Get with the times

So I’ve been getting the feeling lately that Microsoft is falling behind the times a bit. Granted, there were signs out there for me to go on, but none of them were quite so, well, striking as this particular one. According to an online story from BBC News, Microsoft has released a new phone that it calls a “social” phone. It has, according to the story, “been created specifically to help people who like to stay in touch with friends and share content.”   

Now, there are many places to start with this, but let me begin by questioning what exactly it was that Microsoft thought that phones were used for before. The fact that this is labeled as a “social” phone makes me wonder whether or not I was on the cutting edge of society before because I always figured that a cell phone that allowed me to talk to anyone around the world instantly was inherently a “social” device. I’d love to think so, but, frankly, I don’t think I’m that smart.

Are there people not using cell phones to stay in touch with friends? Are there people out there who are isolated and alone in nature and simply pay their Verizon subscription every month to continue to use their phone to start fires, make crude cave drawings and chop wood (that last task of course being done by the Razor)?

But, wait, says Microsoft, we’ve worked together with social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace to make it easy for you to share content with loved ones right from your mobile phone. Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that Microsoft, I was too busy using my Droid phone from HTC to Tweet about how I’m tagging everyone from the party this weekend in pictures on Facebook. Bottom line, it’s been done before.

Also, I just deleted my MySpace because it’s 2010.

All kidding aside, I’m sure that Microsoft customers will love this new, seemingly “done before” product just like Apple die-hards will eventually embrace the iPad (because, in the paraphrased words of James Earl Jones, if Steve Jobs builds it, they will come).

Bottom line, Microsoft, stick to what you’re good at. Many a night has your brilliant creation known as Xbox Live distracted some poor college freshman from completing his paper or studying for his test because, as he puts it, he wants to “pone newbs” into the wee hours of the morning. And, though many would care to argue, I actually think Bing is a better search engine than Google, even though the commercials give me nightmares.

So, Microsoft, sometimes doing your best at a few different things is better than jumping into every new technological advancement. I mean, I could try to do well in school, life and Xbox Live, but until my grades are up to par with my “poning newb” skills, I think I’ll just stay a one-trick pony.


E-mail: henrgree@indiana.edu