Gizmodo: Cnn

CNN Using Multitouch Monitors to Cover Super Tuesday

Brian Lam — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:29:03 EST

Jeff Han's Perceptive Pixel is supplying the gorgeous multitouch displays and maps that are being used by CNN (and we hear, FOX) to cover Super Tuesday. A couple of interesting facts: The machines start at $100k, and Perceptive Pixel's staff is comprised of 10 people. [Washington Post]

Bill Gates Farewell CES Keynote Cheat Sheet

Wilson Rothman — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 21:30:00 EST

Right this minute, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates is taking the stage to face the adoring throngs at CES for the last time. Before he moves on to the greater task of solving the world's problems, he will look back on his previous keynotes, talk about where Microsoft is headed, and make a few final announcements. Here are the Cliff's Notes to his last CES speech ever:

Bill appears and after a brief state-of-the-industry intro, notes that this is his final CES appearance. He'll look back on some of his previous experiences, noting how far we've progressed since he declared the "Digital Decade" in 2001 for three reasons:
1. The promulgation of lower-cost HD displays and soon interactive surfaces.
2. Mobile intelligence - cellular and GPS enabled products that help us get through the day
3. Interaction with technology increasingly mirroring the way we interact with people

First announcement: NBC Universal is making MSN the exclusive home for NBC's coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics in China. It's the first "long tail" Olympics: there will be thousands of hours of content available at nbcolympics.com, ranging from the most popular sports to the most obscure—from basketball to badminton. The video will be both live and on demand, with over 30 simultaneous live broadcasts; 2,200 hours of live broacasting and 3,000 hours of on-demand content. All of the video will be shared in Silverlight format in "near HD" quality.

Hands-on: Never-before-seen demo of the Surface table. In this demo, Bill designs a snowboard for himself—yes, a snowboard—using multitouch technology to try out different designs, then save them to his Windows Mobile phone and share with his friends. I only wonder what his insurance company thinks about his snowboarding plans.

Robbie Bach, Microsoft's President of Entertainment & Devices Division, will take the stage to cover the bulk of the presentation, talking about:

• Xbox's banner year - 17.7 million Xbox 360 units sold; 7 titles surpassing 1 million sales mark; U.S. users spent more on Xbox 360 in 2007 than more on any other game console ever

• TV show deal with ABC Television and Disney Channel for Xbox Live programming, available for direct download to Xbox 360. It includes 500 hours of content, in standard and high def, available at the end of the month, with shows such as Desperate Housewives, Lost, Grey's Anatomy, plus Disney shows including Hannah Montana.

• Movie deal with MGM - Xbox will offer MGM films in standard def and high def including the entire Rocky series, Terminator, Dances With Wolves, Silence of the Lambs, Legally Blond, Barber Shop and the Bond franchise.

• New application for Microsoft's Media Room IPTV, distributed by AT&T U-Verse: On TNT, NASCAR fans can choose a view of the race from the camera inside their favorite driver's car via their set-top box; Showtime boxing will let you choose camera angle and audio feeds from the trainer, ref, or the commentators; in CNN's coverage of US presidential campaign, viewers can vote on issues, gauging voter opinion in realtime.

• Media Center Extender support is growing in the consumer-electronics industry, led by Samsung, which will be working on a connected TV with MCE capability.

• Zune 2 off to a good start, with 1.5 million people starting Zune social fan pages since the service began in November. Bach will announce the availability of the Zune in Canada, the first distribution outside the US.

When Bill takes the stage again, he will demonstrate a "device of the future," something that won't necessarily become a product sold by Microsoft, but still a good glimpse of things to come. The device will ostensibly store and catalog all of Bill's memories so that he can pull up a reel of all his past CES keynotes. At one point, he will snap a picture of the Venetian auditorium and the gadget will recognize the venue, proposing various recreational activities he might enjoy after the keynote.

