So after 20 or so minutes of very positive talk about the work of the Gates Foundation to cure disease and help the needy, is Gates' response to Meet The Press host David Gregory about where computers might be heading.

Remember, Microsoft's Project Natal is an Xbox 360-oriented device that uses advanced cameras, sensors and a microphone to detect users' gestures, facial expressions, voice and even the color of their clothing.

Here's Gates:

Bill Gates, founder, Microsoft: We'll also have computers we can talk to, computers that can see what we're doing. So whether it's making a gesture in a business meeting to zoom in on a chart or try and look at what a house would be like before it's built, this idea of the computer seeing 3D displays and voice interaction leads you to where the keyboard and the mouse, which is how we think of the computer today, is not the only way we interact. It's a far more immersive, rich environment....

David Gregory, host, Meet the Press: We can talk to each other?

Gates: Absolutely. You'll be able to put onto the wall of your office a video conference with whoever you'd like and have the computer listen to what's going on there and create a transcript and make it searchable. And so, natural interface, I think is the thing that people underestimate right now.

Yes, this is also a very Minority Report-ish future. And a Gamer: The Movie-esqe future. But that stuff is fake. Natal is real and could do some of what Gates is talking about.

Meet The Press 11/29/09 Episode

Since the original Xbox launched in 2001, Microsoft has worked hard to deflate suspicions that the company wasn't serious about video games.

Microsoft, skeptics assumed, was going to push gaming only as long as necessary to get Xboxes installed under every home TV. And then? The theory was that Microsoft would focus on the alchemy of dominating the set-top box market, with gaming as something less than the primary focus.

Much of that suspicion has been eliminated thanks to the Xbox 360's dominance with the hardcore gaming market and the platform's string of leading games. Microsoft has recently earned the reputation, in fact, of producing the premiere gamer's game machine of this console generation.

But non-gaming aspects of the Xbox 360 are on the rise. Netflix has become a big story for the Xbox 360 since it was integrated into the platform last fall. And this E3 saw announcements of Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm integration into the machine. Microsoft is selling movies and TV shows on the 360 and is in the midst of beta-testing a game show that would network thousands of homes. In the U.K. it will push the 360 as a new portal through which to watch major soccer matches and other Sky TV programming. Even Project Natal, which has been characterized as a next-level game controller was also shown at E3 as a next-level TV remote.

With all that in mind last week, we asked Shane Kim, Microsoft's corporate vice president of interactive entertainment strategy whether the "video game console" term was going to soon become invalid for the Xbox 360.

"The Center Of Home Entertainment," Kim responded, suggesting a more encompassing term. "It happens to be a great video game console. That's not going away."

Kim said the best sign of gaming's continued importance to the Xbox 360 was its lead position during Microsoft's E3 2009 briefing. The show started with games. "We want to make people understand that we're not leaving the gaming space. I definitely think that we can expand off that base, and that gaming is still going to be an important part of entertainment."

Two years ago, while speaking of Microsoft's entry into the console business, Bill Gates told Kotaku that "we wouldn't have done it if it was just a gaming device." He added: ""We wouldn't have gone into the category at all. It was strategically getting into the living room. This is not some big secret, Sony says the same things."

There was a time when comments about the Xbox's expansion beyond gaming would have panicked gamers. But it's worth re-assessing that fear. As Microsoft branches out from supporting a gaming-only home console, those who suggested that would be a bad thing don't seem to be speaking as loudly as before.

Product share varies from country to country. In the US and the UK, the share [of Xbox 360] is high, but besides Japan, there are other areas we haven't penetrated. From now on, I think the breakthrough's going to be the online service, and you'll be surprised if you look at that.

It was a little stunning to learn last week that at least one disgruntled Xbox 360 owner had decided to skip the regular channels when dealing with a burnt out 360 and instead went straight to Bill Gates. Even more stunning, Gates apparently knocked some heads and got the guy sorted out in record time (24 hours).

While Consumerist reader, and Xbox 360 owner, Jon was delighted with the outcome, it seems Microsoft was not so much. Today they've dropped us a friendly note to remind everyone that Bill really isn't your go-to guy for Red Rings of Death:

Bill Gates or Microsoft executives are not an appropriate escalation point for customer service issues. Customers experiencing issues with their Xbox 360 console should contact Xbox Customer Service. Our customer service team is well equipped to ensure that the repair process goes smoothly.

