Microsoft Songsmith

Go and download Songsmith from Microsoft Research at http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/projects/songsmith/index.html

 

It is fun and the demo version allows 6 hours of use but not 6 hours from time of install – 6 hours of actual use of the application.

 

OK, so the demo shows it being run on an Apple Mac and a number of people may not see the point or use of the software but I like the version numbering – Year.Month.Day.Build. Really simple and something everyone can understand.

 

Karaoke by email in a convenient format. Now where did I put my Elvis wig?

Eileen Brown, Google Reader and the IE RSS feed

I don’t normally pass comment on the Blogs I read but feel the need here:

 

Quote from Eileen Brown: “3: Google Reader.  I whizz through my feeds (over 500 of them) in no time. Star what i want to return to and blog it later.  Yes, i know that you’ll be thinking that i should ONLY use Microsoft products, but i like this reader MUCH more than the IE version of the RSS reader – and when we produce something that’s better – I’ll switch to that.”

OK, so Eileen is very well respected within Microsoft and is “allowed” to say that, but as one of the most read Blogs in Microsoft (last seen), that’s quite a statement and I hope the programmers take it seriously. I’ve not tried Google Reader but the IE RSS feed is a bit cumbersome.

The next paragraph doesn’t say too many complementary things about MSNBC either. http://blogs.technet.com/eileen_brown/archive/2008/12/31/final-thoughts-of-the-year.aspx

If it isn’t right, let’s say so and fix it – push people to produce great products not just adequate ones. Now, how about that UK economy Eileen, how can we fix that?

Way to go Microsoft

My nice shiny Vista box has hit a snag. There is a link in the menu to download Messenger. It takes me to http://imagine-windowslive.com/Messenger/Launch/en-GB/Default.aspx which has a lovely bit of animation and a button to download.

Clicky clicky on the button and you get a new window of exactly the same page.

I got bored fairly rapidly as it just loops and does not go to the download page at all.

Shiny new Vista, no Messenger. Someone will hopefully resolve this fairly soon.

Applause given and respect due

To whoever came up with the superb idea...

The launch of the new PlayStation 3 was hyped up and the first X people through the door were given a new Sony Bravia plasma TV and a cab home and woohoo isn't it the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Someone at MS shipped a van full of XBox 360 seats for the waiting masses to rest their weary legs.

What a fantastic photo shoot - "Queues for the PS3" showing unnamed punters all sitting in XBox seats.

Whoever you are, thank you for making me smile.