Microsoft had previously hinted that the touch gestures would find their way into Windows. In an interesting twist though, the new technology will work with existing touch screens, Microsoft said.
A Microsoft blog with a demonstration of the new interface can be found here.
As much as the conference is about tech's A-listers getting together to discuss emerging trends in the industry, the confab also brought together all the major players in the as-yet-failed Microhoo merger. So did anyone want to talk about it? No.
When Bill Gates was asked if he had a comment, he said, "No. Steve (Ballmer) might give a more nuanced answer." Gates said he knew the question would come up on stage and that he wouldn't have more to say. "You won't see me answer, since it's all up to Steve."
However, Ballmer wasn't eager to offer much more during an on-stage discussion. "We are talking with them about other ideas, but we are not rebidding on the company. I won't comment on what we are talking about." You can read the entire on-stage interview in this blog.
Observers weren't so tight-lipped. News Corp. CEO Rupert Murdoch, who is no stranger to the Microsoft-Yahoo affair, said even he is shaking his head at the lack of a deal.
"I'm mystified," Murdoch said. "I cannot understand the whole thing. Jerry Yang is a friend whom we all love and admire, and he's emotional about it."
Murdoch said Microsoft offered a price that the vast majority of shareholders wanted but that Yang has managed, at least for now, to nudge off. At the same time, he said he's surprised that Microsoft didn't press the point, something he said comes from its lack of megadeal experience.
Thomson Reuters CEO Thomas Glocer still expects the two companies to work out a deal.
"I don't think Jerry needs my advice," he said, but then he went on to say, "I think they need each other. I think it makes a lot of sense. One way or another, I'd be surprised if there wasn't some way to make that happen."
More than anything, D6 seemed like an opportunity for many to try to set the record straight.
• InterActiveCorp CEO Barry Diller on the threat posed by Google: "The market is not going to be controlled by one party. Google is irrelevant to us. It's a different competitive-set issue (than Microsoft's).
• Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on whether he would sell the social-networking site to Microsoft for $15 billion: "The goal of the company is to execute on the things we talked about before, become more open, and share more information. The end goal isn't to sell the company or IPO. We evaluate how it will help us along the way."
Did anyone notice the "synchronicity" of the multitouch technology demo with the "application" of that technology in the A&E remake of THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN? Does Microsoft have a controlling interest in A&E programming? I have heard of using scenarios to demonstrate innovations, but couldn't Microsoft have picked a better production?
Google Gears is a failure so far. It's interesting that they are pressuring the IETF to modify the web browser specification to meet their needs so that Gears can work more like Silverlight. So they use their monopoly power to break all existing editions of IE and Firefox. Great plan guys! Keep up the good work!
Speaking a single word can prove me Man with No Vision,if i discuss anything regarding Microsoft Failure in providing multi touch tech in future,because i believe they will do it ,but when it comes to Google how can they survive in future when it comes to taste of browsers,browser war never end,so how can Google prove its existance if web intefface fails.anyways it is not easy to compare Google with Microsoft,because Microsoft survives and fights with more than eighteen top software gaints and still they exist.this is point which makes me feel,rely on microsoft rather than others.
Apple's stock hits a high of $503.83 this morning before retreating to below the $500 mark. Goldman Sachs says it believes Apple could rise to $550 a share in the next 12 months.
Tommy Jordan, the man who shot his daughter's laptop for YouTube, gets a visit from police and child protection services. Oh, and Good Morning America.
The Samsung Galaxy Mini 2 S6500 could make its debut at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona later this month, according to a leaked promotional image.
RIM isn't doing much to innovate their handset designs, so maybe they should call up designer John Anastasiadis, who has a pretty interesting concept for a BlackBerry.
Hakim shabir