Microsoft releases first iPhone application, Seadragon

After some rumblings this past March, Microsoft has now officially joined the iPhone development community with Seadragon Mobile, a free app that lets you "infinite zoom" gigapixel-sized images. Although Seadragon is available as a Silverlight application on the desktop, Microsoft isn't bringing Silverlight to the iPhone, so don't get your hopes up. We're itching to see if the company has any more apps in the pipeline -- we'll wish for an Office editor, but expect a Minesweeper variant.

[Thanks, Mikkel]

[zomg0t @ Dec 14th 2008 3:10PM]

An Office editor? With the clipboard?!

[Patriks7 @ Dec 14th 2008 3:15PM]

Haha I so loved that clip! xD
I wish I would be able to use it :(

[The Dude @ Dec 14th 2008 3:37PM]

3D Realms is developing Copy + Paste for the iPhone. It'll be released with the Duke Nukem Forever beta seeing as how the iPhone is an alleged console now.

[warrrennnnn @ Dec 14th 2008 4:17PM]

Umm, I think you confused paperclip with clipboard. As much as I'd love both of them, I'd have to choose the clipboard over the little paperclip with eyes.

But of course, we all know that the Einstein Office Assistant is the best.

[Paul Chapel @ Dec 14th 2008 5:01PM]

The iPod Touch is currently the best selling MP3 player right now on Amazon's MP3 player page. The Sanza is like 20 and the Zune 120 is number 23. iPods occupy just about all of the other spots on the list. I guess Microsoft is smart enough to know where to get the proper exposure for their apps.

[Thats What He Said @ Dec 14th 2008 5:31PM]

this is about an iPhone app by title, why bring in MP3 players?

[nohone @ Dec 14th 2008 5:32PM]

@Paul Chapel

Since the iTouch (I know it is not iTouch, but I like putting that "i" there to watch you i fans have a hissy fit) and iPhone are video game consoles, lets look at their placement on the Amazon list for video games....

Wii #1
DS #14, 25, 48, 69, 99
PS3 #42
360 Pro #65

Hmmmmm, Nope, no iTouch/iPhone within the top 100, so by those standards, iTouch/iPhone is a very crappy video game console and Apple should start developing their "games" for Wii, DS, PS3, and 360.

[Paul Chapel @ Dec 14th 2008 5:41PM]

Well, I'm off to use Seadragon on my Zune. Oh, wait. Okay, I guess I'll play some Super Monkey Ball. Oh, wait. I guess I'll listen to some Pandora Radio. Oh, wait. I guess I'll look at full html pages from the internet. Oh, wait. But the Zune does have some awesome engravings on the BACK. The palm of my hand is so excited.

(That's what she said. Zing!)

[axemt @ Dec 14th 2008 7:42PM]

@ Paul Chapel

Keep it clean.We don't want to know what you do with your palms and your iLube stuff.

[dandaman @ Dec 14th 2008 7:57PM]

The Dude (If that's a Leboski reference, right on man!) mentioned the iPhone's use as a console, which is isn't. It's got some fun games, but it's a phone. And Paul Chapel is referring to the iPod Touch, which will also run this Seadragon app.

Wether you like it or not (which I guess you don't) a peak into your local place of anywhere in the "developed" world should show you the iPod has actually gained some popularity. Give the guy a break, he makes a point. I think it's great that msoft is getting into the iPhone business.

Bringing up it's popularity as a "console" is off-topic. It's a kick-butt game platform, but not a console, not even a portable one. It's a phone/media device.

[Stupidiot @ Dec 14th 2008 8:55PM]

Paul, I'd like to see you do those things with an iPod classic also.
I'd love to have an iPod touch, but I can't justify the price for such a pitiful capacity.

[nohone @ Dec 14th 2008 10:17PM]

@dandaman

And Paul bringing up Zune's ranking on Amazon had what relevance to this post? Zune and iTouch/iPhone are not the same type of player. The iTouch/iPod are PDAs, while the Zune is a media player just as a iPod classic/Nano is a media player. But, the self-described "Windows Fanboy" (which everybody knows is an all-out-lie) decided to take another swipe at the Zune. So if he wants to make a comment that is off topic, and is only tangentally related to Zune, then making fun of the absurdity of his post is well deserved.

