ozzie

Ray Ozzie bringing 'syncromesh' to the Web

Ray Ozzie has a history of trying to break through software and usability barriers. With Lotus Notes, he and his team spent years creating the underlying client/server collaboration technology to enable synchronization, or replication of e-mail online and offline.

His second major initiative, Groove Networks, took the synchronization and collaboration concept into the peer-to-peer realm, allowing individual PCs to communicate directly with one another.

Groove Networks was sold to Microsoft in March 2005, and Ozzie began his next major iteration on a much bigger stage, as Microsoft's chief software architect.

Ozzie teased the next evolution of his decades-long … Read more

Microsoft looking for a Silverlight bullet

LAS VEGAS--Microsoft is looking to position its Silverlight Web technology as the coolest kid in school--one that is both popular and gets along with everyone.

At the Mix '08 show here, the company talked about its Mac, Linux, and mobile-phone compatibility and brought out customers like Hard Rock Cafe, NBC, and AOL to talk about how they are using the technology. It also showed Silverlight running on the newest compatible device--Nokia's smartphones.

Microsoft's Scott Guthrie also alluded to support for Apple's iPhone, saying Microsoft wants Silverlight running on "anything that has an SDK (software development kit)."

In the Hard Rock Cafe example, the restaurant and hotel chain used the technology to showcase its massive, 70,000-piece collection of rock artifacts. "This is 2 billion pixels," said a representative of the company who built the site for the Hard Rock.

AOL showed off a new version of AOL Mail, while NBC touted its plans to use Silverlight to bring more than 2,200 hours of video both live and on-demand.

It's all part of Microsoft's aggressive pitch to Web developers, a clear acknowledgment that Microsoft faces a tough battle to win the hearts and minds of those who build Web sites and applications.

"I know today you have many amazing technology choices," Ray Ozzie said in his introductory comments. "But I'd like you to bet on us because I think together we can create extraordinary experiences.… Read more

Ozzie opens Mix with Yahoo mention

Editor's note: CNET News.com's Ina Fried blogged Microsoft Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie's address live from Mix '08.

LAS VEGAS--Microsoft Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie decided he didn't want to share the stage with an elephant.

In the first minute of his speech at Mix '08, the company's Web-focused confab here, he talked about all of the things Microsoft has done in the online arena over the past year.

"And then there's Yahoo," Ozzie said, adding that there isn't much he can say about Microsoft's pending bid.

"I … Read more

Ozzie outlines Microsoft's embrace and extend to the cloud strategy

Following a most amazing pre-keynote performance by Vince Mira, a 15-year-old with the voice of Johnny Cash without the gravel, Microsoft Chief Software Architect took the stage to update the software and services strategy, in the context of content, commerce and community, for company.

As News.com's Ina Fried chronicled in her play-by-play of the keynote, Ozzie offered carefully orchestrated nod to the bid for Yahoo. "I can say its [Yahoo] already added some interesting twists to what promises to be a really, really exciting year," he said.

He noted the huge growth coming in search and … Read more

New services, frameworks and tools on tap for Mix

Coming up this week, Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie will make one of his rare public appearances to give developers the latest word on the future of the Web and Microsoft software at the Mix '08 conference in Las Vegas.

Ozzie is heading up Microsoft's effort to embrace the Web as a platform, which started in October 2005, when Bill Gates fired off a memo to his executive staff and distinguished engineers with the following call to action:

"The next sea change is upon us. We must recognize this change as an opportunity to take our offerings to … Read more

Microsoft finally learning to let 'X' talk to 'Y'

Fortune had the best headline in the a.m. to describe the latest Redmond reversal: Glasnost at Microsoft.

Catchy, but was it entirely accurate? More about that in a moment. Briefly put, Microsoft promised to ensure interoperability with competitors' offerings by publishing technical information about its own technology. At the same time, Microsoft said developers will no longer need to obtain a license or pay royalties.

For a deeper dive, here's the URL to our special coverage. Also, Erick Schonfeld over at Techcrunch had a post worth checking out.

The pledge triggered the predictable avalanche of press coverage. On … Read more

Microsoft's open-source patent threat still intact

Microsoft made major concessions Thursday that should make it easier for open-source software to dovetail with or even replace Microsoft products, but a major caveat means the company's legal threats remain alive and well.

Microsoft announced a number of moves that could significantly improve its relationship with the open-source world. Among other things, the company said it will share communication protocols that govern how Microsoft software products communicate; pledged not to sue open-source programmers for developing software that uses those interfaces; and launched an Open Source Interoperability Initiative to improve how well open-source software works with its own.

Although … Read more

Bid low for Thanksgiving dinner with Ozzy Osbourne

For most Americans, Thanksgiving is a chance to reconnect with family and friends, to share some roast bird with aunt Sally and uncle Bert and maybe to get stuck in some airport somewhere.

Some people spend the day having dinner at home, and some with friends. Well, if you're the lowest bidder, you might have a new family to spend Turkey Day with: The (Ozzy) Osbournes.

It's true. It's part of a promotion for SoLow.com, a site that rewards people trying to make the lowest unique bid for some sort of prize, in this case the … Read more

Microsoft's Ozzie opens up on Internet 'cloud' services

Microsoft Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie provided a fresh take of the technical components at the heart of its online services push on Thursday.

Speaking at the Microsoft Financial Analysts Day, Ozzie spelled out in greatest detail yet the work he has led on "cloud" Internet services.

During the next 12 to 18 months, Microsoft will introduce software and hosted services designed to enhance its current product line and derive more revenue from advertising-supported Web services, Ozzie said.

Echoing comments he made in an interview with CNET News.com earlier this year, he said Microsoft is preparing a … Read more