Silverlight

As reported by Ars Technica, Microsoft is set to formally announce Silverlight, their alternative to Adobe's Flash format online animation and video utility (formerly developed by Macromedia prior to being purchased by Adobe). I'm all for competition and driving down prices and inspiring innovation through alternative development platforms and software titles, but my question is... Why does it have to be Microsoft? It seems like there isn't a single market that's safe from the Redmond-based megacorporation, that they don't think they should own and operate and dictate with an iron fist. First came their announcement of the PDF alternative format they were working on, known as XPS (XML Paper Specification, code named 'Metro'), and now this.

Let me tell you something: Microsoft needs to stay out of Adobe's space. They NEED to stay out. The last thing we need is to make professional printing work even harder by releasing multiple print document formats to juggle. We also don't need competition to Flash. Flash is a standard, it's a growing format that's coming very well refined and starting to be a bit more practical as internet speeds slowly creep faster and faster (though still pale in comparison to European internet speeds). At some point when Adobe begins to rest on their laurels and release full number version upgrades to Flash and Acrobat that barely feature any changes, that is when someone needs to step up and work to improve innovation in the market, but Adobe continually releases products that are a huge improvement over previous versions despite a clear lack of any competition. What alternative to Photoshop is there that can even touch the sheer amount that you can do with it? None that I know of. Illustrator? Used to be Freehand, but that died with the Macromedia brand. InDesign? Supposedly there is, but I swear Quark is about to go belly up because it's the most god-awful piece of software ever. What's next, Windows Photo Darkroom and Finishing Pro, the first Photoshop alternative? Oh god, I probably gave them to idea and they'll certainly be making an announcement of development in a few weeks...

Microsoft needs to be broken up into different companies so that they'll stop encroaching on so many different markets that they don't belong in, or that they simply want to control with mediocre software and brand recognition. Just like any other megacorporation, the more money they make the more money they feel they should get, so every possibly outlet that they could pull cash from they dive into. When I got my 360 I felt that the console market may be one that MS actually belonged in, but in recent weeks it's looking more and more like just another outlet for a tremendous revenue, considering how much we pay for Live, how much of a cut they receive from Marketplace content, and how much they get in licensing fees. Proof positive that greed can be an ugly thing.

Stay out of my design realm, Microsoft. There's no place for you here.



Like Adobe will give up its space, anyway. Guess what... Acrobat will never adopt XPS. Flash will never adopt Silverlight. Therefore, no creative professional will ever use it. Don't waste your time.

UPDATE:
MacWorld is featuring a statement by Bruce Chizen, CEO of Adobe, in which he iterates Microsoft's tendency for Windows-only software and how that would be a final nail in the coffin of any new format they are presenting. He cites previous examples of key Windows technologies like Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer, both had versions for the Mac operating system, but ceased development in recent years.

Chizen also stated, “Microsoft is a $50 billion monopolist who’s in the software business. I take them very seriously.”

These are excellent points that are made. Microsoft has a track record of developing products for Windows and leaving the Mac Business Unit to port over key software such as Office and Microsoft Messenger, but very little more, if any. In cases like the Zune, Microsoft is happy to shut out the Mac user base, perhaps attempting their own version of the mythological "halo effect" to pull anyone they can from / back to the Windows platform. Or simply to tell Mac users that they don't matter because the biggest software giant in the world doesn't want to take the time or resources to create software for them. On the note of being the biggest software giant, despite the hold that Adobe has on the Flash market, as well as PDF, if any company can make moves to overthrow that it's Microsoft. However, there would have to be some very unfair business practices needed, simply because of the lack of a need for alternative formats.

*I'd like to say something here about Apple, but can't due to NDA / employment / etc*

I'm going to pull this away from being a complete Microsoft bashing post and call attention to the fact that Adobe is developing its own video format that's meant for streaming media to take Flash video a step further and provide better quality, faster streaming, and better DRM to compete directly with Apple's Quicktime and Microsoft's Windows Media Player format. Much as I'm a fan of pushing the industry forward from competition, I don't think this is at all necessary. There are already way too many video types out there, between Quicktime (.mov, .mpg, .m4v, h.264, etc), Windows Media Player, Flash video, DivX, XviD, Real Media.... why do we need yet ANOTHER format to juggle around, to download codecs for, to update.... we don't need the headache. Companies instead need to partner to refine the existing formats, widdle them down to only a few (I vote h.264, DivX or XviD) and jointly develop those to ensure compatibility all through the internet instead of having to worry when you go to a new media website whether or not the embedded video is going to play or not.