Microsoft's Plan to Be King of All Media

An anonymous reader writes "Saul Hansell from the New York Times spoke with Microsoft's J. Allard, formerly of the Xbox games division and now in charge of their push on Apple's captive audience with the Zune. Allard lays out Microsoft's media battle plan, highlighting their longterm goals for expanding beyond games and software. 'This service will at some point add more options for video and mobile phones, Mr. Allard said, without offering details. Actually, Microsoft has been quite successful selling video downloads and online movie rentals through the Xbox Live service already. This seems a bit too much like the initial plan for MSN. This new network would be the switchboard through which all entertainment content and communication flows. Pretty much everything else in the technology world now is revolving around open systems where the Internet, and some simple standards, are in the middle.'"

King of all Media?

Didn't Howard Stern already take that title?

Divx/ xvid support

They better hurry up and pull their finger out of their asses and get Divx/Xvid support for the 360 then.

All media?

longterm goals for expanding beyond games and software.

How about focusing on being the king of software before going for the whole pie? And since when have games not been software anyway?

Ballmermon Restless in Tower Redmondore

The eye of Ballmermon sweeps across the media landscape while orks cut down forests to make more chair weapons to hurl at their enemies. Ballmermon must have the media ring to keep it out of the hands of teh suck Google.

Precioussssssssssss.

Re:Ballmermon Restless in Tower Redmondore

I think that this Ballmeron should worry less about Smoogle and the ring and concentrate more on fortifying his tower before its overrun by the Penguin hosts of the north.

Duh! Xbox.

This is what I've been telling people all along: that's the reason for the Xbox in the first place. I was so scared for gaming when I first saw that thing because I knew that even though Microsoft's first foray into console gaming would be a complete and utter failure (I was wrong, it wasn't a failure unless you consider the substantial financial loses) their subsequent attempts would be much better because Microsoft had enough money to throw at whatever problem arose the first time. I also make it my point to reason with people that once the consoles market has been thoroughly cornered, and all gaming devices are inextricably mated to the Internet and PC peripherals there will be very little difference between them and the one that serves up everything all at once will be king. Microsoft is doing this, albeit slowly. I give Playstation and Nintendo consoles 20 years more, maximum. Soon we'll have HD movies, and gaming and internet all wrapped up in one device (more or less) and probably under one subscription service that will be hosted by Microsoft. It's not even console wars anymore, it's content wars and there is no way that Sony and especially Nintendo will be able to compete in a long battle because Microsoft has already gotten so deeply involved in the surrounding factors, namely the internet and subscription-based services.

Re:Duh! Xbox.

As data delivery technology matures it becomes minor upgrades. Why would any content producer or publisher want to pay a M$ or google tax on all their content, amounting to billions of dollars every year.

Bascialy cheap hardware and open standards will mean it will be far simpler and cheaper for producers or publishers to deliver direct. Ballmer has always had delusions of charging an M$ tax on all internet transactions, media, financial, software even browsing, but it is just that a delusion.

The consumer products companies will win over the long run, as it won't cost much extra to incorporate the additional hardware, in big screen TVs or high resolution virtual reality headsets. Combine those two items with an open source operating system, upon which you can run multiple content delivery systems, and unless M$ starts building a big content library they have nowhere to go.

Re:Wrong.

they make people pay _monthly_ to play games online.

This is not "evil"; nor is it unusual.

Actually, it is highly unusual, as typically games which don't have a persistent state don't charge for online play. Call of Duty 4, for example, is free to play online on every platform except the 360. That's bullshit, in my opinion. More infuriatingly, I'm led to believe that Microsoft doesn't even provide dedicated servers for the games, leaving it up to the developer to do so, or else having peer-hosted matches. If they're not providing servers for us to play on, what the fuck are we paying for? We're paying because Microsoft is in a position to make us. I use many Microsoft products, and am very happy with their quality, and am glad to be a Microsoft customer... but Xbox Live is a ridiculous situation. They will never get a dime from me to play games online which are free everywhere else.

Worse still, this greedy approach is now entering PC gaming too. With a silver Live account, you can join games of Halo 2, but you need a gold account to host them. They're testing the waters, and I wager it's only a matter of time before Microsoft tries to shove paying-to-play down the throats of PC gamers too.

If you thought network TV sucked...

wait 'til you see what M$ does with media.

