Doesn't MS rely on users too? Users of Windows, instead of users of browsers, but it's still in both of their interests to get developers using their platforms.
At the end of the day, all large companies have to dip their toes in new technologies, or die. Some of these projects will work out and others won't. Small companies do the exact same thing, except instead of announcing they are discontinuing a project they go bust.
My approach is not to get too tied to any vendor's technology, because if you do, you're setting yourself up for a fall. The rise of open source and standards has made this much easier than it once was, luckily.
Yea, exactly. But fan boyism runs deep in this industry, particularly on forums. It incredible to see my collogues get so caught up in one mega corp and then spend so much of their time trashing 'their' mega corps competition. I use each for what they are worth and I enjoy to watch them come, go, and compete.
I said "But fan boyism runs deep in this industry, particularly on forums. It incredible to see my collogues get so caught up in one mega corp and then spend so much of their time trashing 'their' mega corps competition." Where am I generally calling people with different opinions than mine fan boys. I agree and disagree with many fan boys. I am a fan of the products I use, but I am quick to move to new products if I have the means and my experience with the other products is superior.
Google search, GMail, Youtube are not platforms. They don't rely on an ecosystem of external developers. Android is, but it is generally considered less developer friendly than iOS.
I get the impression that MS these days are trying to depreciate Windows in favor of their cloud services.
In a sense it is a return to the MS that was before the IBM PC, when they were supplying office and development tools to all comers (MS Office got its start on Apple computers after all).
At the end of the day, all large companies have to dip their toes in new technologies, or die. Some of these projects will work out and others won't. Small companies do the exact same thing, except instead of announcing they are discontinuing a project they go bust.
My approach is not to get too tied to any vendor's technology, because if you do, you're setting yourself up for a fall. The rise of open source and standards has made this much easier than it once was, luckily.