You can watch along. I’m sitting in the Bellagio with a bunch of geeks watching on a video feed. Updates to come. Oh, Engadget did a point-by-point of the keynote too (with pictures!) But, Memeorandum is the best place to go to see all the reaction from around the world.
I heard he won’t use any PowerPoint slides tonight. That’ll be interesting to see.
6:45 p.m. Bill just came out. He’s talking about winning the Time’s person of the year with his wife. Noted that in 1982 the PC won that award.
6:47. Notes that last year Microsoft saw 11% growth in Windows PCs.
6:48. Showing a futuristic home of the future screen that you can touch.
6:49. Shows off a cool holographic office screen. Shows images that wrap around you.
6:50. Demonstrates a Tablet PC that is virtually displayed along with the wrap around screen.
6:52. He’s demonstrating the PlayTable (a prototype table — someone just wrote me and said this isn’t the PlayTable. Oh, oh. Still very cool. And, I’ll definitely follow up with that team). He drops his cell phone onto a surface and images fly out of it. Wild. Oh, cool, now that the Table has been demonstrated I can talk about this. It’s no demo. It really works. It’s unbelieveable technology. How does the Tablet work? It has a projector underneath it, projecting onto holographic glass. Under the glass (you can’t see these) are two cameras that triangulate in on the surface of the glass. How does it know that Bill’s cell phone has been laid on the surface of the glass? A barcode on the bottom of Bill’s cell phone.
6:58. Bill is talking about the industry.
7:00. Windows Vista demos start.
Aaron Woodman is on stage talking about Vista. First, fresh user interface.
Live previews of applications. Switching apps is easier. Flip 3D is being shown (shows various Windows you have open in 3D interface).
Sidebar being demoed showing Gadgets. RSS feed reader in Sidebar. Dave Winer will be happy.
7:04. You can search. From the start menu.
7:05. Tabbed browsing with a twist. MSN Search done, brings up new tabs by clicking on links which opens new tabs. Then shows off quick tabs. Shows thumbnail of different tabs. Very cool.
Built in parental controls. Shows how games rating works for parents.
7:06. Experiences? New Flight Simulator being demoed. Whoa!!! Damn, that’s unbelieveable. You have to see this to believe it. Unbelieveable game experiences are coming.
7:09. Photo experiences. It shows that it always save the original photo. So, if you crop you can go back. If you change color, you can go back.
7:10. Motion video working right next to photos in new Windows media sharing app.
7:11. Windows Media Player. New UI. No long lists anymore. Resizeable icons and info. Very nice.
7:12. Van Toffler, Group President, MTV Networks is onstage. Announcing partnership. 100 CD-quality radiostations. Urge is name. Subscribers will drive the service. He used the word “sucks” on stage. Ahh, customers can tell them it sucks and they’ll listen. Two million tracks available. All you can eat OR download and buy your favorite track.
7:13. Blogging in a music service? Did I just hear that right?
7:18. Justin Timberlake just walked out on stage. Just announced his new album in conjunction with Urge.
7:21. Ttttttttaaaaaaabbbbbbblllllleeeeeeettttttt. Heheh. New Gateway Tablet shown. I’ll take a look at that tomorrow in the booth.
7:22. New passive digitizers talked about. This lets manufacturers build new kinds of devices that don’t require as much expense.
7:23. Windows Mobile. Bill is playing with the new Treo. Verizon is selling it starting tomorrow.
7:26. Messenger buddy list on new Phillips phone. Calls through Internet. Whoa. Through Windows Live Call Services. Gotta learn more about that.
7:27. Talking about TV now. Get ready for HHHHHDDDDDTTTTTTVVVVVV. Heheh. That was a note to Maryam. I wanna buy an HD screen.
7:30. Media Center. 6.5 million sold so far. 130 manufacturers.
7:31. Viiv from Intel is what Bill’s talking about now. Chip level surround sound. Dual core.
Direct TV video on Media Center. Ahh, talking is over, let’s get Joe Belfiore out here. VP of Media Center division. 15 minute tour coming.
7:34. Showing off a cool Media Center screen. You gotta watch this. It’s too hard to describe in ASCII text.
7:36. PC from Averatec. Small and quiet PC that have tuner. For less than $1000 with tuner. $499 without tuner. Sold!
7:37. Showing off new Portable Media Player. New Starz, Vongo service. Lets you buy movies and other media. Subscription!! All movies you want for $9.99 a month.
