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Your Chance to Finish a Movie Microsoft Started
nytimes.com — Microsoft Corporation is underwriting an online movie-making contest to stimulate sales and burnish the reputation of its Windows Vista operating system.
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- Charklii, on 05/11/2008, -2/+17They have some good marketing strategies. I do like them, for this. Though - I'm not sure I can say much else.
- willywong, on 05/11/2008, -6/+8Unfortuntely making a great product is a marketing strategy they've failed to adopt.
- Baffles, on 05/12/2008, -0/+2I don't know why everyone hates on Vista, it isn't _that_ bad...
- SimonDonkers, on 05/11/2008, -4/+2But why does such a marketing strategy include a rule limiting it to US citizens. Companies should really learn to built global campaigns. Or alternatively, at least inform people clearly that can't participate. Currently there's a small note in the rules about U.S. participants only.
- Baryn, on 05/11/2008, -0/+2I don't remember the last time a European marketing campaign was extended to the United States...
Get a life, you daft moron.
- Baryn, on 05/11/2008, -0/+2I don't remember the last time a European marketing campaign was extended to the United States...
- willywong, on 05/11/2008, -6/+8Unfortuntely making a great product is a marketing strategy they've failed to adopt.
- vroom101, on 05/11/2008, -4/+28THE END!
- GawtMilk, on 05/11/2008, -4/+5The finale should be "it was a dick in a box!"
And, cue love ballad.- vroom101, on 05/11/2008, -1/+2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3S6UVS2JDE
- gn0stik, on 05/11/2008, -1/+2The aristocrats!!!
- GawtMilk, on 05/11/2008, -4/+5The finale should be "it was a dick in a box!"
- Mjuboy, on 05/11/2008, -5/+11They're running out of ideas to popularize Vista so as to resort to slightly absurd but creative methods like this one.
- willywong, on 05/11/2008, -2/+9I think they should sacrifice a goat next.
- jeriqo, on 05/11/2008, -3/+17I wonder why they use a flash video player that mimics windows media player on their website.
http://www.ultimatevideorelay.com/contest/index- KibibyteBrain, on 05/11/2008, -1/+7Because while flash player[until recently with the H.264 support] has crappy video quality and chews up 50% of the CPU of even modern high end processors during playback, it actually works on everyone's machine. Something that WMV, with all its technical prowess and quality, can't do.
- torence, on 05/11/2008, -0/+2Microsoft, as with most major corporations, contracts advertising firms to put these things on rather than do it themselves.
- Baryn, on 05/11/2008, -0/+1You might be the stupidest person in the world.
- AncientWeird, on 05/11/2008, -8/+3I'll be the first one to say it: They lost credibility when they gave Tony Hawk 3 a 10 out of 10.
- jeriqo, on 05/11/2008, -7/+3Welcome to the geek matrix.
They are showing exactly the stereotyped windows user that Apple is making fun of in their commercial.
Can't believe they showed that 10 years old 3D tube screensaver neither.
Wait... he's even not using Vista.
What the *****? - Thomaschaaf, on 05/11/2008, -10/+9The Movie was probably edited on the mac since there is no good software to edit movies on a pc (I am a Vista user and have not had trouble with it)
- jeriqo, on 05/11/2008, -1/+6Avid is available for both Mac and Windows, but requires dedicated hardware.
- jeriqo, on 05/11/2008, -5/+2Oh, and... most of the movies still use film... no computer.
- chroko, on 05/11/2008, -1/+2100% of modern feature films are edited on computer. Even if they were shot on film. It's just cheaper and faster.
The first step in the workflow is to digitize the footage (sometimes in low resolution). After editing, the program exports instructions so the physical film can be assembled by hand. Although today it is probably cheaper to simply digitize everything in high-resolution - and export digitally (either transcoding for digital projection - or using laser film writers for theater distribution).
(Although if the filmmakers were also concerned about expense, they would use an entirely digital workflow.)
- chroko, on 05/11/2008, -1/+2100% of modern feature films are edited on computer. Even if they were shot on film. It's just cheaper and faster.
- Tyrghast, on 05/11/2008, -1/+6This must be an attempt at humor. Still, buried for ludicrous statement.
