Anything and Everything that is cool, hot, fresh and classic.
Microsoft Research’s WorldWide Telescope, the “Web 2.0 visualization software environment that enables your computer to function as a virtual telescope-bringing together imagery from the best ground and space-based telescopes in the world for a seamless exploration of the universe”.
Basically a Google Earth for the Sky, it’s supposed to be fantastic, and it’s just been released by Microsoft, so if you’ve got an eye for the sky, check it out and see what you think.
When Microsoft released the Zune, they had plenty of time to learn from Apple’s mistakes and eat the iPod’s lunch by designing a superior product that fixed any of the iPod’s faults; right?
Apparently not, as Crave’s Molly Wood shows (in great detail) with the five reasons her Zune is dead to her.
From poor software and music categorization to tangled headphones, worthless wireless, and the unforgivable “erase all of her server-stored music” feature, it’s a must read for anyone that’s thinking of breaking rank and going with the ‘soft’s player.
Hello, again, little iPod buddy.
Though Server Quest is a bit on the tech heavy side, it’s still a great game that brings back fond memories of the early ‘90s gaming era.
Created to promote Microsoft’s TechNet, Server Quest puts you in charge of Matt Berg, an IT Guy in search of the IT Girl of his dreams.
When he finds her (Alicia Thornber) he must woo her with his vast amount of IT knowledge.
Mini-games include Packet Invaders and Office Chaos, and there’s a full serving of IT humor, so it’s a great diversion for actual IT guys, though it may be over the heads of anyone who doesn’t have a degree in computer science.
Are you ready to save the IT day?
[Via: Jay Is Games]
To say that Flickr users aren’t exactly excited about the idea of Microsoft taking over Yahoo! and subsequently corrupting their user experience would be putting it lightly.
Currently, the Flickr group called “Microsoft: Keep Your Evil Grubby Hands Off Of Our Flickr” has North of 2,000 members, and over 200 photos have already been submitted.
It might not be pretty, but it’s definitely good for a laugh or two if you’ve never seen what a bunch of angry photo nerds can do with some time and a bucket full of motivation.
[Flickr - Microsoft: Keep Your Evil Grubby Hands Off Of Our Flickr]
Apple has apparently decided not to be subtle about its feelings for Microsoft, as any time you connect a Windows computer to a Leopardized Mac through the network, you’ll be greeted with a subtle reminder of the BSOD.
Cute, Apple; very cute.
[Via: Wired]
Today, the ‘book and the ‘soft joined forces, and Microsoft gave Facebook $240 million at a valuation of $15 billion for an expansion of their advertising partnership.
$15 billion?
A site that lets people poke each other and share pictures is worth $15 billion?
Yes; and here’s why: Facebook prints money.
Facebook has created a product that turns a 99.99% profit, has incredibly (almost infinitely) high demand, and costs nothing to make.
What is this mystery product?
Facebook Gifts.
What are Facebook Gifts?
“Facebook Gifts allows you to send personalized messages with icons to your friends on Facebook.”
Basically a .gif with a message, these “Gifts” are a perfect example of why Facebook is worth $15 billion (and probably even more).
Take, for example, today’s Gift: A Unicorn.
I’m going to go ahead and assume that with a few MS Paint skills and a spare hour, I could crank out the unicorn image that they’re using.
And if I were Facebook, and I did go ahead and create this unicorn Gift; how much would I expect to get paid for my hour of work?
$10 million.
That’s right, Facebook will eventually make $10 million from this crappy unicorn .gif.
Not bad for an hour’s work.
Why?
I have no idea.
To clarify: I do know why they’ll make $10 million: Because people will eventually buy 10,000,000 of these crappy unicorns. What I don’t know is why people will eventually buy 10,000,000 of these crappy unicorns. I mean, it is a crappy unicorn after all.
I think part of the reason why Facebook can sell so many of these things is that they have hit upon the perfect price point. Users don’t see $1 as being a lot of money, so they’ll gladly skip their next iTunes download to let their friend know that they care.
If Gifts were free, no one would want one. You’d give them to your friends, and they’d simply add them to the pile of other free gifts. Put a $1 price tag on the Gift however, and suddenly, giving a gift is a momentous occasion. You’re spending your hard earned cash, and sending your friend something of value.