Can't wait for my first BSOD on a 42 inch plasma.

MS doesn't get it

We aren't interested in letting you become gatekeepers for our entire lives. Since you so very stupidly jettisoned playforsure neither are any media companies interested in you either, as that little case proved, your words and assurances are worthless - MS, you are a busted flush, now sod off and let some creative people on the stage who can actually make a difference.

You've got a nice video business here, colonel.

We wouldn't want anything to happen to it.
'Cos things memory leak, don't they?
How many videos you got here, colonel?
My chief technology officer and I have got a little proposition for you colonel.
I mean you're doing all right here aren't you, colonel.
The colonel doesn't think we're nice people, Nathan.
We're your buddies, colonel.
We can guarantee you that not a single movie will get peered over for fifteen K a week.

Wait, isn't Howard Stern the King of all Media?

For years the self-titled King of all Media has been Howard Stern. Does this mean Microsoft has decided on going after Howard?

Now that would be a cage fight worth watching, Ballmer vs Stern! Let the Monkey Boy fights, begin!

ho ho ho

Microsoft has been quite successful selling video downloads and online movie rentals through the Xbox Live service already. This seems a bit too much like the initial plan for MSN.

I don't think Apple is worried yet. Nor is anyone else really.

Too much like the initial plan for MSN? If this is as successful as MSN, then in five years we'll all be saying "Microsoft who?" I'm praying that it achieves fully MSN-like levels of success.

King of everything

They want to either be or control everything on the planet.

Microsoft, out of touch with reality?

Allard sounds like Ballmer. Microsoft is still clinging the old media establishment ideology of 'content providers' who only get paid because you've DRMed their stuff.

They still don't get the concept of an Internet.

Anyone who's been following trends since Napster was shut down back in 2001 will understand we're undergoing a natural progression from centralized, controlled delivery systems to those where content is everywhere all at once.

An obvious revenue model for this is one where advertising is embedded in content freely distributed over the Internet. After all, that's what worked for free broadcast TV and radio. It's the easiest and least restrictive method of raising revenue to pay for content. I doubt folks will be flocking to buy xboxes and zunes AND giving money to Microsoft so they can watch their favorite shows. Nothing to see here, move on.

"Fail fast" == burn the users

A related article [nytimes.com] based on the same interview turned up this gem:

When I spoke to Mr. Allard, he was up front about Microsoft's slow start. But he defended the approach of "fail fast" and learn. And in typical Microsoft fashion, he talked about the first generations of Zune as early moves in a long-term strategy.

Yeah, the older Zune's can have their firmware upgraded, but try asking the people and companies who invested in 'plays for sure' what *they* think about fail-fast strategies. Fail-fast is just another word for moving R&D out of your budget and onto the shoulders of your customers. The bad news for you is, eventually they will wise up to their actual costs and migrate to new suppliers.

Fat Chance

Microsoft has failed miserably when it comes to mobile media. i.e. My MP3 player (which can also do other things)
Where is the Zune marketed? AFAIK, it is only in North America. It is certainly not sold on this side of the Pond.
Even if (and thats highly unlikely) the XBOX became the 'defacto' HD viewing machine then it would be so riddled with DRM and 'Are you sure' stupidity then the hackers would have a field day 'making it work'.

The notion that you MUST be connected to some Server on Planet Microsoft just to view a Film or episode of Heroes/insert fav TV series name here, is just plane crazy and totally idiotic.
There are enough companies in this business who cold easily get together to thwart their plans. Then there are the regulators and governments who (despite receiving lots of dosh in brown paper envelopes) will get in their way.

I'm moving soon to a place where even dial-up is impossible and if they think I'm going to run a satellite phone just so my kids can watch some HD TV programs then I would like some of what their marketing dept is smoking.
(We will be using Radio to talk to our neighbours(on the next island). The nearest telephone exchange is over 100km away.)

X-Box and Microsoft IPTV

Once Microsoft hooks X-Box into their IPTV software, and gives special treatment to X-Box users, then it is all over. Microsoft has taken control of the TV service coming into your house.

