In the next digital decade, technology will become much more in tune with
users as it learns their personal tastes and incorporates more natural,
human interaction such as touch, gesture and voice recognition, said
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates as he kicked off the Consumer Electronics Show
for the last time Sunday evening.
Gates, giving his 11th CES keynote address in Las Vegas, will hand off many
of his responsibilities at Microsoft in July.
His departure comes as the industry enters the second digital decade, Gates
said, and technology is playing a greater role not just in helping people
access information and entertainment at any time or place, but also in
customizing material.
"The trend is clear: All media and entertainment will be software-driven,"
Gates said. "The first digital decade has been tremendously successful. The
second digital decade will be more focused on connecting people. It will be
more focused on being more user-centric."
In an example of how technology will enable more personalization and human
interaction, Gates demonstrated Microsoft Surface, a tabletop computer that
uses touch-screen technology. Gates customized a snowboard using the
tabletop computer, adding a snowflake decal and his name by brushing his
fingertips along the tabletop. In the future, he said, he could broadcast
the design to his friends through the Internet just by placing his cell
phone on the tabletop, which recognizes his phone.
In 2007, much of the high-tech thunder was stolen by the iPhone and
Nintendo's Wii, with Microsoft's release of its new operating system,
Windows Vista, receiving lackluster buzz. Though Microsoft remains a
dominating force in technology, rivals from Google to Apple have taken aim
at the Redmond, Wash., empire, chipping away at its influence.
Gates indicated Sunday that Microsoft wasn't lying low.
While Apple CEO Steve Jobs has said he plans to sell 10 million iPhones by
the end of this year, Gates said Microsoft has sold 11 million cell phones
that use Windows mobile technology and expects to reach a total of 20
million by the end of 2008.
On the entertainment front, Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's
entertainment and devices division, shared the stage with Gates to talk
about how Microsoft has sold 17.7 million Xbox gaming consoles. He noted
that consumers spent more on the Xbox than the Wii and PlayStation 3
combined.
Bach also announced a partnership with MGM Studios, which will offer movie
downloads such as "Legally Blonde" through the Xbox. This month, ABC and
Walt Disney will join the Xbox's lineup of movie and television downloads,
bringing such titles as "High School Musical," "Hannah Montana" and "Grey's
Anatomy."
Altogether, its programming now rivals what's offered by cable and satellite
providers, Bach said.
Bach also demonstrated Microsoft's voice recognition software. Bringing a
Ford SUV onto the stage, Bach showed how Microsoft technology is allowing
people to listen to their music collection in their car, directing it with
the sound of their voice.
A new version will better be able to recommend local restaurants, points of
interest and movie listings by using GPS technology, he said.
Gates also announced an exclusive partnership with NBC to broadcast the
Beijing Summer Olympics on the Internet through MSN.com. Addressing the
lengthy time difference between Beijing and the United States, the online
partnership will allow fans to watch 3,000 hours of on-demand videos and
live streams, as well as to take advantage of online community and
social-networking features.
And as Gates' swan song came to a close, he and Bach called onto the stage
Guitar Hero champion Kelly Law-Yone and Slash from Guns n Roses, who rocked
the presentation to a close.
Separately, Sony chairman and chief executive Sir Howard Stringer took the
stage at a news conference Sunday night to highlight the company's organic
light-emitting diode, or OLED, television, the first of its kind to be sold
in the United States. The 11-inch display is 3 millimeters thick. Companies
like Samsung and others have been chasing displays made with OLED technology
because they consume less power, offer high-quality picture resolution and
are super-thin to boot.
"This introduction of an OLED television reinforces our ability to lead the
industry," Stinger said.
Sony also introduced the Rolly, a robotic personal music player that dances
to music. A limited-edition Rolly will go on sale in the first quarter of
this year at Sony Style stores.
Among the new Sony Ericsson phones, the W760 is Sony's first walkman phone
with 3G high-speed Internet access. The phone also features tilt gaming
controls so users can play games just by moving the phone back and forth.
The Z555, a fashion phone with a diamond design on the outside, also
features the ability to silence calls or turn off an alarm simply by waving
a hand over the handset.
Staff writer Ryan Kim contributed to this report. E-mail Ellen Lee at
elee@sfchronicle.com.
Source: sfgate.com
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