Microsoft lost all email for 17,000 Hotmail customers, then botched the response. Is this a harbinger of Office 365 hassles?
Even a simple "We don't know what's going on, but here are the symptoms and we're working on it" pinned to the top of the Hotmail forum would've been a breath of fresh air.
Instead, on Jan. 3, Microsoft posted an official terse explanation: "We have identified the source of the issue have restored email access to those who were effected."
It's now six days since the initial problem surfaced and we still don't have any definitive word from Microsoft about what happened. In fact, we're still getting conflicting stories. At 4:55 p.m. on Jan. 5, the tech support staff posted this response to a series of inquiries about still-missing messages:
I'd like you to know that we are actively working on resolving on this issue since it's already under investigation. We will post back as soon as we have the latest news on what caused this issue. Thank you for your understanding.
For heaven's sake. Microsoft's engineering team has been working on the problem for almost a week, and that's the only explanation they can give us? Three days ago, we were told that "we have identified the source of the issue," and now the support team's telling us, "we are actively working on resolving this issue"?
Granted, on the Hotmail scale, 17,000 inboxes doesn't amount to a hill of beans. But Microsoft's ongoing fumbles in identifying and analyzing the problem; its trouble restoring user data; its muddled explanations of what happened and how the problems were resolved; and repeated communication gaffes with its customers certainly have me worried. How about you?
Read the views of online Certification Experts, which provide the real questions and correct answer and explanation for the students / professionals who are seeking or enhancing their level of expertise. more at certkingdom.com
April 29, 2011
April 27, 2011
Tablet Wars: Microsoft and HP to Unveil Apple Tablet Competitor
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is set to reveal his own rival to the Apple Tablet, according to The New York Times Bits Blog. We first learned about a Microsoft tablet device in September. We believe tomorrow’s announcement will be about the same device, currently called the Courier.
According to leaked details at that time, the Microsoft Courier is a tablet built like a notebook, with a two-screen setup and a stylus, made for saving and sharing content and “clippings” from the web. It also supposedly acts as an e-reader. The NYT piece reveals that its manufacturer will be none other than computing giant HP.
While we don’t have any more details, we do think that it makes sense for Ballmer to reveal a new device at the world’s largest gadget trade show. We’re almost certain that Apple‘s coming out with a tablet at the end of the month, and this is a strong way to counter that problem. We’ll be at Ballmer’s keynote, covering whatever may come from Microsoft and HP live tomorrow.
According to leaked details at that time, the Microsoft Courier is a tablet built like a notebook, with a two-screen setup and a stylus, made for saving and sharing content and “clippings” from the web. It also supposedly acts as an e-reader. The NYT piece reveals that its manufacturer will be none other than computing giant HP.
While we don’t have any more details, we do think that it makes sense for Ballmer to reveal a new device at the world’s largest gadget trade show. We’re almost certain that Apple‘s coming out with a tablet at the end of the month, and this is a strong way to counter that problem. We’ll be at Ballmer’s keynote, covering whatever may come from Microsoft and HP live tomorrow.
April 26, 2011
Introducing An App Store for Microsoft Outlook
This post is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark as a new part of the Spark of Genius series that focuses on a new and innovative startup each day. Every Thursday, the program focuses on startups within the BizSpark program and what they’re doing to grow.
In your inbox, who can matter more than what. If the sender is someone you know, a coworker you collaborate with or a sales lead you’ve identified, the email becomes infinitely more meaningful.
Dallas-based RedCritter connects the who to the what with RedCritter for Outlook, an app store for Outlook that includes 25 applications ranging from the social to the practical.
RedCritter’s approach is not dissimilar from Xobni’s. The email add-on lives in the right-hand side of the user’s inbox and displays a plethora of dynamic data on the sender or emails.
Founded in January 2010, RedCritter aims to be more than just a tool to enhance your email experience. It wants to be a company that builds enterprise software that incorporates the latest technologies and social media innovations to make business systems easier to use.
“I want to build a new breed of enterprise application,” says RedCritter CEO Mike Beaty. “It’s always been an interest of mine to streamline business processes.”
Apps for Outlook
RedCritter’s most consumer-friendly product is the Outlook app store, where you can install any of the company’s 25 Outlook applications. Beaty describes it as converting standard email to Inbox 2.0.
Many of the apps simply add a social media layer. The Tweets app cycles through your email senders’ recent Tweets. The Klout app displays contacts’ influence scores. The Foursquare app highlights their profiles and badges.
Business users can opt to install the sfContacts app, which creates a connection between Salesforce and Outlook. The Attachments app highlights attachments from senders, while the Office Docs and Google Docs apps find documents related to your email or contacts.
With a Basecamp app, Highrise app, Constant Contact app and even a Dual Clock app for seeing the email sender’s time, there’s no shortage of convenience and context that can be added to the inbox experience.
