3SOF

The real Ipod killer!! ;)




Microsoft's Zune Delivers Connected Music and Entertainment Experience
Category: Portable Media Players - September 14, 2006  



Marking the next big milestone for its Connected Entertainment vision, Microsoft Corp. today unveiled details of the first products to be released under its Zune™ brand. Designed around the principles of sharing, discovery and community, Zune will create new ways for consumers to connect and share entertainment experiences. The Zune experience centers around connection — connection to your library, connection to friends, connection to community and connection to other devices.

"The digital music entertainment revolution is just beginning," said J Allard, vice president, design and development, at Microsoft, who is leading the charge for building the family of Zune products. "With Zune, we are not simply delivering a portable device, we are introducing a new platform that helps bring artists closer to their audiences and helps people find new music and develop new social connections."

The Zune Experience

Available this holiday season in the United States, Zune includes a 30GB digital media player, the Zune Marketplace music service and a foundation for an online community that will enable music fans to discover new music. The Zune device features wireless technology, a built-in FM tuner and a bright, 3-inch screen that allows users to not only show off music, pictures and video, but also to customize the experience with personal pictures or themes to truly make the device their own. Zune comes in three colors: black, brown and white.

Every Zune device creates an opportunity for connection. Wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing lets consumers spontaneously share full-length sample tracks of select songs, homemade recordings, playlists or pictures with friends between Zune devices. Listen to the full track of any song you receive up to three times over three days. If you like a song you hear and want to buy it, you can flag it right on your device and easily purchase it from the Zune Marketplace.

Zune makes it easy to find music you love — whether it's songs in your existing library or new music from the Zune Marketplace. Easily import your existing music, pictures and videos in many popular formats and browse millions of songs on Zune Marketplace, where you can choose to purchase tracks individually or to buy a Zune Pass subscription to download as many songs as you want for a flat fee.

To get started with great music and videos out of the box, every Zune device is preloaded with content from record labels such as DTS, EMI Music's Astralwerks Records and Virgin Records, Ninja Tune, Playlouderecordings, Quango Music Group, Sub Pop Records, and V2/Artemis Records.

Zune Accessories

To enhance the Zune experience, three accessory packs help Zune users enjoy their music where they want to, at home or on the road. The packs and the individual accessories, all designed exclusively for Zune, will be available at launch:

The Zune Car Pack includes everything needed to hit the road with a Zune device, such as the built-in FM tuner with AutoSeek and the Zune Car Charger.
The Zune Home A/V Pack enhances your experience in the home through five products that integrate Zune with the TV and music speakers: Zune AV Output Cable, Zune Dock, Zune Sync Cable, Zune AC Adapter and the Zune Wireless Remote for Zune Dock.
Zune Travel Pack is a set of five products designed to keep friends and family entertained on the road: Zune Premium Earphones, Zune Dual Connect Remote, Zune Gear Bag, Zune Sync Cable and the Zune AC Adapter.

Providing consumers with additional options to customize and personalize their Zune experience, Microsoft is also working with leading accessory manufacturers Altec Lansing, Belkin Corp., Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO), Dual Electronics, Griffin Technology, Harman Kardon and JBL, Integrated Mobile Electronics, Jamo International, Klipsch Audio Technologies, Logitech, Monster Cable Products Inc., Speck, Targus Group International Inc. and VAF Research

The Future is Bright

In addition to the features available at launch, built-in wireless technology and powerful software provide a strong foundation to continue to build new shared experiences around music and video. As Zune evolves, the device can be easily updated. The Zune software on your PC will let you know when these updates are available for download.

About Zune
Zune is Microsoft's music and entertainment platform that provides an end-to-end solution for Connected Entertainment. The Zune experience includes a 30GB digital media player, the Zune Marketplace music service, and a foundation for an online community that will enable music fans to discover new music. Inspired by the vast and varied community of music fans, Zune focuses on helping emerging artists shape the digital canvas. Zune is part of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division and supports the company's software-based services vision to help drive innovation in the digital entertainment space.

Aw come on!!  There is no way the Zune is going to do any serious damage to the iPod franchise in the near future.  I see this as yet another turkey from MSFT.  They are going to throw huge amounts of marketing dollars at this for the Christmas period, but the reality of the situation is that the companies it will most likely endanger are all of those that have traditionally partnered Microsoft in the MP3 player space, i.e. Creative etc. 

