MS To Kill Off MSN Direct in 2012

[SayWhat?]

Well, it's quite the day for any GPS-related announcement, but Microsoft has nonetheless made a fairly big one of its own, with it dropping word via a simple service announcement that it's killing off its MSN Direct live information service for navigation units (among other devices -- even the odd coffeemaker). Those relying on the FM-based service won't be left in the lurch just yet, however, as the shutdown won't occur until January 1st, 2012.


http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/microsofts-msn-direct-service-to-shut-down-in-2012/


MSN Direct delivers data over FM radio signals, including weather, horoscopes, stocks, news, sports results, and calendar notifications. It allows wristwatches, atomic desktop clocks, in-car GPS satellite navigation units, and even small appliances such as coffee makers to receive information from MSN services. MSN Direct even allows users to receive notifications of new messages on Windows Live Messenger.

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/10/2012-to-claim-at-least-one-victim-msn-direct.ars

[Cholly]

Once MSN Direct is gone, the era of the Swatch Smart Watch will come to an end. I wooted one of those babies back in January '08. While it's a very cool device, providing stock updates, local weather and forecasts and news in addition to time, it's large and somewhat clunky with an integrated wristband (which no doubt contains the receiving antenna). As a single function timepiece it will make a good paperweight. A major drawback to these watches is the charge life of the internal lithium battery. The darned thing has to be recharged at least twice a week.

[dmspen]

I have 2 of the Smart watches. I bought the first and won the second. As you say, way too bulky, and updates were often slow. I had no reception at work. Good idea...poor implementation. They should update them to run from 3G.

Wouldn't it be cool to have a wrist display that scrolled info?