by Al Sacco

Microsoft at CES: In-Car Tech, Windows Phones, Zune, Bing and Lots of PCs

News
Jan 08, 2010
Computers and PeripheralsLaptopsMobile

Microsoft's booth at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is one of if not the largest exhibit on the Las Vegas Convention Center show floor this week. CIO.com's Al Sacco brings the action to you without the hassle of CES crowds via this image tour of Microsoft's presence at the nation's biggest consumer tech event.

Attendees of this week’s 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas would be hard-put to miss software-heavy Microsoft at the event. That’s because Microsoft not only setup one of the largest and eye-catching–think funky mood-lighting–booths on the whole show floor, its exhibit is situated just inside the entrance to the Las Vegas Convention Center’s central hall, as if to greet all new arrivals.

The company’s most significant announcements probably relate to its Mediaroom 2.0 product, which television operators can employ to enhance their options for providing cutting-edge television service and viewing choices to customers. (Read about Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s CES keynote here.)

But I’m a hardware-geek, and as such, the products that grabbed my attention were the in-vehicle systems, the newest Windows Phones, Zune and accessories and the innovative PCs and netbooks from a variety of manufacturers.

Microsoft also did a great job of making its CES-experience as interactive as possible, letting attendees sit in various vehicles to play with new in-car tech, paw whatever new Windows Phones may have caught their eyes, handle the latest and greatest PCs and netbooks–even make music together by tapping panels along the booth-walls in sync with other CES-goers to stress how well the company’s products are supposed to work together.

Check out the following image tour of Redmond’s booth for a firsthand look at what Microsoft’s showing to the world at CES.

AS

Entrance to the Las Vegas Convention Center's central hall and CES 2010
Entrance to the Las Vegas Convention Center’s central hall and CES 2010
The entrance to Microsoft's booth at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
The entrance to Microsoft’s booth at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
Various in-vehicle technologies on display in a Ford truck
Various in-vehicle technologies on display in a Ford truck
A Microsoft representative demonstrates notable Bing search features to CES   attendess
A Microsoft representative demonstrates notable Bing search features to CES attendess
Microsoft representatives play video games on Xbox 360 machines and Windows PCs along   with CES attendees
Microsoft representatives play video games on Xbox 360 machines and Windows PCs along with CES attendees
Microsoft touted all the latest accessories and add-ons for its Windows Media Center   home entertainment products
Microsoft touted all the latest accessories and add-ons for its Windows Media Center home entertainment products
Microsoft's brand new Mediaroom 2.0 menu on a flat-panel display, as well as a   Windows Phone smartphone
Microsoft’s brand new Mediaroom 2.0 menu on a flat-panel display, as well as a Windows Phone smartphone
Numerous PCs and netbooks on display at Microsoft's CES 2010 booth, including the   popular Nokia Booklet 3G
Numerous PCs and netbooks on display at Microsoft’s CES 2010 booth, including the popular Nokia Booklet 3G
Touchscreen PCs, netbooks and tablets were a major focus at Microsoft's CES exhibit
Touchscreen PCs, netbooks and tablets were a major focus at Microsoft’s CES exhibit
Microsoft representatives answer questions from CES attendees about Windows Phones
Microsoft representatives answer questions from CES attendees about Windows Phones
The center of Microsoft's CES booth houses a circular space where attendees can press   wall panels to make music and alter the
The center of Microsoft’s CES booth houses a circular space where attendees can press wall panels to make music and alter the “mood lighting”
One CES attendees experiments with Microsoft's music-making wall-panels
One CES attendees experiments with Microsoft’s music-making wall-panels
Microsoft representatives show off the latest and greatest Windows 7 peripherals
Microsoft representatives show off the latest and greatest Windows 7 peripherals
The Zune area of Microsoft's CES 2010 booth included a display with various   customized Zune devices
The Zune area of Microsoft’s CES 2010 booth included a display with various customized Zune devices
Zune services and accessories, including Zune on XBox 360 and Beats by Dre   headphones
Zune services and accessories, including Zune on XBox 360 and Beats by Dre headphones