Null Agenda

So Microsoft is probably going to reveal its new Kumo search at D: All Things Digital event next week. According to leaked screenshots from a couple months ago it seems to focus on a left hand navigation menu that breaks down searches into a number of related queries. (more info at CNET)

This seems like it may be interesting to see if Microsoft can cut into Google’s search market share.  At the same time, I am thinking that Microsoft should probably concentrate more on  brand new and unique products. It probably won’t take much of an effort for Google or even Yahoo to mimic and improve upon what Kumo will offer. With the market share of Internet Explorer slipping (while Firefox and Safari grow), the market share of Windows Mobile slipping (while BlackBerry and iPhone sales grow), the many available popular open source office suites (not to mention Apple’s iWork suite) , and the popularity of the Mac platform among college students, Microsoft seems to be under attack on all fronts.

If Microsoft were to tackle an industry in its infancy (or one not yet dominated), I feel they could solidify their name in at least one more sector while making sure their current market share with their existing products holds steady or grows. Although there are a number of people who would love to see Microsoft fall off the face of the earth, a better result would be a reinvented and more agile Microsoft that we would all love to hate.

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With reports of the Palm Pre launch just around the corner, it’s only natural to wonder how it will hold up against the existing competition.

Since the iPhone’s arrival many devices have tried (and failed) to challenge the iPhone’s mass consumer appeal, hype, and sleek aesthetics, but the Palm Pre appears to have a better chance at making its presence known. The user interface powered by the new Palm webOS as well as the clean and simple styling of the device may have captured the attention of many who would consider or own an iPhone, but the sheer strength of Apple and its AppStore (not to mention the huge subscriber base of AT&T) probably won’t slow the iPhone train anytime soon.

Palm Pre

On the other side of the battle is RIM and their powerful BlackBerry brand. Although RIM has made pushes into the general consumer space with devices like the Storm and the launch of the AppWorld marketplace, their bread and butter still lies in the hands of business consumers, a sector the iPhone has not penetrated as easily. This however is an area where Palm has a strong history, and where RIM has grown at Palm’s expense.

The difference this time around is that consumers (thanks to the iPhone) are demanding a better user experience from the first time the phone is booted up, to the animations of message alerts. And from early demonstrations the Pre appears to handle this rather well, while the user interface on BlackBerry devices is beginning to show its age. This could be an area of concern for RIM since Palm has less convincing to do in the business world than the iPhone. If priced right, executed successfully, and an introduction to an additional carrier besides Sprint is achieved, the BlackBerry lineup may be caught flat-footed against the Pre with no apparent plans of a UI overhaul anytime soon.

In RIM’s favor, they are not sitting idle in the UI department, but with a new iPhone guaranteed to hit shelves soon, and the Palm Pre a few weeks away it’s hard not to believe they’ll be playing catch up.

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Earlier this rather long week, we (SimpleLeap) released our first Mac application, Cram. Cram is a study and testing app that allows you to create, download, and share multiple-choice tests and flash cards. This is the perfect tool for college students who are looking for a solution that helps them study their material on their Mac.

Cram started its life almost a year ago when it was released on the BlackBerry platform, followed shortly by the iPhone version. For complete details on Cram for Mac you can visit http://www.simpleleap.com/cram/mac.htm

Right now Cram is in beta, and we’re offering it at a discounted price of $34.99 and also download the trial. Here are couple screens

Taking a timed test

Graded Test

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