Microsoft Corp Chairman Bill Gates announced new software and hardware he said will give clocks, key chains and other everyday devices new uses, in the latest attempt by the world's biggest software maker to extend its reach beyond personal computers.
Gates used a speech opening the Comdex computer industry trade show in Las Vegas to demonstrate a travel clock that uses the technology to keep more accurate time and provide traffic, weather and other local information. Microsoft plans to apply the technology to key chains, refrigerator magnets and other items to give them new capabilities.
"The idea of personal computing is broader than ever before," Gates said. "We're extending personal computing down to devices I don't think most people would have expected."
PHOTO: REUTERS
Microsoft is trying to counter slowing PC growth by offering an expanded product line it can sell to new customers, including makers of cellphones and other non-PC devices. It's unclear what companies will build clocks and other products running the new technology, and lining them up could end up being a stumbling block, an analyst said.
"It sounds really cool but the problem comes down to the value these companies put into software and it isn't much," said Giga Information Group analyst Rob Enderle. "They're used to building it themselves or just paying a flat rate to someone to help them develop it."
Products based on the new software, which Microsoft calls smart personal object technology, will be on the market in 2003, Gates said. Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft is working with National Semiconductor Corp. of Santa Clara, California to develop the chips that work in early versions of the devices.
Gates, who also holds the title of chief software architect, announced a program to help people take, save and organize notes on laptops, desktops and the new tablet PC.
Microsoft OneNote will be a part of the Office family of applications, and will be available by the middle of next year.
OneNote has the ability to record audio from a meeting and synchronize it with notes or drawings so a person can hear what was said when a particular key word was written.
The program is intended to make it easy to reorder bullet points or move up a subordinate idea to make it a main theme.
Microsoft has not yet decided whether it will sell the program separately or as part of the next version of Office, Group Vice President Jeff Raikes said at a briefing for reporters.
The Microsoft chairman invited Kinko's Inc. Chief Executive Gary Kusin to discuss a new feature that will make it easier for people to print documents while traveling. A person using Microsoft programs for word processing, presentation preparation and related tasks to can use it from a hotel to automatically locate and print at the nearest Kinko's copy shop.
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