Update: We'll be uploading various photos from CES in our
CES 2007 Photo Album.
For more than a decade, Microsoft and others have peddled a vision of a connected lifestyle, a lifestyle where digital content moves across devices at home, work, and on the go. And though it’s been a slow march, last night, Microsoft chairman Bill gates continued that tradition during his keynote address.
When Gates kicked off the International Consumer Electronics Show, for the first time in a long while, the industry could honestly say it had come closer than ever in delivering on that concept.
Most of us had to settle for watching it from home on our PC’s, but our own
Larry Richman was there live attending the event. You can read his coverage on our
Events Page.
"Every year represents a lot of progress," he said in an interview today with The Associated Press.
The improvements have taken many forms. And in the end, the hard work has paid off today’s media driven era. The networks, new technologies, communications efforts, hardware, and constant returns to the drawing board finally got the backing of entertainment sources.
Gates also was quick to point out that more work remains though.
"There's still a lot to be done there, especially when you get into rights-oriented content and how simple that can be made so the creative people are happy with it and yet the flexibility (for consumers) is there," he said.
In his 11th annual speech headlining the world's largest tech convention, Gates highlighted how Microsoft's latest creations and partnerships aim to make it easier for people to navigate, consume, share and manage different kinds of content, whether they are games, movies, family photos, sports or work.
The keynote came as the software giant heads into one of its most significant periods of attracting consumers to its widening portfolio of computing, gaming and entertainment products. Its software has encompassed not only computers, but also cell phones, portable media players, home media centers and even cars (Ford).
The consumer launch of Windows Vista later this month is the company's first major overhaul of its operating system since Windows XP was launched in 2001.
Gates discussed some additional features not yet disclosed. Among them is a new "sports lounge" area so users tapped into Microsoft's MSN Soapbox online site can simultaneously view additional sports information; up-to-date fantasy sports data and the latest sports videos. Other
Vista Ultimate Extras were also revealed. The Texas Hold’Em Extra was of particular interest – given the location and all.
During the keynote, Gates also unveiled how Microsoft's computer-making partners have designed new PCs to take advantage of Vista's software advances. Hewlett-Packard is set to have a new all-in-one computer and touch-screen display designed to fit into a kitchen nook or a family room, letting users scribble messages on the screen or watch a movie.
Toshiba is debuting a high-end tablet notebook that has a secondary display on the front edge so users can read incoming e-mail or calendar alerts even while the laptop lid is closed. Sony is planning a new Windows Vista media center that is white and round, meant to look more like an entertainment electronics device than a computer.
Yahoo has now even announced a custom
Messenger Service just for Vista.
(Photo Here)
In-house