MS will fail

Five years ago, this would have worked. Now though with Vista failing more people are starting to see beyond MS, and 90% of people who use MS products (XBOX, Windows) don't switch to alternitives not for what MS has done, but third parties. Very few people when they see Office 2007 use that as their reason for keeping Windows, it is almost always a third-party app or game or second party in the case of Halo 3 (which was the reason most people I know bought a 360) but with many third parties now having applications on Linux and OS-X or via good support through WINE or similar programs, Microsoft is no longer needed, in 5-10 years I doubt that very many people will even use Windows unless NT 7 is much much much better then XP. Microsoft is losing the monopoly very fast with the relese of Vista, if the new "MS Media" doesn't work on Linux or Mac, it won't be used. The age of the MS monopoly is coming to an end finally, MS is just blind to it.

King of all media

Sorry, Howard Stern proclaimed himself the 'King of All Media' almost a decade ago. I hope he sues.

Has to be said

Baba Booey !

Wow. This is kinda skewed even for /.

The article linked was one of three interviews. I suggest looking at this article [nytimes.com] and this one [nytimes.com] before drawing yet a complete conclusion.

The guy has Xbox Live working pretty well. I think they did a great job integrating the achievements, friends and everything else in.
FTFA's not linked:

People are unhappy with DRM download-to-own. If I buy a track with DRM and it has fewer rights than the CD, that is where people get their nose out of joint. There is no art, no track information, no liner notes. I can't sell it for four bucks to buy a burrito if I'm hungry.

The music industry is very healthy. The record industry is the problem.

The guy isn't this Ballmerite that he appears to be. He might actually have a tight bolt on that chair launching arm. Then again, he works for Microsoft, so how long till he leaves for Google?

Sounds like a job for

NURV! And synapse anyone? This is what i am referring too if anyone is clueless [imdb.com]

This Is Not The Future You Are Looking For...

Any world where Microsoft achieves these goals is not a world you want to live in. But thankfully we have Apple. Quicktime crushed Microsoft's aspirations for locking users into their what-will-we-call-it-this-year video format. The iPod and iTunes maintained the supremacy of MP3s over Microsoft's you'll-play-it-when-and-where-and-how-we-tell-you WMA hopes. And now the iPhone exposes WinCE on mobile phones as the miserable also ran it always was.

Neither of the DRMed to death replacements for the DVD are especially compelling. But if one has to win, it has to be anything but HDDVD.

Yes. The clear message is when it comes to digital content and control thereof, anything Microsoft is pushing is bad for consumers. But I would hope by now we wouldn't have to keep explaining why.

Take it seriously

Wasn't Allard the mighty brain behind the all-conquering Zune? I mean, you see them everywhere...
--
In Soviet Russia cowboys slow down you!

Lord Sauron at it again.

Why do I get the feeling that Lord Sauron of Washington State is like that bully kid in grade school who actually believes that he's inferior to everyone else, and therefore acts like a bully to make up for it? He has to steal everyone else's lunch money, not because he needs it but just because he's jealous that they have lunch money.

In this example, Lord Sauron sees that Apple is successful with the iPod, so he needs to steal that away from them. Now he needs to be king of all media. Next thing you know, he'll notice that there's money to be made in refrigerators and he'll start making those, and every week or so the thing will shut down for no reason and all your food will spoil, and he'll convince the world that this is how a refrigerator is supposed to be.

I think, luckily, that so far consumers have not fallen for this fast one and so that stupid player (which is inferior to Apple's beautiful iPod) has been somewhat of a flop.

Apple is a better company than Microsoft.

Obligatory remark: Google is a better company than Microsoft.

Lord Sauron knows this, but doesn't know what to do about it. So he throws tantrums and chairs.

Microsoft announces new Zune-Phone

REDMOND, Seattle, Wednesday (UnGadget) -- Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer today announced a new era at the Seattle software company, announcing their entry six nine twelve months hence into the cell phone market with the exciting new Zune Z-Phone, to finally get the company properly into the rapidly changing digital media landscape.

Ballmer, speaking to a group of trained-monkey analysts and cynical bloggers at the company headquarters today, unveiled mockups prototypes of the Zune-Phone, which combines the Zune music player (with wifi for "squirting" songs), a CDMA cell phone, a PDA, an eight gigabyte hard disk, a camera, a laser pointer and a bottle opener into one semi-portable device. It will also allow you to "squirt" music to and from your Windows Vista Service Pack 1^W2 Media Center computer.

The product underscores the shift the company has attempted to make in recent years from an office supply company to a consumer electronics darling as it aims not to become utterly obsolete in the digital future. "And even Linux fanboys admit our hardware is pretty nice," Ballmer said before the somewhat sullen and cynical crowd. "It's definitely the best music player we've ever made."