That said, Microsoft stands behind its products and takes responsibility to ensure that every Xbox 360 console owner continues to have a fantastic gaming experience. We are continually improving the design and performance of the Xbox 360 consoles to decrease the likelihood that a customer will experience the three flashing red lights. In the event they do, they are covered for three years under our extended warranty.

Wow, can you imagine the tongue lashing the likely tsunami of angry emails spurred? Gates, I suspect, may be retired, but he's not THAT retired.

Emailing Bill Gates Results in New Xbox [Consumerist]

I was one of the first to get an Xbox 360 when they came out, paying way more than I should have. I had problems with the console right out of the box and after weeks of haggling with their normal customer service department, I was contacted by their escalation department. Within a week, my problems were solved and they sent me a bunch of free stuff (games & controllers). Fast forward two years, and I'm having the same problem. I emailed both Bill Gates and Kathleen Hogan(Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Customer Service, Support and Customer and Partner Experience) yesterday...

I was contacted within twenty-four hours from the escalation department and a new console is on its way.

In doing a little bit of research, I figured out the email addresses for both and am providing them for your loyal readers. The link I am including will also provide the entire corporate teams names and titles.

khoganATmicrosoft.com
billgATmicrosoft.com
Microsoft Executives and Images

You know what I'll tell you. I will look like I'm full of shit if I tell you... I went to the bathroom, and the person next to me was Bill Gates. So, I had more than eye contact. Well, no contact. No, no, there wasn't any contact, right. But, you know, it's kind of a weird situation. You're kinda like, 'I know this guy.' There was no bodyguard or nothing there... That's a true story.

Sure Microsoft's recent Xbox Live issues ticked off a bunch of new Xbox 360 owners and led to the company promising to hand out a free game down the line, but it was really just a hiccup says Bill Gates in a recent interview with sister site Gizmodo.

Actually we're not entirely sure what he says. He seems to start speaking tongues halfway into his whole reliability-issue-was-a-hiccup comment. He says something about downloading curve, or something about him, or maybe he mentions peanuts, it's hard to say. But he definitely does call the Live reliability issue a hiccup. Can anyone else make sense of the full comment? Maybe he's spilling some beans about why Live was out. This is what I got:

Xbox live, which was immensely risky, we hadn't been in the hardware business. We even had a hiccup in terms of ahhhhh... me not downloading curve... on that one reliability issue we ran into it. But Xbox alone has been fantastic success. A huge asset for the company.

BIll Gates Explains the Difference Between Microsoft and Apple [Gizmodo]

6:40: Bill is now showing a humorous video—which is uncharacteristically and genuinely funny—about Bill's last day of full time responsibilities at MS, complete with cameos from Brian Williams, Steve Ballmer, Robbie Bach and... Matthew McConaughey as his high as a kite personal trainer. Yup, there's Jay Z producing a track from Bill. Oh no, it's Bono. Bill's rockin' an Xbox 360 wireless controller in an audition of sorts with Bono.

The cameos continue—Steven Spielberg, Jon Stewart, Napoleon Dynamite, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Al Gore. This thing must've cost a fortune.

Make with the Xboxes and stuff already, Bill!

6:52 Bill's talking about "Connected Experiences", highlighting products like laptops, Xbox 360s, Zunes, handheld devices, moving on to emerging technologies and the future of displays and the company's own Surface tech. 3D environments for Web experiences, including hi-def video and audio, integrated with a handheld, with a prototype shown on screen, will be the next step in consumer electronics.

6:57 He moves on to human interactivity with devices, the natural interface, namedropping the iPhone's touchscreen interface (and Surface's, natch) and Sync, the voice controlled in-car system the company is pushing. He keeps a stiff upper lip about Vista, pointing out the number of users and the Windows mobile platform.

7:01 One of Bill's cohorts, Mika, takes over for a few minutes. She's talking up Live single sign in, starting off with Windows Live calendar. Next up is Windows Live Events, which couldn't look any more exactly like an Evite. I can't believe she hasn't turned off that grating "click.wav" navigation sound. Now she's on about Windows Live Photo Gallery. She pieces together a panoramic photo from a handful of JPEGs. It's all very on-the-go and seamless, of course. You'll be sharing photos with friends and family in no time, ideally.

7:05 Bill's back, talking about a fantasy world in which he snowboards with other Microsoft execs. He's got a Surface display in front of him with a retail mock-up from a snowboard shop, applying paintjobs, decals, for a custom job. Wonder if the Forza Motorsport team consulted. Trying to keep this on-topic! He places his Windows Mobile phone on the Surface and sends his design to his snowboarding buddies. Synergy!!

