3 posts tagged “microsoft”
Xbox Live announced its upcoming support of
Twitter sign-in and Facebook Connect this week, which just reminds us
all of the power of social networking and its impact on so many aspects
of media--traditional or otherwise.
I'm a believer in the ability of social networks to make an impact. So I'm quite interested to see how Microsoft will be leveraging Facebook, one of its investments, for promoting its services and adding value to its end users. From marketing to better competing with casual gaming, Microsoft is taking steps towards effectively leveraging existing social networks.
Nick has a great post about Xbox's Facebook Connect integration on AllFacebook, and I expounded on my above points on a Bublicious post. Let me know your thoughts on Xbox's announcement!
Read more of my blog here, at KristenNicole.com
ZenZui,
launched today, is a Microsoft-backed product for mobile phones that
lets you browse the web better through their widgets. These widgets
(36, so far), are pre-determined and sponsored by a variety of
companies, including epicurious, Zillow, and Traffic.com. Meaning,
ZenZui is really a better way to browse their web with their widgets. It's another sneaky way to circumvent at least some of the overlords of the mobile world, but will this ad-based, limited model work for Microsoft and ZenZui?
Getting more companies to sponsor their own widgets probably won't be hard. Businesses are clamoring to get the best marketing strategy possible for the mobile realm. What better way than to sponsor a ZenZui widget? It's branded, highly specialized, works across many platforms, and incentivizes the end user by subsidizing their browsing costs.
But how will the consumer really feel about it? We early adopters may or may not like it. We may marvel at the design but scratch our heads at the short-term goal of ZenZui. But the consumer will probably eat it up. They've been locked in on so many fronts when it comes to mobile options; from ring tones to wallpapers, the average person will most likely love all that ZenZui has to offer.
Most
websites have yet to be optimized for mobile use anyway, and the cost
of using the internet via your mobile phone is very costly. So
offering services that help you find a recipe while you're at the
grocery store, or help you navigate through traffic during your evening
commute could prove to be valuable for users.
Long term, consumers will eventually want more options. If ZenZui can't find a way to maximize the number of widgets they offer, they could be in trouble. Just like with traditional models for music distribution and news dissemination, people will eventually stop listening to the experts and want to find more on their own.
Microsoft has released a few words about Google, and they're not nice. Microsoft has accused Google of disregarding copyright law, saying that their biggest rival's stance on copyrighted material as "we'll take it until we're told otherwise" is unlawful. Google has heard this from many content owners since day one, and is currently facing several legal battles in Europe that pertain to this very attitude. Google's search technique is superior, and some are uncomfortable with that. Google's displaying of copyrighted content for their news page and other forms of search results is gaining a lot of flack right now.
Microsoft is especially displeased with Google's moving into new media markets, especially their purchase of YouTube, only adds fuel to the fire. The general thought towards Google is that they aren't respecting copyright laws, and are taking no measures to protect content owners.
So will a case of bad press bring harm upon Google's head? Is this, on some level, an attempt to deflect attention from the constant criticism Microsoft has received for their Vista woes?
It's almost pointless for Microsoft to spread bad press about Google, as it's nearly ineffectual. But one does wonder why they're even bothering.
