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Cody Dawg · Jan 5, 2006, 09:47 AM

So, I read this article about Microsoft's version of iTunes called "Urge."

Gates & Co. picked a stupid name for it, period.

"Edge" would have been better - anything but "Urge." The "Urge" to do what? Run to the bathroom?

"Urge."

Stradlater · Jan 5, 2006, 09:52 AM

But it still could best iTunes in number of users. We'll see...

Also unveiled in Vista: a new interface with features including live preview in the task bar, which will allow users to see all applications as they are running, as well as a "3D" bar that lets users flip through applications.

Ooooooooooo, threeeee-deeeeee.

Cody Dawg · Jan 5, 2006, 10:11 AM

Stradlater, you're funny as usual.

Mediaman_12 · Jan 5, 2006, 10:15 AM

Also unveiled in Vista: a new interface with features including live preview in the task bar

They better have improved the multitasking then, most Windows apps grind to a halt when they loose focus. This is also not like Exposé in the slightest. The still from the Vid also shows that dumb 'sidebar' thing is still a major part of Vista.

Dork. · Jan 5, 2006, 10:17 AM

This will be interesting to watch. Apple is in a dominant position right now, both in the MP3 player market and legal media download market. Microsoft is truly playing catch-up here against a single company in a dominant position, which is a position they haven't had to be in since, well, since they first beat Apple at the PC game!

Apple's in a much stronger position now. The game is Apple's to lose.

MaxPower2k3 · Jan 5, 2006, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Mediaman_12

They better have improved the multitasking then, most Windows apps grind to a halt when they loose focus. This is also not like Exposé in the slightest. The still from the Vid also shows that dumb 'sidebar' thing is still a major part of Vista.

I have the opposite experience with Windows... Every program just takes as much CPU time as it wants, so the program in the foreground runs like **** while everything in the background happily chugs along. On the other hand, in OS X, the program in the foreground always runs as if it's the only thing running (granted there's enough RAM) and every other program slows to a near halt.

And I agree, Urge is a really unfortunate name.

RAILhead · Jan 5, 2006, 10:26 AM

I just had that urge myself. Nothing like a good whiz to clear the mind.

Nicko · Jan 5, 2006, 10:27 AM

how about

iUrge .... for the agony of using a piece of $%$# microsoft program to end!

trkkazulu · Jan 5, 2006, 10:31 AM

Let us not forget Microsoft's great "out of nowhere" overtake of the browser market from Netscape. They can be scary.

JPW

Dork. · Jan 5, 2006, 10:43 AM

The name is a bit of a departure for Microsoft. Usually they try to co-opt a commonly-used word like "Windows", "Word", or "Explorer". I would have thought they'd name it "Microsoft Music" or somethign like that. Someone on slashdot said that www.urge.com is owned by MTV, so maybe the fine folks at MTV came up with the name, and are more in control of this whole thing than Microsoft.

demibob · Jan 5, 2006, 10:47 AM

none of the features i saw look all that uesfull. the 3d bar thingy is nowhere near as good as expose as you cant see all the windows at once. I must admit it does look like a huge leap forward from xp though. (if it works).

Cody Dawg · Jan 5, 2006, 10:49 AM

Viacom owns the name.

Now things are starting to make sense.

My high-level relative at Microsoft said that MS is trying to buy Yahoo...who wants to buy Viacom.

Yahoo would buy Viacom and then Microsoft will buy Yahoo.

Nicko · Jan 5, 2006, 10:50 AM

LOL. Ok today on CNN they had a big thing about Vista will BillyG doing a demo. It looks like a bad skin of OSX. Its so sad that this new OS will be EVERYWHERE in a year or two.

demibob · Jan 5, 2006, 10:59 AM

microsoft wants to buy yahoo. That aint good. Microsoft just want to add to there monopoly. go google

Dork. · Jan 5, 2006, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Viacom owns the name.

Now things are starting to make sense.

My high-level relative at Microsoft said that MS is trying to buy Yahoo...who wants to buy Viacom.

Yahoo would buy Viacom and then Microsoft will buy Yahoo.

Then Apple will buy Disney and then Google will buy Apple! Sounds like the blockbuster event of the year. I'll get the popcorn, how much butter would you like?

