Ballmer apologizes for letting slip wrong Natal release date

Microsoft has already come out and clarified Steve Ballmer's recent statement that Project Natal would be rolling out sometime in 2010 (possibly in the form of a new Xbox console), but it looks like the man himself also felt the need to set the record straight. Speaking with IGN, Ballmer said that he "confused the issue with my poorly chosen words," adding that, "there is no news in my comments. Things are as reported after E3. Sorry." Of course, this would be somewhat understandable if it were an isolated incident, but as you no doubt recall, Ballmer also recently dropped word of an earlier than expected Zune HD release date, which prompted yet another quick "clarification" from Microsoft. But hey, he only works there.

[Via Joystiq, image courtesy guardian.co.uk]

[Dan @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:01PM]

"Laser"

[SDAlpha1510 @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:40PM]

good stuff.

[Brian @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:43PM]

I just peed a little.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Jun 22nd 2009 4:57PM]

haha, awesome. Man that picture is incredible.

[macserv @ Jun 24th 2009 2:13AM]

"More secure."

[gareth @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:03PM]

Ballmer is an idiot

[Crim @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:34PM]

Oh yeah, Ballmer would best Microsoft if he just got out of the game and got someone actually capable of running the organization in there. I have a feeling that sometime in his life there will be a news article involving him, a pill bottle, and a dead hooker.

[Bradford @ Jun 22nd 2009 4:53PM]

I kind of love Ballmer. He's definitely who he is, no posing going on at all. That's respectable especially considering that MS's competition directs its entire marketing on that selling to posers.

[NG @ Jun 22nd 2009 6:37PM]

@ gareth
feeling the same thing too, bill was so much cooler.

[Nohone @ Jun 22nd 2009 7:24PM]

Steve Jobs gives a presentation in front of 1000s in attendance and many milions more reading live blogs announcing push notification, gives a demo of push notification, tells developers to start programming for push notification in the 2.0 SDK, then Engadget and the world reports on how great push notifications are. A year later, some other guy says Hey! We have this great new feature, gives a presentation in front of 1000s in attendance and many milions more reading live blogs announcing push notification, gives a demo of push notification, tells developers to start programming for push notification in the 3.0 SDK, then Engadget and the world reports on how great push notifications are.

The world gives a collective "Oops, just a small mistake but it is OK!" No apology, no "hey, we can't make our promised ship date, sorry", no nothing. I mean, it is not like Steve Jobs works there or anything.

Ballmer gives a presentation to a few local businessmen at the Executives Club of Chicago, gives the wrong date for a future product and recants and apologizes a days later. Get out the pitchforks and torches, we need to march on this "idiot's" house and drive him out from existance! We cannot have this fool around! He works at MS (sorry, M$, don't want to confuse the natives),and him not knowing everything happening at his company on a daily basis is shameful.

[Paul a. Chapel @ Jun 22nd 2009 7:51PM]

Yeah, push notifications was hella late, but the only problem with your complaint is that Ballmer keeps dropping the ball for things like Longhorn (uh, Vista), Internet Explorer 8 (November, then December, then March 2009), you know, important things, while Apple gets a few things late, but not so much that people are waiting years and years and years. Yeah, they delayed Leopard by six months, the iPhone SDK for six days and push notifications for about a year, but come on, you're going to compare that to the delay of an operating system, browser and now, Natal, which is supposed to be the GAME CHANGER in the current console war?

Push notifications were not so important that it hampered people's lives and angered them into comas.

And BTW, what the hell happened to Xbox Live Anywhere? Oh, that's right, it came back rebranded as Games for Windows - Live and SUCKED. Oh, don't even get me started on Microsoft delays. I think John Gruber at Daring Fireball was right when he branded Natal as vaporware.

I'll be shocked if Microsoft gets this off before mid 2010.

[Nohone @ Jun 22nd 2009 8:27PM]

Paul, why do you have so much hate?

So what you are saying is that it is OK for Apple to slip some products (I am not even going to call 6 days a slip) but Microsoft does it and it is bad? Rather proves my point, does it not? IE8 slips 6 months - bad. Delay Leopard 6 months - not a problem! Of course slipping notifications was not a problem, we can just ignore the slip, and pretend that it is a completely un-thought of feature until it kinda really does ship a year late.

