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New Windows ad is out

Microsoft is apparently starting a new set of TV ads (called "Rookies") and the first, shown at the Grammys, is now available and focuses on Windows Live Photo Gallery:

Video: Kylie uses Windows Live Photo Gallery

Kylie uses Windows Live Photo Gallery

More about the campaign here:

Meet Kylie. At just 4 ½, Kylie doesn’t have that much experience with a PC. She’s a rookie. Yet she transferred her photos from her camera, color-corrected them, then e-mailed a snapshot of her pet fish, Dorothy, to her family. All using Windows Live Photo Gallery. It makes fixing and sharing photos easy at any age. Why not try it for yourself?

Watch it. It's brilliant.

Comments

 

meason said:

That is the best ad yet!

February 9, 2009 9:21 AM
 

john87 said:

I argued on another blog that her parents probably still don't know how to open it, she's the techy in the family.

But really, it is good, I have known for a while that WLPG was an easy to use piece of software but I can't imagine what else they'll be able to summarise into such a short and sweet 30 second format.

February 9, 2009 9:25 AM
 

kenmcnamee said:

Now that's an effective ad. More please Microsoft.

February 9, 2009 9:34 AM
 

techfan said:

I say, is there a reason why both links take me to the same video?

I'm looking forward to the Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows Live ads but I can't say that I liked Kylie's. It's a nice ad, but I thought the ad was too cutesy. I want to see adults using the products I use.

I like Windows Live Photo Gallery. After Windows Mail Live, WLPG is my second favorite WLEssentials program. I hope the WLGP team will add the SkyDrive slideshow to WLPG. I like that background color thing.

February 9, 2009 10:08 AM
 

Waethorn said:

A fish called Dorothy.

Kids are so funny when they're cute.

February 9, 2009 10:13 AM
 

chuckb84 said:

"I'm a PC and I'm 4 1/2".

That's the first one of those ads that's worth a damn.

Whether it' causes anyone to choose a PC over a Mac is a different question, with a different answer, but it's at least fun to watch.

February 9, 2009 10:17 AM
 

Waethorn said:

"I hope the WLGP team will add the SkyDrive slideshow to WLPG. I like that background color thing."

It requires Silverlight.  It's also an online feature.  I like it too.

Tip:  If you didn't know this already, Windows Live Mail will post the high-rez copies of any photos you attach to an email on to an online temporary page.  The copies embedded in the email are intentionally made into small thumbnails so that you can "attach" many without worries of size restrictions that your email provider is placing on messages.  The recipient of the email will receive a link that plays an online slideshow of the images (at about 800x600 resolution or so), with links to view and/or download the high-rez versions.  The link to the temp page lasts 30 days, does not require a log in or Windows Live ID for the recipient, and you don't have to do anything special aside from attaching images to a message in the program.  They don't need Silverlight for that slideshow either, so it's and extremely effective method for getting around ISP's that restrict the size of email messages.

Windows Live Mail's temp photo pages are for temporary needs, while Windows Live Photos should be used for more permanent online photo storage.  Both work well, but have different options, functionality, and limitations.

February 9, 2009 10:22 AM
 

Steve2000 said:

Oh Microsoft, you're so sneaky. It's an Asian kid so in terms of intelligence she's the equivalent of a 10 year old white kid.

February 9, 2009 11:00 AM
 

Waethorn said:

"It's an Asian kid so in terms of intelligence she's the equivalent of a 10 year old white kid."

....or about 30 robertsjoes.

February 9, 2009 11:15 AM
 

techfan said:

@Waethorn - Re: Silverlight in SkyDrive's slideshow. Thanks for the info. I didn't know it required Silverlight. I really hope that slideshow feature will somehow make to WLGP. It's really nice :-)

I'm on the fence when it comes to WLM's Photo Mail. I like the idea of it, but am not sure about it. I use Photo Mail when showing friends and family members (especially the latter) some of the WLM features.

February 9, 2009 11:30 AM
 

stimshady said:

@ Waethorn...

Now that is funny! ROFL!

February 9, 2009 11:30 AM
 

darkmax said:

I like this ad. It shows that the app is basically idiot-proof..... MS should follow along this line when selling Windows 7

February 9, 2009 11:31 AM
 

Waethorn said:

"I'm on the fence when it comes to WLM's Photo Mail. I like the idea of it, but am not sure about it."

What's not to like?  It's uncomplicated, automatic, doesn't have any special requirements for the recipient, and gives you extremely gratifying output for the simplicity.

