Microsoft Windows 8 President departs with "immediate effect". 10 bilion usd wiped off Microsoft's market cap. Another fine mess.

 

 
Microsoft is in the news again.

Following the "launch" of Windows 8, President of 'Windows', Steven Sinofsky resigned on Monday. He was the man who launched Windows 8.

The resignation came all of a sudden and his emailed letter said that he was leaving to "seek new opportunities" and no mention of love and support from Steve Balmer CEO. Clearly too, he didn't think that Windows 8 was one "new opportunity".

His email is at the end of this blog courtesy of Mashable. Although he goes on to explain that his resignation is nothing to do with anything at Microsoft, it's bizarre timing after 23 years with the company, having just launched their "make or break" Surface Tablet and Windows 8. In particular, it's with "immediate effect" and I'm in the business long enough to know that he knew the damage that would do to his beloved Microsoft. No one leaves like that and remains friends.

So there's more to this than meets the eye.

And the markets have given their view, wiping 10 billion usd off Microsoft's market cap. It's fair to say too, that one man's resignation shouldn't cost 10 billion and it wouldn't, unless the market view it as a deeper issue. Which in my view, clearly they do.

If everyone was still friends and part of the team, this departure would have been handled differently. Steven would have flagged his leaving some months back, a party would have been held to allow himself and CEO Balmer shake hands, staff would have been told in person rather than by mail and nothing would be with "immediate effect".

I have to say too, from a marketing perspective, the launch of Windows 8 passed without notice. Reportedly spending over 1.5 billion usd on the launch, it barely made or makes, the news. Are you familiar with the excitement of it all? thought so.

Microsoft will continue to be in trouble and the once glorious monopoly, is dying a thousand cuts. Somebody needs to do something.

 

With the general availability of Windows 8/RT and Surface, I have decided it is time for me to take a step back from my responsibilities at Microsoft. I’ve always advocated using the break between product cycles as an opportunity to reflect and to look ahead, and that applies to me too.After more than 23 years working on a wide range of Microsoft products, I have decided to leave the company to seek new opportunities that build on these experiences. My passion for building products is as strong as ever and I look forward focusing my energy and creativity along similar lines.The Windows team, in partnerships across all of Microsoft and our industry, just completed products and services introducing a new era of Windows computing. It is an incredible experience to be part of a generational change in a unique product like Windows, one accomplished with an undeniable elegance. Building on Windows, Surface excels in design and utility for a new era of PCs. With the Store, Internet Explorer, Outlook.com, SkyDrive and more, each of which lead the way, this experience is connected to amazing cloud services.It is inspiring to think of these efforts making their way into the hands of Microsoft’s next billion customers. We can reflect on this project as a remarkable achievement for each of us and for the team. Our work is not done, such is the world of technology, and so much more is in store for customers.
It is impossible to count the blessings I have received over my years at Microsoft. I am humbled by the professionalism and generosity of everyone I have had the good fortune to work with at this awesome company. I am beyond grateful.
I have always promised myself when the right time came for me to change course, I would be brief, unlike one of my infamous short blog posts, and strive to be less memorable than the products and teams with which I have been proudly and humbly associated. The brevity of this announcement is simply a feature.Some might notice a bit of chatter speculating about this decision or timing. I can assure you that none could be true as this was a personal and private choice that in no way reflects any speculation or theories one might read—about me, opportunity, the company or its leadership.As I’ve always believed in making space for new leaders as quickly as possible, this announcement is effective immediately and I will assist however needed with the transition.
I am super excited for what the future holds for the team and Microsoft.
With my deepest appreciation,

Microsoft have a new Logo. Instead of a new CEO.

Microsoft have a new logo - the first change in 25 years. Drum roll, here it is.... please, remain in your seats.        
                             
Here's the first and the most recent -

It's lighter, straighter (sans serif as we say in the trade....) although the red, blue, yellow and green colours remain. The font is 'Segoe'.

It's just not as brash or as "in your face" and is seemingly intended to bring Microsoft into a better place for their new product launches later this year. Including the revamp of 'Windows' and 'Surface'.

As readers of this blog will know, it's more than a new logo Microsoft needs. As most people are calling for, is not a new logo, but a new CEO. Don't think so? Well here's the current one.

Yep a new logo will surely fix it - right?
Apple's iphone business alone, is now worth more than Microsoft.

Read here http://streamabout.blogspot.ie/2012/08/microsofts-first-hardware-venture.html and here http://streamabout.blogspot.ie/2012/07/microsoft-and-nbc-divorce-from-msnbc-it.html and here http://streamabout.blogspot.ie/2012/07/vanity-fair-august-article-to-add-to.html and here http://streamabout.blogspot.ie/2012/06/microsoft-acquires-yammer-for-12.html okay I'll stop. But all of these pieces are over the last few months - none are good news for Microsoft.

But built around it, is the usual PR spin of signalling "an exciting year ahead!" and words that sound as trite as "Go Team, Go!!". 

Like "signal the heritage but also signal the future — a newness and freshness," said Jeff Hansen, Microsoft's general manager of brand strategy. God help us.

The colours are also meant to convey "the diversity of our products and the diversity of people that we serve," Hansen said. Of course they are. It's for all the Orange and Green people out there.

But of course it is one of the oldest tricks in the book - when things go against you, get a new logo, get a new look. And it's been news today all over the web and print, diverting eyes away from the problems at Microsoft.

I have no idea of the actual cost of this but from experience, designing and implementing a logo like this globally - is in the tens of millions. And trust me, I've been involved in enough new corporate identity launches to be able to forget them all.

Does a new logo pay dividends?

Only if what's in the box has changed.
Because if you change your product or your ethos (really change it from the inside) then new packaging (starting from a logo) can help convince people that you've changed.

It's what's in the box that matters not what it says on the outside.

If the new products such as touch screen 'Surface' and Windows 8 prove to be spectacular, then a new logo might help in signifying that. It will say to consumers "look, we've just got a whole lot better". If.

A logo on its own just signifies meaningless twaddle.
An attempt to give an old worn out company, a feeling that it's fresh which consumers will see through quickly.

And in my view, that's just what this is.
Meaningless.