Monday, January 7, 2008

Consumer Electronics Show

LAS VEGAS — For the last time as Microsoft's (MSFT) chairman, Bill Gates
delivered the introductory speech at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Microsoft made several announcements, including a connection with NBC
identification MSN as the exclusive accessible partner for the Beijing
Olympics. Sports fans will be able to watch more than 3,000 hours of
live and on-request at ease over the Web.

A deal with Disney (DIS) will give Xbox Live on-necessity entrance to
past and recent ABC , including Lost and Grey's Anatomy. And MGM will
make such on-need movies as Rocky and Silence of the Lambs available on
the Xbox 360.

Beforehand, Gates stay with USA TODAY's Edward C. Baig near these topics
and the digital decade, lessons cultured from Windows Vista and whether
Blu-ray has won the high-def DVD war. Excerpts edited for clarity:

Q: Warner's revelation backing Blu-ray high-definition DVDs suggests the
fall of the HD DVD format, which Microsoft has supported. What's your
retort?

A: There has been a lot of back and forth. The pronouncement before that
was Paramount putting complete maintenance behind HD DVD. HD DVD did
well over the holidays. The new trend we're farsighted is that absolute
copy over — I believe the utmost illustration of that is XBox Live —
(is) becoming an important best. Over time, that will be the bossy way
that people get their movies.

Q: Tell us how "mortal" interfaces will take computing beyond the mouse
and keyboard.

In this next time, as we earn in the idea of touch and cameras and
speech and the pen, (daily computing) will be far more pervasive …
compound people deskbound in front of a snapshot compilation salaried
organized. It will be on the fridge-freezer. Just far to get to. And
(there's) no better sample of this than (Microsoft's) Surface (tabletop
computer). You don't have to pick up whatever at all. It's pretty
noticeable when you're with close massage.

Q: You're announcing 100 squillion licenses (sold) for Vista? And yet
have been so-so. XP is at a halt available.

A: Windows is probably the most important product in the entire PC
trade. Everything we do in terms of accompanying touch, new hardware,
accessibility has tremendous impact. If we don't get the ( car owner
updates for Vista) done, that makes equipment complicated for our users.
Getting those smithereens together (was) relatively complex this year.

Vista is a distinguished product, done very well, mind-boggling new
scenarios. We're hard at work in the description after Vista. I'm not
actually talking more or less a service pack (a pool of updates). You
until the end of time have . The in reality big affair is we'll have a
foremost new side, and all the well-educated with Vista, we'll take
those to mind.

Q: Many people find it hard to be certain of you are diffident from the
productiveness in June. How do you feel not far off it?

A: I've loved doing the (CES) essential and talking of the order of what
the industriousness has done and where it's present. I'm sure I'll miss
that. I'm excited I'll tranquil have some projects I'll do part time.
I'll be into large-scale well-being, which is nearly like the initial
days of PCs (in) the way you form .

The software commercial is a huge, superb corporate. I love it. It's an
few and far between item. I have two exalted activities I love doing,
and I'm the way I prioritize (them).

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