Out with the old and in with the new. At least, until consumers start complaining enough, then go back to the old. That's what Microsoft seems to be doing with its next update, dubbed Blue, to its flagship product, Windows 8.
The update is set to be released next month, and may feature the return of the Windows "Start" button, which was removed with Windows 8's initial release. The missing start button, among other issues, caused Windows consumers to passionately complain about Windows 8's misgivings, and, ultimately, compared Microsoft's snafu to a failed 1980's reformulated Coco-Cola recipe called New Coke.
That analogy came from tech analyst Richard Doherty, who told the Financial Times Windows 8's failure to connect with consumers echoes Coca-Cola's New Coke formula. That formula inspired consumer backlash, causing the soda company to drop the New Coke formula in three months.
Frank Shaw, vice president of corporate communications for Microsoft, fired back at the fizzy accusations in a post on Microsoft's official blog, suggesting such talk is less about honest analysis, and more about websites trying to generate page views.
"In this world where everyone is a publisher, there is a trend to the extreme - where those who want to stand out opt for sensationalism and hyperbole over nuanced analysis," Shaw wrote. "In this world where page views are currency, heat is often more valued than light. Stark black-and-white caricatures are sometimes more valued than shades-of-gray reality."
Shaw said the software giant is listening to consumer complaints, and is changing Windows 8 based on feedback. The company will allegedly resurrect the start button, and let users boot directly into Windows 8's desktop, rather than having to navigate the tiles-based start screen. Microsoft, under the tutelage of Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer, has made a push towards touch-based system with Windows 8's Modern interface, though the classic desktop is still built into the system.
Technology outlets have regularly bashed Microsoft's Windows 8 as a failure. While the operating system has steadily risen in adoption, it has done so painfully slow. ZDNet reports the operating system has had less success than Microsoft's previous OS flop, Windows Vista.
"Windows 8 is a good product, and it's getting better every day," Shaw said. "Unlike a can of soda, a computer operating system offers different experiences to different customers to meet different needs, while still moving the entire industry toward an exciting future of touch, mobility, and seamless, cross-device experiences."
So far, over 100 million licenses for Microsoft Windows 8 have been sold.
