istartedsomething

Even though I didn’t have time to send Christmas cards, read my daily 350+ RSS feed items, respond to all my emails, register and schedule CES events, check travel information, check weather in Las Vegas, exchange currency or do a list of many other extremely rewarding and useful tasks; I had time to create a website.

Currently operational with a few bugs, CESBlogs.com aims to create an aggregated website, feed and resource for all things CES from noted influential Microsoft bloggers. I had to convince myself I had some sort of influence, otherwise I wasn’t to allow myself on.

I will be adding more bloggers if the need arises, but I hope it will remain a selective group for obvious quality and quantity reasons. Current authors include Mary Jo Foley, Ed Bott, Josh Phillips, Robert McLaws, Brandon LeBlanc, Todd Bishops and reluctantly myself as well.

I also want to give a shout out to CESBloggers.com who is creating a more generalized group blog.

If you would like to sponsor, author, suggest a feature to CESBlogs, please email me with the contact form in my about page, or also comment on this blog post. But by the looks of it, I probably won’t be able to reply quickly, so please be patient.

Josh from Windows Connected had received his CES 2007 guide book today and scanned this picture of a Microsoft ad placed inside. I did my best to enhance it as much as I could, but everything’s pretty clear already.

Josh and Robert McLaws speculated this is referring to Windows Live Drive, a rumor that’s been silent for quite some time when concepts like GDrive and limitless online storage were still hot on the heads of “Google OS” rumormongers.

“What matters most” is quite a subjective topic that could mean many different things to people with different backgrounds, interests and hobbies. For example, to a music-lover it could be MP3s. To an artist, it could be pictures. To an executive, it could be tax fraud documents. For a family, it could be photos or home movies. For FSF members, it could be anti-Microsoft propaganda.

If “what matters most” is everything, then it can only be Live Drive. A centralized file storage system with the ability to share files as well as protect them, that is accessible from any parts of the world with internet access, could open up so many possibilities. Not only would this benefit web applications like Google Docs for synchronization and collaboration, but also desktop applications like iTunes. Imagine having access to your entire music library anywhere, anytime. But of course, neither of this are Microsoft applications, so I couldn’t see them adopting or be allowed to adopt this model.

On the other hand, if “what matters most” is limited to only media, then it could be just Windows Home Server, another silent rumor that Todd Bishops mentioned today. Windows Home Server was believed to be a home-oriented server primarily used to store, control and distribute content on a home network. If this is what the ad is referring to, then to “store” would refer to the ability to store documents in a centralized location, to “share” content around the home network to X360s, Media Centers and other devices (ex. SideShow), and “protect” meaning either limiting access to files or providing security to the network.

Live Drive seems more definite, but Windows Home Server wouldn’t be too far off either.

What matters most is, this will soon all be revealed at CES.

Note: Windows Live Drive and Windows Server Home logos are mockups. They are not representative of any real applications or services at the time of writing.

It’s no surprise Texas Hold ‘Em will be a Windows Vista game delivered through Ultimate Extras. Paul Thurrott reported about it in April 2006 and even FOX News (they’re never wrong) confirmed in August 2006. Nothing else has been revealed ever since. So who’s making the game and what might it look like?

In fact only yesterday, I speculated Oberon Games would be developing it. Oberon has a very close business relationship with Microsoft, already distributing their casual games through Microsoft gaming channels. Oberon is also responsible for every inbox game bundled with Windows Vista (excluding InkBall), so they have plenty of experience working on the Vista platform. Last but not least, they already publish a Texas Hold ‘Em Poker game, which would allow them to easily port a version to Vista. This however, might not be the case.

As Karl from AeroXP pointed out, another developer called Mobicore shows pretty much indisputable evidence of their developments on the Texas Hold ‘Em game for Windows Vista. On their news page for December 31st 2005, they write

Code complete milestone – We have just completed a Texas Hold’em poker game for Microsoft Windows Vista™. Now we are focusing on minor UI tweaks and bug fixes.

Coding on New Years Eve? That’s pretty much as dedicated as it can get. It also means they’ve had nearly over a year’s worth of minor UI tweaks and bug fixes, the game better be that good!

So who’s Mobicore, and why are they developing it (instead of Oberon Games)?

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They’d had some really nice cards.

Windows Vista comes with 4 unique deck designs (3 pictured, Large Print excluded) for its bundled card games including FreeCell, Hearts, Solitaire and Spider Solitaire. Each deck portrays a unique theme (Classic, Hearts, Seasons) with unbelievable detail on card faces and backs. The Seasons deck by far is my favorite. I’m even playing Solitaire just to see these cards.

Of course, these and every other games in Windows Vista are not actually designed by Microsoft internally, but outsourced through Oberon Games. Oberon designs many great looking games and have close ties with Microsoft, publishing many games through Microsoft’s casual games channels such as MSN Games and XBOX Live Arcade. With the former manager of Microsoft Game Studios, Don Ryan joining Oberon as Vice President of Publishing this year, this relationship can only strengthen.

I don’t think it would be unfair to speculate Windows Ultimate Extras will deliver additional Oberon Games from time to time. Such as the long-forgotten Texas Hold’Em Poker we’ve known since Beta 2.

A Microsoft patent application from June 2005, published only today, titled “System and method for delivery of a modular operating system” may signal a fundamental change for what an operating systems stands for and how it is sold.

Today, an operating system has pretty much everything besides the kitchen sink. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if an obscure Linux distribution included that too. Some people expect an operating system to be feature-packed with multimedia players, games and even productivity suites. Others just want to play Solitaire. Where do you draw the line for the fundamentals? And where do you draw the line for features?

I don’t use or could potentially see the use for what half of the Windows operating system comes with. Why should I pay for HyperTerminal or IPv6 when I don’t use it?

A modularized operating system may be the answer. As this patent describes,

An operating system and method for use include a core function module, or basic kernel, providing fundamental operating system support and one or more add-on modules that allow customization of the operating system as desired. Add-on modules may provide support or extended capability to the computer including hardware, applications, peripherals, and support.

Simply put, think of LEGO bricks. You start with a base board and attach the bricks you want. You decide on what you want and don’t want. You could end up with a Lego Mac or Lego PC.

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I saw this banner on OSnews.com and I thought it was interesting.

It feels like if it was just made for this site. Dell? I’ve got ad-space. Let’s “start something”

Update: I feel compelled to give some insight into my blog’s name, “istartedsomething”. The idea actually originated from Microsoft, with a design competition called “Start Something PC“. It aimed to reinvent the way people think and feel about PCs through industrial design. I’m not too sure if it has picked up pace since it’s 2005 launch, but the $125,000 prize-pool of might be inviting to students and designers around the world. Have a look at the 2005′s winning designs, one of which was blatantly copied by ASUS.

Coincidentally soon after, Microsoft announced “Start something“, the name of a global print and TV advertising campaign aimed at promoting Windows XP.