Ximena Sariñana Becomes First Latin Artist For Zune Ignition Program
Mexican singer / actress Ximena Sariñana is the latest artist to be featured in the Zune Ignition program, and has released the track “Mediocre Piano” exclusively on Zune Marketplace as a companion feature to the full album download of her latest release Mediocre. Zune Marketplace is also offering fans the free track “Cambio de Piel,” an exclusive Guestlist featuring tracks hand-picked by Ximena Sariñana herself, and a track-by-track Breakdown of her new album. In addition, the video for “Vidas Paralelas” is available for free download on Xbox Live and streaming on MSN music.
The Zune Ignition program gives recording artists with new releases a unique channel to potentially reach tens of millions of consumers. For the first time, the program features a Latin based artist, which reflects the changing music habits of its online consumers. The promotion added Ximena Sariñana to the onsite sponsorship of Zune at the 2008 Latin Alternative Music Conference, where she was hosted in the Zune lounge to conduct onsite media interviews complemented by her first US live performance at the Bowery Ballroom.
Microsoft has packaged promotional opportunities across Zune, Xbox and MSN to help artists efficiently reach consumers in all three audiences. Ignition provides a steady stream of new music through online access to exclusive content, free songs and video downloads, streaming videos, editorial features, and artist playlists. Zune is the only digital entertainment brand that delivers an all-in-one experience featuring a portable media player, online store + music community, and DRM-free Mp3s. With Zune Pass, consumers can explore millions of tracks for the price of one CD ($14.99) per month.
- Download “Mediocre Piano” from the Zune Marketplace at: http://social.zune.net/my/ContentRedirect.ashx?mtype=Album&ArtistName=Ximena+Sari%c3%b1ana&AlbumName=Mediocre+(Bonus+Track)&mid=c54fe700-0100-11db-89ca-0019b92a3933&CampaignID=1
- Check out Ximena Sariñana’s Zune artist page at: http://social.zune.net/artistdetails.aspx?aid=2e810d00-0600-11db-89ca-0019b92a3933
- Visit Ximena Sariñana’s official Web site at: http://www.ximenamusic.com
Source- Zune Press Release
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Microsoft Announces Reorganization of Windows and Online Services Business
Microsoft Corp. today announced that the Platforms & Services Division (PSD) will be split into two groups: Windows/Windows Live and Online Services, with both groups reporting directly to CEO Steve Ballmer. Microsoft also announced that PSD President Kevin Johnson will be leaving the company. Johnson will work to ensure a smooth transition.
“Kevin has built a supremely talented organization and laid the foundation for the future success of Windows and our Online Services Business. This new structure will give us more agility and focus in two very competitive arenas,” Ballmer said. “It has been a pleasure to work with Kevin, and we wish him well in the future.”
Effective immediately, senior vice presidents Steven Sinofsky, Jon DeVaan and Bill Veghte will report directly to Ballmer to lead Windows/Windows Live. The Windows organization recently announced strong annual sales, with more than 180 million copies of Windows Vista sold globally, and it has driven more than 100 million installs of its Windows Live suite. The organization’s innovation pipeline includes a new version of Windows Internet Explorer, the next version of Windows and the next generation of the Windows Live product suite.
In the Online Services Business, Microsoft will create a new senior lead position and will conduct a search that will span internal and external candidates. In the meantime, Senior Vice President Satya Nadella will continue to lead Microsoft’s search, MSN and ad platform engineering efforts. Microsoft recently announced a strategy to redefine search through innovations in the user experience and business models. As an example, the company’s cashback search program, announced in May, is already generating strong momentum among online shoppers and advertisers.
Source- Microsoft Press Release
Just Released: Windows Live for Windows Mobile
Wait no more! The latest bits for Windows Live Client for your Windows Mobile are available for download. To get yours now, point your mobile browser to http://wl.windowsmobile.com
If you have Windows Live already installed on your device, you will need to uninstall it first. To do that, go to Settings->Remove Programs, select Windows Live entry from the list (if any) and click Remove. If you don’t find Windows Live on the list, then you are good to go.
With Windows Live client you will be able to:
- Synchronize Live contacts with your contacts on the device
- Synchronize your Live email (msn, hotmail, live)
- View graphics, web links and contact photos in emails
- Respond to emails with voice recordings
- Upload photos to your Windows Live Spaces
Go ahead, give it a try and let us know what you think!
Source- MSDN Blog
Minimise-Me From MSN
Microsoft has launched a website for its Live Messenger users : Minimise-Me. WLM users can avail of this new service to build their own emoticons & characters.
Windows Live Messenger users can even create a mini version of themselves. One can also play around with one’s own facial characters like the eyes, eyebrows, mouth, nose, etc. There is also a Celebrity Gallery, where you can customise the images, with the click of an Edit button.
Source: WinVistaClub
Hearst Magazines and MSN Partner to Launch New Food Site in Fall 2008
Hearst Magazines and MSN today have partnered to develop and launch a new food-related Web destination named Delish.com, also available at delish.msn.com. The new site, which will launch in fall 2008 and will exist as its own brand, will be owned, built and edited by Hearst Magazines Digital Media and distributed by MSN. The terms of the deal put Hearst Magazines Digital Media in charge of the design, development and editorial vision of the site, while MSN will be responsible for advertising sales and primary distribution of the site’s content through the MSN network. MSN and Hearst anticipate that Delish’s traffic numbers will immediately place the site into the top 10 food-related destinations online.
Delish.com will be accessible through the MSN home page and in editorial programming across its network, including on the MSN Lifestyle Channel and other relevant channels. In addition, all of the advertising inventory for Delish.com will be sold by the MSN sales team, which will also sell targeted inventory in the food category on Countryliving.com, Goodhousekeeping.com, Quickandsimple.com and Redbookmag.com.
Source- Microsoft Press Release
Microsoft to take 100% control of MSN Israel portal
Microsoft Corp. plans to acquire the 50.1% it doesn’t already own in MSN Israel Ltd. from partner Internet Gold Ltd., the companies said on Sunday.
The companies said in a statement that they’re "discussing the terms of migration and possible future cooperation." Meantime, they’re still "working together to support employees, advertisers and users."
MSN Israel, established in 2000, is part of the Redmond, Wash., software giant’s portal network, which operates in 44 countries. In almost all these countries, Microsoft wholly owns the portals, the companies said.
Source- MarketWatch
MSN Toolbar goes global - well, almost
The new MSN Toolbar which uses Silverlight (works with Silverlight 1.0 and Silverlight 2.0 Beta 2) that was released to the US market about a month ago is going global. You can now download localized versions of the toolbar for a few selected markets and we guess more will be added over time. In addition to the US release it is now available in the UK, Germany, France and Italy.
Source- Liveside
MSN customised page gets beta update
However a few days ago the My MSN customised homepage launched a new beta version, available at http://next.my.msn.com.
So what’s new? Well the most striking thing you’ll notice when comparing it to the old site is that it now features the new-style header UI. This includes the drop down menu linking users to all the other MSN sites, as well as offering access to the main Live Search verticals straight from the page.
Other new pieces include an embedded MSN Video player, showing the most popular videos right now, tooltips to improve the first-run experience, and the standard modules such as Hotmail inbox, most popular searches and front page news. The menu system for each module needs a UI update, but other than that it makes a good first impression.
While the main page is already pre-populated, users can create their own custom pages. Just click the Add a Page - Blank Page option, and then pop a keyword into the search box to find content
Source- LiveSide
