At the finish of a week chock full of Microsoft news, the bloggers at Gizmodo obtained their fingers on al PowerPoint deck full of mock-ups of Microsoft;s planned retail shops.Microsoft public relations has attempted to place a damper around the deck, claiming the presentation from inventive company Lippicott is depending on early prototype and idea briefings. Because the Giz guys be aware,
Microsoft Office Professional Plus, having said that, the PowerPoints in query are dated July seven and Microsoft execs have said the very first retailers will open this drop (next-door to Apple;s retailers). If Microsoft is nonetheless floating “early concepts” just a few months before the lights are set to come on,
Office Pro Plus 2010, something;s amiss….Back to the deck. Gizmodo describes the Microsoft retailers as taking “the best elements from the Apple Store, Sony Style and other ‘flagship; retailers and mashing them all together. (There;s even an “Answers bar”… sound familiar?)The Giz editors say they;re surprised how much the Microsoft stores will push the PCTV idea. PCTV is part of Microsoft;s IPTV, a k a “Mediaroom,” on-demand/live-feed products/strategy.Blogger Chris Lanier,
Windows 7 X86, who specializes in covering Microsoft;s digital-media technologies, notes that it;s pretty murky as to exactly what Microsoft plans to push in its forthcoming retail shops regarding “PCTV.” Is it IPTV/Mediaroom? Is it Windows Media Center? Something to do with the Xbox? And most importantly,
Office Home And Business 2010, is Microsoft;s evolving direction anything that existing Microsoft users will want?From Lanier;s July 26 post on the leaked store-concept deck:“It has been my theory that Microsoft is slowly ditching the concept of using and promoting Media Center as a whole home entertainment experience and moving to the ‘TV on your PC; idea which they have been actively promoting over the past 6 months. This concept is something that most Media Center enthusiasts don’t want to believe as it turns Media Center into a product that most current users have no interest in.”In recent months,
Office 2007 Professional Key, Microsoft execs have been emphasizing Microsoft;s three-prong “three-screen” approach to delivering technology — with the three being the PC, the TV and the mobile device. In the same time, Microsoft has been alienating a lot of its Media Center faithful with various decisions, while simultaneously downplaying and de-emphasizing the Ultimate SKU of Windows (which, up until now, has been the Media Center centerpiece).Microsoft;s retail shops will be highlighting Windows seven, Windows Mobile/Windows Phone, Xbox, Zune and the Surface. Hopefully, they;ll provide more of a clue about where Microsoft is intending to go within the TV realm once their doors open….