Microsoft's Ballmer: “Three Screens and the Cloud”

Software giant CEO weighs in on strategy

Where is Microsoft going with its Zune HD and its vaunted three-screen idea? Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer talked with TechCrunch's Michael Arrington, where he supported most of our assertions in Dvice's latest Shift commentary. Thanks for that, Steve. Good timing.

He's talking about computing from tiny, mid-sized and a very big screens — all of them integrated with online connectivity (the cloud) — and he's calling Microsoft's computing-everywhere strategy a "fundamental shift in the computing paradigm."

Ballmer talks about a variety of ways to interact with these various devices, including touch, voice, cameras, and gestures, and says Microsoft's goal is "one integrated computing infrastructure." Surprisingly, he says that huge interconnected system doesn't even have to all come from Microsoft. So much for the evil empire? We'll see about that.

On the other hand, if Ballmer's leveling with us, don't expect a Microsoft-branded phone or our prediction about Microsoft's "zPhone" interacting with all those screens to come true anytime soon. He denies Microsoft is in the midst of building its own phone. One thing's for sure, though: The Zune HD is just the beginning.

Via TechCrunch

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