Today’s report is a bit of a rant. Not against Microsoft or Google by themselves. Actually it’s a rant against how closed fisted competition actually works against potential revenue for any involved company.

Now a minute ago I said that this was not a rant against the previously mentioned companies. In actuality, it involves them, however, I am not able to rightfully place blame on any one group, so I am basically pissed at both of them.

So I should be clear about something here. I am done with yelling and screaming about how MS did this or how it did that. No one cares – least of all me. I will say, however, that it is the obstacles that Microsoft put out there for me back when I was a Windows user that drove me away from the Windows OS. Those of you who read my reports already have an understanding as to my concerns with its licensing, support of DRM, and so on. So we can skip that, I think.

Even though I left the Windows OS camp, I remain a huge fan of Windows Mobile and the Xbox 360. I may dislike the Windows Desktop, but I really want to continue using those Microsoft products that don’t suck, you know? Windows Mobile is a great mobile OS with very few annoyances in my opinion. As for the Xbox 360, it speaks for itself, I think.

Well, it looks like my Microsoft usage situation is an all or nothing kind of deal. I say this as Windows Mobile’s IE browser simply will NOT display Google Calendar. Some line of crap about “not displaying javascript” or something to that point. And considering the total lack of options to correct this issue in IE on Windows Mobile, I don’t have a lot of options short of a browser flush and to try again to no avail. At this point I remain hopeful that Opera’s mobile browser will offer me a shot at using Google Calendar. Then again, if I still used Windows, I could try this, I guess…

To be completely fair, I don’t expect Microsoft to offer sync options for alternative operating systems. I mean, I am realistic enough to understand that in the end, it’s not their problem. And I respect that, I really do.

But is it a mistake? Is the “all or nothing” approach with their business model actually costing them sales with their Mobile OS? It’s a moot point with Windows fans and the Linux/Apple crew already have their preconceived ideas on the matter. I on the other hand, would like to be a little more open minded. The fact remains that even though there are certain things about Windows Mobile that I find irritating, it blows the doors off of the competition in just about every area. I use it each and every day with much joy.

Boy, I would be so impressed with Microsoft as a company if they took it upon themselves to consider funding an open source project for better “back-end support” for Windows Mobile syncing. Understanding that they are under no obligation to bother with this of course, I still think that this would make a wonderful gift to their mobile customers.

Just something to consider. At this point, Microsoft has my loyalty on the mobile front, however it is something that is earned with a continued investment in their customers. And let it be said that if something else comes along that offers the same value in the mobile front and offers better alternative with sync abilities for Linux, I would drop Windows Mobile in a heartbeat.

Microsoft’s future in this household is on very shaky ground. Hey, at least there is still the Xbox, right? I can’t perceive anything that would turn me off of that wonderful gaming appliance. It’s just too darn pretty!