Ballmer answers iPhone SDK questions, revisits Monkey Boy dance

It's always interesting to hear execs chime in on the competition following big announcements. So it's no surprise to hear that Steve Ballmer was peppered with questions about the iPhone during yesterday's Mix '08 event with Guy Kawasaki. When asked about Silverlight -- Microsoft's attempt at usurping Adobe's Flash -- on the Flash-less iPhone, Ballmer said, "Silverlight for the iPhone is of course interesting," adding, "I can't say there's been extensive discussion with Guy's old boss." He also wondered aloud about Apple possibly digging too deeply into developers pockets with its 30% share of application revenue. Ballmer said, "it's a good business if you can make it." A jab at Jobs' claim that Apple doesn't plan to make any money off the App Store. The highlight though came with Ballmer's compliance to recreate his Monkey Boy Dance for Web Developers. Bill, we're going to miss you.

[Thanks, Bryant]

Read -- Q&A on iPhone
Read -- Monkey Boy dance, take 2

[miranon @ Mar 7th 2008 6:02AM]

LOL ))))

[RC @ Mar 7th 2008 8:19AM]

Engadget. You have been IGNORING mix the last two days. There was no coverage, let alone live coverage of the various keynotes, announcements, etc. Now that Ballmer has mentioned Apple and the iPhone, we get coverage....of those comments.

Please, step up and do a better job covering the industry. There's a place for it as Gizmodo did the exact same thing. You could have covered Mix and had something they didn't. Why didn't you?

[jhaks @ Mar 7th 2008 9:45AM]

@ RC

I am similarly perplexed. There has been some really amazing stuff coming out of Mix, not to mention techfest should be a really big deal for a tech site too. Has anyone seen MS Research's Music Steering Project? If they bring this to their media apps and devices it will be a really big boost for them. Glad to see though research projects like Sea Dragon actually become part of real projects though (deep zoom in Silverlight).

[rossinio @ Mar 7th 2008 10:13AM]

@RC
(I just asked them this:)

Why aren't you covering Mix at all Engadget? It's a pretty big deal and you guys haven't touched on it yet.. I know you aren't big ms fans but it is getting a bit silly now and you are losing touch with a lot of your fans.

[stankychicken @ Mar 7th 2008 10:20AM]

@ RC
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I tried to explain that to everyone yesterday about the rediculous ammount of apple coverage. What the f(_)ck has happened to engadget? I love the site and I do not have one problem with apple, well, besides being overpriced i dont. I am just tired of seeing so much about them when there are just as many stories about other important gadgets or tech news that engadget could post. I just don't understand....

[Ray-- @ Mar 7th 2008 10:49AM]

@RC

amen brother. engadget needs to be called out on this glaring fact.

[The General @ Mar 7th 2008 11:41AM]

@RC - No one cares. If you don't like Engadget, then go somewhere else.

[Jeff Lewis @ Mar 7th 2008 11:57AM]

@RC

Don't be silly. Engadget isn't pro-Apple. Haven't you read Ryan's LOUD INSISTANCE that they aren't? Just ignore the fact that they publish at least four Apple articles to each Microsoft one.. or skip Mix... not to mention the Heroes Happen {here} rollout or...

Maybe Ballmer should take up wearing a turtleneck.

Seriously though - you just have to get used to it. You don't come to Engadget for anything related to Microsoft or PC. You come here for endless snarky PMP, lopsided PC reviews and endless... endless.. dear God in Heaven, endless Apple coverage/fawning.

Hell, they can't even keep the distinction between Tablet PC, UMPC and MID right. Personally, I think they're just jealous because Apple's never made a real tablet. :)

[LJKelley @ Mar 7th 2008 1:46PM]

How bout the fact that neither Gizmodo or Engadget mentioned the fact that IE8 Beta was out for download. Yet they had to do 5+ articles on the iPhone SDK which really could have been done in one.

[stankychicken @ Mar 7th 2008 1:51PM]

@ LJKELLY

You sir, hit the nail on the head.

