Microsoft's Connected Lifestyle
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In Bill Gates' view of the future, Microsoft will give people something to do during waking hours. The company hasn't conquered sleep yet. |
The sentiment, expressed during Microsoft Chairman's closing remarks, capped off a full-packed but typically dry Consumer Electronics Show keynote. Gates is at ease on stage, but not persuasive.
As I predicted last week, Gates' keynote focused on six product areas: Windows Vista, Office 2007, Windows Live, Windows Mobile, Zune and Xbox 360.
Gates' message didn't carry the night, however. Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division, spent a good chunk of the keynote time on stage. While the venue was appropriate for Bach, his content and length of presence on stage is yet another sign of the three group presidents' influence and Microsoft's larger operations acting more like three associated but independent companies within the company.
The night's theme was connections and how Microsoft would help people make them across different venues, whether work, home or play.
Windows Vista took early, center stage, with promises of never-before-discussed features. Yawn. The headliner: Search across Windows Vista PCs on home networks. I wouldn't call this exactly new, or never discussed.
The other new features are part of Media Center and really are little more than new content deals. Surely, Microsoft was going to have some, given the new Windows version. Microsoft and FoxSports.com are partnering on SportsLounge, which will provide TV programming and real-time sports scores. Microsoft also announced content partners ShowTime Interactive and Vongo.
All three services will be delivered through Media Center's Online Spotlight feature. The online mechanism is underrated, or so I think. It's a real bridge between the two most important consumer connected entertainment devices, the TV and PC.
By the way, Microsoft's partners have sold 30 million Windows Media Center PCs, Bach revealed. For perspective, in April 2006, the number was 6.5 million, which is a staggering increase in about 10 months. During his presentation, Bach alluded to the consumer appeal of Media Center driving sales, which is laughable. Success is probably more about choice, meaning none. In the absence of Windows Vista, PC manufacturers are putting Media Center on almost everything. Tonight, I saw a cute 12.1-inch Averatec laptop on sale at the local Staples for $799, with Windows XP Media Center Edition installed.
Bach revealed that, later this year, Windows Vista users would have access to Xbox Live. The idea is to bring the connected gaming experience from Xbox 360 and Xbox Live to the Windows PC. Through XNA, Microsoft has sought to make it easier for developers to create games for Xbox and Windows. Xbox Live for Windows would create another bridge between the desktop and console.
But Xbox wouldn't be the only Live on the desktop or the only one delivering desktop games. Xbox Live and Windows Live share the same surname for good reason. Right now, they're related siblings separated at birth. Microsoft has a big future planned for these kids.
PlaysForSure may be pushing up daisies, but that doesn't mean Microsoft has totally abandoned its other music strategy. Bach began by reaffirming Microsoft's comment to MTV URGE and Windows Media Player 11, which debuted at CES 2006. So, not all Microsoft partners will get trashed in the quest to Zune the iPod.
URGE is a terrific music service, by the way, and the integration into WMP 11 is competitive to Apple's iTunes. While Apple provides great content and supporting editorial, URGE has better programming, IMHO. Surely, a media company like Music Television knows a few content programming and presentation tricks.
Comments (5)
Microsoft are pushing the user centric solution for everything (Every user has to have their own version of the operating system and the apps that that surround it)... we have talked about network centric applications for a long time now and I think the network bandwidth to the home or SOHO is finally becoming compelling enough to run lots more from the network -- even video --- I may be a bit ahead of things but I do see the elimination of things like discreet DVD players (in homes and in autos), discreet GPS systems, etc... watch out for Google, Mr. Gates --- IMHO
Posted by Ian Lenathen | January 8, 2007 12:11 PM
You said that Media Center is the only OS available?
Last time I looked any computer on the market has options of Media Center, XP home or XP Pro...
If people are buying Media Center, it's because they want Media Center rather than the other options.
