Microsoft: We Want To Kill Apple TV

Software giant eyes set-top box of its own

Jan 4 2011, 4:46pm CST | by Mark Raby

Oh, Microsoft. You can never let Apple have any fun. Well, at least the iPad's still doing pretty well. And the iPhone is kicking Windows Phone 7's rear end. Hmm, nevermind then. Oh, wait. You want to try to take down the Apple TV now?

The Seattle Times reports Microsoft will put a simplified version of its media-centric operating system into a nice, self-contained box for the less tech savvy among us. It's a bid to compete with Apple's new Apple TV product as well as Google's emerging appearance in the growing sector.

Microsoft isn't a newcomer when it comes to the living room. Media Center PCs have been able to interact wirelessly with TVs for years, but it's remained a relatively small slice of the company's pie, as many consumers don't have the knowhow or werewithall to install such a connection.

The market of Internet-powered TV is just starting to actually become relevant, even though consumer electronics companies have tried to push it down consumers' throats for well over a decade. With broadband penetration now through the roof and technology that can make it seamless and simple for everyone, people are actually starting to take their TVs online, and like it.

There are some stumbling blocks. Google's latest venture isn't going as well as it hoped. The company has reportedly pressured companies to cancel their planned Google TV product announcements at CES this week, because Google isn't satisfied with the direction its platform is heading.

Nevertheless, Microsoft wants in. Even though it already takes a good chunk of the TV time with the Xbox 360, it wants to control the living room of the non-gamers out there. We will reportedly see more when the company officially unveils this $200 set-top box at CES.

Updates

Le Canada condamne avec véhémence les plus récents actes de violence en Syrie

Source: The Huffington Post

OTTAWA - Le ministre des Affaires étrangères du Canada a condamné les plus récents massacres en Syrie, qualifiant ces actes de violence de «très troublants en raison de la perversité de l'acte». John Baird a déclaré que la communauté internation ...
Full article at: The Huffington Post More like this 1 hour ago

Bosnie: des obsèques collectives sont tenues pour 66 musulmans tués en 1992 (PHOTOS)

Source: The Huffington Post

VISEGRAD, Bosnie-Herzégovine - Plusieurs milliers de personnes ont assisté aux obsèques collectives tenues samedi pour 66 Bosniaques musulmans, tués par les forces des Serbes de Bosnie pendant la guerre de 1992-95. Les restes de victimes ont ...
Full article at: The Huffington Post More like this 5 hours ago, 5:03pm CDT

Amical, PB - Robben ovationné

Source: Goal.com

Sur le banc en début de match, l'ailier est entré en jeu à la 78e minute sur l'insistance du public. Des cris "Robben ! Robben !" ont fusé à plusieurs reprises durant le match et à son entrée au jeu, l'ancien jou ...
Full article at: Goal.com More like this 5 hours ago, 4:53pm CDT

where to buy

Buy from Amazon

Don't miss ...

CES

CES 2012 Booth Babes

Mark Raby
Based in New York City, Mark follows the consumer electronics industry like a hawk. A published book author, he has a particular affinity for 3D technology and video games, and as such will surely be in the market for a new pair of glasses soon. Mark can be contacted directly at mark@i4u.com.