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Recent Posts:                | Wednesday, 21 October 2009 
I attended the official launch event for Microsoft’s very much anticipated Windows 7 in London today, ahead of the worldwide release midnight tonight. Apart from being touchscreen-capable, the OS includes a host of new features designed to improve performance, battery life, responsiveness, start-up times and generally simplify everyday tasks. Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Microsoft’s recently announced media player - the multitouch OLED-equipped Zune HD - now boasts a whole host of accessories to facilitate everything from external HD playback to car charging - plus docks and remotes for convenience. Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Microsoft’s eagerly awaited Windows 7 Operating System will be available for pre-order in the UK come midnight tonight, with limited discount prices for those that get in early. Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Microsoft’s answer to the iPod Touch was today made official in the form of the Zune HD, featuring an OLED display with multitouch capabilities, HD video and web browsing. The player is slated for a release in early fall and should be the first portable media player to support HD radio. Wednesday, 20 May 2009
Fierce advertising rivalry with stylish competitor Apple, really seems to have gotten Microsoft thinking outside the box. Though they have made some grave errors in attempting to make their Windows Vista OS appear cool and fun, this ad for their New Zealand audience actually seems to hit the mark. Friday, 19 September 2008
After the announcement from Microsoft declaring the Gates/Seinfeld ads dead, the Redmond giant has moved to “Phase Two” with the launch of three new commercials (below). The ads feature a repetitive, ambiguous slogan which is quite infectious, but sure to grow old very quickly. Thursday, 18 September 2008
Were you looking forward to your Friday fix of the next installment of the Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld commercials? Well, I’m afraid it’s all over. Microsoft is set to make an announcement tomorrow that they will be ending the Gates/Seinfeld ads and moving towards “phase two” of their ad campaign. Friday, 5 September 2008
A few hours ago the first installment of the new Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld commercials went to air in the States and, well, it has to be seen to be believed (video below). The strained $10 million Seinfeld performance coupled with consistent deadpan delivery by Gates is awkward and confusing, yet somewhat addictive. It may be a case of “it’s so bad, it’s good”. Thursday, 14 August 2008
What’s the matter? Photoshopping images of your friends and foes not as fun as it used to be? Well, Microsoft has come to the rescue with “Unwrap Mosaics”, a new piece of software that makes real-time, in-motion edits to video faster than you can say handlebar mo. The software uses masks to add or undo any edits you perform and comes loaded with editing functions such as cutting/pasting/copying, resizing, repainting, deforming and effects layers. In the video below, the software is demonstrated on a head shot of some guy chattering away. The images that make up the video are converted automatically to an “unwrap mosaic” and any changes made to the mosaic are re-composited into the original video sequence. The video demonstrates the real-time, in-motion application of virtual make-up including rouge on the cheeks, kohl on the eyes, big bushy eyebrows and, why not, a big biker mo. Don’t know if it’s really suited for professional production just yet, but it sure looks like a winner for a laugh on amateur vids. Sources: Microsoft Unwrap Mosaics Via: TecheBlog Monday, 26 May 2008
Microsoft’s attempt to scan entire libraries in an effort to make the information searchable, will now be abandoned. It had amassed digital copies of 750,000 books and 80 million journal articles but was under immense competition from market leader Google, who runs a similar service but does not restrict itself to scanning works in the public domain. Microsoft began their book-scanning business in 2005 and unveiled their MSN book search site in 2006. They stuck to copying only books and documents that were firmly in the public domain, working with publishers to scan their books. Two separate sites for searching through the content will be taken down and the massive collection of documents will be given to publishers. Live Search will direct users wanting to search for books to non-Microsoft sites, the company said. The world’s biggest software maker is being pressured to show how it will turn around its unprofitable online business after its collapsed bid for search competitor Yahoo earlier this month. Satya Nadella, Senior Vice President wrote in a blog post on Friday that digitizing books and archiving academic journals no longer fits with the company’s plan for its search operation. “We believe the next generation of search is about the development of an underlying, sustainable business model for the search engine, consumer and content partner,” wrote Nadella. Last week, Microsoft announced its new Live Search Cash Back system that they hope will gain them a bigger share of the search market by offering a Cash Back incentive to users who make purchases on advertisers’ sites. Microsoft is a distant third in the search market behind Yahoo and market leader Google. Google’s book project began in 2004, working with the New York Public Library, Harvard University and other organisations for the mass scanning of books. Though they haven’t detailed a way to make book searches profitable, they could run ads alongside search results much as they do with traditional searches. There is also the option of a profit share with publishers when books are sold. Photo credit: Stephen Brashear - AP | Subscribe
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