Microsoft has surpassed Apple in making the operating
system look like a smartphone
Beta version of Mac OS X (code name is Mountain Lion) and Windows 8 is being
checked throughout the world, and although they are quite different, they share
a common characteristic: both take designs and features built for smartphone and tablet, and put them in desktop
computer and laptop. Does this mean Apple and Microsoft believe that your computer is only a big smartphone? And what is these new upgrades’ meaning for IT?
Microsoft
has surpassed Apple in making the operating system look like a
smartphone. Tiled interface of Windows 8
is taken directly from Windows Phone 7 and is clearly designed for touch screen rather
than mouse and keyboard. Familiar Windows’ background is reduced – you cannot
even directly start into it – and very little effort is putting in changing it.
What you start into is a tiled interface named Metro, which
represents for one of the big overhaul of the operating system. At first, Metro
was designed for phone, and at this time, it seems to be much present at
tablets rather than desktop computers. But its presence in Windows 8
implies that Microsoft intends to unify Windows
interface on all bases. So, what we are seeing is a complete reverse of Windows Mobile’s beginning, when Microsoft designs phone interface that looks like Windows
desktop computer version.
Apple’s changes in Mac
OS X’s beta version that has just
been launched are not as big as those of Microsoft, but they also aim at making
desktop computer and laptop more look like smartphone and tablet. Some initial
apps developed for iOS are shifted to Mac
OS X. But more important
information is that Mountain Lion fully integrates with iCloud so as existing
data and settings can be synced throughout all Apple devices, including iPad and iPhone.
Base on initial reports, Apple seems to do better than Microsoft
in choosing mobile-related features that they can put into operating system
while keeping operating system aiming at desktop computer and laptop. Key
factors of Mac OS X did not change so much in addition to some
changes and complements, the most remarkable is iOS integration. On the other
hand, Mac OS X does not look like the operating system of desktop
computer or laptop and is not optimized to work on them.
Influence on
IT
Upgrade Mac OS X will not cause much influence on IT department.
Though Apple’s hardware is getting more and more popular among businesses, it
still does not become a standard in most companies, and so, many IT departments
will not get involved with it. In companies where a large number of iPads as
well as laptops and Mac desktop computers are being used, re-design will have
little influence on benefits due to iCloud integration.
Windows
8 overhaul represents the situation
of ‘good and bag news’ for IT. The bad news is that Metro will create serious
headache for IT because of supportive matters, and because it is likely that
new Metro apps does not do well with current business software. The good news
is that Windows 8 will be used for Windows 8
tablets, so businesses can deploy and manage tablet more easily at this time.
Finally, Windows 8 nucleus will also be used on artphone.
Therefore, it turns out that Windows 8 will help IT easily deploy hardware of desktop
computer, laptop, and mobile with an only tool.