[Jeff @ Mar 7th 2008 1:52PM]

@RC

oh boo hoo.

you whiners need to get a new hobby. I'm sure i'll get ranked down, but i don't really care. Engadget can cover whatever they want. (and honestly, i find silverlight, IE8 etc al incredibly boring... if something RELEVANT comes out of it, fine, but so far it's been pretty meh.)

[coffee @ Mar 7th 2008 2:16PM]

Agreed with all on the lack of coverage on mix08.

For everyone else, go to visitmix.com for coverage. There's a lot of neat stuff, even applicable to gadgets (shock). I know!

Oh, and IE8 beta is out, Live Workplace is out, LucidTouch was demo'd, Deep Zoom is available,
Silverlight scales to mobile and will be on the Nokia 60 series, etc... It's no iPhone, but it's not bad stuff.

At least Ballmer is enthusiastic and doesn't care what people think of him.

[pkiddie @ Mar 7th 2008 2:25PM]

@Jeff
I think all we're asking for is fair and balanced coverage of what seemed to be a pretty high profile event. Yes, the Apple iPhone SDK is great news for developers, but so is IE8 from a standards point view, as well as many of the other announcements at Mix08 that you wouldn't have heard about if following Engadget alone.

[ScareyJ @ Mar 7th 2008 3:07PM]

@RC, thanks for speaking up.

[giislander @ Mar 7th 2008 6:36PM]

WOW! IE8 passes the acid2 test.

[Mitch @ Mar 8th 2008 12:52AM]

@ RC

EXACTLY RIGHT! They would rather post a crappy low res iPhone fake than cover mix...
I like engadget, but the only reason I am a Apple flamer is because they get too much bloody news.

[Boris @ Mar 7th 2008 6:05AM]

Steve Ballmer.

You sir, are the man! LOL

[Kit @ Mar 7th 2008 6:26AM]

I don't want cool Steve (Jobs)

I like the energetic Steve

If you watched the whole presentation, you'll understand he's not that bad...

[jhaks @ Mar 7th 2008 9:32AM]

I agree, the interview was great. Here's the link:

http://visitmix.com/blogs/News/Watch-Steve-Ballmer-and-Guy-Kawasaki-Live/

[Rususeruru @ Mar 7th 2008 6:25AM]

Ballmer's enthusiasm makes me smile at 4:30AM.... :-)
YTMD!

[Duke 2 @ Mar 7th 2008 9:31AM]

Why the smile- did you wake up next to him or something?

Fess up- Did Steve give u a little personal monkey dance?

[deep @ Mar 7th 2008 6:27AM]

I guess when you've started to spiral to your death, there's nothing left to do but scream.

[FrankTheCrank @ Mar 7th 2008 6:59AM]

Oh brother, Young Frankenstein is at it again.

"puttin' on the ritz", "da da da, da da"....

[Homeboy @ Mar 7th 2008 7:00AM]

I wanna watch the video but the site seem to be down. wIi haz xra$hed vebzite, thay N33d m0 bAndweth!!

[jackaz195 @ Mar 7th 2008 7:14AM]

he is a shaved chimp!

[Jihan Joo @ Mar 7th 2008 7:44AM]

Talk about one strategically positioned Play button.

[Stevie Wonder @ Mar 7th 2008 8:04AM]

Yeah, it made me feel dirty to put my mouse there!

[Bobs @ Mar 7th 2008 8:20AM]

I think its backwards.

[supermeerkat @ Mar 7th 2008 7:48AM]

No word on whether Stevie boy is going to "fucking destroy" the iPhone, then?

[Stevie Wonder @ Mar 7th 2008 8:00AM]

As much as I hate Apple, I gotta say, Steve Ballmer is a freak of nature!

Someone get him a tranquilizer!

