Microsoft CES 2009 Keynote

Microsoft helped open CES on Wednesday night with an introductory keynote. We were at the event and and provided live information plus photos as they became available; Microsoft in particular provided details of a Windows 7 beta for the public. Click through for the events in reverse chronological order (all times are Eastern).

10:50 PM: Briefly shows off a color flexible display that could be the future of touch displays, though doesn't appear to be touchable in this version. A cousin of e-ink displays. Ballmer leaves the stage and Tripod closes the keynote.



10:47 PM: Microsoft demos a tablet-based medical app that can show the brain and other parts of anatomy with collaborative aspects and shortcuts to research papers, including semantic analysis. Lets users put up notes and syncs to everyone part of a particular group.



10:41 PM: Ballmer back on stage; talking about a shift to multi-core, adaptive software that learns users' habits, lighter PCs and devices.

10:37 PM: Demo of an Xbox community game (Kodu).



10:32 PM: Showing Netflix on Xbox Live (nothing new).

10:26 PM: Primetime for Xbox Live finally coming in spring; demo of 1 vs. 100 quiz show.

10:24 PM: Talking about Halo Wars (ships February 28th) and Halo 3 ODST (fall) for the Xbox 360.

10:20 PM: Discussing Mediaroom (IPTV for telecom providers) and introduces Mediaroom Anytime: basically on-demand DVR functionality. Shows like Top Gear and the PGA will also have interactive experiences on TV.

10:16 PM: Running "I'm a PC" ad and a performance by the music group Tripod.

10:10 PM: Talk of partnership with Facebook that integrates Windows Live services like e-mail with the social network, such as feed updates on the web or Windows Mobile.

Internet Explorer 6 Mobile will be available 'later this year' with built-in Flash, better HTML. Note: it was already supposed to show in mid-2008 but has been repeatedly delayed.

Demos multi-touch on Windows 7 by using a Surface globe navigation app on an HP TouchSmart PC. It allows pinching to zoom and another two-finger motion to tilt the view.













10:02 PM: Windows 7 beta demo: shows the "peek" feature to see individual windows or the desktop just by mousing over icons in the taskbar. Also shows the Play To option for Windows Media Player. Easier wireless networking as well. (All of these have been previewed before.)

9:58 PM: Discusses Windows Live Essentials, a pack of software to help get users started; will come with Dell PCs.

9:53 PM: Microsoft is releasing a public beta of Windows 7. The release will be available worldwide on Friday and is already available through MSDN tonight.

9:51 PM: Microsoft directly jabs Apple: shows videos with the range of new Windows PCs and Windows Mobile devices at CES (all already announced). Says PC has more choice at more price levels. "I'm a PC, and I'm proud of it," Ballmer adds.

9:46 PM: Current experiences sit in "silos;" what you do on one isn't connected to the other. Bringing these together along with cloud computing. Ballmer sees Windows as the linchpin of the entire digital universe. The "language" of computing.

9:41 PM: Steve Ballmer is onstage and acknowledges the challenges of the economy: innovation in technology is claimed as an important tool and "more powerful than ever before" in tough conditions. Needs a convergence of the TV, computer and phone.

By Electronista Staff

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