In an event at the Cannes Lions advertising conference Microsoft have apparently confirmed an October launch date for the first handsets featuring their new smart phone OS.

In a video posted on YouTube, Mich Mathews, the VP for Marketing at the company, confirmed the October launch.

This merely confirms what many have speculated for some time now but October is a favoured month for Microsoft, Windows 7 launched on October 22nd last year, as it’s a good time for the company to have goods in retail outlets ready for the Christmas holiday season.

In the video, Microsoft are showing off some of the ways in which advertisers can use the Windows Phone 7 platform to reach new customers and keep existing customers updated.  In this they talk about Applications as Ads, in that customers can pin apps as live tiles to the start page that will enable them to get updates and for the advertiser to continually engage with the user, which sounds horrid but doesn’t, thankfully, seem to go as far as Apple’s iAds platform.

The video ends with a curious comment about zero-click sharing, with photos that users can take with the in-built camera being automatically uploaded to their SkyDrive.  This type of automatic syncing and backup is a feature that many will find very useful indeed.

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There was some debate caused by my article the other day about the prospect of not only Microsoft, but Apple and Google providing cheap and even free copies of their operating systems that were ad-supported.

One common sentiment expressed was that, while people seem to have got used to advertisements in web pages, taking those adverts to the desktop would be a step too far.  However there were other opinions expressed too, and let’s face it, free software has to be paid for somehow.

We’ve put up a poll here at Windows 7 News which you can see below and in the sidebar of our front page.  The question and answers are simple…  Would you use a free ad-supported copy of Windows?  Yes, No or Maybe.

I’ll come back and examine the results of this poll in more detail next week.

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There’s been some talk this last week about Microsoft opening Windows to advertisers.  In essence this is something that OEM system builders have been doing for years, but now it looks like we’ll have all types of advertising available to us.

It’s not only Microsoft doing this.  Apple have in the last month filed a patent that will allow advertising to be embedded in their operating system.  At least the good news here is that because Apple have patented it, Microsoft can’t use it 

In their patent application, Apple say…

Among other disclosures, an operating system presents one or more advertisements to a user and disables one or more functions while the advertisement is being presented. At the end of the advertisement, the operating system again enables the function(s). The advertisement can be visual or audible. The presentation of the advertisement(s) can be made as part of an approach where the user obtains a good or service, such as the operating system, for free or at reduced cost.

This raises an interesting question, and one that’s going to come to the fore when Google launch their Chrome OS, perhaps later this year.  Would you want an ad-supported copy of Windows if it was cheap or free?

[poll id="15"]

We’re so used to advertising on website these days, and with many browser plug-ins able to block them completely, that they’ve become part of the landscape of the internet and most people are almost completely oblivious to them.

Advertising through your operating system would be a good way for companies such as Microsoft, Apple and Google to raise much-needed revenue to support the development of free OSes.  It also looks like, with recent activity acting as a barometer, and with Google’s don’t charge for it ethos, that this is a road we’re heading down anyway.

It could be that Microsoft and Apple will try and sneak advertisements in through the back door while still charging customers for the privilege.  They may only use them on pirated copies, though this would make the Apple patent, if you’ll excuse the pun, patently odd.

Clearly with these announcements, both Apple and Microsoft are gearing up for the launch of the new Google OS.  It will be interesting what moves these companies make in the coming year on this and here at Windows 7 News and www.windows8news.com we’ll be watching for announcements carefully.

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Computerworld have announced a plan by Microsoft to allow corporations to rebrand the Windows 7 desktop through themes.  Seen in a Windows 7 OS for the first time since Windows 95, themes allow users to change all their desktop settings (sounds, wallpapers, icons and cursors etc.) by opening in a single file.  Themes for brands such as Ferrari and Coca Cola already exist.

Computerworld reported…

Microsoft pitched the pilot as a way for international advertisers to connect to consumers. "The new Windows Theme Experience and Windows Personalization Gallery in Windows 7 allow consumers to customize their technology to reflect the things in life they are most passionate about," said Darren Huston, corporate vice president of the company’s consumer and online group, in a statement Friday. "These are great examples of Microsoft innovation and technology coming together to enable top global brands to reach audiences in new and interesting ways."

This is both an interesting and a disturbing move.  Many people will deplore it on the grounds that their copy of Windows has already cost them enough money.  There’s also the fact that we see quite enough advertisements on PCs as it is.  This could potentially be a good way to help with pirated copies of Windows.

