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HockeyApp Joins Microsoft

hockeyapp.net

61–68 of 68 posts

Re: HockeyApp Joins Microsoft

#61
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "Microsoft has also been providing software for Macs since 1984, when it appeared at the launch, and it generally makes more money per head from Mac users (who buy lots of copies of Windows and Office) than Windows users (roughly $45 each per 4-5 years)." All true, but that hasn't prevented the quality of MS software on Macs from varying between first class and complete bottom of the barrel. Right now iOS/OSX seems…

> All true, but that hasn't prevented the quality of MS software on Macs from varying between first class and complete bottom of the barrel. Life isn't that simple. Somebody once had the idea that, to save money, the Windows version of Office could be converted for Mac OS instead of developed separately. Apple users quickly let Microsoft know that they didn't like it, and Microsoft went back to the earlier system. Me…

I don't see the relevance to the point I'm making, which isn't a value judgment on Microsoft.

It's apprehension because Microsoft in the past decade has been full of sudden strategic shifts and abandoned platforms. I'm mildly concerned about HockeyApp for this reason.

For the most part's Microsofts wishy-washy strategy - especially when it comes to support of Apple's platforms - is fairly inconsequential. The sucky version of Office for OSX was, at the end of the day, a minimal pain.

HockeyApp on the other hand is a very deeply integrated part of my development stack. I can't weather the same amount of uncertainty and sudden movement as I can some of my other tools. This makes me mildly nervous about their future.

Re: HockeyApp Joins Microsoft

#62
post #41

Hey, the business reason to buy it is clear. Nobody develops for Windows Phone, but everybody has the burden to develop for two plataforms: iOS and Android. If MS lower the burden and automatically makes it very, very easy to develop for Windows Phone, they will finally have some decent software in their plataform.

I've always wondered, if MS want more apps to support their platform, how come they're the only mobile OS (including the obscure ones) that doesn't support OpenGL ES? Way to shoot themselves in the foot...

Re: HockeyApp Joins Microsoft

#63
post #41

Hey, the business reason to buy it is clear. Nobody develops for Windows Phone, but everybody has the burden to develop for two plataforms: iOS and Android. If MS lower the burden and automatically makes it very, very easy to develop for Windows Phone, they will finally have some decent software in their plataform.

MS will buy Xamarin next. VS is free now, you will deploy your app to tester with Hockey, test it, monitor it and then offer you Azure Mobile Services

MS won't buy Xamarin unless someone else is planning to buy it. They probably have some sort of exclusive agreement to give MS priority when buying. It is simply cheaper for MS to let Xamarin run itself than to take it under the wing of MS.

Re: HockeyApp Joins Microsoft

#66
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> All true, but that hasn't prevented the quality of MS software on Macs from varying between first class and complete bottom of the barrel. Life isn't that simple. Somebody once had the idea that, to save money, the Windows version of Office could be converted for Mac OS instead of developed separately. Apple users quickly let Microsoft know that they didn't like it, and Microsoft went back to the earlier system. Me…

I don't see the relevance to the point I'm making, which isn't a value judgment on Microsoft. It's apprehension because Microsoft in the past decade has been full of sudden strategic shifts and abandoned platforms. I'm mildly concerned about HockeyApp for this reason. For the most part's Microsofts wishy-washy strategy - especially when it comes to support of Apple's platforms - is fairly inconsequential. The sucky v…

Don't agree with your perception of Microsoft's strategy, most of which makes perfect sense if you apply one simple rule: follow the money.

Since HockeyApp is now part of Microsoft's cross-platform, mobile-first strategy, the main question is whether a failing HockeyApp would be more likely to survive on its own or as part of Microsoft.

If it's a success, it's never going to be a problem -- or at least, not until Windows Phone/Windows 10 has a hugely dominant market share in smartphones and tablets. If that happens, I expect you'll have other things to worry about ;-)

Re: HockeyApp Joins Microsoft

#67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

MS will buy Xamarin next. VS is free now, you will deploy your app to tester with Hockey, test it, monitor it and then offer you Azure Mobile Services

MS won't buy Xamarin unless someone else is planning to buy it. They probably have some sort of exclusive agreement to give MS priority when buying. It is simply cheaper for MS to let Xamarin run itself than to take it under the wing of MS.

True. Also, Xamarin/Mono already gets all kinds of crap from Linux purists and being owned by Microsoft would probably made that worse....

Re: HockeyApp Joins Microsoft

#68

"When we founded our company, our intent and mission was to always stay indie." You sold out, dude.

You say it like it's some mark of shame. They built a product, found success, a bigger company wanted it, and then found more success via acquisition. What's wrong with that?

He identified a strong discrepancy between their vision and their decision. What's wrong with that?
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