Filed under: Products and services, Microsoft (MSFT), Marketing and advertising

With the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in full swing this morning, yesterday’s cream of the crop kickoff event featured a keynote speech from CES long-time keynoter Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT). In his final keynote speech at the CES show before he drops his full-time gig with the world’s largest software company, Gates introduced a prototype navigation device that stores pics, music and videos while also suggesting options for shopping and dining. Sounds pretty un-revolutionary for Gates’ swan song, eh?

Many of Microsoft’s CES introductions since 2000 have fallen flat in the real world, which is not surprising. By trying to keep customers entrenched in its proprietary Windows Computer operating system, Ol’ Softie puts millions of savvy consumers off its products. Now, there are many other companies guilty of this as well, but they’re way better marketers — Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is the ideal example.

Microsoft, though, is realizing that Windows on the Computer, along with its Office software franchise, can’t sustain it forever. Gates told the audience that consumers want to “interact with digital devices in new ways, such as getting directions from their phones and talking to their vehicles.” This is true, and it’s a reason why Microsoft’s Sync has become a hit in some new Ford Motor Corp. (NYSE: F) cars. Now that Apple iPhone owners are interacting with data on their portable devices more than ever, Microsoft — of course — wants to ensure that functionality lends itself to devices that feature . . . wait for it . . . software from Microsoft as well. This really isn’t a new fight for the software giant. It’s hard, though, to tell what is different with this version of it.

Share This

Share This

NIRI San Diego Offers Expert Insight on Investor Communications Best
Forbes - Investor Relations War Stories” will give investor relations, finance and communications professionals the opportunity the hear experts give their perspectives on how to get through a company crisis, rebuild damaged credibility, or sustain corporate

CME Group Appoints Santana as Managing Director, Front-End Systems
Forbes - His background includes industry specific technical, financial and management courses at New York University, IBM Management Institute and the New York Institute of Finance, as well as vendor product, technology and process management specialized

Jostens’ Michael Bailey Announces Retirement
Forbes - As general manager, he was responsible for all functions of the business including sales, manufacturing, finance, human resources, marketing and technology. “We greatly value the chance to participate in unique times in people’s lives. It

Authorities find grisly scene in Texas
Miami Herald - Business Monday | National | International | Personal Finance | Technology | Small Business Friday Business Report Food | Health | Home & Design In this pic provided by the Smith County Sheriff’s Department in Tyler, Texas on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008, is shown

Israel pledges to remove outposts
Miami Herald - Business Monday | National | International | Personal Finance | Technology | Small Business Friday Business Report Food | Health | Home & Design An Israeli left-wing activist demonstrates against unauthorized outposts, outside the unauthorized Jewish outpost of

Nine entered for Lecomte Stakes
Miami Herald - Business Monday | National | International | Personal Finance | Technology | Small Business Friday Business Report Food | Health | Home & Design By Sports Network The Sports Network Nine three-year-olds have been entered for Saturday’s $100,000 Lecomte Stakes at the

Nonprofit Finance Fund Philadelphia gets $1.5M in allows
MSN MoneyCentral - The Nonprofit Finance Fund Philadelphia said Monday it has received two grants totaling $1.5 million for its Child Care Initiative. The larger of the two allows, $1.2 million, came from the William Penn Foundation. The Wachovia Regional Community

Museum of American Finance Opens on Wall Street
Forbes - The Museum of American Finance, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, will re-open in its new home at 48 Wall Street on January 11, 2008. Accredited members of the media are invited to attend a press conference on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, from 10

ImmunoVaccine Technologies to Present at OneMed Place Finance Forum
Forbes - HALIFAX, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ - ImmunoVaccine Technologies Inc. (IVT), a vaccine enhancement company, announced today that it will present at the OneMedPlace Emerging Healthcare Technologies Finance Forum on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at the Sir Francis

Murdoch Tries Again In Germany
Forbes - Home Business Tech Markets Entrepreneurs Leadership Personal Finance ForbesLife Lists Thoughts Video Blogs E-mail Newsletters People Tracker LONDON - Plucky media mogul Rupert Murdoch has swooped on yet another publishing company. This time it’s Germany’s

BNP Paribas Corporate Finance U.S. Has Stand Out Year in Energy
MSN MoneyCentral - 2007 was a milestone year for BNP Paribas Corporate Finance in the Americas. BNP Paribas’ Energy & Natural Resources Group (”the Group”) has been involved in eight significant transactions in the calendar 2007 period, acting as financial advisor to

Googlers stump in N.H. for Paul
ZDNet - Tags: Declan McCullagh , Politics & government , Google Inc. , New Hampshire , Ron Paul , Boyapati , Data Centers , Taxes , Text Messaging/SMS/MMS , Free Trade , Storage , Hardware , Data Management , Financial Planning , Finance , Cellular Phones

Yellowcake appoints Frans Timmermans finance director
Forbes - LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Yellowcake PLC appointed Frans Timmermans as finance director, effective Jan 1. Chairman Mark Watson-Mitchell stated he anticipates the uranium investment company will have a very progressive year. Copyright Thomson Financial

Venezuela’s Isea Says He’ll Cut Inflation in Half (Update2)
Bloomberg - Jan. 7 (Bloomberg) — Venezuelan Finance Minister Rafael Isea said the government is committed to slicing inflation in half this year, while conceding it will be a “difficult job.” Ending food shortages will be a priority in slowing price gains to

Share This

Share This