This is a rough sketch of the proceedings, one that's bound to change considerably. I'm told there will be some surprises—maybe a celebrity guest or some farewell treat. Who knows? That's why we plan to catch the whole event, and fill in any gaps that may be missing from this otherwise thorough digest. (You're welcome.) [Microsoft at CES]

Nokia Handsets to Get Direct Access to Video Content

Haroon Malik — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 03:05:35 EDT

Nokia has signed an exclusive deal with News Corp., Sony Pictures and CNN, allowing them to distribute content directly to Nokia handsets. That cuts the carriers straight out of the deal, and they are unlikely to be pleased by the arrangement.

Apparently, Nokia has already begun embedding new N95s with the links required for direct access. Nokia confirmed that an official announcement may come before the week's end. Further, it is not only N95 that is going to be let in on the action, more handsets are set to be made compatible once the service launches proper.

The structure for content delivery has not been confirmed in its entirety, but as an example, the News Corps. partnership means users will be able to get free access to "mobisodes" such as 24, as well as various movie clips. Blam's decision to go down the N95 road seems to have been a good move after all. Phew. [The Hollywood Reporter]

Does Bill Gates Always Say "No No No" When He Hears "OS X"?

Matt Buchanan — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 01:36:21 EST

Still on the Vista media blitz, Bill Gates dropped by CNN, only to be asked the question of questions: "Were you going after a specific look there, the Mac look?"

Response: "No, no, no... We're ahead on a lot... There's whole areas where we've innovated like Media Center and tablet..."

So to be clear, Vista doesn't look like OS X, Microsoft innovated Media Center. I see now. That's very logical. – Matt Buchanan

[via Cult of Mac]

CNN's Guide To Innovative Tech: DVRs, Cellphones, the Wheel and Movable Type

Gizloco — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 09:08:13 EST

Last week, CNN expertly told us why the Microsoft Zune sucks (hint: it doesn't get e-mail—wtf? neither does my ball point pen...) and this week they show us some of the hottest technologies to be on the lookout for. You see, this is what happens when reporters try to go beyond their beat. Up next, us here at Gizmodo giving advice on how to cure world hunger. For the highlights of the Tech List That CNN Built, keep reading.

Here's what CNN says we need to keep an eye on for the next few (months? years? the article doesn't specify): RFID, hybrid cars, HDTV, DVDs (as in Blu-ray and HD DVD), DVRs, Cellphones, E-ink and wireless networks.

CNN is stuck in 2004 it seems.

Let's see here... hybrid cars have been around for a while (try sounding masculine while saying "Prius") and the same goes for HDTV. Cellphones are currently mired in "feature creep" mode while next-gen DVDs have all but committed seppuku. The best has to be wireless networking. If your house doesn't already have at least one insecure wireless connection, I doubt you even know how to spell "technology," let along know how to implement it.

Thanks, CNN, for telling us what to keep an eye on. Maybe next time they'll tell us that something called "video game" are popular with youngsters. – Nicholas Deleon

Thanks, Richard!

Trends in technology [CNN]

CNN Hates On The Microsoft Zune, Praises The iPod

Gizloco — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 09:47:03 EST

When not busy looking for "if it bleeds, it leads" stories to report on, CNN sometimes fills its airtime with cute little tech reviews. This week, they (well, The New York Times' Andrew Ross Sorkin) looked at the Microsoft Zune. We already know that our very own Jason Chen has testified, under pain of death, that the Zune is pretty good (then again, he puts next-gen game consoles down his pants...), but our friends at CNN seem to disagree.

The review starts off positively enough, but then the anchors weigh in with their valuable opinions. Watch as Soledad O'Brien whips out an iPod shuffle for seemingly no reason; marvel as Miles O'Brien demand that Microsoft hire better design guys. Overall, an extraordinarily in-depth review.

There, someone who doesn't think that the Zune is the Savior of Man. – Nicholas Deleon

Thanks, Richard!

CNN ridicules Microsoft's Zune while gushing over Apple's new iPod shuffle [MacDailyNews]