What the hell does Games for Windows have to do with this? Trying to put up that RDF to divert attention? You only play games on your Mac using a cheap compatibility layer, and since it is called Games for ***WINDOWS***, you would not know how successful it is. Yep, million+ sellers in the games from 1st party studios such Gears, Halo, and 3rd party games such as Fallout, Lego series, Lost Plannet, Bioshock, Civ, Crysis (insert standard Crysis joke here), the Call of Duty series, and so on, and so on, and so on, means that it is a failure. If that is a failure, then what do you call the games situation on the Mac platform? But then again, Steve told us that OSX is a great games platform - how many of those titles are playable in OSX?

[Nohone @ Jun 22nd 2009 9:00PM]

Oh, and one more thing,

Why is it that you call Natal vaporware? Let's make some comparisons:

Natal is shown off to millions through E3 presentations, videos of celebs playing the device, a late-night TV show with millions of users, etc. Let's suppose that it shipps late 2010. you claim it will not ship mid-2010, so late 2010 (holiday) is outside your time frame, meaning that is about 17 months.

Snow Leopard is announced to millions through WWDC 2008 presentations. No hands-on by people, no real world exposure, no screenshots, nothing, until WWDC 2009 when they show off some demos (some not going so well). It is then given a September ship date.

~17 month announcement to shipment of Natal with much hands on at the initial annouoncement means vaporware.
~16 month announcement to shipment of OSX with no hands on at the initial announcement means it is not vaporware?

Spin it, Paul, spin it good.

[Paul a. Chapel @ Jun 22nd 2009 9:17PM]

I mentioned Live Anywhere because it was delayed time and time again and then it was rebranded, which should of gave me a clue, because when Microsoft rebrands something at the last minute, that means that it's going to suck. They rebrand things so that people will forget what was originally promised (like with Longhorn, eh, Vista). Games for Windows - Live is almost useless.

Most people just stick with Steam. I was genuinely excited about Live Anywhere because it was supposed to allow people to play PC games with Xbox games, but it had a load of BS with it, such as not being able to locate friends UNLESS they were already playing a game and DRM and the general incompatibility with most PC games and of course that stupid point system. That was one of many things that made me finally chuck my Xbox 360.

I don't hate Microsoft, I just finally realized that they suck. They don't actually care about games like say a company like Valve, they just want to keep games because they know a lot of brainless teenagers will want it, which in turn, allows them to sell more copies of Windows. Apple could have sold out long ago and jumped into the game arena, but you get the feeling with their products that it's less about appealing to the lowest common denominator and more about, you know, making computers that work.

[Paul a. Chapel @ Jun 22nd 2009 9:25PM]

@Nohone, who said: "Why is it that you call Natal vaporware?"

It's vaporware because they should of released Natal at E3 LAST YEAR. The console wars are over and Nintendo won. And that's a load of crap of what you said about Snow Leopard being previewed for the FIRST TIME this year. Snow Leopard was seeded to developers at WWDC 2008.

[Nohone @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:04PM]

Paul, frankly, you are full of BS.

First, No, I did not say Snow Leopard was first previewed this year, I said it was previewed last year. I quote myself: "Snow Leopard is announced to millions through WWDC 2008 presentations." I know you work on you own time line, being that Apple invented everything first even though it was available in other products years before, but here in the real world, it is 2009. 2009 - 2008 == 1 year. Software developers have been saying they have been playing with Natal, and have commented on it (soome negative, some positive), so what is the difference between the two except you have termed one vaporware, and the other not. Snow Leopard should have been released last year. I have no real basis to say that, but since you are making up things, so can I.

