Microsoft Corp. today announced the launch of ZenZui, an independent company focusing on the ways people engage, consume and interact with Web content through mobile user experiences. ZenZui’s Zooming User Interface, a patented Microsoft technology, was initially developed by the Microsoft Redmond Research lab. Microsoft IP Ventures helps startups and growing companies speed their time to market. ZenZui worked with IP Ventures to acquire the technology and prodide assistance in securing venture capital funding to help launch their company.
“ZenZui is an exciting proposition for us and demonstrates how Microsoft is turning intellectual property into valuable business opportunities,” said Dan’l Lewin, corporate vice president of Strategic and Emerging Business Development at Microsoft, in the press release. “Our IP Ventures program opens the door for entrepreneurs to have access to the work of world-class research teams. Ultimately, this access allows them to rapidly bring new products to market based on those technologies.”
ZenZui’s core technology brings information visualization techniques out of the research lab and onto mobile phones and into the hands of mobile device operators, marketers and consumers. ZenZui’s zooming user interface employs up to 36 individual “Tiles” that are selected and customized by the user. This modular tile interface lets users sync, surf, and share digital content.
“This innovative technology developed with the help of Microsoft Research has provided a strong foundation from which ZenZui has developed a unique user experience,” said Eric Hertz, chief executive officer of ZenZui, in the press release. “ZenZui’s compelling platform is already creating excitement among carriers, content providers, interactive agencies and major marketers.”
Companies onboard for the initial trial include Kayak.com, OTOlabs, Avenue A | Razorfish and Traffic.com Inc.
ZenZui demo video:
CBS News looks at Apple’s iPhone:
More information on ZenZui is available at http://www.ZenZui.com
Microsoft redefines derivative sucking yet again.
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more vapourware that will never see the light of day. like so many things MS announces just to put a chill on a competitor’s plans. Sadly, won’t work anymore. The scales are gradually falling from people’s eyes and the emperor has no clothes. The list of announced, demo’d and never shipped products goes on and on.
Good name!”Hold on a minute, I got a call on my zenzui.” or “Can I use your zenzui to make a call?” Or maybe your in an important meeting and you pull out the zenzui. Please!!
Get some creativity. Microsoft is pathetic> Period.
I saw this crap in the WSJ this morning. All I could do was laugh. My wife what was so funny, I told her that Microsoft is busy copying Apple again.
stick is needed to imply one handed operation. altho that thumb looks to be a candidate for RSI. they can’t compete on real features so they need to trick you into thinking they have something the iPhone doesn’t. Typical!
Zen-Foohy
yes, i will sue thems for misappropriating my words of greeting. hi-5!
CHENCUI! YESKHAMESH, MY NAME BORAT!
Do I hear a ZenZui Tang? Calling ZenZui Tang!
“Microsoft Research”, AKA Microsoft copy center.
keep reminding me of the sen sui bean from dbz
Only Microshaft can design something that looks like a total shithole.
I suspect the reason the phones are on sticks is because they are not running the software onboard. Instead they are just using the phone as a display and input device while the processing is happening on a computer. The stick has a cable in it and keeps the phone steadily oriented in the frame to keep the top and bottom edge of the phone cut from view.
http://www.zendows.com/
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http://www.google.com/search?q=zendows
Did you mean: windows
Hmmm, I dropped by the sight and saw this:
“ZenZui now puts you in control of your Zoomspace, and the ads that support the content you see on your Tiles are only from brands related to them.”— New ways to send you adverts while you pay for the minutes. Sounds like MS thinking to me. — “How can we get more money from the stooge, er customer”.
Also listening to the “podcast” (don’t you just love that term) the guys talked about a “great shared client server experience”. Sounds like tons of geek speak to me, just what Bill Gates loves. Tons of techno instead of easy to use.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” /> Lets see:
“Vista”
“Windows”
“Word”
“XP”
“ZenZui”
“Zune”
At least alphabetically, Microsoft is running out of alphabits and I think out of ideas. LOL
ne
Looks like patent infringement to me
sigh, the reason that these are filmed on “a stick” is that this was thrown together in after effects (it’s easier to digitally “place” content in the screen area that way) , this stuff in no way exists, it’s just microsoft “responding” to the iPhone i.e…copying. These people truly have no soul or talent, they should be banned from using the word “innovation”
pathetic
Most of the actions were comprised of a thumb touch and then waiting. Now I don’t know much about mobile phones, but the delays seemed long to me. Also, one navigation sequence required the user to hit the screen four or five times to get to where he was going. I didn’t get any feel that the user’s needs were important, but rather this was another technology to shove into more gadgets. Apparently it’s just another “new thing” that Microsoft feels it has to do to remain relevant. You could see the good ol’ M$ business model at work in the ad — many devices, one joke OS, zero concern for the experience.
Well, Microsoft has always had the function. Now they’re just wrapping it in a different UI.
Apple may as well drop the whole iPhone joke now. It’s not fooling anybody.
ZenZui looks shit shitty
MICROSOFT ADOPTS A NEW IMPROVED APPROACH TO INNOVATION..
It will put copying of Apple on a revised fastrack priority schedule.
@ Slimp Pickens:
“Or maybe your in an important meeting and you pull out the zenzui.”
I don’t know about where you are, but in these here parts that can get you arrested, or at least slapped.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
ZenZui… my GAWD! Icons you can click on… and you can scroll them side to side and up and down. [sarcasm]That’s the most innovative thing EVAR! And it’s so SMOOTH and FLUID![/sarcasm]
Looks like the fruity little tech company aint getting away with another image-is-everything POS again.
Congrats on Microsoft seizing an opportunity, with Apple seriously disappointing with there iPhone.
ZenZui? I suspect Japanese electronics vendor Sansui might have a case of trademark infringement given the similarity in names. As to why all the Z-names? Well, to paraphrase comic Craig Ferguson, because they all ZUCK!
This latest missive from Microsoft does raise a question… Given the Billions expended by Microsoft Research in recent years, just what have they produced? I think back to the work of pioneers like AT&T’s Bell Labs, Xerox PARC, even HP Labs. But frankly, I don’t know of any breakthrough products from Microsoft’s efforts. Did I miss something?
GOOD GOD!
That is totally hideous. Does ease of use mean nothing to these people?
POSTERS FOR THE NEXT EVENT:
Lawyers. Start Your Engines.
Redmond photocopiers clearly need servicing. Their output quality is crap.
Zen Zui – Japanese for the word PANTS