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Liveblogging the 2008 CES Bill Gates keynote
Posted by Sparky Categories: Announcements, CES, CES 2008, Smart Home, Internet, Microsoft,
Gear Live’s live coverage of the 2008 CES keynote! Refresh this page to keep track of the announcements!
6:39 The lights are up, and Bill has walked on stage!
6:40 Bill is talking about the last decade. Photos and music have made a huge transformation from analog to digital. “Information anywhere” seems to be a major theme.
6:42 Lots of partners have contributed to this digital decade - While this is Bill’s last CES keynote he thinks technology is just getting rolling
6:44 Video spoof of Bill Gates last day at Microsoft - Bill driving a Chevy Malibu to work and cleaning out his desk. Very funny stuff!
Check out the rest of the coverage after the jump
Click to continue reading Liveblogging the 2008 CES Bill Gates keynote
Gallery: Liveblogging the 2008 CES Bill Gates keynote
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Freebie Ringtones and Wallpaper from MS Mobile
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Editorial, Hot Deals, Microsoft,
Microsoft Mobile is offering free holiday-themed ringtones and wallpaper for smartphones and pocket PCs if you are a part of their Owner’s Circle. There are 9 wallpapers to select from, and in addition to their recently added Halo ringtones, you can choose between Bells, Frosty’s Groove, More Merry, Sleigh Bells, Snowflakes (we had to preview that one,) Below Freezing, Charity ( which sounds like the Salvation Army bell,) Cookies and Milk, and more. If you are not a member, you can sign up for their newsletter to receive the “gifts,” even though it seems that MS is getting the better deal.
Read More 
| Smartphone Thoughts
Gallery: Freebie Ringtones and Wallpaper from MS Mobile
It seems that one Santa had a little too much ho-ho-ho at the expense of Microsoft. Last year, the company instigated AIs at northpole@live.com for kids to add to their Windows Live Messenger contact list. When a reader in the UK noticed that his young nieces had been talking to it this year, he also noted that their conversation turned from talking about eating pizza to another subject we will refer to as “more mature.”
Spokesperson Adam Sohn says, “If they’re meant to be cheeky and have fun with you, they may repeat certain things back,” he said, or respond to certain words with “that’s naughty.”
Although they tried to clean up its act, they finally shut down the service, undoubtedly fearing now that the word was out, others might be tempted to push it to its limit.
Read More | ABC
Gallery: MS Santa Gets Fired
Sidewinder Rolls Out
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Home Entertainment, Microsoft, Video Games,
Microsoft’s gaming mouse, the Sidewinder, has been unleashed. The device is cusomizeable for every game with its advanced software and accessories. It features three presets for switching between 400, 800, and 2000 dpi, or you can set it to your own specifications. It also has a one-button touch to Explorer games in Windows Vista. The mouse itself has weight cartridges, replaceable feet for glide, a wide metal scroll wheel, and an LCD display on the mouse itself. The Sidewinder carries a MSRP of $69.99 at Best Buy.
Read More | Microsoft
Gallery: Sidewinder Rolls Out
Shadow Comes Out of the Dark
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News, Microsoft,
The T-Mobile Shadow launched this week, the first in a series of mobile devices that are meant to be simplified for those who are telephonically challenged. Designed by HTC, the phone has the usual calling, image sharing, and text messaging capabilities. In addition, it features the simplicity of Windows Mobile and an updated interface. Available in copper or sage, find it online or at retail stores for $199.99 with a voice-plan or $149.99 with $20.00 per month and a 2 year contract.
Read More | Smartphone Thoughts
Gallery: Shadow Comes Out of the Dark
Microsoft Scores With Facebook
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, Google, Microsoft,
Take that, Google! Microsoft has managed to one-up Google by investing $240 million for a 1.6% share in Facebook. It also has the rights to sell ads on the site outside of the U.S. Some experts say that they are hoping that the company will expand and become a “hub” for its various Net applications. So far, Facebook has about 50 million subscribers and claims that it receives 250,000 new ones every day. Microsoft hopes that it will reach a forecasted 300 million. We figure that MS is partying hearty over this one since Google beat them out last year with its acquisition of YouTube.