"Apple could have sold out long ago and jumped into the game arena, but you get the feeling with their products that it's less about appealing to the lowest common denominator and more about, you know, making computers that work."
So when Steve Jobs brought EA out on stage at WWDC and said (I quote from the Engadget Live Blog) "Next up, got some great news about games: EA, number one publisher of games, is coming back to Mac in a BIG way." See the live blog from http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/11/steve-jobs-live-from-wwdc-2007/ starting at the 10:10AM mark. Then there was Pipin. Apple has also made a big push for supporting games on the iPhone/iTouch, centering an ad campaign around using their devices as a gaming platform. John Geleynse, an Apple evangelist, even called the iPhone/iTouch a game console. But no, they don't sell out to put games on their platforms.

"I don't hate Microsoft"
Thanks Paul, now I need to clean up that glass of lemonade that I sprayed out of my nose from laughing so hard. Damn, lemonade through the nose BURNS so bad.

Let me give you the ultimate in Apple vaporware. WWDC 2003 Apple announced that OSX would be 64 bit. The fans went wild, reminiscient of screaming girls at a Beatles concert. WWDC 2009, Apple announced that OSX would be 64 bit. Once again, the fans went wild, reminiscient of screaming girls at a Beatles concert. But hey, they really mean it this time, I swear.

[Paul a. Chapel @ Jun 22nd 2009 10:32PM]

You said and I quote that Snow Leopard had "No hands-on by people, no real world exposure, no screenshots, nothing, until WWDC 2009 when they show off some demos." That to me implies that you don't think that Snow Leopard had, uh, a hands-on by people, no real world exposure, and no screenshots, nothing until 2009.

If developers received Snow Leopard seeds at WWDC, that means that there was a "hands-on by people." That's the purpose of WWDC. And there was no screen shots because Snow Leopard is not really a "feature" update in the fullest sense of the word. But this is besides the point. Snow Leopard is not comparable to Natal because Apple doesn't have a long history of delaying products, Leopard being the exception. Microsoft does, so it makes sense to expect that Natal is vaporware. Natal is Microsoft's Hail Mary pass. I mean, they didn't even develop the technology. They just bought out a smaller company. Microsoft isn't attempting to revolutionize gaming with this move and support their customers, they're just trying to beat Nintendo.

A few of facts I want to bring up: Pippin was not really an Apple product. It was something that Apple licensed to Bandai Games and that occurred when Steve Jobs was away from Apple and Apple had lost their way, so it's really kind of silly for you to bring it up. It reeks of desperation.

And I fail to see how Apple has "sold out" by bringing games to the iPhone and iPod touch. My original point about Microsoft is that they put out shoddy support for games in attempt to lock in people to Windows. If they truly cared about the users of their product, they would actually make something THAT WORKED and worked WELL. If they truly cared about their customers they would do away with that stupid point system. They use the point system because they know people can never use all the points, thereby giving Microsoft more money. They also use it to mask the actual price of games.

Apple, on the other hand, decided to support games on the iPhone and iPod because PEOPLE WANTED IT. That's not selling out. That's giving people what they want.

[Nohone @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:15PM]

I was comparing Natal to OSX. I was stating that if you are going to claim that Natal is vaporware, then you have to claim that Snow Leopard is vaporware, also. Yes, Snow Leopard has been in the hands of some devs since WWDC 2008, just like Natal has been in the hands of some devs for a while. But while Natal has been made very public - it has been shown on TV being played, it has been shown at E3 being played, Snow Leopard was shown a little bit (with very little detail) a year ago, but given a big splash this year. But the point is, and don't try to deflect, if one is vaporware, then call the other vaporware. If one has a ~17 month preview before when it is expected to be released, and the other has ~16 month (and really, you can say ~17 months) preview before when it is expected to be released, not saying Snow Leopard is not vaporware is a joke.

For the record, I am not claiming Snow Leopard is vaporware, I am just applying your standards to Snow Leopard.

Microsoft said that they developed Natal seperately from the tech they bought. You don't believe them, that is fine. But why do you believe Apple's words as gospel, but dismiss the other? Has Microsoft said one thing, and done the opposite? Yes. Has Apple said one thing, and done the opposite? Yes. But you just chose to believe the lie of one company over the lie of another. But you don't hate, no sir-e-bob.

