Software is changing in 2010
Since 1986, when I started using computers, never before have I witnessed so many changes in the software world in a single year, as I’m seeing in 2010. The year 2010 seems to be a great year for the software world. Major launches, upgrades and changes are expected that would enable users to make better use of new web technologies.
Nothing much is expected in current desktop Operating systems. Both WIndows and Mac launched their new Operating systems – Windows 7 and Snow Leopard in 2009. While Apple is actively working to release its new 10.7 version by the end of 2010, Windows 8 is only expected around end of 2011 or somewhere in 2012. However, a new OS is expected to make an impact starting this year. The Chromium OS from Google will be launched in mid 2010 and is expected to power most netbooks. It’s the first OS built primarily for the web, and if you haven’t seen this yet, do see this introduction video :
In the mobile operating systems market, things are a changing too. Microsoft released its Windows Phone 7 series in Feb 2010. There are rumors of iPhone OS 4 being released in July 2010. Devices powered by these operating systems could flood the markets before the end of the year. They would enable users to look forward to more features, newer ways of using the web while being mobile. The Symbian platform was made Open source in Feb 2010, so we can expect a lot of development there.
A lot more is happening in 2010.
Magento, the Open Source Ecommerce solution that claims $25 Billion worth of transactions are done on sites powered by its platform, released its stable version of 1.4.0.0 in February 2010. The new version not only improves upon it’s hugely successful predecessor, it releases a host of powerful features for Ecommerce sites, including 3D secure credit card validation, new search indexing techniques and widgets for the first time in open source Ecommerce platforms
Microsoft is releasing its Office 2010 around June 2010, the beta of this is already available. This new version claims to provide a “new co-authoring experience, you can work with people from different locations at the same time.”, along with more ways to access files from almost anywhere. MS Office 2010 for Mac with Outlook for Mac is also being released this year.
Microsoft’s platform of business collaboration for enterprises and for the web, Sharepoint 2007 will be upgraded to Sharepoint 2010 in June. There are great expectations of revenue from it for Microsoft. Along with this, Microsoft’s development platform, Visual Studio 2008 will be upgraded to Visual Studio 2010 with new prototyping, modeling, and visual design tools that would enable developers to create innovative applications for Windows and the Web.
Software used for creating websites, blogs etc are undergoing lots of changes in 2010.
Drupal, the favourite Open Source CMS on which website such as whitehouse.gov are built, is in for a major upgrade. In Feb 2008, the launch of Drupal 6 created ripples with a host of new features. Drupal 7, to be launched around June 2010, will enhance the user experience on the web like never before. The entire information architecture is being re-desinged and is detailed at http://www.d7ux.org/. Joomla, another popular CMS, released version 1.5 in Jan 2008. Now, an alpha version of the 1.6 version to be released soon shows major improvements in Access Control and usability.
WordPress, the most popular platform for bloggers and personal websites is in for a major shakeup. Version 2 was released in early 2006, version 3 will be released one 1 May 2010. While many features were updated during the existence of ver. 2 itself, the new version 3 will integrate the MU version of WordPress 2, that means users can have multiple blogs on a single WordPress 3 installation. There’s a new, simpler way of making menus that will increase accessibility in websites.
Many other popular software / tools are expected to change too.
Moodle, the largest open source Learning Management System will release ver 2.0 in July 2010. Expected to be the biggest release of Moodle since its inception with over 2 years of developmental work, it contains a huge number of core changes to the platform, most of which are designed to give 3rd party developers more flexibility, scalability and safety. This could change the way eLearning is delivered across the world.
I’m sure there are many other major tools that are releasing new versions in 2010. This year seems to be of change, of great expectations from everything. The software world is not to be left behind, in fact, even before the economy rebounds, its ready with a host of offerings to capitalise on the impending opportunity.
Posted via email from Anil Sharma