Gates Outlines Vision for the Digital Lifestyle and Showcases New Products
Gates
Outlines Vision for the Digital Lifestyle and Showcases New Products and
Technologies From Microsoft | Highlighting key consumer products such as
Xbox 360 and offering the first broad demonstration of the consumer features
of Windows Vista, Microsoft Corp. Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill
Gates showed how the company is delivering on its vision for a digital
lifestyle where devices, services and applications work together seamlessly. In
his 10th annual keynote address at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics
Show (CES) in Las Vegas,
Gates demonstrated how Microsoft Windows Vista, Xbox 360, new mobile devices
and the emerging wave of software-based services will deliver more connected
and richly personalized experiences for consumers.
In his keynote, Gates said that the consumer electronics
industry is poised to deliver a quantum leap forward in rich, interactive,
high-definition experiences. “Technology has revolutionized how we listen to
music, watch TV, play games, communicate, and manage and share personal
information,” he said. “In the years ahead, further exciting innovations will
unify the software, hardware and services in people’s lives, offering them even
richer, more engaging and deeply connected experiences.”
Windows Vista Unveiled
In the first broad demonstration of Windows Vista for
consumers, Gates showed how Microsoft’s next-generation operating system, due
later this year, will offer customers powerful new advances in security, search
capability and digital entertainment. He highlighted how Windows Vista will
bring clarity to customers’ digital world and help them easily accomplish
everyday tasks, instantly find what they want, enjoy the latest in
entertainment, keep their personal information safe, and stay connected at home
or on the go.
He highlighted some of the most compelling consumer-oriented
features of Windows Vista, including a sleek user interface, richer
multitasking experiences and deep integration of search throughout the
operating system. He also showed the new Windows Photo Gallery, which will
make managing and working with digital photos easier.
He showcased the most advanced Windows games platform for
everyone from casual players to hard-core gamers, including stunning graphics
capabilities, by premiering Microsoft Games Studios’ forthcoming “Flight
Simulator X,” the most realistic flight simulator in the franchise’s 25-year
history.
Gates was joined onstage by MTV Networks’ Music Group
President Van Toffler to showcase the forthcoming URGE digital music service,
which is designed to bring people’s emotional connections with music to the
forefront of the digital entertainment experience. URGE will give users of
Windows Media Player 11 instant access to more than 2 million songs from major
and independent labels as well as exclusive MTV Networks programming and
content.
Demonstrating the Windows
Media Center
capabilities of Windows Vista, Gates cited growing momentum around the platform
by announcing that more than 6.5 million Windows XP Media Center Edition-based
PCs have been sold from more than 130 computer manufacturers worldwide.
In another sign of momentum for Windows XP Media Center
2005, Microsoft announced that Comedy Central has joined a group of 110 Online
Spotlight content partners and that forthcoming Media Center PCs will include
CableCARD support for high-definition programming without a set-top box. This
will allow users to plug their digital cable signal directly into their PC to
watch and record premium cable content, including high-definition programming,
without a set-top box.
Xbox 360 Leads the Way in High-Definition Entertainment
Just a month after the global launch of the new Xbox 360
video game and entertainment system, Gates discussed the product’s strong
momentum in delivering high-definition hardware, games and digital
entertainment experiences. Xbox 360 is on track to be the fastest-selling video
game console ever, forecast to ship between 4.5 million and 5.5 million units
worldwide by the end of June 2006.
Gates noted that Xbox 360 has also become a powerful
application for high-definition television, adding that nine out of 10 Xbox 360
owners currently own or intend to purchase a high-definition television set.*
He announced that more than 50 new high-definition Xbox 360 games will be
available by June 2006.
Building on Xbox 360 leadership in high-definition
experiences, the company announced plans to deliver a new Xbox 360 external HD
DVD drive in 2006. The new drive will offer millions of Xbox 360 owners the
ability to easily enjoy HD DVD movies and will provide consumers with even more
choices for experiencing high-definition content, in either physical or digital
form.
Using Xbox 360 and the Xbox Live service today, consumers
are already able to access high-definition entertainment such as Xbox Live
Arcade titles, game demos and high-definition movie trailers. Consumers can
also use their Xbox 360 system to access high-definition television and movies
from their Windows XP-based Media Center PC.