So Apple designs a game console, and licenses it to Bandai, but that is not an Apple technology? Microsoft creates many specifications, protocols, etc. but I guess then those are not Microsoft technologies. As for your "despiration" quip, I just threw that in there and did not put much ephasis on it. If you want to call that "despiration", then I can call just about everything you write as "despiration".

You are ignoring facts again, Paul. You are ignoring that you said Apple would never sell out and put an emphasis on games. And yet, from the mouth of Steve Jobs himself, he said they are bringing games back to Apple in a big way. I did not say that Apple was selling out, and I don't believe they are. You said if they did games, that would be selling out. So I gave some examples, proving that, once again, by your standard, they are selling out.

No, games do not work well on Windows. They only outsell games on PS3, 360, Wii, and your glorious Mac, combined. People fight over slight compression artifacts of the PS3 and 360, while the PC has better graphics by leaps and bounds. They perform better than the console versions and at higher resolutions. And yet, you write about how great gaming is on your little compat library, with a very small library of games. If gaming is so great on Mac, and so horrible on PC, why don't we see more games on Mac? But see, then your arguments there are self defeating: Gaming is great on Mac, but Apple does not want to sully their good name with games, so they try to woo gaming developers, but not really, so leave it to PCs where gaming is horrible, but gaming is great on the Mac...

As for points, they don't expire, I can use them on my 360 or my Zune. Apple does the same, you can buy $15, $25 iTunes gift cards, and my Costco sells 4 packs of $25 cards. Looking up a random song on iTunes, yields a price of $1.29. $1.29 * 11 == 14.19. So in otherwords, I can only buy 11 songs, and will have $0.81 left over. They do not sell songs for $0.81, so in other words, that is free money for Apple - see, you can apply the same arguments to Apple.

Giving people what they want, when you do not want to make your device look bad by putting games on it, is the very definition of selling out. But I am not saying they did sell out - you did.

[Paul a. Chapel @ Jun 22nd 2009 11:45PM]

You're framing my argument is a way that you can bash it, particularly with regards to what I consider "selling out." Microsoft is a sell-out because they make products for the wrong reason, which explains why they're competing in markets outside their core competency.

You don't see Apple trying to create a search engine just because they want to control the internet and drive Google out of business and steal all that ad money. You don't see Apple trying to create a console just because other computer companies like Sony are getting into the console market and making lots of money. You don't see Apple trying to create a netbook just because other computer companies are doing it.

Apple enters markets where they think they can make a good product, a product they themselves would want to use. Microsoft enters a market so that they can maintain their Windows dominance. Think about it. Microsoft got in the console business because Sony's success with the Playstation threatened their gaming homogeneity with Windows. Microsoft got into the MP3 player business because they want Windows to be the central hub for music. Apple threatened that. Microsoft is scared of Google because if every service goes to the web, apps will become platform agnostic, thereby making Windows irrelevant. That's selling out. When a company is motivated by the desire to control or by fear or envy, their products are going to be crap.

Apple didn't create the iPhone or iPod touch to compete with Nintendo's DSi or Sony's PSP. In fact, Steve Jobs didn't even want third party apps. Apple started to promote games on the iPhone and iPod touch because they were amazed at what the developers were doing with their multi-touch platform, particularly Sega and Super Monkey Ball. It also helps that games are and were the most downloaded apps in the App Store. So here again, Apple's approach to game had nothing to do with selling out, in the sense that Microsoft sells out. Apple's approach to gaming revolves around satisfying customers.

Companies that want to satisfy customers make great products. And that's all I'm going to say about this subject. Twist my words as you see fit.

[Nohone @ Jun 23rd 2009 12:22AM]

Again Paul, BS.

I am framing your argument using your own words, and the very words of Steve Jobs. You said that putting an emphasis on games is selling out. Steve jobs that they were bring games to the Mac in a "big" way. THerefore, using your own standard, Apple sold out. I don't think they did, they just want to bring games so more people will enjoy their platform. That is exactly what you said was selling out.

Yes, Microsoft created a search engine beause they wanted a piece of the search engine pie.