7:43. Windows Live messenger. Lets you ask for help with TV programming through IM bots. I have to wrap my head around that! “What’s on tonight?” Brings up results in another Window. Very cool.
7:46. Showing off HD-DVD on Windows Vista. Demonstrating interactivity capabilities of HD-DVD. Oh, this is cool! Get to move scenes without leaving movie. Or, get see what actors are on screen in the scenes you’re currently watching. Neat! Patrick just emailed me and said “that looks cool!”
The producer head talking on top of the movie got lots of reactions from audience around me (I’m sitting in a room at the Belagio watching this with about 100 other geeks).
7:50. Digital Cable. Applause!! Yes, we can get digital cable signals straight into Media Center. I’ve been been waiting for this. You can get premium stuff off of digital cable systems now. Will definitely check that out tomorrow.
7:55. XXXXXXXBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOXXXXXXXXXXX
7:56. Xbox 360 launch stats. 30 countries. 4.5 to 5.5 will be sold by end of June. 4 games per console attach rate (that means Xbox 360 is selling two more games than any other console per console sold).
7:59. Announced that four million Xbox Live subscribers added.
8:01. More games coming.
8:02. HD disks announced? Yes. Later this year. Xbox 360 external HDDVD drive coming.
8:03. There it is again. HDTV. Maryam, you listening?
8:04. Boxing promoter came out. Oh, geez. Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates are gonna play an Xbox boxing game together on stage. The crowd here is eating this stuff up!
8:08. BillG beat SteveB. The replays are pretty gruesome. Knockout! New EA game, Fight Night Round 3, here’s what they were playing. Wow, Xbox Live is immediately pushing out a demo for people who have Xbox 360s to try out. That’s cool.
8:11. It’s over…
I disagree wholesale. Early release means nothing long-term…in fact PS3 with Blu-Ray, will mop the 360 floor, if only half of PS2 owners upgrade.
And the early release Also lead to supply chain probelms and serious quality controls issues, and that’s dominated the media reports, so it all backfired.
I disagree wholesale. Early release means nothing long-term…in fact PS3 with Blu-Ray, will mop the 360 floor, if only half of PS2 owners upgrade.
And the early release Also lead to supply chain probelms and serious quality controls issues, and that’s dominated the media reports, so it all backfired.
You know, Apple fans do this kind of thing at every one of SJ’s keynotes. You can follow them in near real-time. Somehow, it’s not the same when the person doing it is a PR flack.
Hey, anyone remember the time when BG signed a keyboard, and it was auctioned off? Some evil empire PR flack bought it for about a grand, beating the previous high bid that was not quite the list price of the keyboard. Gotta save face when the boss is trying to look good, eh?
You know, Apple fans do this kind of thing at every one of SJ’s keynotes. You can follow them in near real-time. Somehow, it’s not the same when the person doing it is a PR flack.
Hey, anyone remember the time when BG signed a keyboard, and it was auctioned off? Some evil empire PR flack bought it for about a grand, beating the previous high bid that was not quite the list price of the keyboard. Gotta save face when the boss is trying to look good, eh?
Link to replay? I missed the first hour or so and at the end it said there will be a replay available at 11 PST. Will it be on the same site as live?
I think Sony is dead in the water, they put all their eggs in the PS2/3 basket, and look where they end up. Rootkits on CD’s and a playstation nobody really knows much about.
Link to replay? I missed the first hour or so and at the end it said there will be a replay available at 11 PST. Will it be on the same site as live?
I think Sony is dead in the water, they put all their eggs in the PS2/3 basket, and look where they end up. Rootkits on CD’s and a playstation nobody really knows much about.
Thumbnails of the tabs? I see. Once again, MS copies OmniWeb. Real innovative there, guys.
Does Vista include that knock-off of Delicious Library, too?
Thumbnails of the tabs? I see. Once again, MS copies OmniWeb. Real innovative there, guys.
Does Vista include that knock-off of Delicious Library, too?
We’re going to be able to get DirecTV on Windows MCE? My dream has come true!
We’re going to be able to get DirecTV on Windows MCE? My dream has come true!
Short and Sweet Wrap-Up
Tablet PC – More Gates yabbering about his pet toy, all talk no action. I was a heavy beliver 4 years ago, lost my religion however. Want to worship again, but then this thing called ‘reality’ is out there.