Gates’ keynote also showcased the momentum behind Xbox Live,
announcing that more than half of all Xbox 360 owners are already connected to
the online games and entertainment service, which boasts a worldwide community
of more than 2 million members. He demonstrated Electronic Arts Inc.’s
forthcoming EA SPORTS “Fight Night Round 3,” scheduled to be available in
February 2006, and announced that a free, playable high-definition demo of the
game is now available at the Xbox Live Marketplace, a one-stop digital download
center where consumers can access high-definition games, music and movie
content from leading industry partners.
Staying Connected With Powerful Windows Mobile-Based Devices
Gates highlighted the Treo 700w, an innovative new device
that brings Palm Inc.’s celebrated ease of use to the Windows Mobile® platform.
The Treo 700w, available exclusively on the Verizon Wireless network, combines
a great mobile phone with easy access to wireless e-mail and business applications, giving professionals more
ways to stay connected while on the go. The Treo 700w is available at retail
Jan. 5.
The keynote also included a demonstration of how future
technologies will transform the way people manage information in the office or
on the go, communicate with co-workers in richer and more immersive ways, and be more
productive wherever they are.
Continuing his keynote, Gates showcased Microsoft’s
advancements in mobile entertainment by unveiling next-generation Windows
Mobile-based Portable Media Centers from Toshiba Corp., Tatung Co. and LG
Electronics. The new devices, scheduled to be available this year, will feature
extensive battery life, support for new high-resolution and widescreen (16:9)
displays, direct audio/video recording, gaming, FM tuners and direct
connections to digital cameras.
New Content to Energize the Digital Lifestyle
Gates’ keynote address highlighted a number of new alliances
that use Microsoft software to provide broader and richer content to consumers.
He showed Starz Entertainment Group’s new Vongo video download service, which
offers more choices and great experiences for people using Windows Mobile-based
devices. Vongo subscribers will enjoy unlimited access to more than 1,000
first-run movies and video selections as well as the streaming Starz TV
channel.
Microsoft announced a broad agreement with DIRECTV Inc. that
will open up new ways for consumers to enjoy their digital media in the
networked home and on portable devices. Microsoft and DIRECTV will work
together to enable digital content to flow between Windows-based PCs, DIRECTV
devices, PlaysForSure™-based portable media devices and Xbox 360.
It was also announced that Microsoft and British Sky Broadcasting
(Sky), the leading pay-TV provider in the U.K. and Ireland, plans to create a
Windows Media Center version of Sky’s forthcoming broadband content service,
Sky by broadband. The service will enable millions of Sky TV customers to
access video content from their PC, including hundreds of movies and sports
clips.
Windows Live Services Deliver Rich, Seamless Experiences
In the area of software services, Gates previewed new
Windows Live™ offerings, designed to bring together relationships, information
and interests that are important to people on PCs and a wide range of devices.
He unveiled two new telephones from Royal Philips Electronics and Uniden
America Corp., designed to work with the voice communications capabilities in
the upcoming Windows Live Messenger, the soon-to-be-released successor to MSN®
Messenger, which has more than 200 million active accounts around the world.
The new phones will allow consumers to make calls from a cordless handset
connected to both the Windows Live Messenger service and public telephone
networks. The Philips VOIP433 Dual Phone will debut in Europe, Asia Pacific and
Latin America in 2006. The Uniden WIN 1200
Digital Cordless Phone will offer people another option for making calls over
the Internet and will be available in North America
in spring 2006.
Gates also previewed forthcoming services for Windows Live
and Windows Vista that will help people find and manage their entertainment on
the Windows-based Media Center PC or Microsoft TV IPTV Edition-powered set-top
box from almost anywhere in the world. TV gadgets on Live.com will enable
people to find, manage and share personalized TV recommendations as well as
remotely schedule recordings on their Media Center PCs.
Gates concluded his keynote address by looking back on the
great momentum of 2005 in consumer technologies and outlining key trends that
will shape future innovation in the consumer electronics industry.
“The incredible momentum around all these new products and
services shows that the digital lifestyle has truly gone mainstream this year,”
Gates said. “Now it’s time to bring together the devices, software and services
in people’s lives and take all these experiences to the next level.”
