SQUAWK BOX VIDEO

24 Nov 2009

What began as a price war between Wal-Mart and Amazon over a handful of books has nos spread to a wide assortment of consumer goods. Lee Eisenberg, a noted retail expert and consumer behaviorist, and CNBC's Jane Wells discuss.

Prices to Be Thankful For 24 Nov 2009
A decrease in food prices is something to be thankful for this holiday, reports CNBC's Jane Wells.
Holiday Price Wars 23 Nov 2009
Retailers are doing everything to get you into stores now, reports CNBC's Jane Wells.
Desperate Times, Desperate Measures 23 Nov 2009
When it comes to retail and the holidays, anything goes, reports CNBC's Jane Wells; with Linda Conrad, Zurich Financial Services.
Black Friday Preview 23 Nov 2009
CNBC's Jane Wells looks at Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the official kickoff of this holiday season.
Holiday Price Fight 23 Nov 2009
With 32 days to go before Christmas, the batttle for buyers has un-officially begun, with CNBC's Jane Wells.

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Jun.17

10:04 AM ET

Tuesday, 17 Jun 2008

Microsoft Goes Vegas So You Can Order A Drink And "Flirt"

Posted By:Jane Wells

Sectors:Computer Services | Travel and Leisure

Companies:Harrah's Entertainment Inc | Microsoft Corp

Source: insurance-quotes-for-you.com
Microsoft has gone Vegas, baby. The company’s tabletop Surface computers have been installed inside the iBar lounge at Harrah’s [HET Loading... () ] Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino.

The table touch screens have been customized by Microsoft [MSFT Loading... () ] to let you order drinks, watch videos, play games. But here’s the interesting part. Cameras have been installed at the tables along with special software called “Flirt” that lets you flirt with people at other tables.

Flirt even reportedly suggests pick up lines, like: "You're so HOT ... got sunscreen?" Or, "Apart from being sexy, what do you do for a living?" Ok, this proves the software was written by code crunchers more comfortable communicating in C++, Visual Basic or LISP than in the language of LOVE.

Source: insurance-quotes-for-you.com
This is the first time Surface has been installed in an entertainment setting, and it might actually be a venue where the product takes hold. I have no intention of ever having a tabletop computer in my home or office, but it might be fun to play games on one in a bar. Plus, Vegas gives Microsoft the sexy cachet it’s never had. Although the Rio isn’t exactly the Wynn.

Trouble For Leona Helmsley's "Trouble"

Yet despite all the ways the company could sell this new venture as "so hot it needs sunscreen," the press release instead describes it in the most technical, un-Vegas like terms: “The 360-degree user interface and massive multitouch capabilities of Microsoft Surface provide Harrah’s guests with an unprecedented social experience that infuses the best of technology with the best of Vegas nightlife.” Try reading that after a couple of appletinis. The Chief Information Officer at Harrah’s adds that this “is another example of our next-generation interactive customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities…”

What happens in next-generation interactive customer relationships, stays in next-generation interactive customer relationships.

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