February 15, 2007
Microsoft's YouTube rival enters beta
MSN Soapbox lets users watch videos while browsing for others at the same time
Recommend ThisMicrosoft Corp. has unveiled a public beta of its MSN Soapbox video-upload service, its competitor to Google Inc.'s popular YouTube service.
The service, which Microsoft unveiled last September, has been available to beta testers only by invitation for several months. But now anyone can test out the service by going to this Web site , reports the the LiveSide blog , which tracks Microsoft's Windows Live Internet services.
Like YouTube, Soapbox allows users not only to upload videos to the Web in almost any digital video format, but also to tag and categorize them so other users can find them. The service also lets users watch videos and browse for new ones simultaneously on the same screen, something that differentiates it from YouTube, Microsoft has said.
Microsoft has been assembling a raft of Web-based services to compete with Google and Yahoo Inc. since November 2005, when Chief Architect Ray Ozzie unveiled the company's Live services initiative. The company has said it would invest a significant amount of money in its Web efforts, and financial analysts expect Microsoft to give an update on this plan during a briefing with analysts in New York Thursday.
Though many believe the Live services will replace Microsoft's MSN branded services, the company continues to maintain MSN as a site where it offers entertainment content, which may explain why it branded Soapbox with the MSN name rather than Live. The Live moniker refers more to actual services such as Windows Live e-mail, instant messaging and search.
Google announced in October it was buying YouTube for US$1.65 billion, a price many thought was too high for the video service. Still, YouTube remains one of the most popular sites on the Web.
White Paper
D2D Virtual Tape Library Replication Primer
This whitepaper explains the terminology and concepts behind Data Replication technologies and establishes some sizing rules through worked examples. Learn the new paradigm in disaster tolerance—protect data anywhere.
Download now »
White Paper
An Alternative to Virtualization for Datacenter Cost Savings
Server virtualization is a popular option for dealing with mounting datacenter costs. Another equally promising approach is the use of an Application Delivery Controller. Citrix NetScaler provides a low-cost way for organizations to reduce their server count and accrue cost savings from a reduction in space, cooling, power and personnel.
Download now »
White Paper
Why Your Firewall, VPN, and IEEE 802.11i Aren't Enough to Protect Your Network
The emergence of WLANs has created a new breed of security threats to enterprise networks.
Included in HP ProCurve WLAN solutions is security technology that alleviates threats from WLANs through:
* Monitoring wireless activity inside and out of the enterprise
* Classifying WLAN transmissions into harmful and harmless
* Preventing transmissions that pose a security threat to the enterprise network
* Locating participating devices for physical remediation
White Paper
Bringing the Edge to the Data Center
Effectively address data protection challenges, implementing solutions that help store and protect business–critical data while cutting costs and improving efficiency and reliability.
Download now »
- Tackling the Top Five Network Access Control Challenges | White Paper
- Opportunities and Challenges with the Convergence of Data Center Networks | White Paper
- Network Operating System Evolution | White Paper
- How Operating Systems Create Network Efficiency | White Paper
- Data Center Survival Guide | White Paper
Sign up to receive Platforms Resource Alerts
Maximize your IT Budget with the Fujitsu Dynamic CubeToday’s IT means business. New eBook shows you how to align your IT investments.A new level of interoperability. Make IT Work As One at novell.comLimited-time offer: Save up to $100 on Polycom phones. 64-page prescriptive guide to security, compliance, and IT operations.Drive innovation with Intel and Open Source softwareLinux Contributions and Support from IntelLearn about Foundations of Green IT, from CTO Marty PoniatowskiIncrease UPS efficiency without sacrificing protectionIn less than 45 minutes, Palisade Systems protects your data
See how AT&T can help protect your network. Make IT Work As One at novell.comHP ProLiant G6 Servers. Perform like a superstar, Save like an accountant.HP ProLiant G6 Servers. Perform like a superstar, Save like an accountant.Unified Communications: Thoughts, Strategies and Predictions. Join the discussionOptimize Linux* for high performance and energy efficiency on Intel® architectureSee how Intel is working across the Open Source ecosystem to help drive rapid technological innovationTDWI checklist helps define data readiness for analytics. Download report.<802.11n Drives an Architectural EvolutionSee IBM CloudBurst's self-service user interface in action