360 – Yeah yeah, whatever. It would help if people could freaking actually BUY them. Money-losing rathole, now with an additional HD-DVD upgrade option needed. The Live strategy will backfire, don’t place all chips on that.
Media Center with DirectTV – Score one. That’s the one smart move. Tho, with Direct TV PVR, umm why do you really need Media Center? And cable companies themselves doing PVR functionality. Media Center too geek toy.
Vista – Umm yeah? Rehash. So? Yeah? Oh really, so?
Mobile – What? Bit player, hitching ride on a Palm device, another division forever treading water.
VIIV – Ummm, marketing spazzing up Intel, eh? Never mind that Cell chip.
Portable Media Centers – Oh do be serious. I bet the people that own these are but in the dozens. An iPod this is not.
Future home tech rot – Yeah yeah, maybe if like Gates, rich beyond dreams, and have time to tinker with all this lucid dreaming. Otherwise pay no heed.
HD-TV – Taking credit for the HD? Saying 360 the primary thrust spurring HD adoption? What arrogance. No doubt real consumer electronics companies none too happy with Microsoft pissing in their pools and stealing the credit.
Urge – Starz! – MS-MTV? Content partnerships, the acking of Microsoft means a sure fire death, if go by history. Ironic timing, on the death of MSNBC, they get into content again, songs and movies wise. Blah. DOA.
Short and Sweet Wrap-Up
Tablet PC – More Gates yabbering about his pet toy, all talk no action. I was a heavy beliver 4 years ago, lost my religion however. Want to worship again, but then this thing called ‘reality’ is out there.
360 – Yeah yeah, whatever. It would help if people could freaking actually BUY them. Money-losing rathole, now with an additional HD-DVD upgrade option needed. The Live strategy will backfire, don’t place all chips on that.
Media Center with DirectTV – Score one. That’s the one smart move. Tho, with Direct TV PVR, umm why do you really need Media Center? And cable companies themselves doing PVR functionality. Media Center too geek toy.
Vista – Umm yeah? Rehash. So? Yeah? Oh really, so?
Mobile – What? Bit player, hitching ride on a Palm device, another division forever treading water.
VIIV – Ummm, marketing spazzing up Intel, eh? Never mind that Cell chip.
Portable Media Centers – Oh do be serious. I bet the people that own these are but in the dozens. An iPod this is not.
Future home tech rot – Yeah yeah, maybe if like Gates, rich beyond dreams, and have time to tinker with all this lucid dreaming. Otherwise pay no heed.
HD-TV – Taking credit for the HD? Saying 360 the primary thrust spurring HD adoption? What arrogance. No doubt real consumer electronics companies none too happy with Microsoft pissing in their pools and stealing the credit.
Urge – Starz! – MS-MTV? Content partnerships, the acking of Microsoft means a sure fire death, if go by history. Ironic timing, on the death of MSNBC, they get into content again, songs and movies wise. Blah. DOA.
“URGE”
Leave it to Microsoft to name the usability cesspool that is Windows Media Player after a bowel movement.
Oh, and it was great to hear the MTV flack that worked with Microsoft on this hopeless project say he deserves the credit for Milli Vanilli and Vanilla Ice too.
“URGE”
Leave it to Microsoft to name the usability cesspool that is Windows Media Player after a bowel movement.
Oh, and it was great to hear the MTV flack that worked with Microsoft on this hopeless project say he deserves the credit for Milli Vanilli and Vanilla Ice too.
Why can’t MS have a more coherent presentation. Scoble’s transcript is what gives a more sense of direction to the whole presentation.
Why can’t MS have a more coherent presentation. Scoble’s transcript is what gives a more sense of direction to the whole presentation.
Thanks Scoble – super play by play dude! Tell Bill Gates he’s my hero – not for MS but for Global development approaches and efforts which are simply awe inspiring!
Thanks Scoble – super play by play dude! Tell Bill Gates he’s my hero – not for MS but for Global development approaches and efforts which are simply awe inspiring!
Vistexposé and Dashboa — errr — Sidebar look good.
Vistexposé and Dashboa — errr — Sidebar look good.
I’ve been a boxing fan for almost 20 years, and the Fight Night series is by far the best boxing game I’ve ever played in terms of capturing the boxing experience (BTW, most realistic sporting experience: UFC for Dreamcast). There are 5 titles I am really really looking forwarding to when I get a 360: Halo 3, Elder Scrolls, Kameo, Forza 2, and Fight Night 3. I’m hoping make the special punches a bit more realistic and put in a good 1 punch liver KO, but it’s one of the few 360 games that I’ve seen with the “next gen” look (high def nonewithstanding); I can’t believe this game comes from the people that put out Madden on the 360.
