Key insights

• User Experience and Future Technology

  • 🌐 Fundamental shift in human-computer interaction towards natural language communication and seamless user experience.
  • 🔮 Microsoft's inconsistent approach to user experience and skepticism from end users, doubts and concerns regarding Microsoft's transition to ARM architecture as a solution to user experience challenges.

• User and Developer Trust

  • 🛡️ Microsoft's failed attempt to control the user and developer experience with the ARM launch and the need for Microsoft to improve user experience to avoid losing the trust of users and developers.
  • ⚙️ Refocusing on user needs and work efficiency is crucial for a compelling Windows experience.

• Developer Support and User Experience Issues

  • 👨‍💻 Diminished internal developer support from Microsoft for game companies and challenges in obtaining support for GPU drivers and AI-enabled features.
  • 🔩 Unsatisfactory performance per watt of Qualcomm's new hardware and immature ecosystem for challenging Apple's unified system, developer experience with Apple's transition kit as compared to Microsoft's approach.
  • 🚩 Issues with start menu, Windows store, and AI features, lack of user control and unnecessary complexity in the operating system.

• Doubts about Windows on ARM Success

  • ❓ Doubts about the success of Windows on ARM after 12 years of iteration, performance and user experience concerns, and limited hardware availability affecting commercial product development.
  • 🤔 Software compatibility and user satisfaction issues, consideration of alternative platforms like Linux, Microsoft's effort to improve user experience and address Windows-related problems, and concerns about game support and universal binary for Windows on ARM.

• Compatibility and User Experience Concerns

  • 🖥️ Developers experiencing challenges with x86 emulation and game compatibility on ARM-based Windows devices.
  • 🔒 Windows on ARM dev kit not updated to the latest version of Windows 11, leading to performance and stability concerns.
  • 🛠️ View of Microsoft's handling of ARM platform as a fumble, with crashes and game compatibility issues, and vendors advising against porting to ARM.

• Challenges in ARM Transition

  • 🍎 Successful transition to ARM by Apple after years of work.
  • 🚫 Challenges faced by Microsoft and Qualcomm in their ARM platforms, with better energy efficiency but lacking performance.
  • 🕹️ Terrible developer ecosystem for ARM highlighted by a game developer's experience with Windows devkit and Snapdragon processors.

• Alleged Betrayal and Ecosystem Challenges

  • 💔 Microsoft's alleged betrayal of users, developers, and ecosystem partners in the Windows on ARM platform and Intel/AMD laptop manufacturers.
  • 🔌 Challenges in the ARM ecosystem including conflicts and discrepancies, Qualcomm's blurring of ARM in marketing and potential conflicts in the ARM CPU market, and wider appeal for ARM due to power efficiency and performance.
  • 💻 Microsoft's attempts with Windows on ARM and the difficulties faced, and the wider context of ARM's appeal for better power efficiency and performance.

Q&A

• What is the impact of Microsoft's transition to ARM on its promises and the Windows operating system?

  Microsoft's transition to ARM has failed to deliver on promises, impacting the Windows operating system and developer experience. Issues such as start menu, Windows store, AI features, user control, and unnecessary complexity have been observed.

• What is the future focus for technology in terms of user interaction with computers?

  The future of technology involves a fundamental shift towards natural language communication and seamless user experiences. Microsoft's approach to user experience, particularly in transitioning to ARM architecture, has been met with skepticism and concerns due to its inconsistent execution.

• What are the implications of Microsoft's alleged betrayal of users, developers, and ecosystem partners?

  Allegations of betrayal have led to issues with control over the user and developer experience, including unfixed GPU bugs and security concerns. Microsoft needs to refocus on user needs and work efficiency, and improve the overall user experience to avoid losing the trust of users and developers.

• How has Microsoft's handling of the ARM platform been viewed?

  Microsoft's handling of the ARM platform is viewed as a fumble, with crashes, game compatibility issues, and a lack of user and developer satisfaction. This has raised doubts about the platform's ability to address the underlying problems with Windows.

