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Fuzzy Logic Gates CES 2008 keynote: Pieces of the Microsoft puzzle
Fuzzy Logic Gates CES 2008 keynote: Pieces of the Microsoft puzzle | Gates CES 2008 keynote: Pieces of the Microsoft puzzle |
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| Written by Alex Zaharov-Reutt | |
| Monday, 07 January 2008 | |
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Page 2 of 3 The NBC Olympics website will be the official on-line home of the 2008 Olympics in the US, and unlike the videos currently broadcast at the NBC Olympics which use Adobe Flash technology, the site will be changed to broadcast all video using Microsoft’s own cross-browser Silverlight technology. The partnership is unsurprising, given Microsoft and NBC’s collaboration on MSNBC, with Gary Zenkel, president of NBC Olympics saying that: “With Microsoft’s cutting-edge technology and MSN’s enormous reach, we will be positioned on NBCOlympics.com to enable Olympic fans to tailor their Olympic online viewing experience — they can watch Olympic sports content when and where they want. An on-demand Olympics means online viewers will be able to return to their favorite Olympic moments over and over or watch a performance they may have missed for the first time.” Microsoft also had some Xbox 360 news, minus the expected Xbox 360 Ultimate, of course. Robbie Bach, Microsoft’s entertainment chief, said that 17.7 million Xbox 360’s had now been sold, with 10 million Xbox Live subscriptions active. In addition, ABC Television, the Disney Channel and MGM are bringing new video content to US based Xbox Live members, with TV shows such as Lost, Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty, and Desperate Housewives, and movies such as Rocky, Terminator, Legally Blonde, Silence of the Lambs and Barbershop, amongst others, set to debut on Xbox Live shortly. Microsoft emphasised that ‘more than 3500 hours of premium content’ were now available to Xbox Live members in the US, making it a “premier platform for on-demand TV shows and movies, including impressive high definition experiences, for TV”. That is certainly true, and sits in sharp contrast to the Apple TV which can’t claim to be anywhere near as successful. Bach also said the Zune digital media player was coming to Canadian shores in ‘Spring 2008’, with the rest of the world spared from being Zuned for now. Bach also talked about Microsoft’s IPTV Mediaroom solution, already powering over 1 million set-top boxes worldwide and delivering advanced IPTV programming that lets users select their own NASCAR cameras to watch, thereby creating their own NASCAR experience in true interactive style. Bach explained that Microsoft took digital media very seriously, saying it was no mere hobby, in a clear reference to Steve Jobs’ description of the Apple TV as a ‘hobby’ upon its launch. So, what about Vista, and a slew of new interfaces for the 'next digital decade'? Please read onto page 3 for the conclusion... |
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