On the complaints against front, it’s easy and simple to change the theme back.  Microsoft and the advertisers would indeed argue this point.  However, it can also be argued that a great many people never change the Windows desktop and that a large proportion of those people don’t know how to do so.  If it were truly easy, people such as myself wouldn’t have to detail these features in books.

It can also be argued that this will squeeze out smaller advertisers, allowing the major corporations to make even more money while smaller companies may resultantly go to the wall.

On the flip-side this could be an interesting way for Microsoft to make revenue from pirated copies of Windows.  Imagine a Windows Genuine Advantage program that, rather than deactivate an illegitimate copy of Windows, instead changes your wallpaper to a series of advertisements with clickable areas.  Any clickthroughs from these could help Microsoft recoup some of the money from the pirated copy.

Suffice to say, my opinion is that Windows already costs more than enough and there’s no way that Microsoft could make a move such as this without A) the express permission of the user(s) such a move would affect, and B) without making it an opt-in scheme.  There is however, nothing to stop an advertiser creating it’s own theme and making it available to those who want it.

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With the launch of Microsoft’s latest operating system, there’s a lot of excitement in the air. The Redmond company obviously wants Windows 7 to takeover Windows XP’s position and is trying hard to avoid any bad publicity as Mike Halsey mentioned in a previous article. This has made some people (including myself) wonder:

How will Apple respond to the Windows 7 launch?

The answer came the day following Windows 7′s general availability, where Apple aired three new “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC” advertisements bashing its unwelcomed guest (Windows 7) in an attempt to put off users from trying it out. You can watch them below:

Broken Promises

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtvloPFYocw

Tetter Tottering

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F-ACkXn5tU

PC News

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuPR_z0eLrA

The first commercial, Broken Promises, emphasizes their claim that “Windows 7 is just the new Vista” and that the positive reviews that it’s receiving, are the same as those previous versions of Windows got, which later turned out to be false. Meanwhile, the other two show customers upgrading to Macs rather than Windows 7 due to the customer satisfaction.

In my opinion, this is the same approach Apple has been taking in all of its advertisements since the days of Windows Vista. What do you think?

Source: Neowin

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Ok, I know we have seen some strange advertising and promotion efforts  ( launch parties ) from Microsoft leading up to the Windows 7 launch, but this is on a whole new level. Burger King in Japan is offering the Windows 7 Whopper burger for a limited time.

This monster of a burger features 7 patties and towers over everything else at more than 5-inches! It’s appropriately priced at 777 yen, (approx $8.55). Somehow I don’t think that after you’ve consumed this calorie monster, that you’ll be feeling as slim and light as Windows 7 is after it.

In the small print it says that only the first 30 customers will be able to avail of this Windows 7 Whopper at 777 yen. Those who miss out on the first 30 will have to fork over 1,450 yen ( $17.10 ) to indulge themselves in this delightful meal. Better be quick though as this offer only runs for…. yes you guessed it, 7 days.

Unfortunately you don’t get a Steve Ballmer plastic toy or a free copy of Windows 7 if you manage to finish it,  but you will be able to hold your head high and say that you are part of the elite club, who have managed to finish a Windows 7 Burger.

Source:

Engadget

Electronista

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After all the somewhat – odd adverts Microsoft have released for Windows 7, they have finally come up with some decent ones that actually make sense.

The first, appropriately named Collaboration, focuses on how Microsoft listened to people and what they wanted in the new OS. It lets consumers know that they helped to create Windows 7.

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2YX6FsoMIY

Microsoft is telling us that Windows 7 is your idea and it’s all about you, the consumer. Windows 7 is aimed at you personally.

The next video, “Jack’s Snap” show us Aero Snap and again we get the message that “Jack” came up with the idea and Microsoft implemented it.

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfQPLxgcGw8

And then we have “Steve” demonstrating the new Windows 7 Homegroup, and again, “Windows 7 was his idea”

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9ZesvwuE2g

The next videos give us demos of Windows 7 in 7 seconds. They finally show us these new features in Windows 7 in a way that’s possible to understand.

Aero Peek

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAD_Mtk88bg

Sleep Mode

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK-nMQiLzts

I actually quite like these new Windows 7 adverts, they actually tell me useful information about Windows 7 and help me see how it may help me in my day to day life.