- GawtMilk, on 05/11/2008, -1/+3I make time lapses in Windows Movie Maker. It's easier, WAY easier than in any other program. Add the media with a "0.125 Second Per Image" setting, then select the "double speed" effect, click on a photo in the timeline, hit "CTRL + D".
I have yet to find an easier video editing program to use. Good day sir.
[ I received the entire Adobe CS3 suite by beta testing for Adobe. I prefer to make the timelapse in WMM, export the uncompressed video, tone / adjust color in the CS3 suite ]- gn0stik, on 05/11/2008, -0/+1Nobody uses a single tool for everything.
- badnewshotel, on 05/11/2008, -8/+2Happy Mothers Day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YewgCvCPHZo - louiebaur, on 05/11/2008, -2/+4Looks like a good idea
- tama00, on 05/11/2008, -2/+6who wants to help me with my script:
the lady walks out of the room, all of a sudden without warning she turns a darkish blue. she dropped dead on the spot. the mystery is unexplained to this day.- Sil369, on 05/11/2008, -0/+1then the blue man group look in shock ...
- willywong, on 05/11/2008, -3/+10This is why I haven't upgraded to vista. I need a short film to convince me dammit!!!
- Sydeh, on 05/11/2008, -1/+9oh, I misread simulate rather than stimulate.
Titanic seemed like a pretty accurate simulation of vista sales. - Biks, on 05/11/2008, -8/+3A hand reaches down and picks up the black cube. The camera raises up to reveal Steve Jobs face.
Steve Jobs (annoyed)
HEY!
Simon stops dead in his tracks and turns. We see the stupid expression on his face yet again.
Simon
What?
Steve Jobs
C'meer
Simon slowly approaches to within arms length. Steve reacts by smashing the cube across Simons face and then continuing to pistol whip him with the cube until he falls to the ground.
Steve Jobs
Oh wait...but there's one more thing.
Steve goes back inside and drags out Bill Gates tied to a chair, unconscious from a previous beating. He dumps Bill into a heap along with Simon. Steve pulls out a bloody DVD case from his pocket and throws it onto the human pile.
Close up: We see that it is a copy of Vista. We hear a door slam in the background. - mcfriendly, on 05/11/2008, -6/+10Well why not an unfinished movie? It goes with an unfinished OS?
- antdude, on 05/11/2008, -2/+2That NYT's article thumbnail looked like Pam from The Office (US) series.
- omnithought, on 05/11/2008, -4/+3"Hey look! We're kinda like a Mac!"
- gsiliceo, on 05/11/2008, -1/+3I can see this backfiring in funny ways.
- Aeroness, on 05/11/2008, -2/+2I think this is a great way to promote positive aspects of Vista. They're taking a chance having it be just a bunch of Vista bashing entries, so I think it's awesome.
- WayOfTheIronPaw, on 05/11/2008, -3/+1You can't polish a turd.
- blackrage, on 05/11/2008, -2/+5My ending feature 7 minutes of goatse closeups
- Torley, on 05/11/2008, -2/+3There are certain softwares I enjoy which I wish were on both Mac and Windows, but are not: in the movie-editing realm, that'd be iMovie and Final Cut Pro, and Sony Vegas. Things have gotten somewhat easier with Boot Camp and "Hackintosh", but not as smooth as I'd like it to be.
- supermanred, on 05/11/2008, -1/+1Boot camp works fine on my Macbook, except the whole Vista sucking part. Boot camp runs Vista in a native Intel environment. It still crashes though and asks you stupid questions 100000 times a day.
OK / CANCEL
CONFIRM OR DENY
- supermanred, on 05/11/2008, -1/+1Boot camp works fine on my Macbook, except the whole Vista sucking part. Boot camp runs Vista in a native Intel environment. It still crashes though and asks you stupid questions 100000 times a day.
- aiten, on 05/11/2008, -0/+2The Act 1 script doesn't tie in with the Act 1 video. Loads of lines are missing or different... what gives?
- supermanred, on 05/11/2008, -3/+1How could anyone in good faith make a movie to promote Vista?
Switch to OS X or go back to XP.- DreadKnight, on 05/12/2008, -0/+0Or even better, switch to linux!
www.ubuntu.com
- DreadKnight, on 05/12/2008, -0/+0Or even better, switch to linux!
