Wait … Microsoft Had Its Own Version of YouTube?

*

Microsoft LogoIs there any industry where Microsoft isn’t competing with bitter rival GoogleGoogleGoogle? Think about it: Bingbingbing vs. Google Search, Google DocsGoogle DocsGoogle Docs vs. Microsoft Office (soon to be online), GmailGmailGmail vs. Hotmail, Windows Mobile vs. AndroidAndroidAndroid, and let’s not forget Windows vs. Google Chrome OS.

With all of these high profile battles, you really can’t blame us if we’re saying “meh” to the news that Microsoft is closing Soapbox. Wait, what’s Soapbox you ask? Why, that’s their version of YouTubeYouTubeYouTube, and part of the far more popular MSN Video website.

The YouTube clone opened up in early 2007, not long after Google bought YouTube for $1.65 billion. It just hasn’t gained much traction though – thus why you’ve probably never heard of it. And when you’ve had a product out for over two years and you fail to make any inroads on your much larger competitor, it’s a good time to quit.

But hey, I hear Microsoft’s embarking on a new venture: retail stores. Maybe they’ll have better luck there.


Tags: bing, microsoft, Soapbox, youtube
iMashable > Social Media news blog covering cool new websites and social networks: Facebook, Google, Twitter, MySpace, Microsoft and YouTube.

How Bill Gates Uses Office and Three Monitors - Bill Gates - Lifehacker

How Bill Gates Uses Office and Three Monitors - Bill Gates - Lifehacker

(Edit, to draft, un-top, Slurp)

Copy this whole post to another site

cancel

select site advertising consumerist deadspin defamer fleshbot gay fleshbot gawker gizmodo idolator io9 jalopnik jezebel kotaku lifehacker valleywag artists gawkershop

Bill Gates drops a lengthy blog post explaining how he gets things done, Microsoft style, using three monitors to watch an inbox, read or write documents, and browse the web. Spoiler: He also digs SharePoint, LiveMeeting, and other MS apps.
Photo by batmoo.
Gates writes that he gets at least 100 emails per day from Microsoft employees, and "many more" from customers and partners. How does he filter all that information across three large flat-screen displays?

I keep my Outlook 2007 Inbox open on the screen to the left so I can see new messages as they come in. I usually have the message or document that I'm currently reading or writing in the center screen. The screen on the right is where I have room to open up a browser or look at a document that someone has sent me in e-mail.

That's not so atypical from the standard three-monitor setup, but it is interesting how he devotes two entire screens to message streams and the messages themselves. A lot of the rest of the post reads like endorsement copy for Office products like SharePoint, LiveMeeting, and other peripheral Office apps, but we don't doubt that Gates truly does appreciate the "unified communications technology" that puts everything into one Outlook bin. Next time you're up for blogging, though, Bill? Post screenshots.
Do you get things done like Gates, or do you find his methods a bit too integrated? Read through his work routine description, then tell us your thoughts in the comments.

Office Hours: How Bill Gates uses Office [Inside Office Online blog via Lifehacker Australia]

iMashable > Social Media news blog covering cool new websites and social networks: Facebook, Google, Twitter, MySpace, Microsoft and YouTube.

Shirts Taste Good: YouTube Viral Hits Become Priceless T-Shirts

This post is part of Mashable’s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.

Name: Shirts Taste Good

Quick Pitch: Shirts Taste Good sells YouTube () inspired t-shirts.

Genius Idea: Some things just go together. Milk and cookies, peanut butter and jelly, bagels and cream cheese, and now your favorite YouTube videos on t-shirts. Shirts Taste Good is a simple but genius t-shirt site that brings viral YouTube videos to life in t-shirt form. You’ll immediately recognize the Rick Astley/Rick Roll tees, the visual depiction of Bill O’Reilly’s shining web moment (this one’s an internet meme), and the new classic I’m on a Boat featuring Andy Samberg.

Shirts Taste Good releases a new tee every week starting at $14.95, with the oldies but goodies costing $17.95 (plus shipping). Designs are pretty colorful and clever interpretations of videos we’ve all come to know and love (or at least recognize). Should a memorable video escape your recollection, you can click the t-shirt icon on the homepage to watch the video for a quick refresher.

We think their starting stock is pretty priceless as is, but should your favorite viral video moment be absent from their inventory list, you can submit your suggestions for consideration. We already have our eyes on a few favorites, but we’d love to hear the Shirts Taste Good tees you want to wear right now. Share your personal favorites with us in the comments.

---

Sponsored by Microsoft BizSpark

---

BizSpark is a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.

Entrepreneurs can take advantage of the Azure Services platform for their website hosting and storage needs. Microsoft recently announced the “new CloudApp()” contest – use the Azure Services Platform for hosting your .NET or PHP () app, and you could be the lucky winner of a USD 5000* (please see website for official rules and guidelines).”