While they have done their best to outdo Apple and the iPod with their wireless music sharing/downloading features, they have already admitted that the Zune ecosystem will be a loss-making venture for the forseeable future that they are funding because they see that they "need to" get into the digital music space.  And then 2 days before this release, Apple cut the iPod price point to $250, putting MSFT in even more of a squeeze (note the lack of pricing details - it was widely expected too debut at $300 - head to head with the 30GB iPod - Apple have just ensured MSFT have to eat even bigger losses on this product).  And last but not least - "its the interface, stupid!" (not specifically meant for you terliso ;))  It as yet remains to be seen what the actual software interface that completes the Zune ecosystem is like and how well (or buggily) it works.  I have very serious doubts that Mirosoft will come even close to designing something with the comprehensiveness, yet simplicity and ease of use of the iPod+iTunes ecosystem,  and I wil be interested to see how many days after release it takes for reports of hacks and vulnerabilities to start showing up on the internet.

I do not deny that Microsoft certainly have some clout and can excercise their considerable muscle to make an impact on any digital technology domain they see as important to their strategic goals, but here I see it as too little too late in attempting to jump on this bandwagon, and when it does get released, it will demonstrate quite clearly (to be reaffirmed shortly thereafter upon the release of Vista and OSX Leopard) how far behind Apple their software and hardware product design philosophy is.

Anyway, thats my rant ;D

$300 for 30GB music player is not that bad, When I first bought my 2nd generation 40GB Ipod I spent almost $500 & the 4th generation at 400 bucks.

I'm definitely a buyer of ZUNE this holiday season, adding it to my MP3 players collections ;) :D ;D

This is a no brainer ... but I figured I would point it out anyway. :)
Open interest is 100K, and 40K volume today in the $30 strike calls ...
Compared to Open interest of 10K and volume 5K in the $30 strike puts.

Because of that, if it can get through 30 ...lots of resistance... which I think NOBODY ever thought we would see again... I think it goes higher quickly ... if only in the short term.
-Samantha

A new video coverage by David Randolph:

Anyone thinking about Microsoft?  Volume is big, Halo 3 is supposed to break records, 2nd generation Zune release in November, and Christmas just around the corner.

(http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/7246/scqb9.png)

Quote from: Kublakhan on September 23, 2007, 06:32:15 AM
Halo 3 is supposed to break records,

It should have been better if the Halo 3 is compatible with XBOX (first generation).

Quote from: Kublakhan on September 23, 2007, 06:32:15 AM
Halo 3 is supposed to break records,

They nailed it Kublakhan... :D




"Halo 3" smashes entertainment sales records

Published September 28, 2007

Sales of over $6m in just 24 hours propels Xbox 360 title to the top of the chart.

Microsoft today announced that the groundbreaking "Halo® 3", available exclusively for the Xbox 360TM video game and entertainment system, has broken all existing entertainment launch records for first day sales in Australia.

In the lead-up to launch on 25 September, pre-orders for "Halo 3" had soared, making it the fastest pre-selling game in history. By the close of the first day, more than 50,000 copies had been sold, as Australian consumers spent more than AU$6m in just 24 hours, making the "Halo 3" debut the biggest first-day digital entertainment release ever in Australia.

Only hours later the incredible success was repeated overseas, with "Halo 3" officially the biggest entertainment launch in US history, garnering an estimated $195 million (US$170 million) in sales in the US alone in the first 24 hours. It beat previous records set by blockbuster movie releases like Spider-Man 3 and novels such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Microsoft "Halo 3" 1st-day sales hit $170 million
Wednesday September 26, 7:58 pm ET
By Peter Henderson

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp's (NasdaqGS:MSFT - News) "Halo 3" video game set an opening-day U.S. sales record of $170 million, outdoing any video game or movie debut and giving the company's money-losing entertainment unit a strong boost toward profitability.


Alien-shooting fans also surged onto Microsoft's Xbox Live online service. More than a million members took up virtual arms in "Halo 3" in the first 20 hours on September 25, the day the game debuted, Microsoft said on Wednesday.

"Halo 3" easily surpassed its predecessor, 2004's "Halo 2," which racked up $125 million on the first day. The $60 game also beat the $59 million U.S. opening-day movie box office record, set by "Spider-Man 3."

"It's a good number," said Andy Miedler, technology analyst at Edward Jones. "This certainly goes a long way toward bringing Microsoft's entertainment division toward that full-year profitability, which we think is important for investors," he added. Microsoft aims for a profit for the division in the current fiscal year.