Contrary to what you would like to believe, Apple did not create the iPhone because they wanted to make a good product. They made the iPhone because they wanted a piece of the cell phone market. Want proof? Years ago there was a cell phone with iTunes support. It was developed with Apple, they put their name on it. It was a dismal failure. Remember, it can't be called a bad product, because it was developed in conjunction with Apple (and Steve Jobs was there at the time, so don't use that cop-out that it wasn't his fault). They could have gone back to the drawing board and made better software for phones, but they didn't. They wanted to own their bit of the cell phone market, so they created the iPhone. They did not do it for the good of humanity, they did it for one thing - to make money. They are a business, and more power to them for doing it and congrats for creating a successfull one.

Apple did not create Safari just because they wanted to make a good product. They made Safari because they wanted a piece of the browser market. Want proof? There are open source, cross platform browsers available. When OSX was first released, they were all excited about parts of it being OSS. So there was no shame in using an existing browser, such as FF. They could have taken the FF sources, modified it to make it "better" and contributed that code back. Instead, they branch out on their their own and created a new browser. It's not really that popular, but they did it to drive others to their platform and build dominance.

And I could go on and on. Yes, Microsoft gets into new markets so they can make money, just as Apple does. You need to get it through your head that companies do not do things as their primary goal of satisfying humanity. They make products to produce a profit, and do that by trying to satisfy humanity. Want proof? http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/07/14iphone.html. If they were doing phones for the good of humanity, they would not be bragging about how many they sold. They would keep their mouth shut. This press release is simply there to tell investors "We will be making huge profits off of this" - and there is not one damn thing wrong with that.

Because you are an Apple worshipper does not mean that what you like is gold and everything else is crap, because to many others the opposite is true. Many people love gaming on Windows and their 360. The few games that are available on a Mac does not satisfy those people's gaming needs. And if Apple wants to try to bring those people to the Mac platform, more power to them. But they are not selling out to do it - just as Microsoft is not selling out to bring more people to their platform, they are just trying to make more money for their investors.

The fact is, you said that trying to bring games to the Apple platform was selling out, Steve Jobs said he wants to bring games to the Apple platform in a big way. So either, by your standards, Steve Jobs is selling out, or just trying to make his platform more successful, which does not make him a sell out, just a good business man. At the same time, Steve Ballmer trying to grow his business does not make him a sell out, just a good business man. If you are making an argument against one, then you need to hold the other to the same standard, otherwise you are just a pathetic little fanboy.

[Decoy @ Jun 23rd 2009 2:56AM]

"I don't hate Microsoft"

I'm merely stating my fair and balanced non critical unspun opinion about them three times an hour every single day in every single Microsoft article.

[urdaddy @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:02PM]

Ballmer should have to apologize for existing.

[Quix @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:13PM]

I thought everything Ballmer said *automatically* comes with an implied admission of inaccuracy/stupidity and accompanying apology?

[adrian @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:12PM]

The fresh air is doing something to his bald head. (No offense to anyone else who is bald though)

[Sachin @ Jun 22nd 2009 4:03PM]

Here's my take. Natal will probably be ready to go (as in pretty much fully developed) around the time Ballmer gave, but Microsoft realized that people are really into Natal and might end up holding out on buying a 360 in hopes of either a separate Natal console or a 360 with Natal built in. Of course, that hurts sales, because a lot of older 360 consoles won't get sold or will have to be cleared out for a lower price. So instead, Microsoft will hold off on announcing that Natal is actually ready until much later, so that they can milk the older (and cheaper) 360's for all they're worth. Then, SHAMWOW! Here comes Natal, all nice and ready to go in a new 360. The people who didn't hold out but want Natal will slap themselves on their foreheads, bash Microsoft a bit, and then try to sell their 360 on eBay.

So actually, I don't think Ballmer screwed up, unless you're a Microsoft exec. In that case, yes, he may have messed up your fiscal plans a bit. Natal will probably be ready when Ballmer said so, but Microsoft won't mention it at all until they're pretty sure they've exhausted the demand for older 360's. Woot progress and customer-friendliness.

[crazyburns @ Jun 22nd 2009 4:17PM]

@Sachin Microsoft has already said that Natal will work with all existing XBox 360s.

