We don’t need to tell you that Microsoft Vista launched yesterday (and is now available for download) unless you have been in seclusion the past couple of days (or should I say months).

Here are some memorable video feeds in case you missed the official worldwide launch in New York from Steve Balmer and Bill Gates. The third feed is a Bill Gates interview on the Daily Show (with Jon Stewart), the day before the release. Seems like Bill Gates always wears the same color sweater and pants. He must have thousands of those or a wash-and-wear guy. The “Wow” starts now …

It’s black, fits in your shirt pocket, offers 10-20GB storage and allows sharing of digital files via USB, Bluetooth or WiFi. It’s called DAVE, which stands for Digital Audio Video Experience.

Mobile telephony is undergoing a multimedia revolution, and the DAVE mobile content platform will provide even more fuel for the growth of new music and video services over mobile networks,” said Patrick King, senior vice president and general manager of Seagate’s consumer electronics business unit. “Products using DAVE technology will enable digital content, whether for business or entertainment use, to be stored, moved, and connected in ways never before possible. Mobile carriers can use this technology for creating value from their investments in high-bandwidth networks, and mobile handset manufacturers have another tool for turning the multimedia phone into the center of the mobile consumer’s digital life.

Battery life is up to 14 days on standby and 10 hours of continuous use. The little device comes in at 3.5 x 4.7 x .47 inches (61 x 89 x 12 mm) and weighs only 2.5 ounces (70 grams). Sorry, because it is so topsecret, there aren’t any pictures of it available yet. However, you could sit through Robert Scoble’s podcast (below) to have a glimpse of it.

Here are some ways of how DAVE could prove useful:

* Makes upgrading mobile phones easy - storing content on a DAVE-based device makes upgrading a mobile phone fast and easy. Simply pair the device to the new handset, and start enjoying digital content on the new phone in just minutes.

* Turns the mobile phone into a DVR/MP3 powerhouse - consumers can now download video from mobile phone networks; grab music from online, mobile, or PC libraries; load audiobooks or GPS data; and use all of that data as needed when on-the-go. The 10GB version will make 2,500 songs or 21 hours of video available to mobile consumers all the time, anywhere.

* Increases use of mobile entertainment networks and data services - with massive storage capacity, mobile network operators can now offer consumers the opportunity to download and enjoy large media and data files. With video files downloaded to products based on the DAVE platform instead of streamed through the mobile network, video can now be delivered without latency or coverage issues. DAVE-based products will also enable new business models for high-bandwidth networks, such as try-and-buy content, that offer real value for consumers.

* Enables mobile lifeblogging and other social networking applications - the ability to record massive video and photo files on the mobile phone, edit and annotate content, then upload to social networking sites such as YouTube or MySpace is now mobile and spontaneous. Consumers can also use the DAVE technology features to share the content with other mobile phones, PCs, wireless-enabled cameras, or even other DAVE mobile storage devices.

Seagate plans to launch DAVE devices through Telco and Cell Phone providers starting the second quarter of this year. Oh, did we tell you that DAVE technology will be Open Source ? Yes, I believe that has made all of the developers out there smile.

Via [Scobleizer] Press Release [Seagate]

There would soon be a dose of video advertising from Google (especially from Sony and Warner Music Group content) and will be made available for publishers in the AdSense Network. However, only a small select view will show these lucrative ads.

Christian Oestlien, Product Manager for Google’s AdSense wrote in his blog:

There are many things in life that go hand in hand — peanut butter & jelly, wine & cheese, milk & cookies — and for publishers, AdSense & great content sites. We hope that the next perfect pairing will be “great video content & your audience.”

Over the next few weeks we’ll be testing AdSense video distribution and sponsorship with a small group of publishers. You may remember us doing a similar trial last year with MTV Networks, where we distributed ad-supported MTV video content to publishers who displayed the content on their sites. This time, we’ll be working with a larger set of content providers, grouping together video content from providers such as Warner Music Group and Sony BMG Music Entertainment together with quality ads and offering them as playlists which publishers can select from and display on their AdSense sites. Participating publishers range from small to large, and cut across many different types of content.

While we’re unable to invite additional publishers into this test, we still want to share some of the exciting things we’re working on in AdSense. We know our publishers are passionate about developing quality content and providing the best experience possible for their users. With this test, we hope to offer you new forms of engaging, relevant content to meet these goals.

As with other video streams, the ads will allow the viewer can choose to play the accompanying video. Those being selected will likely receive a significant click through rate from showing the ads. You are out of luck if you weren’t selected, it is a fair assumption that music related sites and sites of a certain demographics will be targeted.

Source [Google Adsense Blog]

Microsoft has announced that they are going to make their new Vista OS available for download at the end of this month. They announced 3 new options available to customers - Windows Anytime Upgrade, Family Discounts and Online Marketplace claiming to give customers more flexibility when using the new operating system.

The Windows Anytime Upgrade will allow online operating system upgrades directly through Microsoft and authorized partners. Upgrades will start from $79.

Available initially in the US, Europe, Japan and Canada only, customers can order upgrades from http://www.windowsanytimeupgrade.com when the OS is released.

For those who are not familiar with the Microsoft Vista operating system and its offerings, it will be sold in 4 flavors as shown below:

Vista Edition Comparison [Microsoft]
Site [Microsoft Vista]

Netflix is firing back at Blockbuster.com with their new internet streaming movies and shows. Their offering will now put them in competition with heavyweights YouTube, Joost, iTunes and others.

As of this morning, a select number of Netflix customers will be able to watch their and tune into their 1000+ movie/ show database. The rest of their customers will receive it in phases over the next 6 months. It has reported that NBC, Sony Pictures, MGM, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Warner Borthers, Lionsgate and New Line Cinema will be contributing to the service.

Netflix will offer it for free and will be budgeting of $40 million for the overhead and licensing.

Movies and shows will be streamed with a downloadable software application and the amount of viewing time allowed will depend on the type of subscription you have.

Here is a demo of the new Netflix feature by HackingNetflix.com.

Press Release [Netflix]
Site [Netflix]