And hey, it’s not like everyone else is going to get the same one, right? Aren’t they at least part of a limited edition?
Yes; if you consider 10,000,000 to be a limited edition.
That’s right, 9.999,999 other people are going to get that very same ‘limited edition’ unicorn, and Facebook is going to get 10,000,000 one dollar bills added to their bank account.
Amazing.
Like I said, they print money.
And despite my despising of the Facebook Gift idea, I will say this: I’ll gladly plop down a hard earned Washington for one of these the day Facebook comes out with a Gift in the shape of a T-Shirt that says: “My friend just spent $1, and all I got was this lousy Gift”.
Hey, a guy can dream…
[Facebook]
The date has finally been finalized; On Friday, October 26, 2007, Apple will release Leopard, its latest operating system, to hoards of screaming Apple fanboys.
Ok, so it might not be that dramatic, but considering how long it’s been since their last release, a new OS is kind of a big deal. Plus, as Vista continues to flounder, it’s time once again for Apple to one up the ‘Soft boys.
Looking to get in on the action? Amazon has a pre-order deal going on right now, and you can save $20 if you’re willing to wait a few days for shipping.
Check out Apple’s site for a list of the over 300 new features that Leopard is bringing, and prepare to be upgraded.
Here’s an interesting move by Microsoft: They figure that most college students are smart enough to steal a copy of Office Ultimate 2007 and get away with it, so instead of getting $0 for all of their hard work, the ‘soft guys decided to let students ‘steal’ a copy for only $59.95. (The regular price is $679!)
It’s a digital copy, so they must download to install, but considering that’s what students would need to do for a ‘stolen’ copy anyways, you’ve got to assume that downloading isn’t much of a deterrent anymore.
All you need is a .edu email and .5 units.
I wonder how much a unit at the local city college would cost…
Google gave a big FU to Microsoft this week with the addition to their Presentations app to the Google Docs family.
Designed to create presentations (similar to PowerPoint), it’s a free utility that completes the Office alternative.
Though it doesn’t have the features of the Microsoft offering, the price is hard to beat, and when Google gets involved, you know it’s going to be big.
Your move, Bill Gates, your move.
[Via: Official Google Blog]
…Brian Lam doesn’t like Halo 3 fanboys?
Gizmodo’s Brian Lam is apparently a big fan of controversy, as he has stirred up quite a bit of it with his latest antics.
To promote the release of Halo 3, Microsoft sent select bloggers (Somehow, I didn’t make the list.) a swag bag that was filled with extremely cool Halo stuff; including an Xbox 360 Legendary Edition, a Master Chief helmet with the game inside, various accessories, and more.
After receiving the sweet bag full of swag, Brian posted an unboxing video on Gizmodo that was given a less than warm welcome by Halo fans because of the way he handled the stuff. Some felt that he ‘tossed around’ his free goodies in a way that showed disrespect for what he was given, and they were less than thrilled by the way Brian appeared to throw away things that he was given for free, even though they would have given an arm and a leg for any of it.
To show their feelings, comments from the fanboys soon flooded in, and a death threat or two was given out.
In response, Brian replied to many of the comments in a rather stand-offish way, and then removed the video.
Skip forward a day, and Brian again posted a video of the Halo 3 swag, but this time, he was did a rebag of it. He goes through all of the stuff, and carefully explains each thing as he puts it neatly into the bag.
Then he throws the bag out of the window of his apartment.
Then he announces the ending of the game.
Just like that. No spoiler warning, no sign of impending doom. Just an unleashing of one of the worst spoilers in the history of spoilers.
Some found it funny, while others felt like the victims of a shock and awe attack.
More comments followed, and the battle now rages on between the fanboys and the spoiler fans.
Which side are you on?
Side note: Interestingly enough, the video was titled “halo3fanboyseatshit_gawker.flv when it was on the Gizmodo site.
*Spoiler Warning: The following video contains the ending of Halo 3*
[Gizmodo - Halo 3 Swag Bag]
[Gizmodo - Halo 3 Swag Rebagging]