[Clyde Berry @ Jun 22nd 2009 4:18PM]

@Sachin: Exactly. This is the same reason no one has any clue when a PS3 price cut is coming. If they announced it, sales would drop until the day the new product came out.

[Brad Green @ Jun 22nd 2009 5:16PM]

Ballmer is like the Joe Biden of Microsoft. Problems stream from him opening his mouth. Not that he isn't a cool dude, but he needs to think a little more before speaking.

[iFargle @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:02PM]

lol, so pointless

[iDavey @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:02PM]

Lawd...where is Bill at

-facepalm-

[E C S Sucks @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:03PM]

"But hey, he only works there"

Made me laugh.

[Anthony M. @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:10PM]

Same, I love using the "I don't know, I just work here" line.

[giuliop @ Jun 22nd 2009 4:18PM]

Moreover, HE IS THE FRELLING CEO.

[spoonman @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:05PM]

And peace to you too, sir.

Seriously, I can't stop lolling at that pic :D

[o29 @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:24PM]

Looks like air quotes to me.

[John @ Jun 22nd 2009 6:01PM]

This should be embellished with some air quotes like: "I frighten children", "I'm not "camera friendly." I don't "wear clothes that fit me." I'm not a "heartbreaker." I haven't "had sex with a woman;" I don't know "how that works." I guess I don't "fall in line." I'm not "hygenic." I don't "wipe properly." I lack "style." I have no "charisma" or "self esteem." I don't "own a toothbrush" or "let my scabs heal." I can't "reach all the parts of my body." When I sleep, I "sweat profusely."

[scooterbaga @ Jun 23rd 2009 11:27AM]

@John- Brilliant. Hadn't thought of that in years.

[Rob @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:05PM]

This man is a clear example of how crap and incompetence sometimes rises to the top. Then again, we have the clowns on Wall Street to prove my point.

[Zack @ Jun 22nd 2009 4:34PM]

You're right, which is exactly why he's so perfect for the position of Microsoft CEO, a company that should have never grown outside of Gates' garage.

[kakapo @ Jun 23rd 2009 1:28AM]

Although I rarely disparage anyone because I do not feel it is ever appropriate - I will concede this time:

I feel that this man (Ballmer) is a medical miracle in that he is the only known living or anthropological example of a human being (and I use the descriptor with hesitation) that can have crap flow out of either end of his alimentary canal with equal vociferousness and rancour with a dash of pure effluent pungency.

That said, we can also remember that he is in the position of (cough, gag, hurl) leadership (cough, gag, triple hurl) not because his business acumen or charisma but because he was Bill Gates roomie at University. (Kind of makes you wonder what went on behind closed doors, aye).

Annnnnnnny ways... I really like a majority of the comments. Primarily because it draws out those folks who are so defensive about things they have only cursory association that they become rabid and the foam around their mouth blinds them to the humour that is so prevalent in this thread.

Cheers, Mates

(Remember most of what was just written is tongue in cheek. If you are feeling pissy, get over it).

[fieldcar @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:08PM]

http://www.buttercoveredtrolleys.com

[Mikey @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:09PM]

Ballmer does seem to be fairly stupid considering he is the CEO of one of the largest corporations in the world. It is a great picture though.

[Jordan Biffle @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:11PM]

Ballmer has turned Microsoft into a shell of its former glory. Sigh, if only Gates had never given up his position as CEO in 2000.

[fieldcar @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:12PM]

Its completely CLEAR that Ballmer is the man for the job. I mean, look at all of this butt hurt over him.

I lol @ you.

[htd @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:14PM]

when he only focuses on short time profitability, he fails to achieve it

[Dayne @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:17PM]

He IS using the Tricky Dick pose. That alone means he's not a crook. Oh I forgot I'm the oldest person here.

Looks like a lot of free advertisement to me. Can you say genius?

[mx @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:28PM]

RONALDO!

[fb @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:29PM]

"I am not a crook!"

[Jon Doe. @ Jun 22nd 2009 4:11PM]

Nope he's just a chair flinging 'tard with serious perspiration issues.

[DrzKing @ Jun 22nd 2009 3:28PM]

Where is BG when ya need him?