although no one is expecting them to start selling pencils any time soon.) Given that Windows Phone 7 appears to have landed with more of a splat than a bounce, at least for the moment, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some high-placed mobile talent ending their tenure in Washington state in the near future.
The Interwebs, circa 1994
Want a reminder of just how far the Internet has gone in a mere decade and a half? Check out this view of the Internet, circa 1994, which has been making the rounds (but quickly, before someone takes it down with a DMCA notice!).
It’s absolutely painful to watch the cluelessness of the “Today Show” hosts. Now fast forward to today, where revolutions in far-flung countries are being organized via Twitter and one of the first thing that Egypt did to quell protests was to cut off their net access. Not such an obscure technology anymore, is it?
The good news is, if you want to see a group of people still clueless about the Internet, all you need to do is head on over to Washington, DC, and watch any debate about Net Neutrality in Congress!
Assuming the roof doesn’t collapse and the sled dogs make it to my house before we starve, there will be another edition of the Week in Review here next week. Suggestions are always welcome, so please send tips or news here.