Besides, it is not me saying the iTouch/iPhone is a gaming console, it is Apple themselves claiming it is one - something a vast majority of people who comment here on Engadget got a good laugh about.

[Mike10010100 @ Dec 14th 2008 10:33PM]

It's ok. Paul just needed to repost from another article about the iphone. Since nobody replied to it there, he felt that he had to repost it in order to verify that he existed. It's a self-esteem thing.

Anywhoo, Paul, I think I'll take some video on my iPhone. Oh wait. That's ok, I'd rather type an extremely long email with my physical keyboard. Oh wait. I could send some MMS picture mail. Oh wait. Or use my spoken direction turn-by-turn navigation. Oh wait. Or use my user-replaceable battery. Oh wait. Or add some more memory with an SD card. Oh wait.

Just go away.

[Paul Chapel @ Dec 14th 2008 10:45PM]

Well, think I'll take some video on my Zune. Oh, wait. That's ok, I'd rather type an extremely long email with my physical keyboard. Oh wait. I could send some MMS picture mail. Oh wait. Or use my spoken direction turn-by-turn navigation. Oh wait. Or use my user-replaceable battery. Oh wait. Or add some more memory with an SD card. Oh wait.

(Uh, what the heck was the point again?)

[Ruben @ Dec 14th 2008 11:40PM]

@Paul

Ugh:

Well, I'm off to use Seadragon on my iPod Classic. Oh, wait. Okay, I guess I'll play some Super Monkey Ball. Oh, wait. I guess I'll listen to some Pandora Radio. Oh, wait. I guess I'll look at full html pages from the internet on my iPod Classic. Oh, wait.

Well, think I'll "record" some video on my iPod Classic. Oh, wait. That's ok, I'd rather type an extremely long email with my physical keyboard. Oh wait, I only have a touch wheel. I could send some MMS picture mail. Oh wait. Or use my spoken direction turn-by-turn navigation. Oh wait. Or use my user-replaceable battery. Oh wait. Or add some more memory with an SD card. Oh wait.

What the hell was your point anyways?

[Paul Chapel @ Dec 14th 2008 11:51PM]

Sorry, folks, but saying that the Zune competes "only" with the iPod Classic doesn't cut it. That's like saying that John McCain was only competing against Ralph Nader, and therefore won because he got more votes.

The iPod Classic is a secondary model which remains only to satisfy those who still wish to have a large-capacity HDD. You cannot rationalize the failure of a commercial product by claiming it does not compete against devices it clearly competes with. If someone gets an iPhone or an iPod Touch, they obviously will not be getting a Zune; thus, they compete. Using certain features (like a touch screen) to differentiate doesn't cut it; one could just as easily say that the iPod Classic does not compete with the Zune because it does not feature WiFi.

Zune sales have been flat. They sold one million units during the first nine months, and one million units during its second nine months. During the same period, Apple sold 76 million iPods, which does not count iPhone sales; additionally, iPod sales are increasing over time, unlike the Zune.

The Zune will appeal to some, of course. Every product, no matter how small its share, will have its own fan base, and those fans will insist the product is better. And for them, it "is" better, in a subjective sense. If you love your Zune, I will not try to argue that "you" should like the iPod or iPhone better. But that does not obviate some fairly clear and decisive feature comparisons and open-market results.

[Mike10010100 @ Dec 14th 2008 11:52PM]

I was counter-pointing your "Oh, wait." session. You brought up things that aren't available on anything but the iPod Touch, which isn't even in the same class as the Zune.

Just stop copying and pasting your earlier posts and shut up.

[Mike10010100 @ Dec 15th 2008 12:01AM]

Sorry for the double post, but as I was writing my reply, Paul posted his.

Ok. Let's follow your logic. The iPod Touch is simply an iPhone without the cellular chip (and more memory, but that doesn't really matter). Therefore, since the iPod Touch and the iPhone use the same software and most of the same hardware, they could essentially be called the same device.