The game is also key to Microsoft's quest to widen its lead over rival Sony Corp (Tokyo:6758.T - News) in the battle for industry dominance of the current generation of game machines.

The game, in which players try to save humanity from an army of aliens, had drawn wide praise from reviewers for its lush settings, cinematic story and breadth of features.

The first two "Halo" games have sold a combined 15 million copies and cemented Microsoft as a serious player in a video game industry that was dominated by Sony's PlayStation 2.

Sony's follow-up PlayStation 3 is more expensive than the Xbox 360 and so far lacks any "system-seller" games like "Halo 3."

However, "Halo 3" is targeted firmly at the Xbox's core male audience, for whom realistic combat games are a staple. It does little to widen the machine's appeal to a more casual audience that is being courted with tremendous success by Nintendo Co Ltd's (Osaka:7974.OS - News) Wii console.

(Additional reporting by Daisuke Wakabayashi in Seattle)

We all know the story with MSFT.

Stock is going gangbusters AH after the earnings report, just reported 45c for the quarter and is trading currently at $33.35.  So this gives you a forward PE in the upper teens approximately. 

This is definitely good for the market, it seems none of the tech names have been able to save it this week. 

Is it time for some multiple expansion for MSFT?  Every other big tech seems to be seeing some...

Major technical breakout, short term, long term, fundamentally, you name it.

Shoot, I may have just talked myself into it...I'd wait for a pullback though.


EDIT:  Darn it, I'm sorry travis.  I did a search but couldn't find Teriliso's post.  Feel free to delete this or transfer or whatever.  btw running more after hours

Quote from: Kublakhan on September 23, 2007, 06:32:15 AM
Anyone thinking about Microsoft?  Volume is big, Halo 3 is supposed to break records, 2nd generation Zune release in November, and Christmas just around the corner.

(http://img453.imageshack.us/img453/7246/scqb9.png)

Over $35 AH after earnings release.

I had the right idea, too bad I didn't hold longer to realize more gain.

"MSFT" Threads have been Merged.
Please use the search before starting new threads on a Stock Pick.
Chances are a thread already exist.
So why not post whatever you have to comment about on that pick to that thread.
"Simplicity" My fellow traders.    ;D                                                     
All history on a stock pick in 1 thread is awesome.   ;)                                                       
Just trying to get threads together,so we don't have a numerous amount floating around on the same stock.   :( ::)                                                       
Thank You....and good luck with all your trades....make some $$$    ;D ;)

Time to buy Microsoft, breakout from Ascending Triangle... ;)

Teriliso-

Are you buying today?  I like MSFT, but I may have to pass after today's run.  Are you going to wait for a return to support at 32-33 range, or are you going to chase it today?  I don't see how much more damage it could do in the short term, but if you're not selling for a year then I say no question MSFT will be much higher.

Quote from: bjc on October 26, 2007, 10:38:51 AM
Teriliso-

Are you buying today?  I like MSFT, but I may have to pass after today's run.  Are you going to wait for a return to support at 32-33 range, or are you going to chase it today?  I don't see how much more damage it could do in the short term, but if you're not selling for a year then I say no question MSFT will be much higher.

MSFT gapped up, i'll wait for a pullback if there's one...

Microsoft is showing growing signs. But, for a big company such as microsoft, it needs a big engine to pull it off. I am wondering if XBOX or Vista has that kind of Mojo?

I did some number crunching here:

http://creating-wealth.blogspot.com/2007/11/can-microsoft-be-growth-play.html

Nidhi,
The new thread you created on this pick has been merged here.

"MSFT" Threads have been Merged.
Please use the search before starting new threads on a Stock Pick.
Chances are a thread already exist.
So why not post whatever you have to comment about on that pick to that thread.
"Simplicity" My fellow traders.    ;D                                                     
All history on a stock pick in 1 thread is awesome.   ;)                                                         
Just trying to get threads together,so we don't have a numerous amount floating around on the same stock.     :( ::)                                                       
Thank You....and good luck with all your trades....make some $$$   ;) ;D


   
Technically strong !
Should pull back to fill gap,
Buy when the gap fills.......

