In your two examples MS acknowledges the comparison
(1) they entered search late, with the wrong strategy. they admit it.
(2) Zune also entered late. but was an effort to get established in those markets.
Both examples do not comprehensively define MS, or future of core MS strategies, or of the future of MS including search and player strategies
Next Gen Search is exciting to think about.
Pervasive - I personally want to degadgetize and surround myself with inexpensive, pervasive technology. (Why isn't bluetooth inexpensive?)
Collaboration - If you listen to MS talk, they are significantly ahead in collaborative technologies. I can't speak to that, but would personally like a movement toward open document formats.
OpenID - why are they important? I should do more reading, I might not understand the scope of that project.
web 2.0 is bubblific. good luck to those hoping to make a quick buck. I wish better luck to those that aspire to create value, change computing and create sustainable business models.
We should pay some credence to what Microsoft has done to computing. I think they have built industry leading applications and provided (in some cases) some vision for development. Hands down they once owned computing.
Certainly the business model allowed them to become very rich and powerful. Knowing what we know now - maybe we shouldn't have let it happen.
Does your article simply state, the industry has changed? Why is Google more important now than Microsoft?
Collaborative documents and its respective monetization - who are the leaders? Monetization and sustainability seem to me to be king.
What is important about your article? Doesn't Microsoft continue to be profitable, sustainable, and offer value to its customers? Is there something important about a loss of their lock (except the obvious)? Is there a social statement there?
How does this translate to me as a user, a developer, a business person?
Both examples do not comprehensively define MS, or future of core MS strategies, or of the future of MS including search and player strategies