I can also buy a touchscreen device similar to the iPod Touch that runs off of windows mobile. Windows Mobile also runs on cell phones. Therefore, the iPod touch and the iPhone are more comparable to similar touchscreen devices, not the Zune 120.

[Paul Chapel @ Dec 15th 2008 12:09AM]

I'll keep this simple, because you sound like Sarah Palin. The iPod Touch is an MP3 player. The Zune is an MP3 player, hence they are in the same "class."

Cry about it all you want, but these facts don't change just because you really, really like the Zune.

[Kax02 @ Dec 15th 2008 1:48AM]

"I'll keep this simple, because you sound like Sarah Palin. The iPod Touch is an MP3 player. The Zune is an MP3 player, hence they are in the same "class." "

Ah sweet you totally cleared that up. Except the whole who cares part.

Buy your ipod/zune/sansa/nomad/iriver/etc and enjoy it, that's the point of the device, to perform a function in your price branch and offer you the best options that you can afford at that range.

It's not about "If you pay $250 more you have a real mp3 player" it never was it never will be.

I'll take my junk freebie MP3 players from company reps, my sansa and my zune and use them as I need them when I'm out and about. I don't need an electronic swiss army knife to play some bad 80's music.

[Welcome @ Dec 15th 2008 11:02PM]

i just love how u guys compared the itouch with the zune, there is no comparison, itouch is in a different category

besides, i would say itouch sucks, why stop there and not get an iPhone?

I own a zune that i USE FOR MUSIC! and my iPhone, that i USE FOR MOBILE COMPUTING!

why put apples and oranges on the same basket?

[ngamer007 @ Dec 14th 2008 3:10PM]

Hmm, this sounds interesting. It's good to see software developers making cool apps on their competitor's platforms, it really opens up a lot of possibilities.

[yopladas @ Dec 14th 2008 4:10PM]

Haha who cares?! (I just wanna get low ranked)

[JohnTitor @ Dec 14th 2008 5:57PM]

When you release software for your competitor's platform, and you can't on your own, you know there's something wrong
WinMo 7, it had better be lucky

[drumdbeat @ Dec 14th 2008 6:20PM]

@Hung

One thousand, two-hundred thirty-four point five six . . . ?

[El Taco @ Dec 15th 2008 12:19AM]

@yopladas

how did you do it? Highest ranked? Whoa.

[KarlW @ Dec 15th 2008 2:36AM]

It's actually fairly common - Apple have iTunes, QuickTime and Safari for OSX. WebKit is the base for Chrome and Chrome Mobile (although Google can do that without asking, since it's open source).

Microsoft used to release IE and WMP, and still release Office on the Mac. In fact, the Mac version of IE had a newer and more standards-compliant engine than the Windows version. Microsoft's also working with the Mono project to bring Silverlight to Linux (despite it being communist and all that).

[Kris120890 @ Dec 14th 2008 3:11PM]

Cool tech but stupid name.

[ac14 @ Dec 14th 2008 3:14PM]

your one to talk Kris one hundred and twenty thousand eight hundred and ninety.

[Kris120890 @ Dec 14th 2008 3:20PM]

Not supposed to be a whole number.

[sinai @ Dec 14th 2008 3:28PM]

you both have stupid names, and i know how to properly contract "you" and "are."

I WIN!

[Brandon L @ Dec 14th 2008 3:34PM]

Probably his birthdate. Which is a totally original name. And probably means he just turned 18. Happy belated birthday by the way.

This name is no stupider than Seamonkey.

[Kris120890 @ Dec 14th 2008 3:42PM]

Yes it is my birth date and no I haven't just turned 18.

[sinai @ Dec 14th 2008 4:00PM]

lowest ranking some douche on his birthday.

engadget readers are officially The Best Thing Ever™

[Kris120890 @ Dec 14th 2008 4:04PM]

My birthday was 4 months ago so it isn't my birthday and no I don't care about pointless low and high ranking. You're pathetic if it does bother you.

