Microsoft's TechFest 2007 R&D blowout

So for the first time in its 15 year history, Microsoft Research's TechFest showcase for internal R&D projects was opened to the public. We headed up to Redmond to check out what some of the Microsoft engineers were working on behind the scenes, some of which went live as products, some of which we won't see for years, and some of which we may never see productized at all. We understand there's still some more internal-only TechFest stuff going down this week, but check out our gallery from some of the wacky concepts, prototypes, and products we think you'll get into.

Gallery: Microsoft's TechFest 2007 R&D blowout

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[daddycool @ Mar 7th 2007 6:43PM]

That split screen 15" monitor makes me kind of sad.

[michael @ Mar 7th 2007 6:53PM]

I went there, and had to say it was kind of amazing. Some stuff were really wacky, and some were pretty cool. It was kind of like one of those gadgets-of-the-future shows, except these kind of seemed a bit more possible and practical. My favorite was the Bubble Board concept. I even found the link for some more + videos: http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/

[boe @ Mar 7th 2007 7:36PM]

They've already got some prototypes on the market - vista, exchange 2007, office 2007. You can buy all of these unfinished products now!

[Bo3b @ Mar 7th 2007 7:51PM]

Wait....Microsoft does their own R&D? I thought their R&D department was located in Cupertino at Apple. :-D

/here all week
//tip your waitstaff

[KC @ Mar 7th 2007 8:02PM]

"Microsoft does their own R&D? I thought their R&D department was located in Cupertino at Apple"

MS spent $6.2 billion on R&D in 2005, and $7.6 billion in 2004. Apple spent $534 million in 2005.

In contrast, the Bush administration has proposed a 5.2 percent increase in R&D budget authority, to $8.1 billion, for space research and technology (http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf05322/).

[Ignacio @ Mar 7th 2007 9:24PM]

It's not just how much they spend, but how well they spend it. Billions of dollars and coming up with... Vista and the Zune?

[Ben @ Mar 7th 2007 9:29PM]

Microsoft works in many more technological areas than Apple does...hence why they spend alot more money...

[Andrew Fong @ Mar 8th 2007 12:28AM]

There's a difference between good design and good R&D. Microsoft excels at the latter. Apple excels at the former (there isn't a whole lot of brand new technology with Apple -- it's just refined into a really slick package). The Zune is a problem with bad design (e.g. there's no technical reason for some silly 3 plays - 3 day rule). Vista "copying" OS X is a design decision, not a technical one.

Research generates a lot of the less obvious, but still kinda cool stuff. For example, Vista has ReadyBoost, allowing you to add extra "RAM" to your system by just plugging in a flash drive. SuperFetch has the OS learn your habits and daily schedule over time and prioritize memory accordingly, arguably creating the first OS that appears faster with time. You won't find that in Apple or Linux (yet). MS's design team might eff up even the best of research, but it's not like the research isn't cool.

[keith waddington @ Mar 7th 2007 9:25PM]

wow MS really is clueless. The scary thing is 90% of computer users are depending on these people. Pretty sad.

Do yourselves a favour and get a Mac for christ's sake.

waddo

[Louis S. @ Mar 7th 2007 9:44PM]

Perhaps you should stop being a asshole and just enjoy your Mac instead of trying to convert people.

[thequinox @ Mar 7th 2007 9:51PM]

I hate all you "buy a mac" fanboys. You are all so incompetent it is ridiculous.

[Jeremy K. @ Mar 7th 2007 11:03PM]

Wow... most of the concepts are pretty bad, especially the one about WiFi ads. NO! We don't want that.

[Andrew Fong @ Mar 8th 2007 12:46AM]

The Lincoln system for the cellphone btw is pretty awesome. Now if they could make it bring up prices for comparable items in stores around the area, that would be useful.

[hubfam @ Mar 8th 2007 1:30AM]

This is what you get for 6 to 7 billion dollars? I bet I would find better stuff at Silicon Valley garage sale. I will
now stop trying to tell people how well Apple products fit into your everyday digital life (unlike most of you, I work 9 hours a day on an HP running XP and choose a MacBook Pro as my personal computer). You MS Fanboys are completely insane. Really, I just realized you guys don't drink the cool-aid you're swimming in it!!

[Ben @ Mar 8th 2007 9:09AM]

What you have to remember is that these are the things they decided to show. This is clearly not all they are working on, but rather the stuff they dont care if other corperations and companies see.

[BAMF @ Mar 8th 2007 2:24AM]

Can we *please* have one article where no one has to come in and post a bunch of negativity? Post something about MS, the Apple fanboys come out the woodwork. Post something about any console and proponents of the other two start spewing hate. Do any of you fanboys think you are really gonna convert someone on the internet? And if so, why waste the time? Is Steve Jobs paying you to go on the internets and shit-talk Microsoft?!?!

[DM @ Mar 8th 2007 2:42AM]

Apple fanboys are just insecure. Just ignore them.

[Tom Boyce @ Mar 8th 2007 3:05AM]

What's with all the XP? Don't Microsoft R&D like their shiny new OS?

[Don\\\'t Panic! @ Mar 8th 2007 9:08AM]

Anybody get the Photo Zoom pictures to work? I thought the split screen technology was pretty cool myself.

[hubfam @ Mar 8th 2007 2:40PM]

What do you know about it? "you have to remember" from what? All the other times they showed us lame products and then just floored us with great stuff? " This is clearly not all they are working on" Really? What ARE they "clearly" working on? Post it! That's what these forums are for. Come on, back it up MS fanboy...

[Ben @ Mar 8th 2007 8:49PM]

I am in no way a "MS fanboy" as you call me. You "clearly" dont have much knowledge though because it is a known fact that giant corperations dont reveal everything they work on to the public before its ready, or ever. Another thing to keep in mind is that corperations are always putting things aside due to production costs of the technology as well as being paid off not to release it. Corperations also buy patents from other corperations and then never use the product, that way they can still control the market with their substandard device.

[Zach @ Mar 9th 2007 4:00PM]

I'm sorry hub, but exactly WHAT is Apple working on right now? What's that? iTV is coming out next week!??! Oh, wait, just another baseless rumor from macfans