Browsium Ion (new product) is now using Public APIs for IE and it works by enhancing the use of compatibility modes and with features such as Java engine detection and string replacement in page.  Essentially this means it can be part of an appcompat solution, if it’s right for you, it was for HMRC.  If you’d like to talk to Browsium directly I can help with that.

General feeling is that it’s a good app compat tool, others are available.

Si

And what of those who cant install Windows 7 due to their computer is to old? Just leave them out in the cold! that’s like saying “get a new computer tight arse” or “cant afford a new computer, tough” is it not.

Post-PC is device agnostic, yes. Well, less about the arrogant machine, anyway. ‘How do I learn how to use this, how long will it take me to learn to operate’ is replaced with ‘What can this device enable me to do right now, this second?’

The video is interesting, but for designers – offers nothing ‘new’. Minority Report was 2002, and this takes us no further, other than placing the tech in less dramatic situations. Designers learn this stuff at Uni, and ask far more far reaching questions. (Like – how do we replace the screen – even when it’s translucent – it’s kind of anti-social).

It’s less about device, and all about experience and enablement. How can we enable people to do more, with less? 

Post-PC is actually about Post-’sit up at the keyboard and type’, and more about – let’s go! It’s the difference between the stone tablet and the invention of paper, and the freedom to use, rather than learn. 20 years from now, I think we’ll be saying that the iOS was the watershed moment. The moment when computing became accessible. When the interface became user-centric.

The focus now – is how do we make this technology democratic – and truly enable people.

To me, “post-PC” is something we are seeing the beginning of but it’s not due to the latest slate/tablet or whatever smartphone is around. Those devices are, as Simon states, still PCs.

Post-PC is not about the device, it is about the user. 

I, as a person, will become “post-pc” because I won’t need to worry about one particular device. The Internet started this off and the “cloud” is taking it to the next level (along with the connected services and devices). 

The Microsoft 2019 vision video (http://bit.ly/iVXJ49) is a good example of what I see “Post-PC” as, with children communicating through glass etc. not becuase there is no beige box on the table, or Skyping each other through a smartphone but because of the way they are communicating with each other.

Post-PC is when people come before the device

Before anyone says I’m an Apple Fanboy – I’ve moved from an iPhone to an Android device – as the user experience is more mature on Android – and I mentioned before – I use both PC and Mac.

For the masses, who don’t use Smartphones or Computers, I guess the premise of Post-PC will be quite meaningless. For those that so though – I think we have to be realistic.

Taking the discussion up a notch – and the question of semantics – I think the truth is that PC (as a description) defines an era. It is an era firmly anchored in films such Superman III, Jumping Jack Flash and Weird Science. Beige ‘terminals’, with green screens and keyboards akin to a plastic box of ‘Terry’s All Gold’. PC, as a term belongs to the likes of Sir Clive Sinclair and Alan Sugar. ‘Amstrad CPC 464′. ‘IBM PC’. Sadly, PC is more associated with wooly jumper, floppy discs and C:/ardigans. And – I think – the term PC will always be associated there too. Just look at the Wikipedia description. It’s not only a tad inaccurate, but is says little about the human enablement factor, and more about the boxes. Lots of boxes. And lots of wires.

It does come down to semantics really though I suppose. I’d love to agree with your sentiment of we’re not Post-PC – but I don’t. Personal Computing was special when it was new. In the 80′s, ‘personal’ was hip. Personal Stereo. Personal Computer. Personal Banking. Personal (hey everyone, you’re an individual, and so is our product). But now we’ve all got ‘Personal Computers’ in our pockets…, they’re not special in the same way anymore. So PC, as a term – it may be used (due to the amount of “PC’s” out there) – but it belongs more to the era of Neon socks and Space invaders – and Monster Munch. And there in lies the problem. (In fact – in the era of the PC – when schools shared one BBC Micro with 200 pupils – it was anything but personal).

As soon as we say ‘Post-PC’ therefore, we’re kinda saying ‘Post-Knight Rider’, or ‘Post-Legwarmers’. Or even ‘Post-Van Halen’. Some of these come back in different guises, but the original – anchors it firmly in the past. 

Computers are Charles Babbage and Punchcards, and huge tape reels. Our computing now – has moved on. When we can recall our favourite music during our lives from our device, and trust these devices with our family album – they’ve moved beyond mere ‘Computing’ – and into our daily stream of thought. ‘Computing’ was something you did. But we’ve moved that out of the way. Now – we just ‘do’.

So – Post-PC. I guess for me, means we’ve gone past that dogma. Touch is the new, the hip, the cool. And a touch device is still a PC of sorts- well, ish. Only it isn’t. The difference between a touch device and a screen + keyboard +/- box combo is the difference between a proper Barista in a Coffee Bar and a warm cup of brown in a Transport Caff. Sure, the latter is still coffee. But the former is refined, considered, and made to enjoy – and delivered to delight and entrance. The problem with the PC of old is that it was always slightly overwhelming. Like it knew more than you, and you were the fleshy input device – rather than the other way around. The PC – as a device – was extremely arrogant. 

So the promise of touch devices – notice I’m not saying touch computing – is that suddenly, the device is here to help. It changes on the fly to help us work with it. Human.

For me therefore – I’m saying that we truly are Post-PC. By humanising the technology, the technology is fading away. ‘Hi-tech’ is ‘low-tech’. User experience wins. Quiet, considered, seamless user experience. True human enablement doesn’t come with a programming language – it comes with simplicity. When your grandmother can write an email and add an attachment; and when your four-year old is mixing songs – then the tech has moved out of the way.

I’d love to see Microsoft move Laptops and Desktops away from the monicker of ‘PC’, and into something else. Something less ‘PC’, and more about the enablement. More about life. the promise of PC’s – was never Personal Computing. It was always enablement. But it never took the time to explain – until now.

In the 1980’s, ‘Personal’ was the leading edge. In the 2010′s, ‘Social’ is the norm. In the world of devices, it’s not about ‘my PC’ anymore. It’s about our shared experience, or sharing. In that respect – the devices we carry are not PC’s, but are something entirely different. Tablets do not belong to the PC world. They belong to a new generation of devices. They may ‘compute’, but they are no longer ‘computers’.

Post-PC – it’s here, it’s now. The question is – what’s next?

You are correct there are about 5 spelling mistakes and 2 grammar mistakes in the post – will try not to do that again …

Si

Critically, as I understand it (and note I’m not a lawyer), if the Patriot Act is invoked to move data outside the EU for a customer with a presence inside the EU, that could incriminate the IT Director from that EU organisation.

As for Safe Harbor, isn’t that just a guideline, so Patriot Act (law) trumps any safe harbor considerations?

The real issue here is that cloud services do not live within one jurisdiction. What’s lacking right now though is some clarity as to what the legal impact is for hosting data with Microsoft (or any other cloud provider) who is legally subject to laws such as the US Patriot Act (I’m sure there are others elsewhere too).

The law applies to any other cloud provider as it does to Microsoft. Microsofts online services contract is obviously unique to the offering…others may not provide the same comfort level.

….also great post Matt

I am the speaker referenced above, my response: http://www.mattgrovesblog.com/2010/10/men-in-black-suits-wearing-sunglasses.html