Office Newswire: Did Microsoft Sin(ofsky)? + Office for iOS Rumors are true! ++ Yammer: What’s its impact?

I appreciate lots of things about life. I’ll skip the normal stuff of family and friends… they’re a given. I’ll also skip fine wine, scotch, and a good steak. They are great and are best enjoyed with friends. But they are not germane to this post. Something that is germane and has to do with enjoying life is…

Good writing… and…
Great wit.

This is why I had to include this recent Dilbert cartoon.

Are you kidding me? The Ugly Truth personified and telling Mr. Ballmer how it is? Not only is it funny, it succinctly communicates the point. Genius.

By the way, I don’t mind admitting that I aspire to both (good writing and great wit). It is my hope that today’s Office Newswire adds to the enjoyment of your “today”.

Sinofsky has left the building

• How Steven Sinofsky changed Microsoft, for better and for worse :: I’ll start with a positive review of Sinofsky’s tenure. If he were at Apple, his name would be Steve Jobs. But he isn’t at Apple so his “let’s do this together my way” methodology has him hitting the road… Hobo style.
• Sinofsky Departure: Sign of Microsoft Civil War? :: You think? I’ll bet my Thanksgiving turkey Sinofsky departure is due to hurt feelings and jealousy. Any takers?
• For Windows developers, Sinofsky’s legacy is fragmentation and frustration :: I agree that the Windows developer landscape is a mess. Yes, it’s fragmented. BUT… what we really see are fault lines. Underneath these fault lines are slow-moving tectonic plates. Change is occurring but not as fast as you think. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Windows had to change. The iPad changed computing. Soooo… to think we could just sit back and write .NET code until retirement is just crazy talk. That was never going to happen.

Office for iOS

• Exclusive: Microsoft Office for iPhone, iPad, and Android revealed :: Speaking of the iPad. The rumors were true. My faith in my own discernment remains strong. I knew this would happen. MSFT began as software company and if they want to exist 5,10,25 years from now… they will remain one.
• Microsoft Office for iOS and Android unveiled in leaked screenshots :: Look closely, there is a big clue as to how MSFT will make money with these platforms.
• Yawns may greet Microsoft Office move to iOS and Android :: Of course there will be yawns. There are plenty of people that want to see MSFT die a very public and obscene death. But these people are in the minority (i.e. < 50% for those of you from West Texas). The truth, however, is that these versions of Office will be greeted with a greater amount of enthusiasm. I expect to see more Office 365 wins like this one as a result.
• Is it too late for Microsoft Office to matter on mobile? :: Uh, no. MSFT has $66,000,000,000 in cold hard cash (and cash equivalents). They can play the long game. Businesses love MSFT software and if it works on their iPhone… perfect!

Yammer!

• Yammer + SharePoint: Microsoft’s social strategy isn’t social at all… :: I don’t buy into this social stuff. I don’t want a “Facebook for business”. What I want is loads and loads of uninterrupted time to think… to create. I have not understood how Yammer will be a good thing for SharePoint. This article is helping me begin to understand. Collaboration is something I can endorse.
• With Yammer, Microsoft needs to rethink the Office Suite :: Gartner makes a case for rethinking Office in general. The title is a little misleading but it does make you think. Why stop at SharePoint?

Okay, from here on out, I’ll comment if I feel like it… .

Office tips, tricks & tools

• Overview of the New SharePoint Online :: In case you wonder.
• Introduction to PowerPoint Automation Services in SharePoint Server 2013 :: It’s a conversion service.
• Enhance your Excel 2013 with Trim Spaces app :: The first Apps for Office app from Ablebits.com! Check it out and give them a 5 star rating.
• SharePoint 2013 workflows in Visio :: I’m digging Visio. This article makes me want to build some workflows using Visio.
• Office 365 Blog News App for Windows 8 :: This is a great idea. It’s a Windows 8 app for the Office 365 blog. Hmm…

Office developer items of note

• [eBook] – The App Economy :: I downloaded it. I hope it’s good.
• Announcing the latest release of Office Developer Tools :: Download now. All serious Office developer-types are doing this right now.
• Building Apps for Office and SharePoint :: Straight for “Soma’s”. I have not met him but I like him.
• Microsoft updates ‘Napa’ and ‘LightSwitch developer tools :: I haven’t considered LightSwitch part of the Office developer “story” (I hate this term btw). I think MSFT does… so I will start to cover it. Besides Beth Massi and I share the same love.
• Important developer changes from Office and SharePoint 2013 Preview to Office and SharePoint 2013 – Apps for Office and SharePoint Blog :: Worth a quick look. You might be impacted.
• SharePoint 2013: Setting-up a clean and recoverable development virtual machine :: Bookmark this one. Or check out CloudShare.

Cutting room floor

• Create simple diagrams quickly :: A nice tool to make your next design doc a bit more fun.
• The Definitive “Russians Are Terrible Drivers” Lowlight Reel :: I laughed. I cried. I’m still laughing. The 1:21 mark is my favorite. The 3.59 mark is good too. Holy Cow! But I have to ask, is it normal is Russia to record your driving?
• Just keep working :: I believe this but could not have said it better if I tried.