52wk Range: 26.60 - 37.50
Volume: 96,399,008
Avg Vol (3m): 64,934,700

Technicals
Record Price High
Most Actives

Last Price Quote is:
8.85%above 13-day MA
18.99%above 50-day MA
RS Rating: 92 

Fundamentals
Key Data:
Market Cap (M): $346,712.60 
P/E Ratio: 24.28 
PEG Ratio: 1.69421 
Next Earnings: 01/24/2008
Last Analyst Rating: Buy

Press Release Source: Microsoft Corp.


Major Government Contractor Chooses Microsoft Dynamics NAV to Integrate Sales Data
Thursday November 1, 9:30 am ET 
No other solution meets MANCON's needs as a company selling products and services to the federal government.


REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. today announced that Management Consulting Inc. (MANCON), a major service provider for government agencies around the world, has selected Microsoft Dynamics NAV to replace its multiple product and service sales systems and eliminate duplicate data entry.


(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

MANCON is a leading provider of logistics, professional, technical and administrative support services to the U.S. Department of Defense, other federal and state government agencies, and industry customers. Its headquarters are in Virginia Beach, Va., and other company locations span from New England and Florida to California. Outside the United States, MANCON has worked with governments and businesses in the Azores Islands, Bahrain, Guam, Italy, Japan and Spain. MANCON also maintains retail operations at a number of military installations, where it provides consumable supplies to Navy ship and shore activities.

MANCON purchased Microsoft Dynamics NAV from Pleasant Valley Business Solutions (PVBS) LLC, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner based in Reston, Va., that provides government contractors with enterprise resource planning (ERP), financial management and project accounting solutions.

Microsoft Dynamics NAV will supplant MANCON's multiple legacy systems, which have become outdated and obsolete. The company had been operating three systems: one to manage its products business and two for services operations. MANCON President Rick Clarke wanted one integrated solution to support both product and services sales. MANCON also needed a solution designed to meet the specific requirements faced by companies that service the federal government. Microsoft Dynamics NAV, as implemented by PVBS, met and exceeded all of MANCON's requirements and was selected over numerous other offerings.

"We knew for a while that we needed to integrate our products business with our services business, but we could not find anything that met our needs until we viewed Microsoft Dynamics NAV," Clarke said.

A number of Microsoft Dynamics NAV capabilities are especially beneficial to MANCON, including the following:


    --  Integrated data. Because the company needed three systems to operate
        its products and services business, it was saddled with a large amount
        of duplicate data entry and manual processes. Microsoft Dynamics NAV
        eliminated multiple entries and automated work that previously had to
        be performed manually.
    --  Stress relief. Company managers reported that the extra work required
        by the previous system to close the books each month and ensure all
        systems were balanced was causing stress and the anxiety, hurting
        morale and straining working relationships. The automation available
        through Microsoft Dynamics NAV relieves this stress by coordinating
        everything in one system.
    --  Support for growth. The integrated and scalable Microsoft Dynamics NAV
        system provides MANCON with the functionality and flexibility to
        support the company's growth.

"We are seeing greater adoption of Microsoft Dynamics solutions by government contractors because of their critical need for better automation, operational integration and Defense Contract Audit Agency compliance," said Michael Park, corporate vice president for the U.S. Dynamics business at Microsoft. "It's an exciting time for customers, who can get out of the gate more quickly with a skilled partner and a Microsoft core accounting solution that works much like Office and Outlook in terms of user interface."

MANCON and PVBS also partnered with Diamond Mind Inc. and POSitive Technology for Level III credit-card payment processing and Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System point-of-sale solutions.

About Management Consulting, Inc.

Management Consulting, Inc. (MANCON) was founded in 1983 as a small woman-owned corporation providing logistic support services to DoD activities. MANCON's first contract for logistic services was awarded in January 1984. Today, MANCON has grown the business with more than 1,200 employees providing logistic, professional, technical, and administrative support services to a wide range of DoD, federal, state and industry customers. They are doing so at MANCON sites stretching from New England to Florida to the Northwest to Southern California, with locations in between. Outside of the United States, MANCON has worked in Guam, Japan, Spain, Bahrain, Azores, Italy and Puerto Rico.

About Pleasant Valley Business Solutions (PVBS)

Pleasant Valley Business Solutions (PVBS), a Microsoft Business Solutions President's Club Member, offers the Microsoft alternative for government contractor ERP, financial management and project accounting. Microsoft offers a better project accounting and financial management solution than what's been available in the past to high-growth government contractors. Only PVBS offers a Microsoft Dynamics NAV solution that was created specifically for high-growth government contractors, to help these companies better manage and maximize their Federal Government business. PVBS is based in Reston, VA. Visit PBVS at http://www.pvbs.net.