RedCritter Labs
The startup is developing more enterprise products, such as RedCritter Guide and RedCritter Tracker. Beaty lumps them all under the RedCritter Labs label but suggests that individual products may be spun out as their own entities in the future.
RedCritter Guide is for website owners and is designed to help them enhance the usability of websites with easy-to-create interactive guided tours and online product demos for site visitors. The product is in an invitation stage, but readers can enter “MASHABLE” as the invitation code to gain access.
RedCritter Tracker, a web-based project management tool slated for July release, aims to improve the work relationship between companies and their developers. Tracker weaves gamification elements into the project management experience — so companies can reward developers for completing tasks.
“RedCritter Tracker offers streamlined project management for Agile methodology along with tightly integrated message feeds, gamification and rewards,” Beaty says.
The product includes a rewards store so developers can exchange their achievements for gift cards and other prizes.
“Developers will have a day-to-day incentive to complete more complicated tasks,” says Beaty, himself a long-time developer.
Critter Who?
RedCritter has been under the radar, Beaty says, focused on building and releasing new products. Meanwhile, other startups in the email-meets-social intelligence space command headlines on a regular basis.
Still, Beaty says investors are very excited by the Outlook tools. They have the opportunity to reach more than 500 million Outlook users. The investors he has talked to are also enthusiastic about Tracker’s gamification elements.
Beaty’s next big decision will be whether to take funding and move out west. While he doesn’t need outside capital to continue research and development on RedCritter products, he admits to being at a disadvantage by not being in Silicon Valley.
“You’re not in the club if you’re not out there,” he says.
Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark
Microsoft BizSpark
The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.
In your inbox, who can matter more than what. If the sender is someone you know, a coworker you collaborate with or a sales lead you’ve identified, the email becomes infinitely more meaningful.
Dallas-based RedCritter connects the who to the what with RedCritter for Outlook, an app store for Outlook that includes 25 applications ranging from the social to the practical.
RedCritter’s approach is not dissimilar from Xobni’s. The email add-on lives in the right-hand side of the user’s inbox and displays a plethora of dynamic data on the sender or emails.
Founded in January 2010, RedCritter aims to be more than just a tool to enhance your email experience. It wants to be a company that builds enterprise software that incorporates the latest technologies and social media innovations to make business systems easier to use.
“I want to build a new breed of enterprise application,” says RedCritter CEO Mike Beaty. “It’s always been an interest of mine to streamline business processes.”
Apps for Outlook
RedCritter’s most consumer-friendly product is the Outlook app store, where you can install any of the company’s 25 Outlook applications. Beaty describes it as converting standard email to Inbox 2.0.
Many of the apps simply add a social media layer. The Tweets app cycles through your email senders’ recent Tweets. The Klout app displays contacts’ influence scores. The Foursquare app highlights their profiles and badges.
Business users can opt to install the sfContacts app, which creates a connection between Salesforce and Outlook. The Attachments app highlights attachments from senders, while the Office Docs and Google Docs apps find documents related to your email or contacts.
With a Basecamp app, Highrise app, Constant Contact app and even a Dual Clock app for seeing the email sender’s time, there’s no shortage of convenience and context that can be added to the inbox experience.
RedCritter Labs
The startup is developing more enterprise products, such as RedCritter Guide and RedCritter Tracker. Beaty lumps them all under the RedCritter Labs label but suggests that individual products may be spun out as their own entities in the future.
RedCritter Guide is for website owners and is designed to help them enhance the usability of websites with easy-to-create interactive guided tours and online product demos for site visitors. The product is in an invitation stage, but readers can enter “MASHABLE” as the invitation code to gain access.
RedCritter Tracker, a web-based project management tool slated for July release, aims to improve the work relationship between companies and their developers. Tracker weaves gamification elements into the project management experience — so companies can reward developers for completing tasks.
“RedCritter Tracker offers streamlined project management for Agile methodology along with tightly integrated message feeds, gamification and rewards,” Beaty says.
The product includes a rewards store so developers can exchange their achievements for gift cards and other prizes.
“Developers will have a day-to-day incentive to complete more complicated tasks,” says Beaty, himself a long-time developer.
Critter Who?
RedCritter has been under the radar, Beaty says, focused on building and releasing new products. Meanwhile, other startups in the email-meets-social intelligence space command headlines on a regular basis.
Still, Beaty says investors are very excited by the Outlook tools. They have the opportunity to reach more than 500 million Outlook users. The investors he has talked to are also enthusiastic about Tracker’s gamification elements.
Beaty’s next big decision will be whether to take funding and move out west. While he doesn’t need outside capital to continue research and development on RedCritter products, he admits to being at a disadvantage by not being in Silicon Valley.
“You’re not in the club if you’re not out there,” he says.
Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark
Microsoft BizSpark
The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.
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