Microsoft Keynote at CES

Sitting in the last ever keynote given by Steve Ballmer, current CEO of Microsoft at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES), waiting to hear all the amazing things coming to market this year. It is not lost on my that I am writing this post using Microsoft’s Live Writer. I’m a Microsoft junkie. I wish I could have seen Bill Gates here but I am stoked to see what Steve Ballmer has to say.

Photo courtesy of Kotaku.com

Started out showing all the amazing sweaters that Bill Gates has worn over the years. I loved it! Made Microsoft seems personable, like they were my Microsoft. Bill Gates always said – Update your software! It is the 1st question I ask my clients actually. Will admit, was a tad surprised to see Ryan Seacrest helping to emcee the event. Is it sad I didn’t readily recognize him readily and had to turn to the official #CES and #MSFTCES Tweet stream to verify?

Microsoft has shown bold ambition in the past, can they for the future too? You decide – here are a few of the tech loveliness we get to anticipate to release in 2012.

Metro User Interface

Metro User Interface is fast, fluid, and dynamic across all the Microsoft experiences to be able to connect all Microsoft platforms cohesively. Everything being released is based on this interface.

Microsoft 7 Phone

This phone makes it easy to mirror the social world that you have created. You can have groups of people, just like in your real life. Doesn’t use proprietary chat software, so you can use the ones you are most used to, even Facebook Chat. Voice is built throughout Windows Phones so it makes it easy to voice-to-text and be more hands free. One of the great things about the Microsoft Windows Phone is that you can shortcut right into the app that you love without having to go through all the regular screens. << I love this.

HTC Titan 2 just launched today – 4.7 in 16 megapixels << Wowsers!!

Bing

Is truly a decision engine – makes seeing all sorts of information easy to then make an informed decision. Once you select it comes into a Quick Card and then connects to other apps that are related. Such as when researching a restaurant, you can open up the reviews then make a reservation on OpenTable, all from inside just 1 app. << Love that it is all together and makes things so much easier! I think I need a Windows Phone to play with!

Windows 8

Don’t need to unlock the device to see the important things of the day. Gone is typing in a password – now you can hit different points on an image to open up your device. Windows 8 is designed to work with touch or mouse and keyboard. T=Microsoft wants a no compromised experience. Get everything you want with just a single swipe. Through Charms you can access your apps, programs, everything you need at your fingertips. Metro style apps are full screen so the things you want to do are front and center. Every Windows 7 PCs and tablets are able to use Windows 8. All 3 million of them!

Windows App Store

This opens up in late February. The Windows App Store is global and available in every language that Windows is currently offered in – that is incredible reach. The Windows Store is designed to offer something for everyone, both for fun and for work. One cool thing is take these Apps and roam across all your platforms and devices using Windows 8. One cool feature is that you can group apps so if you have kids and they use specific apps, group them together and then you know those are the ones you want for when they are playing on your tablet. It even integrates two apps apps at work together. This I have to try!

Even Internet Explorer has been updated to the new Metro style as well. To be honest, I don’t know the last time I have ever used IE. I will check it out, but I’m holding my breathe.

OMG – The Tweet Choir came on stage and sang some of the tweets from the night. How freaking awesome is that??? I have *never* seen that. Loved it!!

This pic courtesy of TechCrunch

XBOX

What’s new on XBOX? One thing is now you say it and XBOX does it. The new Metro design is central to the experience. The only controller you will need is your voice using Kinect and Bing. Using a single voice command let’s you search across all of XBOX from games, to movies, to apps, to the providers who offer those services. Discovery is more than just through titles, but even actors. It’s awesome that you can use your voice to fast forward, play, or pause the movie. << That is really kind of cool.

All the News Corps brands will be on demand on XBOX in 2012 such as Family Guy, Simpsons, Fringe, New Girl, and even Glee.

Instead of just having a one-way experience with your TV, using Kinect TV it now will become two-way. The demo Microsoft showed was collaborating with Sesame Street and making the episodes truly interactive. For the 1st time ever you can impact what you are seeing on TV. << Wow. Your kids are going to be enthralled. It is truly epic. Wonder if they will do the same thing with some adult shows?

Metro will drive the new magic. Ryan Seacrest asked Steve Ballmer ‘What’s next?’ He replied: ‘Metro Metro Metro and Windows Windows Windows!

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