7:08 Silverlight, the Flash competitor of sorts, is given some screen time. Bill announces that partner NBC will be using Silverlight for broadcasting via the Web for events like Live Earth and the 2008 Olympic Games via MSN. Bob Costas has visions of the "ultimate digital destination on the Web." A joke follows.

7:12 Robbie Bach, president of the entertainment devices division is up next. Hopefully, he'll talk about lots of Xbox 360 stuff! Bach talks up Connected Entertainment, too, kicking off with gaming. "Windows Vista gaming has continue to grow and be strong," he says. He reiterates the 17.7 million Xbox 360s sold and $3.5 billion plus in business for the final quarter of 2007. Better than Wii, he says, and better than Sony. 10 million registered Xbox Live members. He has two very important announcements, with ABC and Disney bringing their shows—Lost, Hannah Montana, Desperate Housewives—to Live and MGM bringing films to Live. That includes The Terminator and...well, that's all you really need to know, unless Legally Blonde does something for you.

7:15 Bach announces that Samsung, HP will add Media Center extender functionality to their devices. Microsoft Mediaroom has some 1 million "screens" using the service. Interactive applications for programming from NASCAR, CNN and Showtime allows for users to customize programming and interact with live broadcasts. British Telecom has partnered with MS to sell Xbox 360s as gaming devices and set top boxes.

7:20Zune is up, with Robbie giving it props for its late year revision. He's talking up the Social service, but lobs to Molly O'Donnell for the details. Molly welcomes us to it. She's "GrooveJasmine" and shows off her Zune Card, which tracks artists, songs and allow for tagging. Hipster music is namedropped as some of Molly's faves. "People powered music discovery" leads us into Bach's own playlist, which includes The Shins (oops! bad timing!).

7:23 Now it's time for Sync, so it's obviously time to drive a crossover vehicle onstage. A Zune is plugged in, with a Windows Mobile device also syncing up contacts. Bach commands Sync to play Gary Numan's "Cars" and sounds a bit surprised to hear it work as expected. Sync upgrades, including auto 911 dialing, are touched on briefly.

7:26 With mobile phones outselling PCs 4-to-1, according to Bach, Windows Mobile is a Big Deal. Molly returns for "say and see" service TellMe. She says "movies" into the phone, which looks, via GPS, at local Las Vegas theaters. Robbie really wants to see Sweeney Todd!! She buys tickets with voice, sends info to Robbie, all with the power of her voice.

7:31 Robbie's about to beat feet, welcoming Bill back onstage for the "big finale." Gates' mobile prototype device features visual recognition of people (recognizes Bach), places (notes the Paramount Theater on the backdrop) and has 3D mapping support, with location information, tapping into contacts and Web data. Bill uses the device to look back on his CES history, including the original Xbox unveiling featuring Duane "The Rock" Johnson.

7:36 Bill and Robbie are about to partake in a Guitar Hero III axe-off. Bach has a ringer though, in TipperQueen, aka Kelly Law-Yone. She's burns through a bit of "Welcome To The Jungle" and volleys to Bill. Of course, Bill has his own ringer. It's "Guitar Hero God" Slash, who seems to be well preserved. He plays a few notes and makes with the contract obligation.

7:38 And that's it. Corporate dog and pony show over! Hope you didn't stay up past your bedtime for this one, folks! Tomorrow should probably be a bit more exciting, when hands-on impressions of games and executive interviews kick off.

Seriously, you need to be watching Bill Gates' farewell speech at CES. I'm sure news is coming, but that picture up there, that's all you need. If you want actual news out of the speech make sure to check out Mike's Liveblogging here.

Gates Speech [Microsoft]

Also included in the Ultimate, according to Stuff? A 320GB hard drive and HD-DVD drive. While we have our doubts about the authenticity of the details, the news seems a bit too matter of fact to ring false. Is someone at Stuff simply letting the cat out of the bag early? Perhaps we'll know more this Sunday, when we report directly from CES '08.

BIG IN 2008 - Xbox Ultimate [Stuff - thanks, Richard!]

Bill Gates might be making an Xbox 360 2.0 announcement at his CES keynote swan song, the Seattle Times' Brier Dudley predicts in a column today.

While I'm not totally on-board with his prediction for Gates' 360 announcements at CES this weekend, I agree with the main thrust. Dudley believes that after doing some inevitable crowing Gates will wow the crowds with an announcement that Microsoft is preparing to license the 360 platform to select consumer electronic companies.

