http://windows7news.com/2009/11/14/microsoft-to-sell-advertising-space-on-your-desktop/
Computerworld have announced a plan by Microsoft to allow corporations to rebrand the Windows 7 desktop through themes. Seen in a Windows 7 OS for the first time since Windows 95, themes allow users to change all their desktop settings (sounds, wallpapers, icons and cursors etc.) by opening in a single file. Themes for brands such as Ferrari and Coca Cola already exist.
Computerworld reported…
Microsoft pitched the pilot as a way for international advertisers to connect to consumers. "The new Windows Theme Experience and Windows Personalization Gallery in Windows 7 allow consumers to customize their technology to reflect the things in life they are most passionate about," said Darren Huston, corporate vice president of the company’s consumer and online group, in a statement Friday. "These are great examples of Microsoft innovation and technology coming together to enable top global brands to reach audiences in new and interesting ways."
This is both an interesting and a disturbing move. Many people will deplore it on the grounds that their copy of Windows has already cost them enough money. There’s also the fact that we see quite enough advertisements on PCs as it is. This could potentially be a good way to help with pirated copies of Windows.
On the complaints against front, it’s easy and simple to change the theme back. Microsoft and the advertisers would indeed argue this point. However, it can also be argued that a great many people never change the Windows desktop and that a large proportion of those people don’t know how to do so. If it were truly easy, people such as myself wouldn’t have to detail these features in books.
It can also be argued that this will squeeze out smaller advertisers, allowing the major corporations to make even more money while smaller companies may resultantly go to the wall.
On the flip-side this could be an interesting way for Microsoft to make revenue from pirated copies of Windows. Imagine a Windows Genuine Advantage program that, rather than deactivate an illegitimate copy of Windows, instead changes your wallpaper to a series of advertisements with clickable areas. Any clickthroughs from these could help Microsoft recoup some of the money from the pirated copy.
Suffice to say, my opinion is that Windows already costs more than enough and there’s no way that Microsoft could make a move such as this without A) the express permission of the user(s) such a move would affect, and B) without making it an opt-in scheme. There is however, nothing to stop an advertiser creating it’s own theme and making it available to those who want it.
_________________________________________
My post on this article on the web link:
"Well, the article is a bit vague on this matter. IF Microsoft decides to do advertising spaces (themes) on Windows 7, it would bring more revenue to both Microsoft and the companies trying to advertise (like Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Gears of War, etc.). I mean, think about it; it would benefit the consumer in the end. I would be so happy if there would be video game themes besides Gears of War (imagine themes from Microsoft's rivals, Sony and Nintendo) on Windows 7; Microsoft would get more of the profits, but so would other companies. Music artists could take advantage of this too. The possibilities of this discussion is endless. More themes would mean that the companies get revenue from theme advertising and us consumers get more eye-candy to deck our computers with!!
Plus books, movies (besides Avatar; how about Harry Potter, 007, etc.?), more Earth destinations (Ireland would be my favorite, even 50 themes of the United States). This would be so awesome..."
What do you other users on here want for themes? I mean, I'd like to at least make my computer look cool. I already have 1.64 GB of wallpaper in a folder (non-porn or video games; it's just nature and different landscapes wallpaper I got from that www.windows7news.com website on their section on wallpaper).
