January 7: Join our Ballmer CES live-blog keynote coverage
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer kicks off the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas tonight at 6:30 p.m. PT.
I'll be joining Paul Thurrott of WinSupersite fame, plus Tom Warren of Neowin.Net, in a live-blogging fiesta on Friendfeed tonight. We were so impressed by how well VentureBeat did with their real-time Friendfeed live blogging from MacWorld yesterday that we decided to take a page from their book and got a room ourselves. (It's locked right now but will be open to anyone who wants to watch/comment around 9:15 p.m. ET tonight.)
Come and be part of our running commentary on what Ballmer does -- and doesn't -- reveal. There have been quite a few predictions about what's on tap. My personal watch list:
- Windows 7 Beta 1 and Windows 7 Server Beta 1 to go to both private and public testers this week
- Microsoft and Dell ink a search deal that replaces the Google toolbar with the MSN toolbar (using Live Search)
- The final release of Windows Live Essentials (the Live software+service apps) is finally ready
- New market numbers on Vista vs. OS X holiday sales ... which make Vista look
goodless lame - Promises about Windows Mobile 6.5 (but nothing code-wise until later this year)
- Zune Mobile? (I'm increasingly doubtful that Microsoft is going to use CES as the launchpad for this; maybe Mobile World Congress in Barcelona instead....?)
- Something futuristic that wasn't quite enough to make Robert Scoble cry... but still managed to impress him
A Webcast feed of Ballmer's keynote will be available. But if you want to share your two cents with other Microsoft watchers while listening, please join us for real-time coverage this evening.