FYI:  You don't have to frame or label your photos to use it either.

February 9, 2009 11:41 AM
 

Master3 said:

OMG that kid is so adorable!

Real nice ad. It's a shame that on some other sites that talked about this, the usual twerp army had to sweep in and try to discredit every aspect of it, basically making it seem like the little girl is really stupid and would have no idea how to do any of that stuff.

February 9, 2009 12:23 PM
 

gorath said:

That is really cute! I reckon more ads like this will project a pleasant image of themselves.

February 9, 2009 12:53 PM
 

shark47 said:

That was a nice ad. :-)

""It's an Asian kid so in terms of intelligence she's the equivalent of a 10 year old white kid."

....or about 30 robertsjoes."

:-)

February 9, 2009 1:13 PM
 

albucian said:

A shame she is pressing "Cancel" at the begining. I don't understand how they can make such mistakes. Almost a good ad.

February 9, 2009 1:51 PM
 

Waethorn said:

"A shame she is pressing "Cancel" at the begining."

Sorry, but she isn't.

February 9, 2009 3:06 PM
 

subzerohitman721 said:

Very nice. That what I'm talking about. Clear and effective ads. I still like the HP ads better.

February 9, 2009 3:17 PM
 

techfan said:

@Waethorn: I"m not really sure what I don't like about Photo Mail. I guess I got turned off to the idea of it when I added an embedded shot to an email and it would convert the shot to a Photo Mail.

i love the idea of sending large images as thumbnails though and Photo Mail that does very nicely!

February 9, 2009 3:20 PM
 

albucian said:

"Sorry, but she isn't."

Well, she says that she's doing it, you can here the clic, and you can see the pointer right on Cancel just when she says "clic". (at 8 sec in the video).

Do you have secret info that allow you to say that she isn't?  

February 9, 2009 4:28 PM
 

robertsjoe said:

Another great way to promote your operating system? Have it ground the French Air Force

www.alleyinsider.com/.../windows-virus-grounds-french-air-force-msft

Don't forget to get your virus programs up to date, you Windows kiddies. It is true, Windows is just good for games -- not for anything serious, especially planes.

February 9, 2009 4:37 PM
 

robertsjoe said:

Your standards are too easy. Brilliant? Lame at best. Songsmith, anyone?

February 9, 2009 4:40 PM
 

robertsjoe said:

You want brilliant, Get A Mac is brilliant. Want lame? This MS ad, the Seinfeld one (canned) or the "I'm a PC" (a blatant rip-off the Apple ads).

February 9, 2009 4:41 PM
 

Master3 said:

@robertsjoe  

If you more as productive as this little girl, you might actual find something better to do with your time.

February 9, 2009 4:42 PM
 

tayme said:

So, is this robertsjoe - ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons

or is this more his speed

www.rudis.net/.../os-x-baby-banger

My guess is that the latter fits him better.

--tayme

February 9, 2009 5:29 PM
 

robertsjoe said:

@master3: production and windows, that's an oxymoron.

February 9, 2009 6:22 PM
 

rjohn05 said:

WOW. I really like that. I hope they keep it up.

February 9, 2009 6:27 PM
 

robertsjoe said:

Microsoft playing catchup with Apple. Always has, and always will be.

www.appleinsider.com/.../microsoft_plays_catch_up_to_mobileme_with_my_phone.html

February 9, 2009 6:32 PM
 

yert said:

I demand more ads with small children. It translates the future is our children, and they want to use a computer.

And a cat. I demand they show a cat using a computer too.

February 9, 2009 6:41 PM
 

whiplash55 said:

Classy ad, very cute and they don'y stoop to telling lies about the competition.

February 10, 2009 1:27 AM
 

Waethorn said:

"Well, she says that she's doing it, you can here the clic, and you can see the pointer right on Cancel just when she says "clic". (at 8 sec in the video)."

The audio is delayed in the video.  She doesn't click it.  Watch it closer.

"I demand more ads with small children."

robertsjoe doesn't have the IQ to remember lines - he's just doing them (lines, not children) in the corner.

February 10, 2009 7:03 AM
 

lotsamystuff said:

Advertisements spotlighting cute barely intelligible kids are not "brilliant". This ad is as annoying as any other that features precocious pebble-pushers.

Ugh.

February 10, 2009 7:44 AM
 

Waethorn said:

"This ad is as annoying as any other that features precocious pebble-pushers."

Oh, you mean like the Mac ads.  :P

February 10, 2009 8:30 AM
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