Since Apple has unleashed its much hyped product, iPad, now the talk of the town is upcoming Microsoft Courier, iPad's cut throat rival.

Apple has done a commendable job in terms of packing latest computing technologies including multi-touch screen, gesture controlled interface and simulation of physical properties for on-screen elements in its tablet to certainly outpace conventional windows, icons, menus and mice. The compeition for Microssoft is surely inetnsified with such technologies packed in and challenge lies ahead of it to prove the supermacy as software king pin.

Sneak preview of what Apple iPad offers?

A revolutionary product in PC segment with no keyboard, mouse or stylus for working.; yet users can replace their Smartphone, HD television, eBook reader and computers with it. The numbers have it in them - 700,000 iPads sold on the very first day and still many could not get one!

Running on Apple iPhone 3.2 operating system, Safari browser and 1 GHz Apple A4 processor, iPad offers Pages and Numbers software for business users. While Pages offers word processor and page layout app, the Numbers is a spreadsheet app like Microsoft’s Excel. Pages and Numbers are part of Apple’s iWork productivity suite.

The other key application is iBooks, which will offer eBooks and newspaper like eReader in color format. Consumers can download e-books from Apple's online iBookstore and also seek help from iPad's built-in dictionary service. Apple has collaborated with leading publication to provide interesting books to its readers.

Courier: Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s iPad

Microsoft has promised to introduce a consumer version of Surface, which would offer a user, or multiple users, to manipulate digital content by the use of gesture recognition. The software would include various features like direct interaction, multi-touch contact, a multi-user experience, and object recognition. It would be available for mobile, tablet and computers.

It is reported that the company is working on a tablet PC, Courier, which has dual multi-touch screen and devoid of any physical keyboard. The device would be reported to work as a day planner/notebook that allows users to keep track of appointments, to-do lists, and contacts.


Bifurcation of Windows Market

Various analysts suggest that the company should work hard to protect its past without losing its sight on future. Further, the company should design software that suits various available systems along with backward compatibility and other hardware feasibility. But, to suit the next generation of touch computers, the company has to build a new operating system.

Therefore, Microsoft should split its Windows platform to emerge out as a business and enterprise operating system. And for the consumers, a new multi-touch version should be designed. The Redmond giant should target each market alone, which includes Windows, Windows Mobile, Xbox and the Tablet PC. The strategy will boost the efforts and will show positive results in the long run.

Conclusion

To keep up as a leader in technology gamut, Microsoft should focus on its cash cows and restrict the efforts of other vendors by its technology superiority and compatibility. Moreover, with the development of touch operating system, the company can rejuvenate the appeal of Windows, gaming experience on Xbox and utility of tablet PCs.

Anuj Kumar/ITvoir Network