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Microsoft, HP planning joint effort to stretch the reach of technology

By Kim Peterson
Seattle Times technology reporter

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Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard have a history on the desktop, not the kitchen counter.

But the two computer-industry giants have begun collaborating in the home-entertainment world and are developing computers and other devices for the kitchen and the living room.

The companies are expected to announce the partnership today at Microsoft's annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference, which runs through Friday at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

In the past, Microsoft's relationship with computer makers has not been as close as it is now. HP and its competitors would make the hardware, Microsoft would develop the operating system, and the products would be combined right before the computer was shipped to stores.

Now, the companies say, it's more important to develop products together and earlier in the process, especially as devices become increasingly diverse and suited to unique tasks.

"We're seeing the PC evolve from what used to be the beige box in the office and the den into an array of innovative devices, some of which are hardly recognizable as PCs at all," said Greg Sullivan, a lead product manager in Microsoft's Windows division. "That does in fact create a different relationship with the hardware partners."

The partnership is also an effort by the companies to compete better in the home-entertainment world against already established giants such as Sony, which is expected to debut a new line of such products later this year.

Most of what Microsoft and HP are announcing are just ideas at this point. Some are pie-in-the-sky, and some could make their way into actual products within the year.

The announcements show that both companies are trying to stake their claim in the home-entertainment industry, said Simon Yates, an analyst with Forrester Research. Specifically, they are trying to establish the PC as the control hub for all digital-media activities in the home, he said.

"It kind of looks to me like more of an attempt to compete with folks like Sony and Panasonic, who are in both the hardware and the software side of media," he said.
 
One development in the works is a remote control for Microsoft's Media Center computers that has a small screen and thumbprint-identification capability.

If one person was watching a video or playing a game on the computer, for example, someone else could use the remote to program the computer to record a television show without disturbing the activity. The remote would display an electronic television guide on its small screen.

In addition, if the phone rang while someone was busy on the computer, he or she could use the remote to turn on a do-not-disturb feature and send the call directly into voice mail. The remote would also match a person's thumbprint to a list of favorite television shows, music and movies.

Another idea is customizing a Tablet PC to be mounted on a wall in the kitchen. There, it would display a grocery list, a cooking show or a calendar of each family member's activities. The tablet could be taken down from the wall and act as a portable computer or television.

Both companies say they are working on an "always-on" computer that could immediately turn on without any boot-up time. Instead of being completely turned off, the computer would lapse into a low-power state.

People have asked for that feature for a long time, said Ameer Karim, director of worldwide product marketing at HP.

"When you put this product in your living or family room, it has to work like a TV," he said. "You hit the power button and it's there."

Kim Peterson: 206-464-2360 or kpeterson@seattletimes.com