[iofthestorm @ Dec 14th 2008 4:06PM]

@BrandonL: I think, if the number is his birthday, he uses non-US ordered dates, i.e. 12th of the 8th month 1990, not 12th month 8th day 1990.

[Rollins @ Dec 14th 2008 4:06PM]

I like how you all ignored it when he said that he didn't just turn 18.

He's from one of those countries that writes dates in the wrong order. :D I'd be willing to bet that they also use that funky system of measurement that makes sense, too!

[jmzrbnsn @ Dec 14th 2008 4:46PM]

It actually makes sense - day - month - year, from 'smallest' to 'largest', it's like the way people talk - the ninth of June, .

[Morgan @ Dec 14th 2008 4:48PM]

It still amazes me that someone born in 1990 (lookin at you, Kris) is legally an adult this year. Oh, and get off my lawn.

[Gavin @ Dec 14th 2008 5:04PM]

@ac14
The proper way to say that number is one hundred twenty thousand eight hundred ninety. With out the words "and". Sorry for being a smart ass.

Also, I think it's Kris' birth date 12-08-90

[nerdtalker @ Dec 14th 2008 5:04PM]

@Kris,

Let this be a lesson; overexplaining yourself to try to get out of an imminent FAIL *never* works, it only ensures even more fail. Plus, he had a point, your name is stupid.

[Kris120890 @ Dec 14th 2008 5:07PM]

I could not care less what you think in all honesty.

[Chris Aubeck @ Dec 14th 2008 5:24PM]

@Gavin

Not all countries where English is the mother tongue omit the "and" in numbers, so don't apologise for being a smart ass when you're just an ordinary ass.

[CraigJ @ Dec 14th 2008 5:25PM]

You care enough to keep checking your email and reply...

[Kris120890 @ Dec 14th 2008 5:32PM]

There is two of us who are writing these comments. In fact I only wrote the first one. My friend enjoys annoying you people. And my friend was right I am 18 and my birthday was around 4-5months ago.

[XIYL @ Dec 14th 2008 5:36PM]

This has to be the longest off topic conversation I've ever seen on engadget.

[nerdtalker @ Dec 14th 2008 5:49PM]

@XIYL, Back before we made Mr. Professional kill himself and jump off some bridge near his location, I think he easily held the crown for longest off-topic conversation. I remember a few that literally went for days after the article was off the front page.

[kal326 @ Dec 14th 2008 5:50PM]

Well its either 18 years or 118 years and given then level of posting and content I'm sure you can guess which one I'm siding with. Also going with 18 as I can't quite remember what the 90th month of the year is or which one has 90 days.

[Hung @ Dec 14th 2008 6:06PM]

@ Chris

No, that's not what he's saying. "And" is used in place of a decimal point.

1,234.56

One thousand, two-hundred thirty-four AND 56 hundredths. It's the proper way, but most people don't follow such pedantic rules in colloquial writing. Modern grammar rules dictate this format so that scientific papers and records can be easily read.

Regardless, this thread just goes to show how many Engadget users troll—often unsuccessfully, if I may add.

Kris120890 claims not to care what about his low-ranking nor how people feel about his chosen username, and yet he is criticizing the title of "Seadragon." Not only is he a hypocrite, he is effectively saying that his self-image doesn't matter to him and that people should learn to deal with his poor decisions BUT HE shouldn't have to deal with those of others. He is a (douche-y) troll.

Rollins is an idiot, and the reason why most countries view our great nation so poorly and look past our many altruistic accomplishments and contributions to society. He is not a troll, just dumb.

Gavin is simply spreading some knowledge. Chris, YOU are being the troll. Nothing in his reply was malicious. In fact, he preemptively apologized to anyone who might find him negative. Yes, regional differences cause variations in grammar and mechanics (apologize vs apologise). Yes, if you expect him to respect your country's unique take on numerical nomeclature, then you better as hell respect his as well.

I'm a troll for always having to correct someone who is wrong. It doesn't matter who is wrong or about what matter they are wrong. If someone is wrong, I must correct it. 'Tis the life of a troll.

[andres @ Dec 14th 2008 6:09PM]

@kris
what friends?