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Gates Rocks (on His Way) Out

Gives his last CES keynote as CEO, unveils deals, plays swan song

By Lucas Laursen, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 7, 2008 8:08 AM CST

(Newser) – Bill Gates kicked off a Consumer Electronics Show for the last time as Microsoft CEO last night, announcing a major deal with ABC/Disney and MGM to distribute content via Xbox sets. He also unveiled an exclusive internet deal with NBC to broadcast video from the 2008 Olympics that he said will “let us illustrate why TV is going to be very different" online.

The Olympics site will be built using Microsoft Silverlight, a competitor to Adobe's Flash, and will be the biggest Silverlight-based site to date, Wired reports. Gates ended his final keynote speech by playing a Guitar Hero swan song with Slash, Microsoft's entertainment chief Robbie Bach, and Guitar Hero champ Kelly Leone.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates delivers a keynote speech during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at the Venetian hotel and casino in Las Vegas on Sunday, Jan. 6. 2007. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Associated Press)

Slash, left, plays in front of Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, right, during his keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008 . (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma) (Associated Press)

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Gates Rocks (on His Way) Out