I just dropped this opportunity on the Eat Sleep Publish e-mail list, but I think I’ll mention it here on the blog as well.
Microsoft is working on development of a new MSNBC news portal available through Windows Media Center (which is actually a component of Windows Vista), and they’re looking for news-savvy and tech-savvy beta users.
Click through for more details.
If you’re interested in how TV news is going to adapt and develop on the web, and you’re willing to take some time to test out the new MSNBC news portal on Windows Media Center, then Microsoft is willing to throw some resources at you to make it happen:
- if you’re not using a PC or running Vista, they’ll supply the hardware or software on long-term loan
- you get direct access to the development team for questions and feedback
And, as a special bonus for being cool, if you’re one of the first five people to leave a comment on this post, Microsoft will give you a free Windows Media Center remote (to keep!) when you sign up for the beta.
If this sounds up your alley, I’d recommend signing up. Here’s how:
Through the Windows Media Center TV On Your PC program, you are invited to explore the new MSNBC news portal (currently in beta) and share your experiences and thoughts online.
You are also invited to join a members-only forum on FriendFeed where you can interact with the Windows Media Center Team at Microsoft, as well as experts from the Windows Media Center enthusiast community. As a participant you’ll be eligible to receive special offers such as unlock codes for new content and invitations to hosted Microsoft events. In addition, your feedback will help shape the development of new content on Windows Media Center.To join the TV On Your PC challenge, send an email to wswwmcadvocacy [AT] webershandwick.com with the subject line “ESP: TV On Your PC”. (This tells the organizers that you’re signing up through Eat Sleep Publish.) In the body of the email include:
- Your name
- Your city and state
- The address of your blog and/or microblog such as Twitter
- Your FriendFeed user name, if you already have one
- What operating system you currently use on your computer
- If you’re using Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate, you can start now – just press the green button in the Start menu to launch Windows Media Center, and scroll to the left to find the MSNBC news portal
- If you’re using another operating system, please include your computer’s specifications. You will be sent any hardware or software you need in order to participate as a long-term loan, up to and including a laptop loaded with Windows Vista. (If you write about the program you must disclose that you have received this hardware and software from Microsoft.)
If you want to make sure you never miss a cool, Eat Sleep Publish-only opportunity, I’d also recommend signing up to my RSS feed!
Eat Sleep Publish is a Seattle-based blog that explores the difficulties and opportunities currently facing the publishing industry. 
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Thanks for this offer, Jason. I just sent them an email because it would great to test the portal and write about it for the site we’ve just launched at Harvard’s Nieman Foundation, which is studying and reporting on the future of online journalism. I wonder how they’re dealing with the balance between recreating the experience of watching TV (for the comfort of viewers) and totally reinventing it (for value added). It will be interesting to see.
And more generally, I’ve been reading your site closely and really enjoying it. Thanks for all your great posts.
This sounds like another cool way to use the Windows Media Center. I already have my PC linked up to my Xbox. I’m looking forward to testing this out. Thanks for the info and thanks for the offer.