“Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates showed for the first time the new consumer features in the next version of his Windows software, touting search and digital photo advancements to fend off competition from Google Inc.,” Bloomberg reports. “Windows Vista will have a built-in search engine for scouring files on personal computers, and an application to organize and display photos, Gates said in a speech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.”
“The speech marks new competition between Microsoft and photo-software maker Adobe Systems Inc. and a renewed push into music. Gates, 50, was joined on stage by singer Justin Timberlake and previewed the Urge digital music service,” Bloomberg reports. “Vista, already delayed by two years, will be critical to Microsoft’s attempts to tap a larger share of the $16.6 billion Internet advertising market…. Software called Photo Gallery will allow users to organize and manipulate photos by re-sizing them or removing red-eye. That sparks competition for Mountain View, California-based Google’s Picasa and San Jose, California-based Adobe’s Photoshop Album, a simplified version of its flagship photo program. Users will be able to switch tasks more easily through a feature displaying a list of applications and files that are open in the form of a deck of playing cards, along with thumbnail images of photos or presentations.”
“To renew growth, Gates also is pushing music and video software to fight Cupertino, California-based Apple Computer Inc.’s iPod. Tokyo-based Toshiba, Taipei-based Tatung Co. and Seoul-based LG Electronics Inc. will make music and video players that run on Windows,” Bloomberg reports. “iPod has 72 percent of the market, according to NPD Group Inc. of Port Washington, New York. Right now, the top Microsoft- based players include Singapore-based Creative Technology Ltd.’s Zen and Suwon, South Korea-based Samsung Electronics Co.’s Yepp. The Urge music service will include 2 million tracks and will allow consumers to download individual songs for a fee or sign up for a monthly fee, Microsoft said in a statement. The service will be in Windows Vista and will be available for Windows XP in the first half of this year.”
Full article here.
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Gates is on the moon.
“Software called Photo Gallery will allow users to organize and manipulate photos by re-sizing them or removing red-eye.”
They’re kidding, right? My just-turned-six iMac does that! Of course, I have the privilege of using OS X.
What does it mean that Urge will be in Vista? Will it be a separate application like iTunes or will it be integrated into Vista? WIll MS try to coerce its hardware partners into not installing other players, like Real? (iTunes isn’t installed by any Windows mfr anymore.)
Good luck with this iTunes Music Store killer. It’s not like anyone has tried it before.
“Photos? Photos? We don’t want no stinking photos.”
This is the new Vista? A collection of static images!
“Look, ma, I worked on Longhorn for 8 years and all I have is a couple of picture of what I think it ought to be like.”
removing red eye? resizing photographs?
come on microsoft, now you’re just pushing the envelope too far!
a built-in search engine? light years ahead of the game microsoft.
In all seriousness though, I wonder how many pc journalists will hail Vista as a success when every single selling point of it has been done (and done better!) by os x for years. Except the virii, that is.
The atomic bombs are currently being loaded into a truck from Apple’s HQ in Cupertino to be dropped on January 10th at Macworld.
mw here, as in, you are here.
Justin Timberlake? JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE???
Are you freaking KIDDING ME??????
I think I have the “urge” to puke. Or cheer wildly.
I can’t decide, because everything they announced is either incredibly late, an outright copy, or pathetically ill-conceived.
In other words, a typical set of announcements from Microsoft.
If this is the best they can bring, I don’t see how Apple can blow this.
You ARE kidding, aren’t you?
Maybe he was singing a cover of an old Hall & Oates song
‘You’re out of touch
I’m out of time
But I’m out of my head when you’re not around’
Fits pretty well
At least SJ does an actual demo of new OS versions when he gives his keynotes, rather than fumbling around with screenshots. Anyone can create a screenshot and then have fun with Photoshop.
So in other words, they are adding Spotlight and iPhoto knock-offs. Oh noes, I can see Jobs shaking in his boots at the thought of Windows Vista catching up to Tiger right before Leopard takes us to the next evolution with features that MS won’t have time to copy.
Does anyone else get that ‘Bill Gates is the Emperor without any clothes’ feeling?
MY addition, so I guess I should add a post.
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Geez, MS is worse off than I thought. I would quit today if I worked there.
Steve Jobs has just been taken to hospital.
Apparently he has split his sides with laughter!
Leo
stringbean writes: “Does anyone else get that ‘Bill Gates is the Emperor without any clothes’ feeling?”
Yes, and it’s creeping me out too!
Maybe Billy Boy had a wardrobe malfunction? I mean, Timberlake was there after all!
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Apple announce what they have achieved.
Microsoft announce what they might achieve.
Sad, sad, sad…
Feel free to send Bill Gates your opinions of Vista so far:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/sentiments/default.mspx
Hopefully Vista will be more reliable than the webcast hosted but unavailable here:
http://www.microsoft.com/events/executives/billgates.mspx
I wonder exactly what make of MP3 player Justin Timberlake owns?
Would a media savvy performer like JT look cool seen listening to a Zen?
Or a Yapp?
“Apple announce what they have achieved.
Microsoft announce what they might achieve.”
That sums it up nicely Macaday.
MS gets Justin Timberlake: has he done anything new recently? No disrespect meant.
Apple gets…
Kanye West: after having a great year with his new album
Sarah McLachlan – I believe she had recently released an album at the time.
Alicia Keys – got her on a free day during her tour in the UK.
The also had a famous Jazz musician at on of their events – I don’t remember his name, however.
U2 – for the OWN iPod
This doesn’t count the two (maybe three?) times John Mayer has appeared at macworld to demo Garageband with Steve Jobs.
Final tally: MS – 1 (sorta); Apple – a lot.
Is anyone truly worried for Apple here?
oops, should read:
“U2 – for their OWN iPod”
The famous jazz musician was Wynton Marsalis, arguably the most influential jazz musician in the last 20 years.
APPLE ADVERTISING GET OFF YOUR BUTTS!!!
Seize the moment
How about a series of ads with side by side comparisons or their ‘new’ features (and of course New=Buggy and Crashy in the windoze world) and OS X’s already-there stuff.
And the final line of the ad — “all this, and no security worries”
Why would anyone buy anything else?