Microsoft "Drains" the market with SoapBox: NEW LAUNCH!

Microsoft announced today, that they have launched their very own online video download service. Its called: SoapBox and it is an attempt to beat other rivals like Google Video, YouTube and the newest AOL Video portal. They want to grow an audience who will share their own videos. SoapBox will be supported by advertising. But the question is: Will Microsoft delete YouTube? YouTube currently holds 100 million videos daily, but Microsoft has a leading web portal with lots of users and creative web programmers (MSN). SoapBox will work with FireFox and is in Beta mode and is open to invitation only. I think that MSN SoapBox has a clever design...which gives it some potential, they already have potetntial users in line from previous MSN services. I still think that YouTube will stand strong, but they need more ads to generate extra profit. Microsoft is yet again stepping into the game way too late, but is it really? Nope. Yahoo! has not released a Yahoo! Video service, so that puts Microsoft's MSN SoapBox ahead...sort of. Will SoapBox work, will it draw in lots of users and potentially become a head to head competitor with YouTube? BLAB on: in other words leave a comment.

Microsoft's Live is Alive!

I'm back! The blog has not been updated as usual but I promise to keep it ALIVE! Quick news for today. Microsoft has just released it's new search portal named live.com. It features their new AdCenter in an attempt to defeat Google at its own game in the ad market. Will anyone notice? The new service was quetly released and I was blind to its rumors fromt the start. Obviously, I think the company has little faith in Live, so that could be one reason why its recieving little buzz. I think that when Vista rolls out, customers will eventually begin to discover Live and use it. I'll keep track of Live's heartbeat for you blabbers out there. Do you think Live will be a success? Tell Me! Leave a comment.

Microsoft makes Friends with Toshiba

Word on the street is that Toshiba alerted the Federal Communications Commission of its plan to manufacture Apple's next rival: The Microsoft Zune. Toshiba will team up with the software giant to create the ultimate digital music player. Features include: 30GB of hard drive, a stunning 3 inch TFT LCD screen, FM tuner, wireless 802.11 blg, USB 2.0 support and more. That's right... there's a clue guys. Its now official that Zune will allow wireless downloads directly from the device (this may just dominate the iPod). Toshiba will allow the Zune to be a shared device, allowing users to stream music and share content with friends and strangers (social networking; but only up to four other devices allowed). Engineers at Toshiba Labs stated that ounce you are under a wireless setting, you are allowed to send and receive promotional copies of songs, albums and even playlists from other Pyxis users. This is a good way for new artists to become known by offering some of their songs to be shared as promotional tracks... and also a smart technique for Microsoft to gain ad dollars. I think the Zune will be a hit; its on my Christmas list :) no word is out on when it will be released though; Microsoft marketers are saying this holiday season though. Apple has yet to respond to Zune's increasing buzz... mainly here on StreetBlabber, but i'll keep you all posted on September 12, a big day for Apple... its their annual "Apple Expo" and rumor has it that Steve Jobs is set to release some surprising news, so keep posted: only here is where will you witness the exclusive recap. What do you think of the Zune, will it be a hit? Will it stand a chance? How will it affect Microsoft and Apple as a brand? And will you possibly purchase the Zune in time for the holiday's? BLAB ON...leave a comment >

Microsoft Saves the World with LiveDrive

Following Googl'es announcement of their own online storage device, GDrive, Microsoft plans to step in the way. Its called "LiveDrive", and it will allow consumers to store large amounts of data on Microsoft servers. In a press release today, the company confirmed that LiveDrive will feature 2 gigabytes of storage for a fee. All of these releases may just be an attempt to hipe up the release of Window's Vista (releasing in January of 2007). Google is set to release GDrive some time soon, but they have not yet confirmed it. It'll be interesting to see how these two will go head to head, but the big issue here is consumer TRUST! Who will ultimately win... GDrive or LiveDrive, and will you trust them with your personal data? Leave a comment.

Microsoft Rebels against Cybersquaters!

For those of you who don't know about "cybersquatters", heres the deal: they are firms that purchase domain names that are similar to popular brand names, like Google, eBay or hey... Microsoft. They mainly misspell the names, like lets say "Googil.com." Microsoft is fed-up and they plan to sew the suckers and create a lawsuit for trademark infringement. The company's top researcher, Yi-Min Wang, came up with a software titled "Strider" that seeks cyber squatters. I think its a good software to lauch... do I think it'll last? Nope.. but its good news for the brand. Microsoft reported 2,000 domain names, daily registered using the company's brands... so its a big deal. Drop in a comment on what you think of this.

Microsoft's Zune plays a different Tune...

Microsoft's impressive new Zune will be released this fall. But, the software giant may feature an advertising-supported model which will allow Zune customers to download content for FREE! (Don't worry... I'm surprised as well). The only thing I question; where are they going to place these ads and how will they reach users. Not much was stated from the press, but it'll be interesting to see how this will turn out. This is yet another attemptfor Microsoft to differ from Apple in the digital download industry. Aside from the Apple iPod and iTunes which sells content without any advertising, the Zune might draw it higher numbers than its competition. On an end note, just thought I should add: the name Zune is similar to the name Zen, another smaller digital downloading device currently competing with the iPod (sort of like Dell's Pocket DJ).

Microsoft's XBox 360: Profitable by 2007

Yesterday I published an entry about Microsoft's annual analyst meeting which was very brief... I've got some more information that you guys may like. At the meeting in Redmond, WA, Robbie Beach, XBox 360's unit president announced that the XBox 360 platform will be profitable by next year. Microsoft has entered the video-game market which was ounce and probably still dominated by Sony's Playstation. When the company launched the XBox, it was at a loss to gain market share. Microsoft's latest gaming product: XBox 360, has enjoyed a benefit by being introduced before Sony's PS3.

Microsoft under the Guns

Microsoft, the software giant held an analyst meeting at its Redmond, WA headquarters. Analysts were eager to know when Windows Vista will ship. Kevin Johnson, co-president of Microsoft's platforms and services unit says that the company will not ship Vista until it is ready and free of bugs. Just thought I should give you a quick update.

Tune up with Zune: Microsoft exclusive update as promised

Just recently, Microsoft released news of a digital music player in an attempt to compete with Apple's iPod (note that we were one of the first blogs on this story from the start... even before major news stations like CNBC... reason to keep posted). Microsoft says that they are concentrating on features that the iPod does not have. The Zune will integrate WiFi downlads allowing users to downlad digital products (music) directly deom their Zune when on the go Microsoft also stated that they will work on adding buffered internet radio stations which will pick up feeds from WiFi signals. The Zune will offer some gaming as well, including possible XBox plug in features, allowing users to plug in their Zune into their XBox 360 and have access to your music on the game itself, (the iPod does this already, but without iTunes downloaded music). Microsift will also be willing to pay users for their previously bought songs from iTunes. I like the idea of the Zune... even though the iPod will dominate as I stated in the past entries. I will most likely get my hands on the Zune. I like the idea of wireless downloads without a computer and less worry about downloading speed and all... the internet radio stations will also be a plus (competing with Sirius and XM satellite radios LOL). Don't get your hopes up yet... the wireless downloading, gaming, and internet radio aren't promised to be added into the Zune product. Microsoft Zune will be released right on time for this holiday season.