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Bill Gates Gives Farewell Keynote Speech!

Bill Gates delivered his last keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show on Sunday night as a full-time employee of what used to be the world's most influential technology company to date. I decided to attend, last minute.

Industry movers and shakers and journalists lined up for nearly two hours in advance to hear his message and listen with rapt attention. Gates wore a purple shirt and a lavender sweater. He delivered an impression that for me anyway is a very well worn path – a self-deprecating, likeable geek persona.

For me, it felt a little old – as I’ve been in this business for 15 years – but for others? Who knows? You see Gates steps down from day-to-day work at Microsoft later this year to concentrate on philanthropic work full-time.

Gates’ CES farewell address was 70 minutes – but he left nearly half of it to a subordinate to break the major news, a clear sign that the day when he and Microsoft were the same thing … well, it’s come to an end.

Robbie Bach, President of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division, announced some strategic new partnerships. For the hugely successful Xbox 360 gaming console, Bach announced TV programs from ABC Television and Disney Channel, along with movies from MGM's Legends collection of classic films, will join Xbox Live programs available for download directly from the console.

Gates himself broke the news that Microsoft's MSN Internet site will partner with NBC Univision in covering the Beijing Olympics next August, offering up to 20 simultaneous live video streams of events that can be watched on demand, over 3,000 hours of content in all. It will be the most prevalent use of broadband TV ever covering a major event. Hello. That’s news. Why didn’t they lead with that?

Just a quick note here on the whole Zune thing? A friend of mine who is a distribution guy tells me that there are TONS of Zunes on the market. Stay tuned!

posted by J.P. @ 10:12 AM