What do you think of them? Let us know in the comments

Source:

Crunchgear

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We’re now less than two weeks from the launch of Windows 7 on October 22nd, when anybody walking into a PC store to buy a new machine will see an unfamiliar shiny blue new desktop glaring out at them.  But will they know what it is?

Some of you may know I’ve recently written a user guide for Windows 7 that I’ve been evangelising to friends and that they, in turn, have helpfully been evangelising to their friends.  However the biggest question I’ve been asked when telling people about it is…

“Windows 7?  What’s that?”

This is a very good question.  Where is the advertising telling consumers that Windows 7 is coming?  So far there have been adverts but I’ve only seen one on TV, very briefly, and most of the rest of the promotion and publicity seems to be coming from websites like Windows7News.  Which is advertising to the wrong crowd as consumers don’t tend to read sites like this.

It could be argued that Microsoft don’t really need to promote Windows 7 at all.  Anybody who buys a new PC will be presented with a copy as a fait-au-complet and that’s that.  They won’t mind getting Windows 7 because they won’t really understand what it is.  It’ll just be a copy of Windows to them.

But Windows 7 is much more than this and, sadly, much of Microsoft’s advertising, what little there has been, has been around the Windows Live Essentials Suite.  Okay this is good and I’d even say ‘essential’ but what about Libraries, the desktop enhancement tools like Aero snap, and better accessibility tools?

Microsoft are currently doing an awful job of promoting their new OS though this wouldn’t be the first time.  In answer to the question above I would reply that Windows 7 is the replacement for Vista.  About 40% of people would then say… “Oh! What’s that?”

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Microsoft’s first Windows 7 advertisement, Good News 1, has only been around for about two weeks and today the software giant has begun airing an array of new advertisements. Unlike Good News 1, they focus more on new Windows 7 features:

Personalization: Your PC, Your Style shows the customization aspect in Windows 7 and features like themes and desktop gadgets.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVMc5Ia7QnY

Make your PC yours customize the theme, colors, sounds, and more with Windows 7.

Aero Shake: Shake Away the Clutter speaks about ”Aero Shake” feature in Windows 7.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CuVmAukssM

Navigate your desktop easily with Aero Shake in Windows 7 just give a window a little shake to instantly cut through the clutter.

Windows Media Center: TV Where and When You Want it shows off the Windows 7 Media Center.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBJy11C-fgU

Dont let TV schedules plan your life, record your favorite TV shows and even watch Internet TV with Windows Media Center in Windows 7.

Windows 7: Your PC, your life indirectly shows off Windows Media Player in Windows 7 and aero shake.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46BrgXXXzW8

With Windows 7, your PC becomes your entertainment hub. And when its time to get some work done, new features help you cruise through your PC like a pro.

You’ve probably seen the first two commercials earlier in this post written by Everton Blair, which contained samples of potential Windows 7 advertisements. Furthermore, another commercial – also included in the post - has been released for Windows Live Movie Maker but says “Windows 7″ in the end:

Windows Live Movie Maker: Share Videos. Share Your Life

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWeRXvBuXEE

Create and share movies from your photos and videos in minutes with Windows Live Movie Maker.

So now there are four new Windows 7 advertisements in addition to “Good News 1″. What do you think of the new advertisements and are they effective? Also, which one did you like the most and why?

Source: Neowin

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Microsoft has released its first Windows 7 advertisement, Good News 1, on several TV stations in the US. The advertisement shows Kylie, a 4½ year-old girl, who finds “happy words” about Windows 7 on her dad’s laptop. The “happy words” are actual press reviews of the operating system. She then creates a slideshow using Windows Live Movie Maker of them. You can watch it below:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssOq02DTTMU

Kylie had appeared in a previous advertisement for Windows Live Photo Gallery in “The Rookies” advertising campaign, which aims to show that the program is very easy to use. As for the song played during the slideshow, it’s “The Final Countdown” by the rock band “Europe” in 1986.

Rather than focusing on any of Windows 7′s new features, the commercial just shows quotes from reviews about the OS and – indirectly - advertises for Windows Live Movie Maker. I think the goal behind the advertisement is to just give people an idea about the OS and then leave them wondering: what’s Windows 7 and why does it have so many good reviews? (Yes the vast majority of people have no idea about Windows 7; we, tech enthusiasts, tend to forget this.) What do you think about the advertisement?

Sources: Windows 7 Team Blog and Neowin

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