Windows Live: Don't expect of much of a splash at CES
Is 2007 finally going to be the year Windows Live gets more airplay? If so, it doesn't seem like there will be much of a concerted Live presence at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) next week.
Sounds like the Soapbox on MSN Video (aka Microsoft's YouTube alternative) team will be at the show and is planning some kind of news. But while some had been expecting Microsoft to use CES to showcase the long-awaited Windows LiveDrive virtual-storage service that Microsoft has been readying for the past year-plus, it doesn't seem like that's in the cards.
When asked whether the LiveDrive team was taking meetings at CES, a Microsoft spokeswoman said no.
"There won't be any Live Drive meetings.They (the Live team) are already making major investments in roaming scenarios with their services, as well as search and sharing scenarios across PCs and devices with things like Sharing Folders in Windows Live Messenger and folder sharing and sync with our acquisition of FolderShare. They'll continue to invest in services that enable anywhere, anytime access and Live Drive is the codename for a project in this space. But they have no other details at this point."
(Microsoft definitely is trying to bring some much-needed clarity to its mobile/roaming strategy around Live. Later this month, Microsoft is doing a series of Webcasts for developers on the topic of Live and mobility.)
But back to CES. Rather than talk LiveDrive, I'm wondering whether Microsoft might show off its fledgling Windows Live for TV service (formerly code-named "Nemo" and now code-named "Orbit") in Las Vegas.
The LiveSide.Net bloggers uncovered the existence of Windows Live TV in October 2006.
According to the just-launched "Orbit" team blog:
"Windows Live for TV is an early beta 3D browser application that makes it easy to connect to your social network as well as friends and family from within Vista Media Center or IE7.0. You're be able to view the best of Windows Live Spaces and communicate with Friends and Family over Windows Live Messenger 8.1 with voice & text chat as well as make a phone call."
Windows Live TV is a showcase application for the Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) graphics subsystem. It requires a PC running Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate RC2 (or higher).
Sure seems like CES would be a good venue for an "official" beta unveiling of Windows Live TV. So far, no word from the Windows Live TV team if that's the plan.