Posted by Lucy Hernandez | January 8, 2007 1:18 PM
Having come from a video hardware with proprietary software for this and just about everything ever made prior to 1985 and 1995 other EPROM and firmware, I said back at an NAB committee report that around the year 2000 it's going to be a corporate mentality to get away from this box for that application and that application for this box. I suggested that satellite and similar storage and information would be global and those's that stick it to the public consumer and corporations will soon find that there is someone else looking into these options.
Personally, given broadcast television and the last 30 years of millions of dollars spent on technology only to have it replaced while I wasted thousands on a lease because everything cost $100,000.00 to do some idiot moving in video or edit something, looking towards tomorrow those that believe that they several versions of formats for HD Cameras, recorders, storage solutions, information delivery solutions are just trying to get back into the pockets of the unreality of a potential merger of a few working and great products that are all around the same price have similar features that are interchangeable, and frankly I look forward to that day because having owned and operated, paid and lost my butt on just about everything "those that used my company had to have because it was better" was such a joke.
Better is a marketing ploy, reality is giving and setting a standard that employs a few given working solutions so maybe and finally people can create and use centric solution as a #1 solution would be a great idea. Then we can finally get back to quality production be it in creative looks for television, films or just about anything one might want to produce without having the latest wedge. In the end much of this stuff is a huge pile of hype and many products over the other products are only different if you put a scope on them and you have a group of engineers hanging around picking out all the flaws that the average user would never see, know about or find a problem.
I would look forward to the day it wasn't the old switch and bait situation, whereas my one software package or hardware package has a shelf life of something more than 6 months to a year and it still works for those that aren't trying to sell me a pig in a poke.
Sincerely,
Larry Eells
President
First Light Productions
Posted by Larry Eells | January 8, 2007 3:23 PM
Having come from a video hardware with proprietary software for this and just about everything ever made prior to 1985 and 1995 other EPROM and firmware, I said back at an NAB committee report that around the year 2000 it's going to be a corporate mentality to get away from this box for that application and that application for this box. I suggested that satellite and similar storage and information would be global and those's that stick it to the public consumer and corporations will soon find that there is someone else looking into these options.
Personally, given broadcast television and the last 30 years of millions of dollars spent on technology only to have it replaced while I wasted thousands on a lease because everything cost $100,000.00 to do some idiot moving in video or edit something, looking towards tomorrow those that believe that they several versions of formats for HD Cameras, recorders, storage solutions, information delivery solutions are just trying to get back into the pockets of the unreality of a potential merger of a few working and great products that are all around the same price have similar features that are interchangeable, and frankly I look forward to that day because having owned and operated, paid and lost my butt on just about everything "those that used my company had to have because it was better" was such a joke.
Better is a marketing ploy, reality is giving and setting a standard that employs a few given working solutions so maybe and finally people can create and use centric solution as a #1 solution would be a great idea. Then we can finally get back to quality production be it in creative looks for television, films or just about anything one might want to produce without having the latest wedge. In the end much of this stuff is a huge pile of hype and many products over the other products are only different if you put a scope on them and you have a group of engineers hanging around picking out all the flaws that the average user would never see, know about or find a problem.
I would look forward to the day it wasn't the old switch and bait situation, whereas my one software package or hardware package has a shelf life of something more than 6 months to a year and it still works for those that aren't trying to sell me a pig in a poke.
Sincerely,
Larry Eells
President
First Light Productions
Posted by Larry Eells | January 8, 2007 3:24 PM
Lucy Hernandez wrote: "You said that Media Center is the only OS available?...If people are buying Media Center, it's because they want Media Center rather than the other options."
Hi, Lucy, please take a look around. Over at Dell, Media Center is the default OS on all consumer Dimension and XPS desktops, including the $359 model. Over at Best Buy, out of 27 desktops, 19 have Media Center and eight others are Macs; one Windows PC doesn't come with Media Center.
Joe
Posted by Joe | January 8, 2007 9:45 PM