I’ve been a boxing fan for almost 20 years, and the Fight Night series is by far the best boxing game I’ve ever played in terms of capturing the boxing experience (BTW, most realistic sporting experience: UFC for Dreamcast). There are 5 titles I am really really looking forwarding to when I get a 360: Halo 3, Elder Scrolls, Kameo, Forza 2, and Fight Night 3. I’m hoping make the special punches a bit more realistic and put in a good 1 punch liver KO, but it’s one of the few 360 games that I’ve seen with the “next gen” look (high def nonewithstanding); I can’t believe this game comes from the people that put out Madden on the 360.
Robert when you get the IMBot e-mail address for the TV service on Windows Live Messenger could you forward it to me please
Robert when you get the IMBot e-mail address for the TV service on Windows Live Messenger could you forward it to me please
MSFT After Hours:
(RT-ECN): 26.95 – 0.02 (0.07%)
A lot of enthusiasm.
MSFT After Hours:
(RT-ECN): 26.95 – 0.02 (0.07%)
A lot of enthusiasm.
Nobodys talking about the live messenger demo. the entire keynote was great can’t wait to watch it tomorrow.
Nobodys talking about the live messenger demo. the entire keynote was great can’t wait to watch it tomorrow.
Wait, since when does MTV play music?
Wait, since when does MTV play music?
Correction:
“Announced that four million Xbox Live subscribers added.”
This was more like 4 million downloads from the marketplace, rather than subscribers.
Correction:
“Announced that four million Xbox Live subscribers added.”
This was more like 4 million downloads from the marketplace, rather than subscribers.
So I decide to watch Bill’s presentation, and I go to your link at
http://www.microsoft.com/events/executives/billgates.mspx
and I click on the link, and up comes Windows Media Player, and it’s followed by a message which says:
“The file name, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.”
and I DON’T get the presentation.
Kind of says it all about Microsoft…
So I decide to watch Bill’s presentation, and I go to your link at
http://www.microsoft.com/events/executives/billgates.mspx
and I click on the link, and up comes Windows Media Player, and it’s followed by a message which says:
“The file name, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.”
and I DON’T get the presentation.
Kind of says it all about Microsoft…
Wow, from Fripp in previous post to justin timberlake and mtv in this one.
I’ll take the frippertronics anyday.
Wow, from Fripp in previous post to justin timberlake and mtv in this one.
I’ll take the frippertronics anyday.
Wanna know how to make a Microsoft nerd stop talking about how cool Microsoft’s technology is? Ask them when it’s shipping.
I tried to view the keynote and I get “The specified stream type is not recognized.” Oh well.
Wanna know how to make a Microsoft nerd stop talking about how cool Microsoft’s technology is? Ask them when it’s shipping.
I tried to view the keynote and I get “The specified stream type is not recognized.” Oh well.
Good to hear that Flight Simulator is not dead. It was quite a good simulator (compared to Train Simulator for example).
BTW. Vista’s website has been updated. So far I am liking the look of Vista. Now to wait for the public beta.
Good to hear that Flight Simulator is not dead. It was quite a good simulator (compared to Train Simulator for example).
BTW. Vista’s website has been updated. So far I am liking the look of Vista. Now to wait for the public beta.
See, I was going to not watch it. But now you made me interested.
See, I was going to not watch it. But now you made me interested.
troyh, thats a good one. I have always wondered why MS hypes its technologies. After all its not a startup trying to get some buzz.
I prefer the method followed by Google and Apple to an extent.
troyh, thats a good one. I have always wondered why MS hypes its technologies. After all its not a startup trying to get some buzz.
I prefer the method followed by Google and Apple to an extent.
Met: me too. Apple always has cool PowerPoints. Er, Keynotes. Heheh. Google? We see their first CES keynote on Friday. I’ll bet they get a lot of hype.
[...] We also headed over to the Digital Entertainment party and Microsoft blogger event where I saw Buzz and Scoble (and other bloggers). Robert is blogging the show as usual. He’s always blogging! Gates actually gave a good keynote. Nice job. I love the Palm partnership that Microsoft is doing. [...]