Applications
Microsoft outlines its vision for creating, managing, experiencing content
MUMBAI: At the ongoing National Association of Broadcasters (Nab) conference Microsoft is showcasing its advanced media platform technologies and broad partner ecosystem that enable media and entertainment companies to create and manage nearly endless varieties of media and deliver entertainment experiences to their customers. Microsoft is highlighting its range of solutions for the media and entertainment industry, including two new products launched at Nab 2007: Microsoft Silverlight and Microsoft Interactive Media Manager |
Other advancements being announced by Microsoft include a new Microsoft VC-1 Encoder software developer kit (SDK). Microsoft will also detail new collaborations with leading organisations such as Ascent Media Group, McCann Worldgroup, Showtime Networks, Starz Entertainment, SyncCast and TV Guide. Microsoft GM communications sector Michael O‘Hara says, “The transformation of the media and entertainment industry and the introduction of a new digital supply chain make powerful software platforms and solutions essential to the success of media businesses. “Microsoft‘s offerings support the entire content life cycle and help companies create and manage digital content, as well as provide a rewarding end-user experience. Unique among technology suppliers to the media and entertainment industry, Microsoft provides the business systems and IT infrastructure that media and entertainment companies need.” |
Content Creation: Microsoft says that it provides the foundational technologies that help media companies create rich media content quickly and efficiently. This week at Microsoft Silverlight is a new cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering the next generation of media experiences and rich interactive applications (RIAs) for the Web. Silverlight integrates with existing Web technologies and assets to provide higher-quality experiences with lower costs for media delivery. Delivered to end users through an installation, Silverlight offers consistent experiences to both Macintosh and Windows users on a variety of browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari. Early supporters of the new platform include Akamai Technologies, Brightcove, Eyeblaster, Limelight Networks, Major League Baseball, NaviSite, Netflix, Skinkers, Sonic Solutions, Tarari, Telestream . and Winnov. The new Microsoft VC-1 Encoder SDK being announced offers video encoding solutions providers with faster encode times, new features optimised for various video distribution channels, and ease of integrating the latest updates from Microsoft without having to re-engineer their applications. In addition, Microsoft and Sonic Solutions have entered into a commercial agreement to broadly deploy Microsoft‘s advanced VC-1 encoding technology, known as the PEP Encoder, in the professional HD title-creation industry. Managing Content : Digital media has spawned an almost unimaginable amount of data the company notes. Not only are the volumes immense, but the multitude of data types and formats adds even more complexity. Microsoft and its partner ecosystem give media businesses the tools to make digital media an asset, not a burden. At Nab, Microsoft is introducing Interactive Media Manager, a server-based solution that enables organisations to better manage the complexity inherent in the digital content life cycle, from content creation to management to distribution. The solution, an extension of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, is designed for organisations in the media and entertainment industry, including film, television and postproduction studios; broadcasters; game developers; publishers; and advertising and marketing agencies. Microsoft is highlighting the unique problems that Interactive Media Manager and other Microsoft solutions help address for companies in the media industry including Ascent Media Group, McCann Worldgroup, Starz Entertainment and SyncCast. At Nab Gemstar-TV Guide International announced the launch of the TV Guide Online Video Guide. The video search product, which is being launched as a beta, is now available on www.tvguide.com. It provides users with a way to search for and browse a wide range of professional and high-quality independent video content available on the Internet. The Online Video Guide is built on Microsoft .Net Framework 3.0 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007. SharePoint is the key technology used to index and catalog the enormous amount of video metadata, while providing quick and relevant search results. Microsoft is also playing a role in a broadband gaming venture from Showtime, called On Broadband Networks, which is scheduled to be launched in the second half of this year. Microsoft is providing the technologies and services that form a foundation upon which On Broadband Networks will develop and deliver a robust online gaming platform targeting broadband operators. |
Applications
With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
