(JAX) Code Impact 2017

Today I geeked out with some very cool people over at the University of North Florida. Special thanks to Bayer White and his cohorts for putting together a great event full of fun, learning and awesome content.

My talk was of course about Cortana… but a significant break from the regular rhetoric. Today, it was all about Cortana Skills and proof positive that Cortana is/can be useful (and intriguing!) on Android and iOS as well. As promised to those folks who braved my one hour session, here is the slide deck that we covered. Thanks again for attending!

(JAX) Code Impact 2017

A Primer for those remedial “I can’t (insert complaint here) on my Surface” people

Ok. This is going to be short because it’s a really easy concept. In the Microsoft Surface family, the ones intended to be laptop/desktop replacements are the “Pro” devices.

You can install whatever apps you like from the Windows Store on anything in the Surface family. However, if it doesn’t say “Pro” in the name then it won’t allow you to install any DESKTOP software except for an exclusive handful of things in the Microsoft Office suite.

If you want to install desktop software (like alternative web browsers) then you should select a Surface Pro.

Simple.

Take notice, however, that this is BETTER than what you get with either iPads or Android tablets; you can’t install ANY desktop software at all. PERIOD. You can’t install the desktop version of ANY browser. AT ALL.

Simply put, the non-Pro Surface devices are meant to compete directly with their iOS and Android counterparts. They all offer about the same physical specifications.

If you want to get mad at someone do it at Google as they have been actively hostile towards any competing Microsoft product since day one. Ask them why they don’t create an RT version of Chrome. The same can be said of Apple and Safari.

Stop posting ignorantly because you are cheap and also didn’t take time to do your research or read the product card in the store. Like the person in the attachment. The only possible argument that *MIGHT* (and I stress might) keep this person from being a complete ID10T is if the salesperson told him/her the wrong thing. And I doubt that happened.

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A Primer for those remedial “I can’t (insert complaint here) on my Surface” people