[David Becker @ Mar 7th 2008 8:10AM]

No wonder MS is yesterdays news, what an asshole

[Chebwa @ Mar 7th 2008 9:19AM]

"No wonder MS is yesterdays news"

Yeah man. MS has no impact on the computer industry anymore. Talk about washed up! ::eye roll::

[Mr. S. @ Mar 7th 2008 8:17AM]

With products as bad as Microsoft's, you have to make up for it some how with excitement. (I dedicate this smart ass comment to Buzz)

[bo sneb @ Mar 7th 2008 5:41PM]

Buzz thanks you LOL

[Kit @ Mar 8th 2008 4:17PM]

If you think MS is that bad...

PLEASE build an OS which is grearter than Windows 3.1 and I'm would love to pay more than what I paid for Vista Ultimate...

If not, please stop whining like a three years old about MS's products since you can't make a better one...

[Mr. S. @ Mar 8th 2008 6:06PM]

ok... Here is you baby steps program to being a happier user and or developer.

1. Buy a mac
2. Use code warrior
3. Buy a iPhone

Now, this bit hurts me the most....... Wait for it..... 360 is a piece of junk, but it IS the best conslue out there at the moment becuase its easy to code for. So, there you go ms fan boys, a small victory for you.

[kryptonian00 @ Mar 7th 2008 8:36AM]

You guys are a joke, you only have this video clip the day after, yet you guys are giving apple a rusty trombone all day long yesterday? WTF!? and now "steve is taking piss, wow he uses two hands to control his massive tool!! how inovating!!!" you guys are a joke come on, i seriously understand if you prefer Apple thats your right, but if you are going to claim this website is technology NEWS then at least attempt to be fair.

[Fred @ Mar 7th 2008 8:36AM]

I just don't understand this tool. His company signs an agreement with Apple, they're business partners (which they have been for year) and this retard keeps running smack. JUST SHUT UP, BALLMER! We get it, you harbor a not so secret hatred of Apple, but you guys will sure take they're money won't you? Idiot.

[fred @ Mar 7th 2008 9:09AM]

How is it any different than when Apple does it?

Or is that ok when they do it?

[Fred @ Mar 7th 2008 10:35AM]

Well, maybe it's just the way he does it? I myself prefer a more smug and self-superior MS bash/rant rather than a sputtering over-perspiring turd who blathers and rants unintelligibly.

[Isaac Levy @ Mar 7th 2008 8:41AM]

Fixed video link: http://www.news.com/1606-2-6233485.html

[Hawkmankt @ Mar 7th 2008 8:42AM]

Yeah, because Microsoft never tries to make money from anyone. Good call cueball.

Hey, at least Apple's products are made well. (Forgive me my beloved Xbox 360).

Where did they dig up this turd to run the company?

[ajcz @ Mar 7th 2008 2:54PM]

Steve Ballmer is evil incarnate.
Steve Ballmer is Crazy Eddie
Steve Ballmer is an asshole... Period

[rodsky @ Mar 7th 2008 9:44AM]

not all of them, ipods fail pretty often

[Dale @ Mar 7th 2008 8:47AM]

So, given Microsoft's track record of attempting to copy everything they diss, a Windows Mobile SDK and application store are right around the corner then?

[RC @ Mar 7th 2008 8:55AM]

Are you suggesting there isn't an SDK?

[Frank Furter @ Mar 7th 2008 8:59AM]

There is?

[RC @ Mar 7th 2008 9:03AM]

http://www.google.com/search?q=windows+mobile+sdk&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

[Dale @ Mar 7th 2008 9:05AM]

@Frank, there is one of course, but it didn't get the fanfare this puppy's getting.

[fred @ Mar 7th 2008 9:14AM]

"there is one of course, but it didn't get the fanfare this puppy's getting."

WM has been around for almost 10 years, why on Earth are you so dense as to attempt to make such a vapid point as no one cares about it?

Do you know there are THOUSANDS of apps for WinMobile, and it runs on all manner of devices. Just because Engadget/Gizmodo decided to overhype this like they do everything Apple does, does not mean that all development on WinMobile will just cease from now on.