- mrgreenjeans9, on 05/11/2008, -2/+2comedy or tragedy?...i guess it's a tragedy for most of us.....but comedy for MS because the joke's on YOU!
- FluffySpider, on 05/11/2008, -0/+1I would enter this contest, but Windows Movie Maker keeps crashing my computer.
- geehossiphats, on 05/12/2008, -1/+1the number of diggs on this story is testament to the lack of interest in this "innovative idea" from Richmond.... *yawn*.
- YodaJones, on 05/12/2008, -1/+1I wrote a movie for Vista and Microsoft. It's called the long road to misery and BSOD's. It has a French flair and the hero dies in the end. The soundtrack is the Doors to enhance the miserable-ness.
- dkitch, on 05/12/2008, -0/+4Anyone else notice the goons are dressed in the typical Steve Jobs product launch wardrobe? Awesome. =D
- truck87bp, on 05/12/2008, -0/+1Why would any average joe want to support MS any longer by making a movie to push its products when MS has invaded their computer and personal life with DRM (Digital Rights Management) and TC (Trusted Computing) infestation to the point where now we have jump through hoops and buy all kinds of new software just to something like making a home movie. DVD software is a frigging joke (cost vs capability wise) and the free DVD software that came with retail DVD burners doesn't work anymore because it doesn't meet the new Trusted Computing requirements. You may need a new decoder...$.... (The web page doesn't talk about also needing the correct hardware for playing DRM movies.) Get their money first, then let them worry if it works.
The business model that software can't be returned once it has been opened and loaded should be a thing of the past with TC-DRM technology. Place a revoke section in the software that automatically uninstalls the software and places the the revoke on the Manufactures web page for the Business Seller to verify and return the disatisfied buyers money.
When we buy a Camera, should we have to select our purchase based on what OS its going to be used on?....HELL NO!.... The Apple.MOV vs Microsoft AVI or whatever, is the most pure form of crap in the world today. Should we sue the Camera manufacturer for getting into bed with one of the OS guys.... Maybe, but we shouldn't have to.... An open format should be supplied from the Camera Manufacturer so that it can be used on any OS. This is a perfect example of collaboration to rip off the public. MS and Apple created this problem for all of us and need to fix this one. We are all sick to death of this petty manipulation by both of you.
Is it any wonder why the "poor" population doesn't want to buy Vista? New expensive equipment to buy in order to have the equivalent OS features as before with a hundred new headaches to boot?
Well, now the bigger problem is TC-DRM software is going to require even XP users to buy new software just to use their existing equipment. Software that use to work very well a week ago is broke today. In some cases, very expensive specialized add-on hardware isn't even going to work anymore because of DRM. This is a very serious problem for Microsoft. We are really upset and it will get worse for MS very soon as everyone's computer is infected with TC and DRM Trojan.
What now is happening in the world today is quite unfortunate for Microsoft but also Linux and Apple. We see that Linux has also been hit with the endeavors of TC and DRM. Linux people care very much about loosing capability that they have all come to know and love, and it Sucks.
Microsoft's unforeseen happening in todays economy is, (1) No one has extra money to spend. (2) Linux, especially Ubuntu, is now a very fine OS and getting better every 6 months. (3) It will load and run very fast on machines that were made after the year 2000 with all the fancy Screen Features and do it all without having to Validate a License and (most important)(4) All of the Software is FREE to download. Some of the older software is not that easy to use but it works if your willing to learn. Linux just works and looks a little different than Windows or Apple.
MS has won the battle for The Movie and Recording Industry but the TC-DRM has also inadvertently damaged MS's own Business Model buy requiring the average computer user to "Purchase" new hardware and software that meets these new standards. This is the stuff we can't afford now or possibly for the next couple of years.
Microsoft timing with TC and DRM is helping the Linux and Apple World's movement no matter how you look at it. Windows computing is just getting way too expensive for John Doe and Apple gets expensive too.
Personally, my camera shoots in .MOV mode so until Microsoft and Apple allows these different file types in Windows Movie Maker or vise versa with Apple, Microsoft is S.O.L. for me to enter their contest. I also refuse to make it in my Linux partition to port to Windows to sell Vista. That wouldn't even be fair. Microsoft doesn't even know fair now do they?
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