Seriously, though, didn''t MS try and get into the media business already with MSNBC? It kind of does well as a cable outlet, but was probably not the revolution MS was hoping for. Why would MS/Viacom be any different?

Cody Dawg · Jan 5, 2006, 11:07 AM

Yes, but they're going to do something with MSNBC. Split it up and sell it or part(s) of it.

Apple will never buy Disney. Disney will never sell and Disney is huge because of various businesses that the brand owns.

Nicko · Jan 5, 2006, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by demibob

microsoft wants to buy yahoo. That aint good. Microsoft just want to add to there monopoly. go google

Yikes..... but yahoo uses google for their search results don't they? I don't see that happening anytime soon. It would have to be a REALLY hostile takeover on microsofts part.

Dork. · Jan 5, 2006, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by Cody Dawg

Yes, but they're going to do something with MSNBC. Split it up and sell it or part(s) of it.

Apple will never buy Disney. Disney will never sell and Disney is huge because of various businesses that the brand owns.

I guess you missed the sarcasm tag.

But I was under the inpression that Disney was the parent company of that arm of the media, and their market cap is around $40b right now. Apple's is $60b, thanks to the recent stock price run-up. OTOH, Yahoo and Viacom are both around $60b.

demibob · Jan 5, 2006, 11:23 AM

i dont think microsoft could buy yahoo at the moment. not with how well yahoo are doing right now.

m a d r a · Jan 5, 2006, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by trkkazulu

Let us not forget Microsoft's great "out of nowhere" overtake of the browser market from Netscape. They can be scary.

JPW

yup! - dinnae forget the vast majority of windoze users are completely oblivious to the fact that there are other software manufacturers out there, at all. as far as they're concerned internet = IE, word processing = word, email = outlook, web design = frontpage and video = windows media player.

i wouldnae be that surprised if a few years from now, when you tried to purchase or download an MP3 or AAC file off a website you got a f.u.c.k-witted "this download requires microsoft slurge 3.5 or later" error!

demibob · Jan 5, 2006, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by m a d r a

yup! - dinnae forget the vast majority of windoze users are completely oblivious to the fact that there are other software manufacturers out there, at all. as far as they're concerned internet = IE, word processing = word, email = outlook, web design = frontpage and video = windows media player.

i wouldnae be that surprised if a few years from now, when you tried to purchase or download an MP3 or AAC file off a website you got a f.u.c.k-witted "this download requires microsoft slurge 3.5 or later" error!

and the annoying thing is that none of the programs above are the best availabe. You can get better version of most for free. firefox vlc etc
i would argue that microsoft shouldnt be abble bundle all these programs with xp but then apple couldnt do it either

Y3a · Jan 5, 2006, 12:06 PM

<< Urge launches with over 2 million tracks for purchase or as part of an all-you-can eat subscription, an option the iTunes music store doesn't have. The offering will include exclusive material from MTV, though it will not be compatible with iPods, which are currently the most popular MP3 player.>>

So they launch a service where the most popular MP3 device isn't supported?? Typical MS.

I'll bet as soon as you have a virus, the music deletes itself from a PeeCee, so you have to buy it again.

demibob · Jan 5, 2006, 12:08 PM

in five days time its apples turn

demibob · Jan 5, 2006, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Y3a

<< Urge launches with over 2 million tracks for purchase or as part of an all-you-can eat subscription, an option the iTunes music store doesn't have. The offering will include exclusive material from MTV, though it will not be compatible with iPods, which are currently the most popular MP3 player.>>

So they launch a service where the most popular MP3 device isn't supported?? Typical MS.

I'll bet as soon as you have a virus, the music deletes itself from a PeeCee, so you have to buy it again.

it just shows itunes and ipods are starting to worry them

demograph68 · Jan 5, 2006, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by Y3a

So they launch a service where the most popular MP3 device isn't supported?? Typical MS.

Not like they could if they wanted to. Unless it was drm-free mp3, though I don't think the music industry would like that.

demibob · Jan 5, 2006, 01:11 PM

i dont see how microsoft is going to get all that many big names if it works by subscription. If itunes was like that id have downloaded thousands of songs by now. if people start doing that the record companys will start asking for more money. Then ms would have to increas the cost of subscription.