About POSitive Technology

POSitive Technology is the leading provider of Microsoft Dynamics -- Point of Sale solutions world wide. Recipient of Microsoft's Worldwide Partner of the Year award for retail the last five consecutive years, they are a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and have been selected to Microsoft's President's Club. POSitive's expertise in retail includes a customer base of over four thousand with customers locations in every state and 8 countries outside of the US. POSitive's expertise in delivering retailers visions is supported by the entire Microsoft technology menu including the Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System, Microsoft operating systems, Microsoft SQL Server and all Microsoft Dynamics financial solutions. POSitive Technology is headquartered in Germantown, Maryland and may be visited on the web at http://www.positivetechnology.com.

About Diamond Mind

Diamond Mind is a leading merchant service provider and an independent sales organization (ISO) of HSBC Bank USA, specializing in Level III payment processing solutions to government contractors. Diamond Mind is among the first ISO's in the U.S. to make Level III for Government Contracting a central focus of its business. Diamond Mind and its payment processing partner, Global Payments, Inc. collectively handle more than 2.3 billion transactions per year of Visa, MasterCard, AMEX and Discover credit cards. For more information, visit http://www.diamondmindinc.com

About Microsoft Dynamics

Microsoft Dynamics is a line of financial, customer relationship and supply chain management solutions that helps businesses work more effectively. Delivered through a network of channel partners providing specialized services, these integrated, adaptable business management solutions work like and with familiar Microsoft software to streamline processes across an entire business.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Microsoft Corp.

Quote from: Nidhi on November 03, 2007, 11:26:07 AM

Microsoft is showing growing signs. But, for a big company such as microsoft, it needs a big engine to pull it off. I am wondering if XBOX or Vista has that kind of Mojo?

I did some number crunching here:

http://creating-wealth.blogspot.com/2007/11/can-microsoft-be-growth-play.html

XBOX Live subscribers will help to pull that off. As of August 2007, Xbox Live has over 7.1 million active users, and currently available in 25 countries and territories, #26th is India starting on Monday.

Quote from: Nidhi on November 03, 2007, 11:26:07 AM

Microsoft is showing growing signs. But, for a big company such as microsoft, it needs a big engine to pull it off. I am wondering if XBOX or Vista has that kind of Mojo?

I did some number crunching here:

http://creating-wealth.blogspot.com/2007/11/can-microsoft-be-growth-play.html

Nice analysis.  Price action sure indicates it won't come back much, though, in my opinion.  Barring market issues, which is always a possibility. 

June 15th, 2007:

Initial video analysis for MSFT:

Investors loved MSFT's results in point 1, but they hated the proposal to takeover Yahoo as shown in point 2. MSFT is one of the largest companies in the World ... I don't find it particularly interesting for trading purposes.

But it's good to have the largest companies and leaders in the Watch List, they often point the direction for their entire industry group.

The 3 year chart...

Microsoft (MSFT) releases final version of new browser
AP - Mon Mar 14, 7:32PM CDT

SEATTLE (AP) — The final version of Microsoft Corp.'s newest Web browser will be available for download on Monday night.

Starting at 9 p.m. Pacific, people around the world in can download Internet Explorer 9, which works on computers running Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems. It's not compatible with Windows XP. Microsoft had planned to launch the software in 40 languages, but is postponing the launch in Japan to avoid bogging down networks already affected by the earthquake there.

IE9 follows in the footsteps of Google Inc.'s Chrome browser, cutting way back on the number of buttons, icons and toolbars taking up space on the screen.

But the most significant changes are under the hood. IE9 can take advantage of multicore microprocessors to crunch website code faster. It also uses the PC's graphics processing unit — the same chips that make the images in elaborate video games run smoothly — to make movie clips and other visuals load and play faster.

IE9 also lets website developers take advantage of some of the new features in Windows 7. PC users can "pin" favorite websites to the taskbar, making permanent shortcuts at the bottom of their computer screen that get equal billing with favorite desktop applications.

The new browser gives people more control over what websites they share information with as they surf and shop online, and attempts to block more malicious software before people download it.

Competitors including Google and Mozilla, maker of the Firefox browser, are also working on similar technical upgrades to their software.

Microsoft had released a near-final version of IE9 in February.

___

Online:

Microsoft's IE download site:

http://www.beautyoftheweb.com