The D Goes On

Thanks so much for all the kind emails and comments about my "delicate condition!" The lack of WiFi access here continues to be limiting. (Per the organizers, they don't want the entire room checking email during the presentations.) These photos are being uploaded courtesy of the Macs in the lobby. Another blogger in residence: Esther Dyson.

Walt Mossberg, Steve Jobs

Kara Swisher, Barry Diller, Meg Whitman

D

Bill Gates at D.

D kicked off last night with a reception, dinner and an interview with Bill Gates, who from his deft, direct and cogent handling of prickly questions about things like open source and Web services left me thinking he's been hanging out with Robert Scoble. I took sporadic notes which I may try to write up later. There is, however, no WiFi at D (a fact which drew low hisses from the crowd and promises of an explanation—yet to come—when it came up). Correction: the hotel is drenched in Wayport access, but I'm not sure it's possible to get on even if you prepay. Ironic to say the least, given that much of the discussion last night focused on planning and designing for ubiquitous and cheap wireless Internet access. Surreality check: the simultaneous view from my table of Bill Gates addressing the crowd and Steve Jobs and Steve Case reacting.

The supremely classy Dan Gillmor is here, as is Mitch Kapor, so I'd keep an eye on their pages as well. Here's the schedule for today's speakers:

8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Steve Jobs; Barry Diller, Meg Whitman; Dr. Richard Klausner

10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Terry Semel; Larry Page, Sergey Brin

1:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.: Ted Leonsis, Mark Cuban; Hilary Rosen, Jack Valenti, Rob Glaser, Joe Kraus, Dennis Mudd; Norm Pearlstine

4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.: David Pottruck; Steve Case

Because What You Really Want Is Another Set-Top Box

The Los Angeles Times has an interesting story today about Disney's on-demand movie service, MovieBeam, and why despite what sound like some smart sounding features—a hard drive that will store about 100 movies at a time; the ability to pause and rewind—this dog is unlikely to hunt. ("Disney Is Thinking Inside the Box")

"So now you're going to feel a little pressure..."

I'd call for a drumroll for this announcement, if you weren't just as likely to mistake it these days for the sound of me lumbering into the room. By which I mean, I've been blogging for two here at B&B for the last several weeks. How many? Good question. (Despite there being ample reading material about the rigors of pregnancy, no one provides sufficient warning of the utterly confounding math.) Something like 11. Or 13. I figure I'll just keep covering squares until I get Baby Bingo. That's scheduled for December 6. We're finally telling the world, so I thought I'd, uh, tell the world. More later; D tonight!

This is my magazine rack.

This is my magazine rack on Baby.

Any questions?

D2D

D: All Things Digital, which kicks off next Tuesday, now is sold out. From the Web site:

This conference sold out quickly, but you can catch some of our guests on CNBC's "Power Lunch." Or get an executive summary when CNBC airs a special based on D on July 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Arrangements are being made to record D and make it available on a delayed webcast. Visit this site as the conference date approaches for more information.

(Links added.) I'm still kind of flabbergasted to be going. (Here's why. No, I don't really get the wine thing either.) Sadly, this means I won't personally be able to welcome our six Los Angeles summer associates when they start work next week, but I have the feeling we'll all recover.