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Windows 8 and life after KIN - Ballmer's hot summer

Mr Cock-up drops into Redmond

Radio Reg July’s a high-pressure month for Steve Ballmer, so he’s not at home to Mr Cock-up.

First, he has to stand before thousands of Microsoft partners at his company’s annual partner conference - next week - and convince them to believe in the roadmap and evangelize them into selling more of Microsoft’s products and services.

Then, he’ll try to persuade Wall St types at Microsoft’s annual financial analysts’ meeting he’s on the right course and they should invest in Microsoft’s stock.

It’s crucial nothing goes wrong, and that every single event gives the impression of calmness and execution under competitive pressure.

Alas, June ended with Microsoft killing its KIN phone - hyped as re-inventing the smart phone and nailing the smaller, trendsetter Apple - just six weeks after its high-profile launch. Also details on the successor to Windows 7 - Windows 8 - escaped with Microsoft in full swing still trying to sell Windows 7.

Time for SteveO to prepare the guest room for Mr Cock-up.

Reg software editor Gavin Clarke and All-About-Microsoft blogger Mary-Jo Foley assess what KIN’s execution means not just to Microsoft’s mobile strategy and Windows Phone 7 (it’s not all bad news) but also the credibility of Ballmer's management. They also determine just how big a dose of Apple envy Microsoft has based on the leaked Windows 8 details.

You can listen using The Reg media player below, or by downloading the MP3 here or Ogg Vorbis here. ®

Microbite July 2010

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