Read More | Reuters
Gallery: Microsoft Scores With Facebook
Zune 2: What Microsoft got right
Posted by Sparky Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Microsoft, Music, Portable Audio / Video,
While Microsoft’s first generation Zune hardly put up a fight against Apple’s iPod juggernaut the soon to be released Zune 2 seems to have a much better chance of gaining a foothold in the market. Last 100 has posted their take on the top 5 things the new Zune got right - we agree with them for the most part, although they do seem to underscore the challenge Microsoft faces with the iPod Touch, iPhone, and the rest of the iPhone line.
The new flash based Zunes do help widen their appeal, but Apple has anDAP available in $50 price increments from $79 all the way up to $400 - something to fit everyone’s budget and needs. Apple has also beat Microsoft to the punch on mobile song purchase, but the new improvements to the Zune store shows that Microsoft is gaining momentum to catch them on features.
All in all, the Zune 2 has a chance with it’s bevy of new features. With the goal of helping the brand Microsoft is also smartly planning to release a firmware update for the 1st generation Zune that will include all of the new features. Now might be a good time to pick up a Zune on the cheap if you don’t mind slightly older hardware but are interested in the new store or social networking features.
Read More | Last 100
Gallery: Zune 2: What Microsoft got right
Vixta: The Vista of Linux?!
Posted by Sparky Categories: Design, Internet, Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Software,
Crazy about the Windows Vista UI, but love Linux? Vixta could be your your thing. Vixta is a new Fedora-based Linux distribution featuring a surprisingly Windows Vista like look and feel. In fact, it’s so surprisingly like Windows Vista that Redmond based lawyers can’t be far behind - it’s a pretty blatant rip of the Aero interface.
While Vixta captures the look of Vista, one wonders if it’s truly as evolved as Vista is. Windows Vista may have it’s flaws, but ove all it is a highly polished operating system with lots of features to make it easy to use for the not so computer literate. No, really. This kind of refinement in a user interface takes a lot of time and energy to develop. The Linux underpinnings might be rock solid, but if Vixta’s stated goal is bringing Linux to the masses, it’s the chrome that will make a difference.
Read More | Vixta via Tux Enclave
Gallery: Vixta: The Vista of Linux?!
Downgrade Available for Certain Vista Users
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Corporate News, Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Software,
One of the many interesting tech stories this year was Microsoft’s release of Windows Vista…and the subsequent complaints, issues and horror stories that followed, as this writer can personally attest to. As a result, many users and businesses have it made quite clear they’d rather switch back to good ol’ Windows XP. Well, in a very surprising move, Microsoft is “quietly allowing PC makers to offer a downgrade option to buyers that get machines with the new operating system but want to switch to Windows XP.” The catch? The offer only applies to Vista Business and Ultimate editions, so you Home users are out of luck. Dell, Fujitsu, Lenovo and HP PCs are all capable of downgrading if customers wish to. That piercing, wailing sound you hear? It’s this writer screaming in despair because she can’t go back to the shiny, happy days of Windows XP.
Read More | Engadget
Gallery: Downgrade Available for Certain Vista Users
Microsoft Unveils Rechargeable Mouse
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Microsoft, Peripherals, Wireless / WiFi,
Microsoft has introduced what it claims to be the first rechargeable notebook mouse. With a full GB of flash memory, users can work without wires, recharge, and save files at the same time. The Notebook Mouse 8000 will work via 2.4GHz or Bluetooth and has 5 customizable buttons that can be used as an integrated slide presenter, laser pointer, a media remote, and other applications. The rechargeable AAA battery (included) is good for about three weeks on a full charge. Expect to see this one with a MSRP of $71.95 to $99.95, depending on the retail outlet.
Read More | Microsoft
Gallery: Microsoft Unveils Rechargeable Mouse
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