Microsoft’s final keynote commanded some measure of star power. Ubiquitous media presence and American Idol host Ryan Seacrest served as moderator of sorts, helping Ballmer introduce several current and forthcoming Microsoft technology.
The unlikely duo extolled the virtues of Microsoft’s Windows Phone, which Ballmer said was the only phone designed with people in mind first instead of apps.
“What we’ve done with Windows Phone is put the people that are important to you right in front of you. Windows Phone is the first phone that put people first,” Ballmer said, prior to announcing the first Nokia Windows Phone – the Lumia – to be made available in the U.S.
Ballmer and Seacrest turned their attention to Windows 8, which the company describes as “Windows reimagined” that has been forged by Microsoft’s increasing competition.
“Nothing better than good competition and I’m glad we’ve got Windows. Windows has been phenomenal,” Ballmer said.
Another Windows 8 feature heavily touted was a new interface designed to work as well with touch as with keyboards and mice. Also included is a new, “metro style” version of Internet Explorer. The browser, Microsoft said, was designed as touch first and is HTML 5-based.
Seacrest, in a line of questioning following the Windows 8 demo, asked Ballmer whether current Windows users would need to upgrade their hardware once again.
“Every Windows 7 PC will be ready to run Windows 8 on day one,” Ballmer said, who then introduced a choir that proceeded to sing verbatim – and in loud gospel style – recent Tweets about the keynote address. The interlude was apparently too much for some who scrambled for the exits.
The keynote also included a presentation covering updates to the Xbox 360 and the further incorporation of Microsoft Kinect – the company’s motion control technology – into the gaming platform. New features allow users to control the Xbox interface using only voice commands.