In particular, Microsoft could work with Toshiba to develop a digital video recorder with a hard-drive, high-definition HD-DVD drive and Xbox gaming capabilities. They're already allied against Sony and other backers of the Blu-ray DVD format, and Toshiba could help Xbox finally penetrate the Japanese market.

Microsoft could also make a splash by announcing plans to give the Xbox 360 an internal HD-DVD drive, putting it on par with Sony's PlayStation 3 that has a built-in Blu-ray drive.

I know that when I met with Gates last year at CES he was all about an IPTV 360 so we know the concept of licensing the 360 to consumer product folks has been in the works for awhile, even if it's only to cable companies. Teaming up with a company to add DVR functionality also seems like an almost no-brainer. In fact, back with the 360 first launched I asked an exec about that very thing, mostly because of the buttons available on the 360's big universal remote, and was told that it was an idea they were playing around with. And built-in HD-DVD for some models? Sure why not. Obviously the format remains a contender, so it makes sense that Microsoft finally throw a bit more of their weight into the format war. It's also interesting to note that the add-on seems to getting cleared out through sales.

What I suspect will happen is that Gates will have some sort of general announcement about a deal with a cable provider or providers for a 360 featuring IPTV and perhaps a DVR to boot.. and that about five minutes later my brother will call me up super pissed that he bought a 360 without that feature built in.

Visions of Gates' keynote swan song [Seattle Times]

CES 08 promises to be another Microsoft dominated affair, with Mr. Bill Gates delivering the opening keynote the night before the show kicks off proper. Sony will be there, too, but will represent gaming as part of their overall consumer electronics line-up.

And before you get too excited about the prospect of a post-holiday tradeshow packed with exciting announcements, keep in mind that the "major gaming exhibitors" promised by the CEA are Commodore Gaming, Entropia Universe, Red Lion Interactive, Shuttle Computers, War Machine, LumiSource, Red Beard and InterAction Laboratories.

Would you like a press release? Well, here you go.

Gaming Technologies Expand Presence At The 2008 International CES

CES Gaming Showcase to Feature Wide Variety of Gaming Technologies

Arlington, Va., October 29, 2007 - The 2008 International CES®, the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, will feature gaming hardware and software, in one central location, including advancements in online and PC gaming in conjunction with the entire range of consumer electronics products at its Gaming Showcase. The International CES returns to Las Vegas, January 7-10.

The latest in gaming technology will be prominently featured at CES, as the exhibit space for gaming expands by more than 65 percent this year over 2007. Total revenues from the game category are forecasted to reach $18.3 billion in 2008, up from $15.4 billion in 2007.

"Attendees at the 2008 International CES will be among the first to experience the latest products and trends changing the shape of the gaming market," said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, events and conferences, CEA. "With the CES Gaming Showcase, featuring top gaming companies from around the world in a central, easy to visit location, conference sessions and other special gaming events, the 2008 International CES is the global hub for the latest trends emerging on the gaming market."

CES' major gaming exhibitors include: Commodore Gaming, Entropia Universe, Red Lion Interactive, Shuttle Computers and War Machine, all exhibiting at CES for the first time this year, along with CES veterans LumiSource, Red Beard and InterAction Laboratories. Microsoft and Sony will also feature the latest developments in the gaming world at their respective booths.

Bill Gates, Chairman of Microsoft Corp., producer of the Xbox, which launched at CES in 2001, will once again deliver the opening CES Keynote address at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 6.

Gamers will want to check out the latest gaming hot spots:

* CES Game Power Conference Partner Program - Gaming is a CE powerhouse. Its variety of mobile and home-based platforms, its infinite possibilities for content, and its appeal to virtually any demographic make it a dream medium for device manufacturers, content creators and marketers. Gaming now rivals film and television, and some titles have earned the status of cultural icon. These sessions bring you into the world of gaming creativity, platforms, business opportunities and marketing strategies.
* The Sandbox Summit: A Playdate with Technology Partner Program - Jump into the world of digital kids at the Sandbox Summit. Get a handle on the toys, trends and products that are shaping the way kids play today. Join the PLAYOFFS, where digital natives go head to head; then move on to the Sands' exhibition to test drive the gear that's defining the next generation.
* CES Mobile Entertainment Partner Program - Mobile entertainment isn't merely a CE category; it's a phenomenon. The advances in technologies, platforms, devices, content and consumer sophistication add up to one of the most compelling success stories the CE industry has ever seen. Experience breakthroughs in personalized mobile: the video, music, gaming and communications experience - search, widgets, virtual worlds, messaging and advertising
* Home and Lifestyle Entertainment Knowledge Track - Consumers want their entertainment real, dynamic and accessible. Learn what and how they'll be watching, listening and playing from the comfort of their homes. Plus look into the drive for gaming in 2008 and the possibilities of home theater in 3D.
* Blu-ray Disc TechZone: Blu-ray Disc is supported by more CE, PC, gaming and entertainment companies than any other HD format, offering consumers a broad range of hardware and content to choose from, as well as the ability to enjoy Blu-ray discs (and existing DVDs) in more players, PC and gaming consoles.
* HD DVD TechZone: HD DVD is based on the original DVD format, taking the best features of DVD and adding a new layer of interactivity that allows for never-before-seen movie experiences. With nearly 150 titles available by the end of 2006, and with HD DVD players for the living room, the PC, and for your Xbox 360 on the market today or in time for holidays, HD DVD provides an easy, affordable transition to high definition.

