Microsoft's Life2 event, an "exclusive showcase of the latest digital lifestyle technology", is a bit like the Orange Home project we wrote about over three years ago. Except with more Microsoft kit.
Microsoft has taken over an old art school in deepest darkest Chelsea for three months before it's knocked down and replaced by (yet another) block of luxury flats.
The most interesting thing on show was MSTV - Microsoft's IPTV service, which will be launching in late summer next year. Microsoft will be offering the service to broadband suppliers, who can then offer it to their customers - BT is currently signed up for launch.
For around a hundred quid you'll get a box to access the service, which also provides PVR functionality such as pause/rewind live broadcasts. The basic service, which will have a comparable line-up to FTA (free to air) digital TV, will be free. There'll also be additional on-demand content, priced on a pay-as-you-go basis.
There's the ability to create a channel from your own content (like home videos), and then share it with your friends. Similar to instant messaging applications, you can keep a buddy list of contacts and chat with them as you're both watching telly.
Microsoft also had a working Xbox 360 on show (no games, though). Since the 360 includes all the necessary gubbins to function as a Media Center Extender it looks like Microsoft isn't going to introduce standalone Extenders (like the one we reviewed in the Mar 05 issue) into the UK market, and just go with the 360 instead. Apparently, a standalone Extender and a 360 would work out at about the same price anyway.
Comments
Will Head said: relationship with a Microsoft partner then they should be able to sort it outThe deal is no different to the Orange Home - if anything I think its easier to get access toOh and characters limits for comments are way too short another thing for the to-do list
Will Head said: Hi kjriderI wanted to go along and see it After much searching on the UK MS webpage I found it was invite only Pity he didnt mention it in the articleI knew there was something I missed out - I spoke to Microsoft about this while I was there Yes it is invitation only - but and Im going from memory here Microsoft partners can arrange visits so if you want to go along and you have a relationship with a Microsoft partner then th
kjrider said: I wanted to go along and see it After much searching on the UK MS webpage I found it was invite only Pity he didnt mention it in the article Linux - try the Ubuntu version - its great Ran first time and fould all my hardware OK
Will Head said: floydking - I think Im sensing youre a bit of a Linux fan and yes theres something up with the order in which comments appear - will sort that on Monday
Floydking 23 said: Phew Success at last Of a sort anyway Not the fault of the operating system but the author who shouldnt be able to change to Linux according to the propaganda machineTo anyone who read it you have done something that must have been much more difficult than switching to Linux So you must be perfect material to come and join usSo endeth the sermon
Floydking 22 said: page 7 should endbecome open source then perhaps someone else would tweak it improve it and then they may take the MONEY for it Poor old Bill all he is left with is a gut ache incase someone else should make a few dollars out of his baby and the large bank account containing the money that he has teased out of so many of us
floydking 21 said: first page should endBill and the boyspage 2 should end Windows requires you to run moment you install it page 2 second varient should end prefer the darkroompage 22-1 should end crashes because the FREE first CD is also a reboot and repair diskIf it werent so secure why do you think so many governments both national and local use it Why do so many Universities use it Why is the apache
FloydKing 20 said: Im sorry about some of the terrible editing but by putting that up in such a messy state only proves that I am indeed not about to accept a professorship
FloydKing 19ish said: PC advisor would do well to use at least half its software pages for Linux in the next issue to be sent to the printers not the one after the next one I certainly look forward to reading that as I usually doAll the above is the opinion of Graham Powell they are honest though obviously subjective
FloydKing 17 said: You know that if you dont do it another day of your computing life is over and still you pay the MONEY and you waste your LIFEI apologise if their are any formatting problems with this piece but it has been very difficult writing it in such a small Window and then cutting into pieces now I cant blame Windows for that
FloydKing 16? said: Steve Jobs and his expensive APPLES should be forgotten for the same reasons as above though perhaps not to the same extent As for me I look forward to greeting those of you who vote with their HEADS and their POCKETS
FloydKing 13 said: Changing over isnt a choice its a must to save your SANITY and your MONEY you could argue that you couldnt have the first if you dont have the secondIf you all understand the joke that Microsoft are thrusting upon you you will ALL emigrate to a Linux distro
FloydKing 12 said: virus writers and then along comes trouble but I agree with PARANOID Bill most of you probably wont because you dont feel you can afford the timeeffortinconvenience of using a different system Yet when Vista comes along with all its 3D desktop gimmickry you will be prepared to change to that You will probably be exited by it Then one day youll hear that Linux has a 3D desktop for FREE Maybe that will happen even before Vista
FloydKing 10? said: a quarter of the price that they themselves were charging so companies such as ICL thrived IBM are not at all PARANOID and still THRIVING in their own specialised fieldsThe time to stop being conned is now immediately dont put it off until tomorrow you are wasting both your LIFE and your MONEYIm sure that many Linux users will want to stamp on me for letting out the secrets because if you all join us some of you will inevitably be
FloydKing 8? said: It was brought in to being by a man who once worked with IBM and wished to add to their system When he was told that he couldnt he decided to launch a similar system and called it Linux However IBM didnt jealously keep their code anywhere near as secret as PARANOID Bill As for their mainframe hardware they allowed any one to make exact copies without suing Then they allowed these people to lease their hardware to others for approximately
floydking - continued - 7 said: Why is the apache variant used to build so many important websites Certainly not because its difficult Neither because its free institutes like these have sufficient money to squander on Windows if the wish Its largely because the guys and gals in Seattle keep their code strictly hidden so no one outside can IMPROVE it as well as all the reasons given above Bill is beginning to suffer from his own PARANOIA if he allowed his system to b
floydking - continued - 2+2 - said: Theres sure to be something that appeals to you And no its not frightening its easy If you can set up and run Windows then you can EASILY set up and run Linux You will actually find that you are too clever because there is so little to know about firewalls - inbuilt in Suse Linux for FREE anti-virus is barely needed although Suse Linux 10 has one for FREE
floydking - continued - 2+2 said: Whatever how many of us even though I have got it requires anything as comprehensive as Photoshop Frankly how many of us can even afford it unless we need itthought we may need it as a work tool From what Ive been studying during the past few months I would say set yourself FREE of XP or any other Windows system and choose your own flavour of Linux instead
floydking - continued -2 said: its FREE of most of the maintenace programs that Windows requires you to run moment you install itDuring its time of rest on my computer desk Ive frequently searched the internet for certain programs that Ive required only to find that they are ALREADY sitting infront of me on the desktopI dont know if theres anything available to match Photoshop yet and being a photographer that may seem weird Only I much prefer and always will pr
floydking - continued -2 said: MicrosucksIts as easy to install as XP it has very few security issues very low maintainance and it does the everything better as wellor very nearly as well as anything that the Redmond mob has to offer Not only that but its FREE It has a great OFFICE SUITE for FREE a Nero equivalent for FREE its FREE of the tantrums that Windows can often throw from the start its FREE of most of the maintenace programs that Windows the moment y