Ballmer called the Z-Phone a revolutionary device that will leapfrog current technology. He said the company expects to sell about 100 million of them next year. "Maybe two hundred million. This is so the coolest music player ever." Unlike the MP3 player market, which the iPod has dominated even with the entrance of Microsoft's Zune two months ago, the cell phone market is much more fragmented. "There is not one device that everyone buys," said completely independent analyst Rob Enderle, "but this fabulous device should trounce all comers. I've ordered three already in anticipation."

Weighing in at only 15 ounces (425 grams), with a 5-inch 640-by-480 pixel screen, the $498 (with three-year $80/month contract) Z-Phone, a rebadged version of the LG Smart Display [wikipedia.org] from 2003 with new firmware, looks like a Classic Brown Zune (to come in mission, chocolate, corduroy and meconium) with a phone touchpad in place of its imitation scroll wheel. It runs Windows Mobile, Pocket Internet Explorer, Pocket Microsoft Office, Pocket Solitaire and Pocket Pool. MSN will supply e-mail, mapping, search and other Internet services to the Z-Phone. It also features an amazing 1.3 megapixel (300,000 pixels interpolated) black and white camera. Battery life is estimated at up to four hours in Microsoft tests.

To better work with its content partners and ensure that you, the user, can rest safe in the knowledge that the artists and their representatives have been paid properly for all their hard work, Microsoft has limited "squirtable" songs to encrypted WMA files purchased from the Zune Music Store, which can be listened to three times or within three days before automatically being deleted from both the Z-Phone and the Media Center computer. Songs may also be "squirted" between two Z-Phones (though not the original Zune) if both are registered with Microsoft as being linked to that installation of Media Center. Users are advised to purchase Microsoft Zune Secure Headphones ($129), which encrypt the signal between the Z-Phone and your ears, as playback quality is degraded on conventional "analog hole" earphones or when playing back unencrypted MP3 files. Phone calls may be made to or received from any number on the network carrier you bought the Z-Phone from, with only a 99-cent charge for humming a song to someone you call or are called by on the phone or ten cents per use of the camera, laser pointer or bottle opener. Microsoft will also pay $20 from each Z-Phone sold to Universal Music. In addition to the ability to "squirt" songs, the user may "squirt" his calls, which are stored on Microsoft Zune Live servers and cost $40 per month to access.

In other news, Ballmer said that Microsoft had reached over 600 music downloads since intro

Boycotting Microsoft's XBox 360

This is why I won't spend a dime on the XBox 360. I'd rather Sony to be in control than Microsoft. Sony doesn't have a monopoly nor does it stop innovating. Microsoft, on the other hand, is a marketing company that uses it's monopoly and it's aggressive marketing tactics to convince people to buy a inferior product.

Not to mention that XBox 360s are notoriously unreliable, expecting costumers to pay to play online, and proprietary peripherals among other things.

Microsoft and the failed promise of media ctr pc.

Microsoft's "vision" of personal media devices and "the computer as home media center" differ radically from consumers' vision, and this has contributed to their own failure, and the general failure of the promise of the computer as media center.

They have steadfastly supported orwellian drm systems, systems which first reared their ugly head in XP "media center" edition, erasing or refusing to record certain shows against the will of the machine's owner.
Their own greedy desire to be the only ones providing media center pc's led them to buy the false promise hollywood gave them to use the DMCA to lock out their competition by litigating against anyone who offered an equal or better system.

This false promise led to their support for and failure to lobby against the DMCA, which hollywood is (successfully) leveraging to assure there are no legal and consumer friendly ways to transform your pc into a functional media center. The whole point is to make sure you can't legally transfer your content onto internet capable devices, including pc's. Microsoft helped hollywood kill the pc home media center before it ever left the womb.

This failure of the pre-millennial promise of the computer as the ultimate home media center is one of the reasons pc sales in general are slowing. Without mainstream and consumer friendly ways of transferring new media to pc's, and the greater resources that demands, consumers now consider the current revision "powerful enough" and are just not riding the upgrade treadmill anymore. In short, hollywood is slowly choking off the tech industry, and limbs are starting to die at this point.

Re:Antitrust: the Movie

Such works are banned here. Another example would be "Swordfish".

Reason: we're not drooling idiots.