Sincerest Form Of Flattery (5/13/04)
SceneLink
 

Since things are a little slow right now, why don't we just go hog wild with the whole theme and take another look at something else that's darn slow-- namely, the development cycle of Microsoft's next version of Windows, code-named Longhorn? If nothing else, maybe it'll mess with those Google ads down there at the end of the episode and spawn all sorts of hilariously off-topic and poorly-targeted links to Windows products again. That's always fun.

You probably recall the "controversy" that arose last year when Microsoft's 2005 Longhorn ship date appeared to be slipping to 2006. You may also remember that Microsoft now only even expects to ship Longhorn in 2006 by leaving out a slew of features. Well, that strategy appears to have matured into something resembling a full-fledged plan, albeit not necessarily an attractive one: faithful viewer bo notes a CNET article which makes Longhorn sound like an operating system you buy in chunks over time, kinda like a living room set or something. And the final chunk, the full version of the WinFS file system that Bill Gates has reportedly called "the 'Holy Grail' of Longhorn," now isn't expected to ship until-- ready for this?-- 2009.

That's not a rumor, folks; that info comes straight from Microsoft's senior veep of Windows server development himself. Yipes. But while the entire, complete set of Longhorn features won't be available for five more years, there's an early development version already available showing some of the features that should actually make it into the 2006 edition. Even if you have zero interest in Windows (hey, like us! Should we form a special non-interest group or something?), it's at least worth taking a peek at how the operating system looks so far, because you might spot a few similarities to another OS that lives a little closer to home.

Check out the first look at Longhorn over at ExtremeTech, as pointed out to us by faithful viewer Roy H. In particular, make sure you scope out the slide show of screenshots, because while Longhorn's interface inherits the tackiness of XP's cartoon-colored icons, it's been gussied up a bit in ways that seem a little too familiar for coincidence. Note, for example, the soft alpha-channeled drop shadows cast by the rounded-edged windows. Witness the way windows can be drawn with varying degrees of translucence. And then consider Longhorn's slight 3D twist on Exposé, which stacks the windows instead of shrinking them all to fit without overlapping. ("You can actually see the contents," writes ExtremeTech. Well, um, roughly the leftmost 80 pixels' worth, anyway...)

Not that Microsoft swiping Apple's look and feel is anything new, of course (and Apple has certainly swiped a few features right back over the years), but it's still good for an eye-roll or two to see it happening through the development phase. The question is, will Tiger include any interface enhancements over Panther, and if so, will Microsoft have time to copy those, too, before Longhorn 1.0 (given the feature reduction, maybe that should be Longhorn 0.8) ships in two years' time?

 
SceneLink (4694)
And Now For A Word From Our Sponsors
 

Mash-ups and original music by AtAT's former Intern and Goddess-in-Training

Prim M at YouTube
 

The above scene was taken from the 5/13/04 episode:

May 13, 2004: A French rumor says the European iTunes Music Store will go live next month, but songs will cost about 50% more. Meanwhile, clarification of the next iPod's video capabilities tie in with the return of the prodigal "Home on iPod" feature, and Microsoft's Longhorn won't really be done until 2009, but it's already "borrowing" interface enhancements from Mac OS X...

Other scenes from that episode:

  • 4692: Le Singe Est Sur La Branche (5/13/04)   Things are pretty quiet in Macville right now; after the recent crude file-deleting Word 2004 Trojan scare, most of what little drama is floating around out there seems to be centered on people wondering if every file they download will turn out to be something malicious with a fake icon and filename slapped on it...

  • 4693: Just Lug A TV Along With It (5/13/04)   Okay, so it's been well over a year since Apple wowed us all with the third-generation iPod, and we don't mind telling you that we're starting to get a little impatient over here. Sure, Apple's in no rush, since the current iPods are reportedly still selling like six kinds of crazy, but we always begin getting a little antsy when an Apple hardware product goes over twelve months without a major overhaul...

Or view the entire episode as originally broadcast...

Vote Early, Vote Often!
Why did you tune in to this '90s relic of a soap opera?
Nostalgia is the next best thing to feeling alive
My name is Rip Van Winkle and I just woke up; what did I miss?
I'm trying to pretend the last 20 years never happened
I mean, if it worked for Friends, why not?
I came here looking for a receptacle in which to place the cremated remains of my deceased Java applets (think about it)

(1246 votes)

Like K-pop, but only know the popular stuff? Expand your horizons! Prim M recommends underrated K-pop tunes based on YOUR taste!

Prim M's Playlist

DISCLAIMER: AtAT was not a news site any more than Inside Edition was a "real" news show. We made Dawson's Creek look like 60 Minutes. We engaged in rampant guesswork, wild speculation, and pure fabrication for the entertainment of our viewers. Sure, everything here was "inspired by actual events," but so was Amityville II: The Possession. So lighten up.

Site best viewed with a sense of humor. AtAT is not responsible for lost or stolen articles. Keep hands inside car at all times. The drinking of beverages while watching AtAT is strongly discouraged; AtAT is not responsible for damage, discomfort, or staining caused by spit-takes or "nosers."

Everything you see here that isn't attributed to other parties is copyright ©,1997-2024 J. Miller and may not be reproduced or rebroadcast without his explicit consent (or possibly the express written consent of Major League Baseball, but we doubt it).