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You might love it, you might hate it, but like it or not Windows 8 hits the streets in less than two weeks on October 26th. As a result the Microsoft marketing machine has kicked into overdrive, and we finally have our first of what is likely to be many television bound ads designed to reel in consumers far and wide to the new platform.
The newest video appears to squarely target the family crowd, an audience that until now has been gobbling up iPad’s en-mass. It will be interesting to see if they carry on with this approach, especially considering that they are also possibly the most likely to be turned off by the radical new changes. Windows 8 may find a place in the market at the end of the day, we’re just not sure busy parents are going to be its biggest cheerleaders.
Coincidentally, the ad is also launching the very same day the official Netflix app hits the Windows 8 store. This is an important app to secure considering the Microsoft Surface also launches on October 26th, and it gives new buyers something to with their tablets day one.
Oddly I was unable to find it under any of the “spotlight” categories, but a quick search via the charms bar in the store app uncovered it quickly enough. This type of discovery problem is nothing new to users of Windows 8, and is a problem that needs to be solved fast. My test of the app was also cut short by an error message, but perhaps others will have more luck.
P.S.
Anyone else out there appreciate the irony that that Google is footing the bandwidth bill on these videos?
Comments are closed on this article
bezerkus
October 16, 2012 at 8:40am
I like their ad agency lately, Funny Windows Phone commercials "Really", Good IE9 commercial "Alex Clare song", and this one is much better than those slow boring ones of people sending video of each other to another device in the same room or I'm a PC ads. They do need to keep that same feel, but show in a quick positive,edgy way what can be done. Not just saying it can do more like the "Droid Does" commercials. Much better than the over hyped I can talk to my phone and it talks back commercials only to find the real story that you can't use it like you thought.
4twenty
October 15, 2012 at 5:48pm
You heard it here first - Windows 8 is dead!! So is M$!!!
playonlinux://www.playonlinux.com/repository/download.php?id=1419
Put that in your address bar. Get used to it.
;o)
John Pombrio
October 15, 2012 at 1:15pm
Let's see. There is a separate music player app and a separate video player app, both under the umbrella of XBox360. NOT to be confused with Windows Media Player or Windows Media Center. Now that is integration!
Meantime, Netflix is erroring out with a W8156-8000FFF error (which is nowhere to be found on the web). I checked to make sure that Netflix was enabled in win Firewall.
Cregan89
October 15, 2012 at 1:48pm
John, MS just released a fairly major update for Windows 8, specifically directed at the media foundation API's. MS's description of the update almost sounds like the update was specifically developed at the request of 3rd party developers.
I wouldn't be surprised if this new Netflix app relies on this update. Make sure your system is up to date and then try reinstalling Netflix. I've been using the app on my computer and haven't had any issues. I think it's Netflix's best interface yet actually!
Nixon
October 15, 2012 at 9:31am
This sounds sort of like the Windows Media Center TV, except it doesn't require the tuner this time.
Neufeldt2002
October 14, 2012 at 2:43pm
I found it rather chopped up. To me it is like watching someone with ADHD and is restless. I think the commercial is actually what MS is going to promote Win 8 to be, not for someone who wants to really do anything. Fruit Ninjas and MS Paint and watching videos on Youtube, and for a tablet that is fine, but they have to do something really amazing to convince me that it is worth a penny to upgrade my desktops to a touch centric interface. Plus on a large screen touch really just doesn't work IMHO unless it's laying flat.
SilverSurferNHS
October 14, 2012 at 12:53pm
Not the worst commercial, but it doesn't wow or tantalize me. Anyone can clip workflow of random stock video together with an audio track behind it emphasizing a products placement in the activities depicted.
I agree with you Justin, that finding things in the store is bit of a chore when compared to other marketplaces. But its so obvious, i think it will be one of those "major updates" MSFT was talking about just before launch. Don't you?