• Why are there doubts and concerns about Microsoft's transition to ARM architecture?

  There are doubts and concerns about Microsoft's transition to ARM architecture as a solution to user experience challenges. The company's inconsistent approach to user experience and the perceived inadequacies of the ARM platform have fueled skepticism and frustration among end users.

• What are the challenges faced by developers in terms of new hardware features like AI and GPU drivers?

  Developers feel unsupported by Microsoft when it comes to integrating new hardware features like AI and GPU drivers into games, leading to frustration and challenges in leveraging these technologies.

• Is the Windows on ARM experience meeting performance and user experience expectations?

  The Windows on ARM experience may not be meeting expectations for performance and user experience. There are concerns about hardware accessibility, software compatibility, and overall user satisfaction. Dissatisfaction with Windows has led developers and users to consider alternatives like Linux.

• What are the concerns regarding x86 emulation and game compatibility on ARM-based Windows devices?

  Developers are encountering challenges with x86 emulation and game compatibility on ARM-based Windows devices. Moreover, the Windows on ARM dev kit is not updated to the latest version of Windows 11, resulting in performance and stability issues. Vendors are even advising against porting to ARM due to these concerns.

• What are the challenges in the ARM ecosystem for Microsoft and Qualcomm?

  The ARM ecosystem presents challenges such as conflicts and discrepancies, with Qualcomm's ARM CPUs excelling in energy efficiency but lacking in performance. Additionally, the developer ecosystem for ARM is perceived to be subpar, as evidenced by a game developer's struggles with Windows devkit and Snapdragon processors.

• 00:00 Microsoft's alleged betrayal of users, developers, and ecosystem partners in the Windows ecosystem, particularly involving the Windows on ARM platform and Intel/AMD laptop manufacturers. The ARM ecosystem faces challenges and discrepancies, with Qualcomm, AER, and Amazon's efforts in the server space and potential conflicts in the ARM CPU market. Microsoft's attempts with Windows on ARM have faced difficulties, and Qualcomm's blurring of ARM in marketing adds another layer of complexity. The wider context includes the appeal of ARM for better power efficiency and performance.
• 06:18 The transition to ARM-based architecture by Apple has been successful, but Microsoft and Qualcomm face major challenges with their ARM platforms. Qualcomm's ARM CPUs have better energy efficiency but fall short in terms of performance. The developer ecosystem for ARM is terrible, as indicated by a game developer experiencing numerous issues with Windows devkit and Snapdragon processors.
• 12:29 Developers are facing challenges with x86 emulation and game compatibility on ARM-based Windows devices. Windows on ARM dev kit is not updated to the latest version of Windows 11, leading to performance and stability concerns. Microsoft's handling of ARM platform is viewed as a fumble, with crashes and game compatibility issues. Vendors are advising against porting to ARM.
• 18:03 The Windows on arm experience may not be meeting expectations for performance and user experience, and Microsoft is working hard to improve it. There are concerns about the lack of hardware accessibility, software compatibility, and overall user satisfaction with Windows. Developers and users are considering alternatives like Linux due to dissatisfaction with Windows. The launch of Windows on arm raises doubts about its ability to address the underlying problems with Windows.
• 23:36 Developers feel unsupported by Microsoft in terms of developer support for new hardware features like AI and GPU drivers, leading to frustration and challenges in integrating new technologies into games.
• 29:25 Microsoft has lost the plot with Windows operating system and developer experience. The transition to ARM platform failed to deliver on promises.
• 35:23 The betrayal of Microsoft's partners has led to issues with control over the user and developer experience, including unfixed GPU bugs and security issues. Microsoft needs to refocus on user needs and work efficiency, and improve the user experience to avoid losing the trust of users and developers.
• 41:45 The future of technology involves a fundamental shift in how people interact with computers, with a focus on natural language communication and seamless user experiences. Microsoft's approach to user experience has been inconsistent, leading to skepticism and frustration among end users. The company's focus on transitioning to arm architecture as a solution to user experience challenges is met with doubts and concerns.