For more news on the 2008 International CES before, during and after the show, including information on CES exhibitors, conference sessions and TechZones, visit www.CESweb.org .

Last week, when Microsoft's Bill Gates and Apple's Steve Jobs got together at conference All Things D, Gates further hinted at what direction Microsoft was going, game-wise. And that direction is? Gates explains:

Software is doing vision and so, you know, imagine a game machine where you're just going to pick up the bat and swing it or the tennis racket and swing it.

Um, kinda like the Wii?

No, that's not it. You can't pick up your tennis racket. And swing it.

Picking up my actual tennis racket and swinging it? We have a name for that Bill, and it's called "tennis." Brian Ashcraft

All Things Digital [D5 Thanks Boone!]

Boxer Albert Liaw got hit a few too many times. After suffering a stroke and brain injury, 34 year-old Liaw was left in a wheelchair with slowed speech and little movement in his left arm. The Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital is using the Nintendo Wii to help patients like Liaw recover. Instead of real world rehabilitation like throwing a ball or stretching putty, patients are guided through rounds of Wii Sports with help from therapists. They forget about their pain and simply enjoy playing the games — Sometimes for hours at a time! Virtual reality rehab expert and Rutgers University professor Dr. Griogore Burdea remarks:

This is pioneering work. ... Bill Gates (of Microsoft) would be wise to sponsor this kind of research.

Snap! There's even talk of having therapists monitoring remotely via Nintendo's online service and presumably using, err, Friend Codes. Heh. Brian Ashcraft

Wii Helps People Get Better [Edmonton Journal via VGB]

At the time, we had no idea that we'd be attending the industry's final decadent blowout. We'd have taken a moment to pause, to reflect, to appreciate the sights and the stench of a Los Angeles Convention Center packed with 60,000 attendees.

E3 taught us many things. We were horrified to learn the PLAYSTATION 3 was to be priced at $599, yet pleased that it would ship worldwide by November 17th. How naive we were then.

We had just seen the Halo 3 trailer. Witnessed the Super Smash Bros. Brawl reveal. We'd been subjected to "massive damage", "Riiiiiidge Racer!" and Bill Gates paralyzing keynote and we didn't think we could take it anymore.

We relished in our first hands-on experience with the Nintendo Wii remote. We played Super Mario Galaxy, Guitar Hero II, Metroid Prime 3, Elite Beat Agents and Resistance: Fall of Man all for the first time. I recall the horrible bus ride home from the Sony party, ready to vomit into my free Ogio luggage.

With the new, slimmed down E3 still two months away, there's plenty of time to remember the insanity, the sheer pleasure of dozens of game announcements all occuring over the course of five days. Won't you share them with me in the comments? Michael McWhertor

Microsoft's Bill Gates duked it out in Mexico with Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez on the Xbox 360. The exec was visiting the country to mark Microsoft's 20th anniversary there. The competition was displayed on three large screens above a stage where the two battled with Marquez beating Gates 2-1. Before the match, the soccer pro asked Gates if he was ready. The chairman replied:

I wouldn't bet all of my money on it.

Half of it would've been fine. A tenth even. Brian Ashcraft

Gates Loses [Yahoo via Joystiq]

Aw, Bill. Why'd you have to go and further emasculate the tens of thousands of male teens and twenty-somethings who own Viva Pi ata? I knew there was a reason I didn't buy this game. I'm neither young nor female nor do I garden. Michael McWhertor

Unfortunately, Bill doesn't wax much on video gaming, but Jon Stewart cracks enough jokes about internet porn and guessing Gates' log in and password to keep us interested. Michael McWhertor